Our Top Albums of 2023
Bad Wreck Team
2023 was another fantastic year for memorable music. We reflected on the incredible tracks and artistry that guided us through the last months. From impressive debuts to standout comebacks, there’s no doubt that we had so much to fully immerse ourselves in—making this year packed with plenty of favorites to choose from.
In no particular order, here are our top album picks released this year!
The Rise and Fall Of A Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan
Hailing from Missouri, pop artist Chappell Roan made a truly impressive mark with The Rise and Fall Of A Midwest Princess this year. The sparkling debut from the superstar in the making is full of intoxicating pop bangers and beautiful ballads. Roan’s honest and humorous yet clever songwriting carries listeners through stories of love, lust, and heartbreak. The artist’s small-town roots and path to self-discovery brought her debut record to fruition, culminating in a project that is entertaining yet equally expressive.
The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We by Mitski
Mitski weaved her self-identifiable cadence with choral additions throughout her seventh studio album, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We. The American country ballads carry themes of nature's living creatures—distributing the struggles of alcoholism, inner conflict, burdened souls, vulnerability, and loneliness. However tumultuous these reckonings are, self-love prevails. The tracks throughout the record express that humans must experience pain and sorrow to feel joy and happiness, even if it's only with oneself.
Desire, I Want To Turn Into You by Caroline Polachek
Following up critically acclaimed album Pang, Polachek continues to stun with her otherworldly vocals and experimental approach to pop. On her sophomore record, we find the artist at moments floating towards desire while also fighting it. From the spirited opening track, “Welcome To My Island,” Polacheck invites us into the mythical, ethereal world she creates. Further cementing her place in the pop music landscape, Polachek continues to express true artistry.
Honey by Samia
At the top of the year, Samia dropped her sophomore album including standout tracks “Breathing Song” and “Honey.” Filled with overwhelmingly honest accounts of past loving relationships, the artist draws attention to her versatile vocals and lyricism. The detailed metaphors and gut-wrenching imagery throughout the record establish the singer-songwriter’s shining talent. The painfully playful hooks of Honey are mercurial, yet often blend relatable moods and experiences.
ROACH by Miya Folick
Miya Folick, the Los Angeles singer-songwriter, confronts her quarter-life crisis on her 13th track sophomore album, Folick's ROACH is fantastic and catchy with all the ups and downs of life, friendship, and love. The album throughout is a journey for the hope of what is to come when you hit a certain age and appreciating the love of your friends.
In the End It Always Does by The Japanese House
The Japanese House released their euphoric synth-filled second studio album that takes the listener through the somber mentalities of heartbreak. The reimagined stages of grief can be broken down into: the beginning, mental chaos, self-reflection, reminiscing, being silly, and acceptance. Juxtaposition tangles itself between these pieces to show the full spectrum of human emotion. Situations might feel contradictory but one will feel the situations nonetheless. Finding the beauty within the album and dancing to the melody is what this chapter for The Japanese House represents.
With Love From by Aly & AJ
As seasoned artists, sister duo Aly & AJ have a wealth of stories to tell. The singers describe their album With Love From as a love letter to their fans, showcasing vignettes of their travels. Their compelling songwriting is a gift to listeners. Infusing influences from 70s rock to folk, the result is a multilayered project that creates a portrait of hazy deserts and winding roads. Front to back Aly & AJ have crafted a record that feels truly authentic.
Calico by Ryan Beatty
Ryan Beatty graced us with his third studio album, Calico, in April of this year. The 9-track record contains lyrically vulnerable pieces alluding to intimate scenes of Beatty’s upbringing. Beginning with the release of “Ribbons,” Beatty crafted a meticulously subtle frame for the record—drawing in emotive imagery and deep acoustics. Unlike his previous pop-focused work found on his debut album, Beatty proves his expansive range filled with warm, melancholy melodies.
I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet by Del Water Gap
Del Water Gap (aka S. Holden Jaffe) avoids the sophomore slump with his second studio album, I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left. Creating snapshots of dizzying city nights and harsh realizations, Jaffe exhibits profound vulnerability. The album is a personal triumph for the singer who doesn’t shy away from discussing his journey with sobriety in his lyrics. Sonically, the project mixes pop sensibilities with darker, hazy production. The anthemic choruses feel like they are made for the stage, capturing the energy of the artist’s live performances while the stripped-back tracks create a moment of reflection.
Sunburn by Dominic Fike
The rounded electric sophomore album Sunburn by Dominic Fike speaks autobiographically about betrayal, childhood, heartbreak, and sex through a nostalgic artistic lens. The audio production, content, and lyrical structure featuring quick quips reminisce upon experiences that many of his listeners find solace in. His live performances of this album show how his artistry has matured and his passion to share his work continues. Even though he never saw himself as a singer, his distinct voice and velvety falsettos balance out his subgenre sound.
Something to Give Each Other by Troye Sivan
Five years after his last release, the Australian pop icon, Troye Sivan, made his glittering comeback with electrifying, anthemic pop songs in Something to Give Each Other. His third studio album quickly rose to acclaim once lead single “Rush” dropped, giving listeners a sweet taste of the high-energy eclecticism to come. The digestible and immediately catchy tracks within the record are experimentally vibrant—framing a quintessential pop album from beginning to end.
the record by boygenius
2023 was a monumental acceleration into the mainstream eye for boygenius. The GRAMMY-nominated Album of the Year the record plays on themes of the band's love for one another, grapples with depression lacing up odes to inspiring artists and experiences. “The mortifying ordeal of being known,” as Tim Kreider once put it is a stand-out reference among the rest. Indie-rock anthems have been created and fans will now forever say “Kill the bourgeoisie” with their lungs fully expanded.
Cuts & Bruises by Inhaler
Inhaler’s sophomore album Cuts & Bruises perpetuates the band's influences of the 1980s-inspired rock, with emphasis on heavy guitar inspiration from that era. The band explores a bit of R&B with songs like “The Things I Do.” This album is a musical journey with highs and lows and culminates perfectly with “Now You Got Me.”
Somewhere On A Hillside by Postcard Boy
Postcard Boy's highly anticipated debut album, Somewhere On a Hillside, showcases his prowess as a songwriter, producer, and visual artist. Drawing inspiration from early 2000s indie melodies, dream pop, hyperpop, and it was all done beautifully. The album shows and is a big testament to his creativity. Through 12 tracks, Postcard Boy masterfully layers nostalgic and dreamy sounds, harmonic layered vocals with experimental guitars and synths.
