The Archive’s Top 10 Albums of 2023
For myself, 2023 was a year of musical extremes. Thumping beats and folksy revelations in tow, 2023 was a spectacle of talent. This year was one of growth in terms of expanding my musical tastes, as well as strengthening some old instincts. From the sweeping hues of Sufjan Steven’s Javelin to the dancefloor epic of Kelela’s Raven, here are The Music Lover’s Archive’s top ten albums that defined 2023.
Genre(s): Pop, electronic, folk, Americana, country, experimental, instrumental, World Music
10. going…going…GONE! by Hemlocke Springs: When Hemlocke Springs debuted with her first single, “girlfriend,” I knew we were in for a treat with this artist. When her debut EP, going…going…GONE! dropped in September, I couldn’t stop listening. With true left-field sensibilities, Hemlocke Springs crafts colorful, intellectual, and deeply fun-loving pop music that reflects influences like Prince and Grimes in equal measure. Ultimately, I would say this EP is the debut of a truly unique and captivating artist of whom I cannot wait to see more.
9. STARFUCKER by Slayyyter: Slayyyter circled my music library ever since the release of her debut mixtape in 2019, but STARFUCKER is currently a crown jewel of my 2023 rotation. Taking us on a journey of drugs, sex, and debauchery, Slayyyter is our party sherpa. Occupying a space that many pop artists should strive for, Slayyyter balances hard-hitting electro-pop and camp with ease, turning an ironic eye on the Hollywood party scene, and its distant audience, with gusto. With heightened vocal performances and a better sense of curation, STARFUCKER is an invigorating album. Though far from her debut, STARFUCKER by Slayyyter is arguably her defining release, at least until her next collection drops.
8. Heaven knows by PinkPantheress: A late addition to the library, Heaven knows is another brilliant debut album by a charming new talent. Though I initially wrote off PinkPantheress as a too-young fad, Heaven knows proved me wrong. Unfolding across a deceptively short runtime is a collection of deeply emotional pop songs crafted like the soundtrack to a techno-futuristic sci-fi fairytale. Highlights like “Feelings” and “Bury Me” anchor the project with deeper feeling, while whirring bits like “The aisle” provide a sort of comic relief, bringing out PinkPantheress’s goofier sensibilities. All in all, Heaven knows is a smart, well-rounded debut worth playing on repeat.
7. Let the Moon be a Planet by Steve Gunn and David Moore: My reading album for the year, Let the Moon be a Planet presents a gossamer world with simple, improvised duets between guitar and piano. What culminates is a beautiful, grounded plane of constant change and ever-present warmth. When an instrumental album is great, there’s not much else to say. If ever you need a piece of music to help you concentrate, or perhaps just relax and let your mind wander, then Let the Moon be a Planet is for you.
6. Raven by Kelela: I am a Kelela stan first and foremost, and Raven, her second studio album and first since 2017’s Take Me Apart, only affirmed Kelela’s place at the top of my favorite artists list. A grooving, murky, sexy odyssey, Raven is both a journey of the body and the spirit. “Enough For Love” still sounds as fresh as the day I first heard it, and Rahrah Gabor’s verse on “Closure” lives in my mind rent-free. Not only does this collection prove Kelela’s immense talent for crafting a sonic world, but she’s also at the top of her game, releasing one of the more affecting albums of the year. Though in some ways a slog, with many of the songs stretching with slow, aching movements, Raven ushers any willing listener through a rich landscape of sensuality and spirituality.
5. Fountain Baby by Amaarae: With Fountain Baby, Amaarae proves she is an auteur capable of producing thought-provoking music to shake your ass and maybe even cry in the club a bit. From the ethereal opening track “Angels in Tibet” to the thumping “Counterfeit” to the dancehall hymn “Come Home to God,” Amaarae shows versatility like none other. Her talent for weaving queer narratives with the threads of world music is nothing to sneeze at, and the effortless fun she has is infectious. This is the work of a true genius in many ways, and I cannot wait to follow Amaarae to musical parts unknown.
4. Time Ain’t Accidental by Jess Williamson: When I was trapped in my house this summer, without a car or any means to travel, I spent a lot of time out on the porch listening to Time Ain’t Accidental. Though I have an emotional connection to this collection, that has no bearing on the truth: this album is brilliant. With arrangements that hint at classic Americana with simple drums, guitar, and Williamson’s versatile voice, Time Ain’t Accidental studies love and all its jagged and soft edges. The title track, “Hunter,” and “Topanga Two Step” encapsulate the ethos of this album. With heart-on-sleeve honesty and a wicked sense of humor, you can’t help but root for our heroine as she navigates her past, present, and future, while simultaneously inserting ourselves as lead in equal measure. Time Ain’t Accidental proves that good country music can connect anyone.
3. The Greater Wings by Julie Byrne: The first album I ever reviewed for this blog, The Greater Wings is sprawling and deeply emotional. Written in part after the death of a friend and collaborator, Julie Byrne channels immense grief and pressurizes it into crystalline love, pure and mighty and beautiful. There is no part of this album that doesn’t sparkle or leave some impression on the listener. Her 2017 album Not Even Happiness introduced me to Bryne, and The Greater Wings solidified my love for her music. “Death is the Diamond” alone seals the deal, but every track has its place in my heart, and hopefully yours as well.
2. The Loveliest Time by Carly Rae Jepsen: I have been a fan of Jepsen since 2015’s EMOTION, and so I can say with my whole heart that I believe The Loveliest Time is her best album. With her signature flair for experimenting and bending the expectations of pop music, Jepsen plays an alchemist of love, concocting a song for any emotion tied to it. From sweeping, symphonic productions like “After Last Night,” or percussive experiments like “Anything to be With You,” Jepsen flexes her love for the crush, the object of her desire, while brooding pseudo-ballad “Put It To Rest” reflects on the dour points of a relationship and its eventual end. In totality, it is Jepsen’s earnestness that ties these tracks together, as well as brilliant production and a commitment to expanding her musical reach.
1. Javelin by Sufjan Stevens: I think anyone who’s read this blog before shouldn’t be surprised at this outcome. Of course, Javelin would occupy the top spot as my album of the year. Before I am an American, I’m a Sufjan Stevens fan. There were big shoes to fill, as Javelin was said to be the spiritual follow-up to 2015’s Carrie & Lowell, and boy was it. Sprawling and specific, uplifting, and gut-wrenching, Javelin is an exercise in exploring grief and how it interacts with a life still moving. Since the release of the lead single “So You Are Tired,” I have not been disappointed by any song on this album. It is truly a skipless pursuit in my eyes, tying together so much of Stevens’s previous catalog into one place, from the electronic flourishes of Age of Adz to the emotion of Carrie & Lowell to the folksy heart of Seven Swans. For me, there is no part of this album that pulls any punches. If any album from this list deserves to be explored, take Javelin and run with it.
