The 45 best albums of 2023: 20–1
RIFF’s best albums of 2023 include Olivia Rodrigo, Paramore, Lana Del Rey, Mitski, boygenius, Slowdive, Hozier, Yves Tumor, Foo Fighters, Corinne Bailey Rae, Kylie Minogue, The Clientele, Avenged Sevenfold, PJ Harvey, Depeche Mode, Caroline Polachek, Blur, Feist, Sonic Youth and Billy Woods with Kenny Segal.
Our album reviews are the opinion of one writer, while this list is a survey of our entire staff, balanced against many other factors. This year we agreed on fewer than ever, but on this list of the top 20 best albums of the year, we stand firm.
Before checking out why we love albums by the likes of Lana Del Rey, Foo Fighters, Olivia Rodrigo, Depeche Mode and boygenius, start with albums 45 to 21.
Kylie Minogue, “Tension.”
20. Kylie Minogue
Tension – BMG – Kylie Minogue shows us yet again why she’s such an icon and powerhouse in the world of pop on her 16th album, Tension. Full of hooks that have gone viral, these carefully produced tracks are here to make you dance, like always.
Sonic Youth, “Live In Brooklyn 2011.”
19. Sonic Youth
Live In Brooklyn 2011 – Silver Current –Sonic Youth’s Live in Brooklyn 2011 is exactly what the title promises: a live recording of the band’s last public performance before going their separate ways. Even 12 years later, the music still crackles and sizzles with the band’s unrivaled rock improvisations. Live in Brooklyn provides a wealth of early cuts, reinterpreted by the band decades after songs like “Inhuman” graced the band’s debut album in 1985.
Billy Woods and Kenny Segal, “Maps.”
18. Billy Woods and Kenny Segal
Maps – Backwoodz Studioz – Billy Woods has been a staple of the underground hip-hop scene for many years, most notably as one half of duo Armand Hammer. On this album, Woods blurs the line between what it’s like to go through the touring process and going through the stages of pursuing a music career.
Mitski, “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We.”
17. Mitski
The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We – Dead Oceans – Mitski is raw and real on her seventh album. “Bug Like an Angel” sets the tone, thrusting us into her innermost thoughts. We see her darker, vulnerable moments brought to life via catchy choruses. The message Mitski has is but one: Through everything in life, to love and be loved, is heaven.
PJ Harvey, “I Inside the Old Year Dying.”
16. PJ Harvey
I Inside the Old Year Dying – Partisan – PJ Harvey is a firsthand example that sometimes, a hiatus and reevaluation of your work as an artist can be a blessing in disguise. Going back to her roots and exploring the concept of death and rebirth, this unique album, her 10th, is a stark reminder that it’s never too late to evolve and find another purpose.
Avenged Sevenfold, “Life is But a Dream…”
15. Avenged Sevenfold
Life is But a Dream… – Warner – Avenged Sevenfold made a strange album—there’s no way around it—and yet everything on it just seems to work. Songs take unusual turns and detours into jazz, electronica and orchestral music, but they’re still recognizable as signature Avenged Sevenfold. The adventurous record also marks the return of vocalist M. Shadows’ signature scream.
Depeche Mode, “Memento Mori.”
14. Depeche Mode
Memento Mori – Columbia – Crafted amid pandemic hardships and the loss of founding member Andrew Fletcher, the latest album by Depeche Mode delves into dark, industrial soundscapes, reflecting singer Dave Gahan and guitarist Martin Gore’s contemplation of mortality and existential dread. With haunting synths and brooding rhythms, tracks like “People Are Good” and “Ghosts Again” echo themes of mortality while experimenting with edgier atmospheres, filtering Depeche Mode’s signature melodrama through world-weary wisdom. Despite the shadow of death that looms over the album, Depeche Mode sounds more alive than it has in years.
Caroline Polachek, “Desire, I Want to Turn Into You.”
13. Caroline Polachek
Desire, I Want to Turn Into You – Sony – Caroline Polachek takes us on an auditory journey with her solo follow-up to 2019’s Pang. A self-described “maximalist album,” it bursts through with a wide range of sounds that are accompanied by Polachek’s watery, ethereal vocals and witty, playful lyrics, such as on “Welcome To My Island” and “Bunny Is a Rider.”
The Clientele, “I Am Not There Anymore.”
12. The Clientele
I Am Not There Anymore – Merge – The Clientele’s double album pulls off the remarkable trick of not feeling like a double album. Full of bold departures, the album balances stream-of-consciousness sonic explorations with the discipline of the band’s signature song-driven chamber pop. Spoken-word delivery, folky instrumental interludes and field recordings feel surprisingly cozy next to electronic beats and experimental song structures. It’s an ambitious and restless with a lot of ideas per square inch, but never feels self-indulgent or chaotic.
Feist, “Multitudes.”
11. Feist
Multitudes – Interscope – Leslie Feist was feeling it all during the pandemic. Inspired by the birth of her daughter and impacted by the sudden death of her father, Feist confronts her place in the world and her sense of self on Multitudes. She embraces the fullness of life—with gentle acoustics, big sax solos, flute and clarinet—and all the beauty and sadness that entails.
Hozier, “Unreal Unearth.”
10. Hozier
Unreal Unearth – Columbia – Hozier’s music is epic and grandiose, often referencing mythology and classic literature, while still remaining painfully intimate. His expressive voice is recognizable after just a few notes. Unreal Unearth is full of passionate vocals, soaring guitar, heartbreaking string arrangements and heartrending lyrics. Themed loosely around Dante’s “Inferno,” the album explores some of the deadly sins: “Francesca” (lust), “Eat Your Young” (gluttony), but the big
showpiece is “All Things End,” a slow jam about a relationship crumbling.
BLUR, “The Ballad of Darren.”
9. Blur
The Ballad of Darren – Parlophone – Blur returned after eight years to explore themes of loss and mourning while leaving space for breakout moments of pure joy. Like grief, the album is unpredictable and raw with a full spectrum of Damon Albarn’s vulnerability on full display. “The Ballad” gorgeously builds from bleak to lush, evoking classic Blur ballads of the past. Your “Favorite Blur Songs” playlist is bound to get reshuffled by new classics “Russian Strings” and “Barbaric.” On “St Charles Square,” guitarist Graham Coxon channels Carlos Alomar circa Bowie’s Scary Monsters, dive-bombing the track repeatedly with thrilling guitar runs over Albarn’s callouts to basements, ghosts and things “living under the floorboards.” Despite the subject matter, Blur had a blast. This type of sheer joy hasn’t shown up on a Blur album in decades.
Lana Del Rey, “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.”
8. Lana Del Rey
Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd – Interscope – Lana Del Rey gets autobiographical. Collaborating once more with the likes of Jack Antonoff, we get a closer look at her childhood, from her tumultuous relationship with her mother to Lake Placid, where she grew up. It’s a literal and metaphorical walk through the titular tunnel, ending in a climactic, gritty and dark twist on 2019’s “Venice Bitch” with the final song, “Taco Truck x VB.” With features from Tommy Genesis on the coy “Peppers” to a dreamy interlude with Jon Batiste and a sampling of a song by SYML on “Paris, Texas,” there are many unexpected moments that make this album a one of a kind. It’s beautifully personal and filled with self-discovery.
Slowdive, “Everything Is Alive”
7. Slowdive
Everything Is Alive – Dead Oceans – Who had “Shoegaze pioneers Slowdive connect with Generation Z after a 19-year hiatus” on their bingo card? Everything Is Alive maintained their legendary status while providing new soundtracks to countless moody viral TikTok videos. Tracks like “Shanty” and “Kisses” blend the expected ethereal sounds with surprisingly pop-like approaches, expertly balancing the paradox of revisiting the roots while breathing new life into their legacy. While “Skin In The Game” evokes the cozy familiarity of Slowdive’s past, “Chained To A Cloud” reveals a soulful grit, demonstrating the band’s capability to innovate and explore new realms. “Everything Is Alive” is a delicate balance between the familiar and novel. Big statements like this album all but ensure their legend will live on.
Yves Tumor, “Praise a Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds).”
6. Yves Tumor
Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) – Warp – Yves Tumor’s most cohesive album yet exemplifies their ability to capture a feeling and convey it with the right amount of tension and release. The artist bares the depths of their eclectic sound with evocative, visceral lyrics that are performed in doubled vocals. Their signature wall-of-sound continues to shift and morph just as on prior albums. The thick reverb and guitar distortion throughout the album unify the ever-changing sounds.
Corinne Bailey Rae, “Black Rainbows.”
5. Corinne Bailey Rae
Black Rainbows – Thirty Tigers – This album is nothing short of a jaw-dropping revelation. Knowing her prior work will not prepare you for the entrancing, consuming experience of listening to the fourth album by Corinne Bailey Rae. Inspired by her experience recording at Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago, she seemed determined to upend expectations about her sound on this record. She hops through genres and styles with gleeful abandon, from the the Radiohead-like buzz of “A Spell, A Prayer” to the riot grrl punk of “New York Transit Queen” and the alien synth grooves of “Earthling.” Unflinchingly political and unabashedly joyous, Black Rainbows is a wild ride with a gentle landing.
Paramore, “This Is Why.”
4. Paramore
This is Why – Atlantic – This Is Why is a challenging record; one that flies directly against the expectations for Paramore. For fans hoping for a Riot! resurgence, the album was likely divisive. A bridge from vocalist Hayley Williams’ solo work, This Is Why is the kind of album on which you hear something different with each listen. Songs like the title track and “Running Out Of Time” have memorable hooks while “The News” channels angst and anxiety into lyrical form.
Boygenius, “the record.”
3. boygenius
the record – Interscope – This year, Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus fulfilled the promise of their 2018 boygenius EP. The record is close to perfect in sound, lyrics and performance. Each artist is already a strong songwriter and performer, but their gifts together produced the kind of elevated end result that truly warrants the “supergroup” moniker. Some songs were written primarily by one member and some were a group effort, but all showcase the strengths of these powerhouse singer-songwriters. Highlights include “Not Strong Enough,” “$20” and “Emily I’m Sorry.”
Foo Fighters, “But Here We Are.”
2. Foo Fighters
But Here We Are – Roswell Records/RCA – We knew we’d get a heartfelt tribute to Taylor Hawkins. What we didn’t know was we’d get the best Foo Fighters record this century. It’s ironic and awful that artists sometimes need a tragedy to compel them to make great art. But it’s also tangible evidence of how much they loved their bandmate.
Olivia Rodrigo, “GUTS.”
1. Olivia Rodrigo
GUTS – Geffen – It’s easy to have some degree of skepticism ahead of a sophomore album after a debut that exploded as big as Olivia Rodrigo did on SOUR. Rodrigo answered the bell with GUTS, an album that captured the spirit of her debut while taking the sound to a new level. The record is bouncy, confident and occasionally sarcastic all in the best ways. Olivia Rodrigo found her place in the pop-punk revival while also staking out fresh territory she can call her own.
20. Kylie Minogue. 19. Sonic Youth. 18. Billy Woods. 17. Mitski. 16. PJ Harvey. 15. Avenged Sevenfold. 14. Depeche Mode. 13. Caroline Polachek.. 12. The Clientele. 11. Feist. 10. Hozier. 9. Blur. 8. Lana Del Rey. 7. Slowdive. 6. Yves Tumor. 5. Corinne Bailey Rae. 4. Paramore. 3. boygenius. 2. Foo Fighters. 1. Olivia Rodrigo.
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