Most Anticipated Albums of 2023
2022 was one of the best years of music in recent memory. The releases of incredible albums like Black Country, New Road’s Ants From Up There, Weyes Blood’s And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow, and Big Thief’s Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You, among many others, set a high standard for what music fans should expect in a given year. Despite a relatively uneventful January, 2023’s confirmed and likely upcoming releases promise another impressive year in all genres — including some that stand out as particularly intriguing and compelling.
February will bring the release of Gorillaz’ highly-anticipated Cracker Island, which appears to be a concept album packed full of inventive production and socially-conscious lyricism based on the project’s fantastic lead singles. The title track “Cracker Island (feat. Thundercat)” establishes the album’s themes over an addicting melody, “New Gold (feat. Tame Impala and Bootie Brown)” is a hypnotic super-hit in the making, and “Baby Queen” touts dreamlike production that supports its ethereal subject matter. I can’t wait to ingest this project from beginning to end, unpacking its commentary and enjoying the group’s unmatched signature sound along the way.
The only Phoebe Bridgers news more exciting than a solo announcement is a boygenius album announcement, which is exactly what fans received earlier this month. Expected on 03/31, the group’s debut studio album the record promises intricately composed singer-songwriter anthems, just like the sample tracks released by the group so far. “$20” features Julien Baker’s angsts, “Emily I’m Sorry” gives us a dose of Bridgers’ heartbreaking and ambient vocal talent, and “True Blue” offers Lucy Dacus’s earnest and heartfelt depiction of unwavering love. I fully expect this project to break my heart, put the pieces back together, and then destroy it yet again — I would expect and hope for no less from this indie supergroup.
On the other end of the sonic spectrum, it’s expected that eccentric and experimental rappers JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown will both be releasing projects this year, and it’s possible based on social media hints that the two will be releasing a collaborative project, as well. Brown’s Quarananta is overdue, and promises to deliver more mindblowing production after his two most recent projects. JPEGMAFIA’s dedication to his craft, all the way down to his individualist approach to songwriting, continues to evolve. These are two of the most unique artists in the industry, and I hope they continue to push the boundaries of rap in 2023.
“Free Yourself”, a loose single after the release of her wonderfully disco 2020 album What’s Your Pleasure? teases the return of Jessie Ware, whose next project is toward the top of my most-anticipated list. Her 80s-inspired aesthetic is infectious, dance-inducing, and exactly what I’m looking and hoping for to brighten spirits this summer. While no project has been confirmed yet, I expect Ware’s next album to release later this year.
While there are many other albums and artists that I’d love to hear from in 2023, these are the projects I’m most looking forward to. Will Fiona Apple follow up her 2020 masterpiece Fetch The Bolt Cutters? Is Tyler, The Creator going to continue his pattern of releasing new projects every two years? Will Frank Ocean return from the void and bless us with another life-changing opus? Time will tell. What we do know now is that the future of music is bright, and while we’re still enjoying the best of playlists from this decade so far, new jams are right around the corner.
