Top Albums of 2023

Another fantastic year of music is now behind us. From rising stars turning heads to established stars making triumphant returns, fans of most genres were rewarded with compelling and impressive releases and projects in 2023. Although I listened to many, many albums in the past year, there are some that I find myself returning to the most and will continue to for years to come. Before diving into what made my top albums of 2023 so special to me, I’d like to acknowledge some honorable mentions that just missed the cut. These include: Quaranta - Danny Brown, the record - boygenius, This Is Why - Paramore, Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) - Yves Tumor, and O Monolith - Squid. All of these were fantastic albums, but there were too many more impressive projects to let them be immortalized in my best-of list. Without further ado, here are my top albums of 2023.

10. Haunted Mountain - Buck Meek

When a member of indie supergroup Big Thief announces a solo project, fans are in for a treat. Guitarist and backup vocalist for the group Buck Meek released his third album in 2023 to high critical acclaim. This alt-country, indie folk project has an alluring and welcoming tone throughout, channeling memories of simpler times and recounting the joys of getting safely lost in the world and in life. This project’s title track was one of my most played of last year, and songs like “Secret Side” or “Lullabies” are too heartfelt to be forgotten.

9. GUTS - Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo knocked her sophomore follow-up out of the park with GUTS in 2023. The release of her debut studio album SOUR set an extremely high bar for such a young artist, but this release put any doubt to rest with its angsty, punk-inspired pop often outshining many of the tracks from the project that put her on the map. From the lead single ballad “vampire” to earworms like “bad idea right?” and “all-american bitch”, this album knows exactly what it wants to do, and it does it well. I’m excitedly looking forward to the GUTS World Tour this Summer.

8. Weathervanes - Jason Isbell

Jason Isbell’s ability to write and sing from the heart is unmatched in his genre. Increasingly poetic and sophisticatedly beautiful, his albums continue to impress — particularly last year’s Weathervanes — one of his best in years. These are some of the most haunting and devastating songs in Isbell’s catalog. “Cast Iron Skillet” and “Save The World” are the two I return to most often, but the entire project makes for an excellent, albeit challenging listen.

7. Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd - Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey’s continuous maturation as a singer and songwriter is increasingly impressive with every album that she releases. Ocean Blvd is likely her most evolved, elegant, and whimsical project yet, with almost every theme and sonic idea fleshed out and realized to its full potential. Each track develops naturally yet cautiously, eventually blooming into beautiful and memorable moments of their own. While some of the interludes seem superfluous to me, the core songs on this project are nearly flawless. “A&W” is one of my favorite songs of the entire year.

6. Desire, I Want to Turn Into You - Caroline Polachek

Rising art pop star Caroline Polachek flew under my radar before the release of Desire, I Want to Turn Into You. While I recognized her voice and had heard songs here and there from earlier projects, I had never committed to listening to an entire album of hers. I can now say that I was far overdue to give her the attention she deserves. Desire, I Want to Turn Into You is one of the greatest achievements in pop music in years. Each track is lush, ethereal, and surprisingly lyrically dense. “Welcome To My Island” is one of the best openers of the year, and the tropical aesthetics of “Sunset” and “Blood and Butter” keep me coming back for more.

5. Zach Bryan - Zach Bryan

Another rising star that I was only made aware of last year, Zach Bryan released one of the best country albums of the decade in 2023 with this self-titled powerhouse. Channeling the likes of Dylan, Cash, and Springsteen, Bryan’s nods to the genre’s roots are tasteful without registering as derivative in any way. The instrumentation is more Americana than it is Country Pop, which is a sound that I much prefer. This project has essentially been on repeat for me since its release, but “East Side of Sorrow” and “El Dorado” are the two songs I return to most often.

4. Lahai - Sampha

One of the greatest voices in R&B, Sampha, made his return in 2023 with the release of his newest album Lahai. Six years after his debut, I was very interested to see where Sampha would take his sound next, and needless to say, I was thoroughly impressed with how advanced his sound has become in such a short time. This atmospheric, hypnotic, and spiritual project has an incredible amount of complexity to its production, culminating in one beautiful song after another. “Spirit 2.0”, “Suspended”, and “Only” are some of my favorites here, but you can’t go wrong with any cut from this project.

3. That! Feels Good! - Jessie Ware

I sincerely believed that Jessie Ware would have trouble following up her fantastic 2020 album What’s Your Pleasure? after it set such a high bar for disco-inspired bangers. I was extremely delighted to be proven wrong by That! Feels Good!, which elevates the Dance Pop aesthetics she established to even greater heights. Playful, energetic, and uplifting, That! Feels Good! fires on all cylinders to get its listeners on their feet. “Free Yourself”, “Pearls”, and “Hello Love” are fantastic tracks, but “Begin Again” with its crescendoing finale is my favorite song that Ware has released yet.

2. SCARING THE HOES - JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown

In a rather sparse year for Rap and Hip-Hop, JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown stood out as the trendsetting gold standard of the evolution of a genre that has somewhat stalled in the mainstream. Experimental, brash, and aggressive, SCARING THE HOES is both self-aware and referential with its humor but direct with its messaging. This project will likely be looked back on as an inflection point that allowed chaotic, eclectic underground Hip-Hop as a whole to finally find major mainstream success. “Lean Beef Patty”, “Burfict!”, and “Kingdom Hearts Key (ft. redveil)” are some of my favorite tracks on this album. This could’ve easily been my favorite album of the year if it weren’t for the triumphant return of…

1. Javelin - Sufjan Stevens

In August of 2023, Sufjan Stevens announced that his 10th studio album Javelin would be releasing in October. Immediately deemed an “indie emergency” online, the anticipation for this album was off the charts, as Stevens has established himself as an indie darling with now classic projects like Carrie & Lowell and Illinois. I could have never prepared, though, for the emotional reckoning that Javelin would cause. After the project’s release, Stevens revealed that in many ways, it was an ode and memorial to his partner who passed away. This re-contextualizes the entire project as one of loss, sorrow, and melancholy, but ultimately reminds its listeners to hold onto what they love dearly and continue to search for beauty in the darkness. Some of the best songwriting in the decade is found on the project, with heartbreaking ballads and cutting lyricism throughout. This incredible album spoke to me on a personal level, and was an easy pick as my favorite of 2023.

I absolutely love music. I always have. The albums that make my favorites lists are just some of the many projects that I almost always have in my ears. Re-visiting these projects transports me to where I was in life at the time of their release and my discovery of them. Every artist on this list is immensely talented, and I’m grateful for the art they give to the world. I look forward to what music is to come in 2024, but am more than happy to continue listening to these projects in the meantime. They are all so, so special.

Review: House of the Dragon (Season One)

For years, I was glad to partake in the biggest television phenomenon in recent memory with the release of HBO’s mostly-acclaimed Game of Thrones series. Appropriately recognized with countless awards and praise from critics and fans alike, Game of Thrones made the most of its source material, the “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series from author George R. R. Martin, by dramatically depicting its medieval fantasy drama and intrigue on the big screen. Where Game of Thrones went wrong, however, is when the series surpassed the incredible foundation that its original author established, navigating uncharted territory as the show-runners seemingly made important plot and story decisions on their own since their story had surpassed what books had released up until then. At this point, all of the incredible writing, tension, and build up that had made Game of Thrones what is was dissipated, culminating in one of the least satisfying and rushed final seasons in TV history. This fall from grace disappointed many, including myself, but the lore and richness of the world of Westeros never ceased to draw me back in. So when HBO and George R. R. Martin announced a prequel series based on the author’s writings in “Fire and Blood,” I knew I would have to check it out. * This post contains spoilers for House of the Dragon (Season One.)

Based almost 200 years before the events of Games of Thrones, House of the Dragon follows the political conflict that arose during and after the reign of King Viserys, who selected his daughter Rhaenyra to succeed him after his eventual death. His Queen, Alicent Hightower, misinterprets the king’s dying words later in the season, thinking instead that he has had a change of heart and that he wants his son Aegon to succeed him. While the prospect of Rhaenyra becoming the first woman to lead the Seven Kingdoms already didn’t sit well with many of the Westeros common folk, the Hightower’s coup after Viserys’ death leads to the civil war known as the “dance of the dragons,” which will define future seasons as bloodshed and betrayal are all that Viserys The Peaceful will have left behind as legacy. This controversy, along with other intergenerational battles for power, dragons, and explorations of the lore of Westeros, made season one a treat with political twists and turns I never expected this show capable of executing so well.

Although skeptical at first because of Game of Thrones’ disappointing ending, I was quickly enthralled by House of the Dragon’s competent writing, compelling storylines, and incredible performances. Although re-casting throughout the first season due to story-based time jumps, all actors involved serve their characters and the greater story incredibly well. King Viserys', portrayed by Paddy Considine, was particularly impressive as his diseased character navigated the difficulties of ruling over the Seven Kingdoms. Rhaenyra, Alicent, and Daemon feel just as significant as any of the characters we grew to love in Game of Thrones. Despite having a much lower budget than a series like Amazon’s The Rings of Power, the production design and world building establish much connection to the character’s emotions and experiences. To reconcile the feelings I had about the end of Game of Thrones while moving forward to House of the Dragon, I’m reminded of this: No television adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s direct source material has disappointed yet, so there is no reason to think this will change. Season one of House of the Dragon was a surprising treat, and season two can’t come soon enough.

TV Review: Ted Lasso (Season One)

In a year of unprecedented struggles, hardships, and tragedies, moments of comic relief have been few and far between. Instead of being able to make normal jokes and observations about the world around us, many have resorted to dark humor and comic nihilism to cope with the current uncertainties of life. Luckily, Apple TV+ has blessed its subscribers with a momentary time-out from the chaos we found ourselves living in with the release of the first season of Ted Lasso. The series follows an American college football coach who is recruited to lead an English Premier League soccer team, but it is so much more than that. The first season is heartfelt, inspiring, and chock-full of hilarious one-liners and precarious circumstances.

I’ve always been a big fan of Jason Sudeikis. Whether it was his time at Saturday Night Live or his off-screen style, he has always seemed like a genuine and talented person. Up until this point since leaving SNL, Sudeikis has struggled to find a recurring role either acting or writing for a successful comedy series. His contributions to Ted Lasso, however, seem to have gone over extremely successfully so far, as the show has received significant critical acclaim since its release. I’m glad that the series has been picked up for another season.

The show avoids the pitfalls of typical sports comedy tropes. Every character, including players, coaches, and management, has a level of compelling complexity which adds the dimensional richness I desire in comedies. Without getting into spoilers, each character is on their own journey and evolves as the season progresses, but there is still so much room for growth in season two. The wit and cleverness of the writing is unparalleled, and triumphs over the boring, run-of-the-mill network comedies which have disappointed for years. This show just has the “it” factor, similar to how Schitt’s Creek always did, which makes me think it can be successful in the long-term.

Times are tough. We are all navigating these uncharted waters differently. I am confident, however, that finding something relatable to laugh at comes as a relief to all of us right now. Ted Lasso, as wholesome as it is, also produces genuinely funny moments. I highly suggest you check it out on Apple TV+.

SCORE: 9/10

Westworld Season Three Review

When HBO released the first season of Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy’s hit series Westworld, it took everyone by storm. Set in an imaginary Wild West, season one was both visually captivating and thematically enticing, as it posed questions about consciousness, purpose, and ethics. The first season’s Western theme ended at its finale, as did the moral quandaries posed by the story, as season two decided to take a different direction.

While still intriguing, season two’s attempts at creating compelling storylines fell just short for me. The robotic artificial intelligences which grew so familiar from season one tackled the “real” world, but more of an emphasis was put on spectacle and intrigue than introducing interesting philosophical dilemmas. I hoped that this would change with season three, but unfortunately, it did not.

Season three did a lot of things right. Aaron Paul’s inclusion in this season was exciting when it was announced, but his character was more of a gateway to explore uncharted territory in the show’s universe. This world was visually fascinating, but the season’s storylines felt empty at times. The season’s villain, Serac, felt one-dimensional and poorly written, leaving an Anthony Hopkins-sized hole which still needs to be filled for this show to succeed. Pairing Dolores and Maeve against each other made little sense to me considering their unclear motives, even despite Evan Rachel Wood’s career performance. I’m worried as to where the show will go next. Ramin Djawadi’s score is still the show’s silver lining, but it loses impact when scenes aren’t earned and tension isn’t established.

I didn’t hate this season by any means, but I certainly hoped for more, especially after its promising opening episodes. Hopefully the show’s future offerings are a return to form for a show I once adored. Have you watched season three yet? Bring yourself online and let me know what you thought. Thanks for reading.

Album Review: MAGDALENE - FKA twigs

2019 is continuing to prove to be an extremely strong year when it comes to musical releases. After hearing lots of buzz online about FKA twigs’ newest singles for her upcoming album MAGDALENE, I decided to check it out upon its release. I’m glad I did, as this project has already secured a spot on my top 10 projects of the year. Let me break down why I enjoyed it as much as I did.

First of all, I’m entirely pleased that there has been such a healthy offering of amazing projects from strong female voices this year. The Highwomen, Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey, Ariana Grande, Little Simz, Lizzo, Charli XCX, and now FKA twigs have released fantastic projects, and MAGDALENE is no exception. Its innovativeness and originality is hypnotizing, and FKA twigs is a siren with alluring vocals on almost every track. Her vocal ability is one of the album’s biggest appeals and a conduit for the introspective storytelling that takes place here. The production is simply fantastic, as well, and unlike anything I’ve heard before.

I’m a big fan of experimentation, and I was glad to find out that FKA twigs is not afraid to take risks. Tracks like “fallen alien” immediately catch my attention because they abandon traditional structure in order to convey a feeling not available through the norms of songwriting. I’ve been trying to compare this album to the sounds of other artists, and I’m having trouble doing so, which I think is a good thing. Bjork and James Blake have some sonic similarities, but no where near the emotional vulnerability of FKA twigs on this album. Some of the songs could’ve used slightly more direction and intent, but that doesn’t take away from this project too much for me.

I hadn’t kept up to date with the lead-up to this album, and didn’t listen to any of the singles beforehand, so I got to experience this project for the first time in its entirety. It was a very emotional and chilling listen for me, and that novelty hasn’t worn off even after multiple listens. FKA twigs is now on my radar, and MAGDALENE is one of my favorite albums of the year. Great stuff, go give it a listen.

Best tracks: “thousand eyes”, “home with you”, “holy terrain (ft. Future)”, “mary magdalene”, “fallen alien”, “cellophane”

Worst tracks: “sad day”

Score: 7/10