Scott Tady: These 14 albums shined the brightest in 2023
2023 did not yield any epic albums.
There was no Turnstile "Glow On," or Fiona Apple "Fetch The Bolt Cutters" or Beyonce "Renaissance" that made critics' jaws universally drop and lunge for their laptops to write glowing reviews.
That said, the past year did produce some really good ? if not perfect ? albums I'd encourage anyone to check out and even add to their collection.
My 14 favorite albums of 2023:
14. Lana Del Rey, "Did You Know There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard"
Emotionally sweeping, lyrically attention-grabbing, poetic alt-pop from the Californian singer who sold out the Pavilion at Star Lake in mere minutes.
13. Troye Sivan, "Something to Give Each Other."
The Australian pop singer's lustful, joyful third studio album breezes by seamlessly and makes you want to smile.
12. Shana Cleveland, "Manzanita."
The frontwoman for Los Angeles surf-rockers La Luz dives deeply into psychedelic-folk with pretty, entrancing melodies. When you're in the mood to get whisked away softly, it's wondrous.
11. Steve Mason, "Brothers & Sisters"
The Scottish singer melds electrofolk and indie-rock with hypnotic world music rhythms. From "No More," featuring Pakistan singer Javed Bashir, to "Brixton Fish Fry," with a British gospel choir, the sonic explorations are intoxicating.
10. Robert Finley, "Black Bayou."
The 69-year-old Louisiana bluesman injects a satisfying soulfulness with tinges of homespun humor on these 11 richly grooved tracks co-written by the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach.
9. Slowdive, "Everything Is Alive".
Veterans of the U.K. rock scene transfix with a collection of dreamy, layered shoegazing sounds. Guitar reverb-laden with a gossamer vocal quality, imagine planetarium music minus the lasers.
8. Olivia Rodrigo, "Guts."
No sophomore slump here from the 20-year-old Californian whose catchy pop-rock melodies and angsty ruminations consistently captivate. "Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl" and "Pretty Isn't Pretty" capture the zeitgeist of youth culture. And go ahead and try to name a more entertaining 2023 song than "Bad Idea Right?'"
7. Ashley McBryde, "The Devil I Know".
Real-deal, rocking country from the 40-year-old Arkansas native, who writes her own songs, thank you very much. They're smart songs, like the trust-and-love yourself "Light on In The Kitchen," the slow-your-partying-ways "Blackout Betty," and "Single at The Same Time," a bittersweet reflection on two friends left to wonder what romantic sparks could have ignited if they had been unattached simultaneously.
6. Boygenius, "The Record".
Maybe the closest thing to a universally acclaimed album this year, the indie supergroup of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus demonstrated excellent songcraft with pretty harmonies and compelling lyrics. These tunes grow even better with repeated listenings. It earned a well-deserved Grammy nomination.
5. Blondshell, "Blondshell".
The L.A. alternative-rocker achieved a fearless and accessible record with stylistic nods to the '90s and an empowering lyrical urgency that's very right now.
4. Rolling Stones, "Hackney Diamonds".
They're ancient, but who cares? The World's Greatest Rock Band still delivers tasty tunes with first-rate hooks powered by the genre-defining guitar grinding of Keith Richards and Mick Jagger's impeccable, iconic voice. The delightful and on-point "Don't Get Angry With Me" and the Lady Gaga- and Stevie Wonder-featured "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" are just part of the abundant fun.
3. Jessie Ware, "That! Feels Good!"
This 39-year-old Londoner scored the most pleasurable and frisky dance-pop record of the year. Perfect for Peloton, strenuous yoga or shadow dancing in the home office.
2. Elle King, "Come Get Your Wife".
The alt-country Ohioan employs a wry wisdom, self-deprecating humor and heartfelt singing that's an utter hoot. From "Try Jesus" (chorus: "I'm gonna try Jesus/See what all the fuss is about/Thinkin' I should try Jesus/Because every other man let me down") to her decadent duet with Miranda Lambert ("Drunk and I Don't Want to Go Home") there's a zest for life that's infectious.
Bully, "Lucky For You."
Lucky for us this Nashville indie-rock/punk band, led by Alicia Bognanno, makes music to crank loudly and feel the crunch and catharsis. "Hard to Love" is throat-shredding bliss and indicative of the album's punchiness, though there are introspective moments that intrigue as well. It's all worthy of repeated examination and appropriately nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Album.
Honorable mentions: Killer Mike, "Michael"; Paramore, "This Is Why"; Jason Isbell, "Weathervanes,"; Willie J. Healy, "Bunny"; Tyler Childers, "Rustin' in The Rain"; The Pretenders "Relentless"; Lydia Loveless, "Nothing's Gonna Stand in My Way Again"; Samia, "Honey"; Lukas Nelson, "Sticks & Stones"; Kelela, "Raven"; Durand Jones, "Wait Til I Get Over"; Blur, "The Ballad of Darren," Paul Simon "Seven Psalms"; Ghost Hounds "First Last Time" and Fall Out Boy's "So Much (For) Stardust."
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Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tady: These 14 albums shined brightest in 2023
