2023 has been an impressive and busy year for the music industry, from indie artists shooting to fame overnight from TikTok soundbites (Caity Baser, Mae Stephens), supergroups releasing debut albums (boygenius) and Lana Del Rey unveiling yet another seminal record. Reflecting on the past twelve month’s releases, our editors and contributors nominate their favourite albums of the year and delve a little into why they deserve the crown.
Dominic Fike // Sunburn
Dominic Fike’s sophomore record Sunburn is an impressive but natural evolution from his debut, What Could Possibly Go Wrong?. With a pit-stop tour reflection of his childhood and teenage years, Fike reflects on first loves (‘Ant Pile’), family (‘Mama’s Boy’) and toeing the law (‘Dancing In The Courthouse’), Sunburn is Fike at his most vulnerable – Lana Williams
Inhaler // Cuts & Bruises
Inhaler have undoubtedly confirmed their place in the indie music scene with their sophomore album, Cuts & Bruises. The record is an amalgamation of all of the best parts of the classic 2000s indie sound owing to the mix of honest tracks like ‘Valentine’ and ‘If You’re Gonna Break My Heart’ and hard-hitters like ‘These Are The Days’. Fan-favourite track ‘Dublin In Ecstasy’ has become an integral part of their live shows providing concertgoers with 5 minutes of chaotic instrumentals to let loose and mosh – Amy Britton
Spector // Here Come The Early Nights
Here Come The Early Nights by London indie outfit Spector stands out as a mature and introspective meditation on aging and legacy, solidifying Spector’s place as a powerhouse in the 2023 music landscape. Throughout the record, Spector weave a tapestry of nostalgia, introspection, and societal commentary, delving into themes such as economic turmoil, the desensitisation of a generation, and the struggles of artistic pursuits. It’s also a brilliant testament to the power of Fred Macpherson and Jed Cullen’s enduring collaboration – Beth Kirkbride
Island of Love // Island of Love
This self-titled debut from one-album-wonders Island of Love makes their recent split even more heartbreaking. The first UK act signed to Third Man Records, Island of Love showcases guitar riffs galore, catchy monotone hooks and a whole lot of nostalgia to fill the grunge-shaped hole in your life. Infectious lead single ‘Grow’ will be stuck in your head for weeks – Nancy Colbert
King Krule // Space Heavy
King Krule’s long-awaited Space Heavy saw him continue to lean into the dreary and distinctive style he has been forming since The OOZ released in 2017. Space Heavy is cohesive while sparse, large in scope but intimate and brutally emotional despite its lethargic sound. Tracks like ‘Empty Stomach Space Cadet’ and ‘Wednesday Overcast’ are drastically different in their approach, but the theme of loneliness and heartbreak is beautifully communicated across the record as a whole. It’s another album that proves King Krule as one of the most exciting musicians in the U.K. right now — he is brilliantly talented, driving his unique music with an enigmatic but evocative style – Reece Beckett
Young Fathers // Heavy Heavy
The album Heavy Heavy was released in February 2023, and has cemented itself as the most bold, brash and exciting release yet from the Scottish trio Young Fathers. The record is a feast for the senses, delivering kaleidoscopic vocal harmonies, genre-blending production and colourful, impressionistic lyrics, sometimes abstract, sometimes venomous and politically charged, all at once through a concise, ten-song track-list. From high-octane earworms like ‘I Saw’ to lower-key songs like ‘Tell Somebody’, the band revel in dissonance and spontaneity. Kayus, Alloysius and Graham all rap, sing, shout, scream and wax-poetic together in a way that seems testament to their enduring friendship, and also how excitingly challenging modern music can really be – Caradoc Gayer
Janelle Monae // The Age Of Pleasure
Released at the start of June The Age of Pleasure is THE wet hot summer album of all time. At once a celebration of Pan-Africanism, queer expression, and sexual liberation The Age of Pleasure is an absolute joy to listen to. It explores valuable connective concepts while also just being incredibly fun. The music itself feels both modern and retro, embracing Afrobeats, reggae, and disco with a contemporary R&B edge. It’s also been a delight to watch Monáe living their best life in the album’s promotional material – Camille Murray
Hozier // Unreal Unearth
Captivating, soulful and incredibly ambitious, Hozier’s third album is beautiful to listen to. Full of literary references to please the English students out there, the lyrics are poetic and thought-provoking. ‘Francesca’ is a standout song on the album, and my personal favourite to have on repeat – Emily Nutbean
Frankie Stew and Harvey Gunn // The South’s Got Something To Say
From Jensen McRae’s Are You Happy Now? to The 1975’s Being Funny in a Foreign Language, it feels as if every album I have listened to this year came out in 2022. That being said, Frankie Stew and Harvey Gunn were on my Spotify Wrapped for a reason and so it feels only right to name The South’s Got Something to Say as my favourite album of 2023. It is short and sweet at less than 30 minutes but pressing play on ‘Nemo’, the first song, and enjoying the journey all the way through to ‘Golden House’, makes for a wonderful listening experience every single time – Jamie Rooke
Two years of radio silence after the cultural phenomenon that was SOUR, and it started to seem like Olivia Rodrigo may not be able to recreate the magic. That’s until GUTS came out and proved everyone wrong. Angrier, funnier, and with much slicker production than its predecessor, GUTS offers insight into the mind of a 19 year old ingenue, who isn’t afraid to laugh at her own ridiculousness, even in the midst of mature ruminations on her youth, naivety and unprecedented success. It’s a perfect snapshot of a girl just becoming a woman, and it shows that Rodrigo just keeps getting better – Rehana Nurmahi
Raye // My 21st Century Blues (Live at the Royal Albert Hall)
In September, Raye performed her album My 21st Century Blues live at the Royal Albert Hall, with the Heritage Orchestra and a choir, for one night only. She soon released this symphonic version of her debut album, featuring orchestral arrangements by Tom Richards, for all to listen to. The album is taken to new heights through a cinematic orchestral soundscape, and yet, Raye’s liquid vocals remain front and centre, proving her vast talent. Her raw emotion pierces through a backdrop of genres, including R&B, jazz, electronic and disco, all combined to form a resounding live version of an already well-celebrated album – Martha Dean
After years of waiting in the wings, preluded by a supporting run on Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour Tour in 2022, Chappell Roan finally received her time in the sun with the release of her debut album. Filled top to bottom with witty, catchy, immaculately produced hits, Roan leaves no room for filler, instead providing an album so fun yet so relatable that audiences are bound to label Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess a classic in the years to come – Ben Carpenter
Reneé Rapp // Snow Angel
Snow Angel has been an album I’ve had on repeat since its release. Reneé Rapp’s incredible vocals combined with her carefree and witty writing have created a vulnerable and emotional album encompassing a huge range of experiences of a twentysomething. As a chronic overthinker, my highlight song would have to be ‘Talk Too Much’, especially the inclusions of little snippets of what we can assume are the singer’s own internal monologue – Ella Gilbert
Caroline Polachek – Desire, I Want To Turn Into You
Desire, I Want to Turn Into You is everything you want from a 2023-era album. You have your TikTok-rampage-ready hits like ‘Bunny is a Rider’; the omnigenre styles of Flamenco-dipped ‘Sunset’ and the downtempo house beat-driven Grimes and Dido collaboration ‘Fly To You’; and your indescribable tracks, such as the emphatic, Circe-invoking opener ‘Welcome to my Island’. Polachek switches effortlessly from the tranquil to the mystic, from the sensual to the scandalous — all while utilising the greatest instrument of all, the human voice – Matthew Prudham
Miley Cyrus // Endless Summer Vacation
This year, genre chameleon, Miley Cyrus, released her eighth, and greatest, studio album Endless Summer Vacation. Driven by the powerful self-love anthem, ‘Flowers’, Cyrus takes us on a breezy road trip through her musical career. Unlike recent albums, the destination isn’t based around a particular musical style. From the raw autobiographical ballad ‘Used to be Young’ to country-rock, synthpop, psych-pop and Latino rhythms one constant remains – Cyrus’ outstanding vocal range and maturing lyrics. Endless Summer Vacation truly is a trip worth taking – Andrew Butcher
boygenius // the record
The second release produced by three musical powerhouses coming together. With melancholy and harmony, this album explores grief and love in all their forms through the most cathartic outlet: indie rock – Casey Langton
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