What an absolute trip 2023 has been. The world has seen a ridiculous amount of ups and downs over the last twelve months, and life feels more "normal" than it has in a hot minute it still feels slightly off. Music has been weird again this year, too; some really, really good albums have blessed our streaming services, and others just didn't deliver the way we expected them to. With concerts back in full swing, this was a great year for live music (I'm still half convinced that getting to the Eras Tour may have been a dream), and while we won't be touching on that as much it definitely felt worth mentioning. I feel like I've listened to an insane amount of music this year, and as always I can't wait to share my thoughts with you on the music I thoroughly enjoyed. As is tradition, here are my year-end post ground rules:
1. No singles released in 2023 just for time’s sake – only full albums and EPs.
2. The songs picked from each album are based on my personal opinions alone. There's no set number for these albums either like there is with a Diva Spotlight, it's just whatever songs grab my attention or punch me in my feelings. I encourage everyone to listen to the full album if you’re interested, because they’re pretty great and your opinions are likely to differ from mine!
3. I will point out which song is my favorite from each album and give honorable mentions to the others that I really enjoyed - no lyrics though, this post is always long enough without them.
3. These albums and EPs are in chronological release order, not ordered by my personal preference.
4. I had to listen to and like at least one song off of an album or EP released in 2023 for me to want to write about it, so if an album you loved didn't make it, don't take it personally.
This year I figured I would also list out the albums I listened to but just didn't hit for me. For the first time ever, here's my Not My Cup of Tea 2023 List:
-Gloria (Sam Smith)
-The Muse (Qveen Herby)
-Death Below (August Burns Red)
-In Pieces (Chlöe)
-Pistolz & Pearlz (Kodak Black)
-Life Is But A Dream... (Avenged Sevenfold)
-The Age of Pleasure (Janelle Monáe)
-Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride (Jason Mraz)
-Parallel (Scott Hoying)
-UTOPIA (Travis Scott)
-Unreal Unearth (Hozier)
-Standing Room Only (Tim McGraw)
-Housewife (Qveen Herby)
-Confessions of the Fallen (Staind)
-Movie of the Week (Shakey Graves)
-Carolyn's Boy (Darius Rucker)
-For All the Dogs (Drake)
-Not That Fancy (Reba McEntire)
-SET IT OFF (Offset)
-Rewind Forward (Ringo Starr)
-SUPERBLOOM (Silent Planet)
-When a Crooner Dies (Leslie Odom, Jr.)
-Blockbusta (Busta Rhymes)
Strays - Margo Price (released 1/13/2023)
-Favorite Song: Been To The Mountain (written by J. Ivey, M. Price)
-Honorable Mentions: Radio ft. Sharon Van Etten (written by M. Price, S. Van Etten); County Road (written by J. Ivey, M. Price); Time Machine (written by C. Denny, D. Napier)
This was my official introduction to Margo Price, who I'd been hearing about for a while but had never gotten around to listening to. I wasn't sure how I would take to a psychedelic country album, but I will tell you right now that I had a great time listening to it. Price has a great country voice, and the soundscapes created by the production and instrumentation on this album really made the experience that much more enjoyable. It's a great album to listen to whether you're talking a roadtrip through the desert or just kicking back to relax at home. Strays includes 10 songs, runs about 46 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
Lofi Minnie: Chill - Disney Lofi (released 1/20/2023)
-Favorite Song: Beauty and the Beast with Hippo Dreams ft. Julia Henderson (written by A. Menken, H. Ashman)
-Honorable Mentions: Circle of Life with Team Astro (written by E. John, R. Rice); Colors of the Wind with WYS (written by A. Menken, S. Schwartz); Reflection with Philanthrope (written by M. Wilder, D. Zippel); When You Wish Upon a Star with Jazzinuf (written by L. Harline, N. Washington); The Bare Necessities with pastels (written by T. Gilkyson); Winnie the Pooh with sagun (written by R. Sherman, R. Sherman); We Don't Talk About Bruno with Otesla (written by L. Miranda); Let It Go with eevee (written by K. Anderson-Lopez, R. Lopez)
I wrote last year about how much I loved Lofi Minnie: Focus, so when I saw on Instagram that a new volume was being released I super excited. While this album doesn't feel as chill to me as the title suggests, it's chock full of even more Disney classics reimagined by some very talented lofi artists. Thanks to both of these installments, I myself have grown a healthy appreciation of lofi music and was glad to see several artists I liked from Focus reappear on Chill. It's a perfect album to listen to decompress while working, studying, or just vibing. Lofi Minnie: Chill includes 16 songs, runs about 45 minutes in length, and is labeled as an instrumental album by Apple Music.
Diamonds & Dancefloors - Ava Max (released 1/27/2023)
-Favorite Song: Diamonds & Dancefloors (written by A. Koci, C. Ailin, M. Pollack, H. Walter)
-Honorable Mentions: Sleepwalker (written by A. Koci, S. Douglas, M. Lomax, H. Walter, J. Jeberg); Cold As Ice (written by A. Koci, C. McDonough, J. Erixson, M. Love, H. Walter); Dancing's Done (written by A. Koci, S. Douglas, P. Bowman, M. Burns, P. Rycroft, H. Walter)
A former student of mine really loved Ava Max and introduced me to some of her older music in our lessons, so when I saw she was dropping a new album I figured I would give it a shot. I thought this album was pretty fun; not necessarily the greatest thing I've ever heard in my life but a good time for fans of pop, dance, and the resurgence of disco that's been happening the last few years. Max is still pretty young, so I'm interested in seeing her music continue to grow along with her as an artist. I'd say it's an alright time, very high energy and bubbly and probably great with a younger crowed. Diamonds & Dancefloors includes 14 songs, runs about 40 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
Come Get Your Wife - Elle King (released 1/27/2023)
-Favorite Song: Tulsa (written by B. Hamrick, E. Langley, E. King, M. McKinney)
-Honorable Mentions: Ohio (written by B. Hamrick, E. Langley, E. King, M. McKinney); Before You Met Me (written by L. Hungate, M. McRee, T. Brown); Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home) with Miranda Lambert (written by E. King, M. Johnson)
Back in 2021, Elle King and Miranda Lambert released a duet together and I knew I needed to check out the full album when it finally dropped. I'd only ever listened to King's rock stuff like Ex's and Oh's, and while she's great at that she sounds so at home singing country it's like she's been doing it all along. This album is so much fun, with sassy lyrics, strong melodies, and great instrumentation. It's very reminiscent of earlier Miranda Lambert to me, so if that's your vibe definitely check this one out. Come Get Your Wife includes 12 songs, runs about 40 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
Let's Start Here. - Lil Yachty (released 1/27/2023)
-Favorite Song: the BLACK seminole. (written by J. Portrait, J. Raisen, J. Raisen, M. McCollum, P. Wimberly)
-Honorable Mentions: THE zone~ (written by J. Portrait, J. Raisen, M. McCollum, P. Wimberly); WE SAW THE SUN! (written by A. Clemons, J. Portrait, J. Raisen, J. Raisen, M. McCollum, P. Wimberly); REACH THE SUNSHINE. (written by A. Lopez, D. Caesar, J. Portrait, J. Raisen, J. Kennedy, J. Raisen, M. McCollum, N. Hakim, P. Wimberly)
I'm still trying to expand my palette with hip hop artists, so when my brother told me I needed to listen to Lil Yachty's new album I decided to give it a try but wasn't expecting to be crazy about it (mumble rap, I've learned, is just really not for me). What I could never have expected was for this to be probably my most surprising enjoyment of an album for 2023. This is absolutely not a rap or hip hop album, but a really cool experiment into new psychedelia and alternative music. It's a very chill listening experience that never ceases to be interesting, and I've been recommending it to people since I first listened to it. Let's Start Here includes 14 songs, runs about 57 minutes in length, and is labeled as an alternative album by Apple Music.
Queen Of Me - Shania Twain (released 2/3/2023)
-Favorite Song: Best Friend (written by D. Priddy, M. Crew, E. Twain, T. Mann)
-Honorable Mentions: Giddy Up! (written by D. Stewart, J. Agombar, S. Roman, E. Twain); Brand New (written by D. Priddy, M. Crew, E. Twain, W. Hector); Pretty Liar (written by A. Messinger, E. Twain); Queen Of Me (written by A. Messinger, E. Twain)
Shania Twain's music has been a part of my life since I was a little girl, so I was very excited to see her release new music this year. Her fun, girl-powered blend of pop and country has always been so fun to listen to, and while this album didn't cement itself as a classic in my brain like Come On Over did when I was in elementary school it's still a great time. It's that classic Shania feel brought into the 2020s, feeling fresh and new while still feeling familiar and friendly. If you like Shania in any era, you'll probably like this album with no questions asked. Queen Of Me includes 12 songs, runs about 36 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
This Is Why - Paramore (released 2/10/2023)
-Favorite Song: C'est Comme Ça (written by H. Williams, T. York, Z. Farro)
-Honorable Mentions: The News (written by H. Williams, T. York, Z. Farro); Running Out Of Time (written by H. Williams, T. York, Z. Farro); You First (written by H. Williams, T. York, Z. Farro)
Paramore burst onto the scene when I was a teenager and helped me realize maybe I actually did like other genres of music besides country and musical theater. I firmly believe Hayley Williams is one of the top female vocalists out there right now, so for me listening to her is always a treat. This album didn't end up being exactly what I expected, but the songs that hit for me really hit. It's not the young, angsty Paramore of the mid-00's, but a different, more mature type of post-pandemic angst that still works. This Is Why includes 10 songs, runs about 36 minutes in length, and is labeled as an alternative album by Apple Music.
TRUSTFALL - P!nk (released 2/17/2023)
-Favorite Song: When I Get There (written by D. Hodges, A. Wadge)
-Honorable Mentions: Turbulence (written by M. Koma, M. Love); Kids in Love ft. First Aid Kit (written by L. Söderberg, J. Jerlström, K. Södernberg); Runaway (written by E. Erfjord, C. Douglas)
P!nk is another artist that I think of as one of the best vocalists in the business. One thing I've always loved about P!nk's music is the notable edge that permeates all of her songs, and while I did like this album that edge was noticeably absent. It's much softer than her other stuff, which I think has a lot to do with the recent loss of her father, and its doesn't make the music bad but it doesn't fully sound like P!nk. It's definitely more of a pop feel than her usual rock, but she sounds incredible as always so I recommend giving it a try. TRUSTFALL includes 13 songs, runs about 44 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
Quest For Fire - Skrillex (released 2/17/2023)
-Favorite Song: RATATA with Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo (written by M. Elliott, C. Stein, D. Harry, J. Simmons, D. McDaniels, P. Simon, Q. Dupieux, S. Moore)
-Honorable Mentions: Tears with Joker & Sleepnet (written by A. Clarke, F. Jenkins, I. Phillips, L. Daniels, L. Mclean, N. Roos, R. Jerkins, L. Watson, M. Winans, M. Jones, N. Turman, S. Moore); Rumble with Fred again... & Flowdan (written by E. Duke, F. Gibson, J. Douglas, M. Veira, T. Thomas, S. Moore); XENA with Nat Barghouti (written by R. Mosa, S. Moore); Supersonic (my existence) with Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady (written by J. Pan, D. Brady, M. van Sonderen, N. Roos, S. Moore)
EDM is not a genre I tend to enjoy regularly, but I still recognize Skrillex's talent and success as an artist in that genre. I ended up being pretty surprised that I enjoyed a good portion of this album. It's what you'd expect from Skrillex, with good, heavy beats and a lot of uptempo energy, but this one just ended up hitting for me more than his music usually does. If you're an EDM or dubstep fan, this one would definitely be good for you to check out. Quest For Fire includes 15 songs, runs about 45 minutes in length, and is labeled as an electronic album by Apple Music.
Don't Get Too Close - Skrillex (released 2/18/2023)
-Favorite Song: Don't Get Too Close with Bibi Bourelly (written by B. Bourelly, P. Losnegård, S. Moore)
-Honorable Mentions: Real Spring with Bladee (written by B. Reichwald, S. Moore); Summertime with Kid Cudi (written by S. Mescudi, S. Moore); Bad For Me with Corbin & Chief Keef (written by C. Smidzik, K. Cozart, P. Losnegård, R. Richardson, S. Moore)
Released one day after Quest For Fire, this is still very much a Skrillex album but with a much less "aggressive" (for lack of a better term) tone. It's more chill, not enough to be classified as lofi but not hard enough to have a crazy rave-like light show along with it. I enjoyed the tone of this album a lot, and really enjoyed getting to easily hear more lyrics out of this one. Again, check this one out if you're into EDM. Don't Get Too Close includes 12 songs, runs about 34 minutes in length, and is labeled as an electronic album by Apple Music.
High Drama - Adam Lambert (released 2/24/2023)
-Favorite Song: Do You Really Want to Hurt Me (written by G. O'Dowd, J. Moss, M. Craig, R. Hay)
-Honorable Mentions: Holding Out for a Hero (written by D. Pitchford, J. Steinman); Chandelier (written by J. Shatkin, S. Furler); Getting Older (written by F. O'Connell, B. O'Connell); West Coast (written by L. Del Rey, R. Nowels); My Attic (written by F. Wexler, I. Juber, J. Michaels)
Adam Lambert seriously gets better and better as the years go by, and this album just helps prove that point. High Drama is a cover album, which anyone who watched Lambert on American Idol knows he'd knock out of the park without even trying, and his glam rock takes on these classics new and old are really great. Covering artists like Bonnie Tyler, Sia, Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey, Culture Club, P!nk, and more, his vocals are absolutely out of this world which should surprise exactly no one. Lambert is absolutely and undeniably a rock star. High Drama includes 11 songs, runs about 38 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
This is the Hour - Christy Nockels (released 2/24/2023)
-Favorite Song: Valor (written by C. Nockels)
-Honorable Mentions: As For Me (Psalm 2) (written by C. Nockels, N. Nockels); Home (written by C. Nockels); In Your Eyes (written by P. Gabriel); Keep On (written by C. Nockels, N. Nockels); Benediction (Breath of God) (written by C. Nockels)
Christy Nockels is well known in worship music as being a pivotal member and prominent worship leader with Passion Band, but she's made a name for herself as a solo artist as well. She makes some interesting choices with her vocals in my opinion, like some of the vowel shapes she chooses, but overall she has a really beautiful voice and is a gifted songwriter. You can hear her joy and love for the Lord in every note, every lyric, and even in the moments of rest throughout this whole album. It's a peaceful and encouraging album from beginning to end. This is the Hour includes 14 songs, runs about 69 minutes in length, and is labeled as a Christian album by Apple Music.
Gravel & Gold - Dierks Bentley (released 2/24/2023)
-Favorite Song: Still (written by D. Bentley, J. Hyde, J. Spillman, R. Tyndell)
-Honorable Mentions: Heartbreak Drinking Tour (written by A. Gorley, D. Bentley, M. Hardey, L. Dick, R. Copperman); Gold (written by A. Gorley, D. Bentley, L. Dick, R. Copperman)
I tend to like a decent amount of Dierks Bentley's music, especially as he's stayed true to his style and not completely transitioned to that really annoying "new" country sound that permeated the '10s. He's got such a comforting country voice, and while a little something different every once in a while would be nice the man knows what he's good at and just keeps working at perfecting it. This album has great instrumentation on in as well as great vocals, with me being fairly partial to the satisfying guitar parts in particular. It's a good addition to Bentley's repertoire and just a good country album in general. Gravel & Gold includes 14 songs, runs about 51 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
Lighting Up the Sky - Godsmack (released 2/24/2023)
-Favorite Song: Growing Old (written by S. Erna, S. Larkin, T. Rombola)
-Honorable Mentions: You And I (written by S. Erna); Best Of Times (written by S. Erna, T. Rombola)
My husband is a fan of Godsmack's earlier music, and since I also have a few of those songs I really enjoy I wanted to give their newest album a shot. It's an alright rock album in and of itself, but nothing grabbed me the way their older hits like Voodoo, Living in Sin, or Serenity did the first time I heard them. I'm still very intrigued by Sully Erna's vocals and really like his tone, and I always like hearing what these guys do on guitar. It may not be their strongest album, but it's still worth a listen if you're a fan of the genre or the band. Lighting Up the Sky includes 11 songs, runs about 50 minutes in length, and is labeled as a hard rock album by Apple Music.
Cracker Island - Gorillaz (released 2/24/2023)
-Favorite Song: Cracker Island ft. Thundercat (written by D. Albarn, G. Kurstin, S. Bruner)
-Honorable Mentions: Oil ft. Stevie Nicks (written by D. Albarn, G. Kurstin); New Gold ft. Bootie Brown & Tame Impala (written by D. Albarn, G. Kurstin, K. Parker, R. Robinson); Tormenta ft. Bad Bunny (written by D. Albarn, R. Kabaka); Skinny Ape (written by D. Albarn, G. Kurstin)
Like a lot of millennials, I get interested whenever Gorillaz drops new music since I lived through the success of Clint Eastwood and Feel Good Inc. I also, though, have written in this blog that I'm not sure how great an album actually is when most of the songs I like on it have featured guest artists as opposed to just the group themselves. This is definitely not "old Gorillaz," but Albarn's sound hasn't been going along that vein for quite some time, which is ok. It's not my favorite music I've ever heard from Gorillaz, but the songs I liked I thought were really well done, so I recommend giving it a shot. Cracker Island includes 11 songs, runs about 42 minutes in length, and is labeled as an alternative album by Apple Music.
College Park - Logic (released 2/24/2023)
-Favorite Song: Clone Wars III (written by S. Hall, K. Metcalfe)
-Honorable Mentions: Cruisin' Through the Universe ft. RZA (written by A. Ivatury, K. Torres, R. Diggs, S. Hall); Insipio (written by K. Ellis, S. Hall); Shimmy ft. Joey Bada$$ (written by A. Ivatury, J. Scott, R. Diggs, R. Lopez, R. Jones, S. Hall)
My husband is a Logic fan, so I figured I'd check his latest album out in my quest to expand my opinion on rap and hip hop. In this "flashback" style album, Logic imagines going back to the early days of his career in 2011, which is cool most of the time in this case. I was not a fan of the '00s-'10s style skits at the end of each song, but the songs themselves are good. He has some good beats and I really enjoy his lyrics on the songs I gravitated towards, so all in all I'd say this album is definitely worth a listen. College Park includes 17 songs, runs about 67 minutes in length, and is labeled as a hip hop/rap album by Apple Music.
Keep On Ramblin' - Radio Company (released 2/24/2023)
-Favorite Song: Forever Ain't Long (written by J. Ackles, S. Carlson)
-Honorable Mentions: Ain't No Tellin' (written by J. Ackles, S. Carlson); You Made Me Blue (written by D. Saw, S. Carlson); Return to Me (written by J. Ackles, S. Carlson); Restless Man (written by J. Ackles, S. Carlson)
Radio Company dropped their third album this year, and while I enjoyed it overall it wasn't quite what I'd hoped it would be, similar to how I felt about Paramore. Switching from a more rock style to a more Americana folksy focus, it wasn't a bad switchup for Jensen and Steve but it didn't give them as much room musically to explore their sound like I thought they were able to do on their previous two albums. Ackles gets to sing more on this one than he did on Vol. 2, but his vocals felt way more locked up and boxed in, not quite as free as he's sounded in the past. It's a fairly laid back album, has some good songwriting throughout, and I do recommend it because I like these guys a lot. Keep On Ramblin' includes 10 songs, runs about 38 minutes in length, and is labeled as an Americana album by Apple Music.
One Thing at a Time - Morgan Wallen (released 3/3/2023)
-Favorite Song: Tennessee Fan (written by A. Gorley, M. Holman, M. Hardy, M. Wallen)
-Honorable Mentions: Everything I Love (written by A. Gorley, E. Smith, G. Allman, M. Wallen, R. Payne, R. Vojtesak); '98 Braves (written by J. Byron, J. Miller, T. Wood); I Wrote the Book (written by C. Montgomery, M. Hardy, M. Wallen); You Proof (written by A. Gorley, E. Smith, M. Wallen, R. Vojtesak); Neon Star (Country Boy Lullaby) (written by E. Smith, J. Thompson, M. Wallen, R. Vojtesak); Cowgirls ft. ERNEST (written by A. Gorley, E. Smith, J. Maddocks, R. Block, R. Vojtesak)
I get why so many people like Morgan Wallen, although I do admittedly prefer listening to Zach Bryan more. When I saw Wallen dropped what's basically a triple album, I knew it wouldn't hit me near as hard as Bryan's American Heartbreak but I still wanted to give it a try. I think Wallen's singing voice is fairly solid, and while vocally nothing on this shone quite as bright as his cover of Cover Me Up I ended up enjoying more songs than I initially expected to. It's a pretty good country album with some solid writing, so if you're a country fan go on and give it a listen. One Thing at a Time includes 36 songs, runs about 112 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
Past // Present // Future - Meet Me @ The Altar (released 3/10/2023)
-Favorite Song: A Few Tomorrows (written by E. Victoria, J. Ryan, R. West, T. Campbell)
-Honorable Mentions: Try (written by E. Victoria, J. Ryan, K. Nicholls, S. Nicholls, T. Campbell); Kool (written by E. Victoria, J. Ryan, S. Jones, T. Campbell); T.M.I (written by D. Wilson, E. Victoria, J. Ryan, T. Campbell); It's Over For Me (written by E. Victoria, J. Ryan, S. Jones, T. Campbell); Thx 4 Nothin' (written by E. Victoria, E. Rosen, T. English, T. Campbell)
My husband and I both loved MMATA's 2021 EP Model Citizen, so their full length album was always on my list for this year. This album was a bit of a slow burn for me, because upon first listen it just didn't have the same energy I had come to expect from this group's earlier music. Over the last few months, though, it's really grown on me and I think it's a pretty good representation of the band as well as their talent and sound. Edith's vocals, Tea's guitar, and Ada's drumming just mash together to make one really fun listening experience. Past // Present // Future includes 11 songs, runs about 30 minutes in length, and is labeled as an alternative album by Apple Music.
Endless Summer Vacation - Miley Cyrus (released 3/10/2023)
-Favorite Song: Rose Colored Lenses (written by M. Cyrus, T. Hull, T. Johnson)
-Honorable Mentions: Jaded (written by M. Cyrus, G. Kurstin, S. Aarons); Thousand Miles ft. Brandi Carlile (written by M. Cyrus, T. Jesso, B. Bourelly, M. Williams); Island (written by M. Cyrus, B. Burton, J. Decilveo, C. Smith, M. Pollack, D. Miller); Wonder Woman (written by M. Cyrus, M. Pollack, G. Hein, T. Johnson, T. Hull)
Miley and I are very close in age, so it's hard to remember a time when she wasn't a huge star. I've struggled with her music over the last ten years or so, partly because it just hasn't been my particular taste and partly because I don't think she's utilizing her voice to its ultimate potential because say what you will, she has a really great voice. Despite absolutely hating Flowers when it dropped on the radio, I wanted to try this album out and I'm very glad that I did. There were some really good songs on here that are, in my opinion, a much better representation of Cyrus's musicality than Flowers could ever be. Endless Summer Vacation includes 13 songs, runs about 43 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre - Periphery (released 3/10/2023)
-Favorite Song: Wax Wings (written by J. Bowen, M. Holcomb, M. Halpern, M. Mansoor, S. Sotelo)
-Honorable Mentions: Atropos (written by J. Bowen, M. Holcomb, M. Halpern, M. Mansoor, S. Sotelo); Silhouette (written by J. Bowen, M. Holcomb, M. Halpern, M. Mansoor, S. Sotelo)
Periphery is another band my husband introduced me to, and like with hip hop I've been trying to increase my base of metal music. I was pleasantly surprised how many songs I ended up really enjoying off of this album, since despite my best efforts I just usually find metal to be a little too discordant and "hard" for me. It's a good mix of sounds, with there being both the screaming sound you expect from metal as well as more traditional singing. All in all, a fairly decent album in my opinion, just be prepared for longer run times on the songs (4-7 minutes each). Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre includes 9 songs, runs about 70 minutes in length, and is labeled as a metal album by Apple Music.
Come Up Here - Bethel Music (released 3/17/2023)
-Favorite Song: Holy Forever with Jenn Johnson (written by P. Wickham, J. Johnson, J. Ingram, B. Johnson, C. Tomlin)
-Honorable Mentions: Beauty with David Funk (written by B. Strand, D. Funk, E. Abioye); Precious Blood with Hannah McClure ft. Amanda Cook (written by P. McClure, H. McClure, J. Gentile, A. Cook); Surrounded By Holy with Zahriya Zachary (written by D. Smith, S. Matta, Z. Zachary); I Am Your Beloved with Jonathan David Helser & Melissa Helser (written by B. Lake, J. Helser); Time And Time Again with Josh Baldwin (written by H. Bentley, J. Baldwin, M. Brock); Inheritance with Emmy Rose (written by A. Johnson, E. Rose, H. Bentley, K. DiMarco)
Bethel Music was my third most listened to artist on my Apple Music Rewind this year (clocking in at a mere 1,200 minutes), so I guess you could say I'm a pretty big fan of their work. I thought the entire spirit of this album was so beautiful, and it allowed me to just sit in the moment as I listened and worshiped along. Bethel has some truly gifted worship leaders in their midst, and their showcases on this album are full of joy, peace, and hope. If you've been a fan of them in the past, this album will definitely not disappoint. Come Up Here includes 11 songs and 11 music videos, runs about 116 minutes in length, and is labeled as a Christian album by Apple Music.
On Top of The Covers - T-Pain (released 3/17/2023)
-Favorite Song: A Change Is Gonna Come (written by S. Cooke)
-Honorable Mentions: Don't Stop Believin' (written by J. Cain, N. Schon, S. Perry); Stay With Me (written by J. Napier, J. Lynne, S. Smith, T. Petty, W. Phillips); War Pigs (written by B. Ward, G. Butler, O. Osbourne, T. Iommi)
Ya'll, it took way too long for people to figure out how well T-Pain could sing without autotune. If you haven't seen video of his awesome performance on The Masked Singer, or if you don't follow him on Twitch, this album is a great place to experience his powerhouse vocals firsthand. On our second cover album of 2023, T-Pain does an awesome job putting his own flavor on these classic songs while still respecting their original roots, all while wounding like he's having a blast doing it. With covers of artists like Sam Cooke, Journey, Sam Smith, Black Sabbath, and more, this was a great listen start to finish. On Top of The Covers includes 8 songs, runs about 32 minutes in length, and is labeled as an R&B/soul album by Apple Music.
THE OTHER ONE - BABYMETAL (released 3/24/2023)
-Favorite Song: Monochrome (written by MK-METAL, YUPPEMETAL)
-Honorable Mentions: METAL KINGDOM (written by KITSUNE OF METAL GOD, tatsuo); Mirror Mirror (written by THE OTHER METAL, RYU-METAL, MEGMETAL); Light and Darkness (written by MK-METAL, TAKEMETAL)
You've heard of J-Pop, but have you heard about kawaii metal? I don't even remember exactly how my husband and I discovered BABYMETAL, but it's been a lot of fun listening to them since we did. From someone who openly and admittedly struggles with metal, this band is fun, creative, and just wild enough to peak my interest when I see they have new music coming out. This album felt a little more dramatic than their other stuff I've heard, but it makes more since upon hearing they developed this as a concept album and I'm curious to see what they continue to do along this vein. THE OTHER ONE includes 10 songs, runs about 41 minutes in length, and is labeled as a metal album by Apple Music.
So Much (For) Stardust - Fall Out Boy (released 3/24/2023)
-Favorite Song: Hold Me Like a Grudge (written by A. Hurley, J. Trohman, P. Stump, P. Wentz)
-Honorable Mentions: So Good Right Now (written by A. Hurley, J. Trohman, P. Stump, P. Wentz, R. Byrd); The Kintsugi Kid (Ten Years) (written by A. Hurley , J. Trohman, P. Stump, P. Wentz)
Fall Out Boy, like Paramore, has been on my radar for a long time and was one of the first non-country or bubblegum pop groups I really, really liked. However, also like with Paramore, this album was not exactly what I expected from these guys. Fall Out Boy has definitely gone from their original punk sound to a much poppier one, which sometimes can hit, but more often than not on this record it didn't for me. I still think Patrick Stump is an amazing vocalist, and I like Fall Out Boy as a whole, but if you were hoping for something reminiscent of their classic sound you will not find it here. So Much (For) Stardust includes 13 songs, runs about 44 minutes in length, and is labeled as an alternative album by Apple Music.
Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd - Lana Del Rey (released 3/24/2023)
-Favorite Song: A&W (written by S. Dew, E. Grant, J. Antonoff)
-Honorable Mentions: Fishtail (written by A. Tomberlin, A. Konstanty, E. Grant, J. Antonoff)
It is, indeed, the year of our Lord 2023 and I still do not understand the big deal around Lana Del Rey even a little bit. I'm not a personal fan of her vocals, I don't think her songwriting is any better or worse than any other songwriter out there right now, and I'm a little baffled how this album got nominated for Album of the Year for next year's Grammys because to me, it was largely boring. I know I'm very much in the minority in thinking these things, but there you go; maybe someday she'll drop a song that changes my mind, but it hasn't happened yet. There were a couple of songs on here that caught my attention and aren't half bad, but this was not the best thing I listened to this year by a long shot. Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd includes 16 songs, runs about 78 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
Gettin' Old - Luke Combs (released 3/24/2023)
-Favorite Song: Fast Car (written by G. Robin, T. Chapman)
-Honorable Mentions: You Found Yours (written by L. Combs, T. Archer, D. Isbell, J. McNair); Still (written by L. Combs, J. Davis, R. Fulcher, D. Isbell, D. Nunley, R. Isbell); Where the Wild Things Are (written by R. Montana, D. Turnbull)
Luke Combs, as I said last year, is a "newer" country artist that I really enjoy. When this sister album to 2022's Growin' Up came out, I knew I'd be listening to it, and I will say I enjoyed it even more than I did than the other. Luke Combs has a really, really nice voice with great tone, great control, and a lot of emotion packed into each song. It just makes me so happy to be able to hear good country music again after a ten year period where it, sadly, largely wasn't all that great. Gettin' Old includes 18 songs, runs about 66 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
PORTALS - Melanie Martinez (released 3/31/2023)
-Favorite Song: FAERIE SOIRÉE (written by M. Martinez, J. Hoskins, G. Garth, P. Garth)
-Honorable Mentions: DEATH (written by M. Martinez); TUNNEL VISION (written by M. Martinez, J. Dussolliet, T. Sommers); MOON CYCLE (written by M. Martinez, C. Baran, J. Scharff); PLUTO (written by M. Martinez, C. Baran, J. Karpeh); MILK OF THE SIREN (written by M. Martiniez, J. Dussolliet, T. Sommers)
I can't remember exactly where or when I found Melanie Martinez the first time, but I know I was hooked the first time I heard Dollhouse. Her music can be a little out there for some, and PORTALS takes that to a new height for sure, but I honestly really dig it. The production is cool and interesting, Martinez's vocals are just right for this type of music, and the way the whole album flows together to create a cyclical story is awesome to me. The hypnotic vibe of the beats really help sell this album for me, and if you're into art pop or dark pop you will
likely love this. PORTALS includes 16 songs, runs about 63 minutes in length, and is labeled as an alternative album by Apple Music.
NEVER ENOUGH - Daniel Caesar (released 4/7/2023)
-Favorite Song: Buyers Remorse (written by A. Simmonds, S. Leon, O. Velasco)
-Honorable Mentions: Ocho Rios (written by A. Simmonds); Valentina (written by A. Simmonds, Z. Simmonds); Let Me Go (written by R. Yacoub, A. Simmonds, J. Napes, R. Thomas); Always (written by A. Simmonds, T. Jesso, N. Lambroza); Shot My Baby (written by A. Simmonds, M. Ahmed)
My brother introduced me to Daniel Caesar's music a year or two ago, so I wanted to check out his new album this spring. I historically struggle with connecting with R&B music (like with metal and hip hop it just doesn't match my personal taste), but I ended up liking this album quite a bit. Caesar has a very chill vibe all throughout his music, and to me it's never boring, keeping me interested throughout the whole song. I think he's quite talented, and I encourage you to try this album out to see if it's the right type of R&B for you. NEVER ENOUGH includes 15 songs, runs about 55 minutes in length, and is labeled as an R&B/Soul album by Apple Music.
HOPE - NF (released 4/7/2023)
-Favorite Song: HAPPY (written by N. Feuerstein, T. Profitt)
-Honorable Mentions: HOPE (written by T. Profitt, N. Feuerstein); MAMA (written by T. Profitt, N. Feuerstein, C. Walowac); PANDEMONIUM (written by N. Feuerstein, T. Profitt); BULLET (written by T. Profitt, C. Walowac, N. Feuerstein); MISTAKE (written by T. Profitt, N. Feuerstein); RUNNING (Written by D. Garcia, N. Feuerstein)
A good friend showed me NF's music a couple of years ago, and I have to say it's hip hop music that I truly do enjoy. Being a big lyric buff, I really respect and appreciate the way he's so open and honest about his struggless throughout life and his mental health. This album has a good mix of rap and singing on it, and like previous work of his that I've heard I was impressed by the production and the instrumentation. Even if you're not the biggest rap fan, I recommend giving NF a try. HOPE includes 13 songs, runs about 50 minutes in length, and is labeled as a hip hop/rap album by Apple Music.
Glorious Game - El Michels Affair & Black Thought (released 4/14/2023)
-Favorite Song: Grateful (written by L. Michaels, T. Trotter, P. Spring, H. Steinweiss, N. Movshon, C. Browne, R. Gordon, G. Gordon, W. Johnson)
-Honorable Mentions: I'm Still Somehow (written by L. Michaels, T. Trotter, J. Mitchell)
After how much I enjoyed Black Thought's collaboratiton with Danger Mouse in 2022, I knew I wanted to give this album a listen when it dropped. However, this album just didn't hit the same way for me that the previous one did. It's still good, and Black Thought is great as always, but it was a little too slow for me pace-wise and not as many songs grabbed my attention immediately. I definitely know there's hip hop fans out there that would like this album, but it was a solid meh for me. Glorious Game includes 12 songs, runs about 31 minutes in length, and is labeled as a hip hop/rap album by Apple Music.
72 Seasons - Metallica (released 4/14/2023)
-Favorite Song: Shadows Follow (written by L. Ulrich, J. Hetfield)
-Honorable Mentions: Screaming S*****e (written by L. Ulrich, J. Hetfield, R. Trujillo); Sleepwalk My Life Away (written by J. Hetfield, L. Ulrich, R. Trujillo)
Guys, Metallica still has it. Going strong since 1981, these guys put out a pretty strong album this spring. It's got what you'd expect from Metallica, from strong instrumentation to the harsher hard rock/heavy metal vocalization styles. No, of course it's not The Black Album, but I still enjoyed it. 72 Seasons includes 12 songs, runs about 77 minutes in length, and is labeled as a metal album by Apple Music.
A Kiss for the Whole World - Enter Shikari (released 4/21/2023)
-Favorite Song: It Hurts (written by C. Batten, R. Reynolds, R. Rolfe, R. Clewlow)
-Honorable Mentions: Bloodshot (written by C. Batten, R. Reynolds, R. Rolfe, R. Clewlow); Goldfish ~ (written by C. Batten, R. Reynolds, R. Rolfe, R. Clewlow)
I knew next to nothing about this band or album going in other than it's a great friend of mine's favorite band and that my husband liked this album. I have to say, it was absolutely not what I expected, and I really enjoyed myself listening to it. There's a lot going on style-wise here, with each song sounding completely different, and yet the album flows together without a hitch. To me, it sounds like these guys are what twenty one pilots would sound like if they went harder into rock, but I'll let you make your own decision on that. A Kiss for the Whole World includes 12 songs, runs about 34 minutes in length, and is labeled as a rock album by Apple Music.
One Wayne G - Mac DeMarco (released 4/21/2023)
-Favorite Song: 20200823 Inside The Beavers Dam (written by M. DeMarco)
-Honorable Mentions: 20180512 (written by M. DeMarco); 20180529 (written by M. DeMarco); 20180913 (written by M. DeMarco); 20181019 (written by M. DeMarco); 20190722 (written by M. DeMarco); 20190726 (written by M. DeMarco); 20191009 I Like Her (written by M. DeMarco); 20191012 Fooled By Love (written by M. DeMarco); 20191219 (written by M. DeMarco); 20191228 (written by M. DeMarco); 20200107 (written by M. DeMarco); 20200223 (written by M. DeMarco); 20200316 (written by M. DeMarco); 20200402 (written by M. DeMarco); 20200817 Proud True Toyota (written by M. DeMarco); 20200821 Cowboy Shit (written by M. DeMarco); 20201115 (written by M. DeMarco); 20210216 Goodnight Baby (written by M. DeMarco)
Truth be told, I hadn't ever heard of Mac DeMarco until the day my brother texted me telling me he had put out on eight hour, 199 song album that he worked on from May 2018 until January 2023. This was followed by another conversation a few days later where he exclaimed, "Wait, you've never listened to him and you're starting with THIS?! What if you hate it?" While the songs do admittedly start to run together pretty quickly, it's great music to have on in the background while you're going about your day, and being a big fan of Animal Crossing: New Horizons I found a lot of the instrumental tracks reminiscent of the soundtrack provided by the one and only KK Slider (if you know, you defnitely know). So thank you, Mac DeMarco, for providing several hours of chill vibes and completely derailing my Top Album list on Apple Music Replay this year. One Wayne G includes 199 songs, runs about 523 minutes in length, and is labeled as an alternative album by Apple Music.
Bebe - Bebe Rexha (released 4/28/2023)
-Favorite Song: Seasons with Dolly Parton (written by I. Zmishlany, S. Solovay, B. Rexha)
-Honorable Mentions: Heart Wants What It Wants (written by B. McKee, I. Zmishlany, L. Banks, R. Goren, B. Rexha, R. Williamson, S. Solovay, J. Karvinen); Miracle Man (written by B. McKee, I. Zmishlany, J. St. John, S. Solovay, B. Rexha); Born Again (written by A. Bilowitz, M. Buzz, N. Monson, B. Rexha, J. Karvinen)
Bebe Rexha is another artist I'd heard in passing from my students, so I decided to check out her new album to see what I thought of her myself. This album was about what I expected - fun, bouncy pop disco beats that are catchy and work really well on the radio. I'm not sure how long this new disco sound is going to be around, but a lot of these newer pop artists have worked it in their favor. This is a light album that's easy to listen to, Rexha's vocals are pretty good, and it's worth a shot if you're a pop fan. Bebe includes 12 songs, runs about 37 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
First Two Pages of Frankenstein - The National (released 4/28/2023)
-Favorite Song: Ice Machines (written by B. Dessner, C. Besser, M. Berninger)
-Honorable Mentions: This Isn't Helping ft. Phoebe Bridgers (written by A. Dessner, M. Berninger); Alien (written by B. Dessner, C. Besser, M. Berninger); The Alcott ft. Taylor Swift (written by T. Swift, A. Dessner, M. Berninger); Your Mind Is Not Your Friend ft. Phoebe Bridgers (written by A. Dessner, M. Berninger)
Yes, as a tried and true Swiftie, my initial intereest in this album came from hearing Taylor had a feature, which makes perfect sense considering the friendship she's cultivated with Aaron Dessner over the last few years. This album was about what I expected based on my limited knowledge of The National - very alternative indie, with beautiful piano, interesting orchestration, and unique voals from Matt Berninger. I found it on the upper side of mid after the first listen, but it's grown on me the past few months. If you, like me, love Swift's folklore and evermore albums, then you will probably like this as well. First Two Pages of Frankenstein includes 11 songs, runs about 48 minutes in length, and is labeled as an alternative album by Apple Music.
- - Ed Sheeran (released 5/5/2023)
-Favorite Song: The Hills of Aberfeldy (written by E. Sheeran, F. Vance, A. Dessner)
-Honorable Mentions: Boat (written by E. Sheeran, A. Dessner); Salt Water (written by E. Sheeran, A. Dessner); Eyes Closed (written by E. Sheeran, M. Martin, J. Schuster, F. Gibson); Dusty (written by E. Sheeran, A. Dessner); Spark (written by E. Sheeran, A. Dessner); Wildflowers (written by E. Sheeran); Stoned (written by E. Sheeran, A. Dessner)
Ed Sheeran is always an enjoyable listen for me, and the final installment of his math series was no exception. Sheeran's a great songwriter in his own right, and when you throw Aaron Dessner into the mix with him it becomes a lyric junkie's dream. I found it much more chill than 2022's =, but no less impactful. I absolutely recommend, whether you're a big Ed Sheeran fan or if you just appreciate good songwriting. - includes 18 songs and 1 video, runs about 62 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
The Album - Jonas Brothers (released 5/12/2023)
-Favorite Song: Montana Sky (written by P. Nappi, S. Johnson, N. Jonas, J. Cornet, G. Hein, J. Gutch, J. Jonas, J. Bellion, J. Johnson, K. Jonas)
-Honorable Mentions: Americana (written by P. Nappi, S. Johnson, N. Jonas, J. Cornet, A. Izquierdo, J. Jonas, J. Bellion, K. Jonas); Waffle House (written by P. Nappi, I. Zmishlany, D. Tashian, N. Jonas, J. Cornet, G. Hein, J. Jonas, J. Bellion, K. Jonas); Vacation Eyes (written by P. Nappi, N. Jonas, J. Cornet, J. Jonas, J. Bellion, K. Jonas); Summer Baby (written by P. Nappi, S. Johnson, M. Pollack, G. Hein, J. Jonas, N. Jonas, J. Cornet, J. Bellion, J. Johnson, K. Jonas); Little Bird (written by P. Nappi, S. Johnson, M. Pollack, J. Jonas, N. Jonas, J. Cornet, G. Hein, J. Bellion, J. Johnson, K. Jonas); Walls ft. Jon Bellion (written by P. Nappi, J. Simpson, C. Lawrence, N. Jonas, J. Cornet, A. Rosario, F. Ferraro, D. Davis, J. Jonas, J. Bellion, J. Cohen, K. Jonas)
The mere fact that I have seen the Jonas Brothers live five times (this past August being time #5) should clue ya'll in that this was my most anticipated album of 2023. It's been really great as a long time fan to watch the guys find their sound as adults after coming back from their hiatus in 2019. The sound on this album took me longer than I expected to get used to - I'm talking like 3 or 4 listen throughs - but I truly enjoy listening to it now. Just like with Happiness Begins, the brothers went with a new sound that none of us really expected, but also like with Happiness Begins I think it definitely paid off in the long run. The Album includes 12 songs, runs about 33 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
Lauren Daigle - Lauren Daigle (released 5/12/2023)
-Favorite Song: Saint Ferdinand ft. Jon Batiste & Natalie Hemby (written by N. Hemby, L. Daigle)
-Honorable Mentions: Thank God I Do (written by L. Daigle, A. Moore, J. Ingrama, N. Ruess, J. Bhasker); To Know Me (written by L. Daigle, A. Wadge, N. Hemby); Kaleidoscope Jesus (written by L. Daigle, J. Ingram, M. Elizondo, N. Hemby); Don't Believe Them (written by L. Daigle, N. Hemby); Ego (written by L. Daigle, J. Ingram, M. Elizondo); Salvation Mountain ft. Gary Clark Jr. (written by L. Daigle, J. Myrin); 21 Days (written by L. Daigle, M. Elizondo, N. Hemby); Love Me Still (written by L. Daigle, J. Ingram, S. Furtick); Turbulent Skies (written by L. Daigle, M. Elizondo, T. Tjornhom); Inherited (written by L. Daigle, J. Green, N. Hemby)
I was way excited about this album as well, having waited with other Lauren Daigle fans five long years for a new full length album after her incredible Look Up Child. Released in two parts (tracks 1-10 on May 12th and tracks 11-23 on September 8th), this album is full to the brim with light, color, and hope. I also got to see her live just a few weeks ago at the beginning of December, and she gives the same level of energy and joy into her live shows that she does onto her recordings. Similar to The Album, Daigle tries something new compared to the sounds of her previous work, and it pays off very well in the form of a truly enjoyable album. Lauren Daigle includes 23 songs, runs about 77 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
CAN YOU IMAGINE? - Elevation Worship (released 5/19/2023)
-Favorite Song: More Than Able ft. Chandler Moore & Tiffany Hudson (written by S. Furtick, B. Fielding, N. Solomon, C. Moore)
-Honorable Mentions: Jehovah ft. Chris Brown (written by S. Furtick, B. Lake, M. Wong, C. Brown); Trust In God ft. Chris Brown (written by S. Furtick, B. Lake, M. Wong, C. Brown); Runnin ft. Brandon Lake (written by B. Lake, S. Furtick, P. Barrett); Praise ft. Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, & Chandler Moore (written by B. Lake, C. Moore, S. Furtick, P. Barrett, C. Carnes, C. Brown)
This worship leader always gets excited when new music from Elevation drops, and this year was no exception. There's a great mix on this album of reimagined themes from Elevation classics to brand new songs of praise and worship. This team pours their heart and soul into their musical worship, and it always shows. If you're looking for praise music that will lift your spirit, this is a great place to start. CAN YOU IMAGINE? includes 8 songs and 8 videos, runs about 114 minutes in length, and is labeled as a Christian album by Apple Music.
Gag Order - Kesha (released 5/19/2023)
-Favorite Song: Something To Believe In (written by S. Crichton, P. Sebert, K. Sebert)
-Honorable Mentions: Eat The Acid (written by S. Crichton, P. Sebert, K. Sebert); Hate Me Harder (written by J. Tranter, A. Bhattacharyya, C. Pennell, K. Lykken, J. Karvinen, K. Sebert)
Kesha has really and truly gone through it these past few years, and as is to be expected in the music business she's channeling all of her feelings into her music. Graduating from her catchy party anthems of the late '00s and early '10s, her sound recently is definitely still pop but of more of an experimental type. While the album as a whole didn't blow me away, the songs that did grab me are ones I will gladly listen to over and over. This is not a happy album if that's what you're wanting, but it's an important part of Kesha's healing and it's still got great music on it. Gag Order includes 13 songs, runs about 39 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent - Lewis Capaldi (released 5/19/2023)
-Favorite Song: Forget Me (written by L. Capaldi, M. Pollack, P. Kelleher, B. Kohn, P. Plested, T. Barnes)
-Honorable Mentions: Wish You The Best (written by L. Capaldi, J. Saxe, J. Ho); Love The Hell Out Of You (written by L. Capaldi, M. Pollack, B. Kohn, P. Kelleher, P. Plested, T. Barnes); Leave Me Slowly (written by L. Capaldi, O. Holter, M. Martin, S. Kotecha, M. Grahn)
I was introduced to Lewis Capaldi's music like two years ago by yet another student, and he immediately was an artist I was interested in hearing more from. This guy truly has a hell of a voice, and his songwriting is super strong as well, reminding me at times of a more piano driven Ed Sheeran. I thought this was a pretty strong album over all, and the songs that stood out to me really made me feel something in my heart. If you haven't tried out Lewis Capaldi before, I would say this is a good place to start. Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent includes 14 songs, runs about 51 minutes in length, and is labeled as an alternative album by Apple Music.
Where The Light Goes - Matchbox Twenty (released 5/26/2023)
-Favorite Song: Don't Get Me Wrong (written by C. Wiseman, D. Garcia, R. Thomas)
-Honorable Mentions: Wild Dogs (Running in a Slow Dream) (written by G. Wattenberg, P. Doucette, R. Thomas); Warm Blood (written by P. Doucette); Queen of New York City (written by E. Arjes, J. East, R. Thomas); Selling Faith (written by R. Thomas)
As a child who grew up in the 90s and early 00s, Matchbox Twenty was a band that I feel was just everywhere for a while. Rob Thomas has a great voice, and the group as a whole reminds me more and more of Train the older I get. This is the band's first album in eleven years, and I'm definitely glad I listened to it. It's a solid soft rock album, sounding like brand new with a touch of their 90s nostalgia. Where The Light Goes includes 12 songs, runs about 45 minutes in length, and is labeled as a rock album by Apple Music.
But Here We Are - Foo Fighters (released 6/2/2023)
-Favorite Song: Under You (written by C. Shiflett, D. Grohl, N. Mendel, P. Smear, R. Jaffee)
-Honorable Mentions: Hearing Voices (written by C. Shiflett, D. Grohl, N. Mendel, P. Smear, R. Jaffee)
I'm discovering that the older I get, the more of a Dave Grohl fan I'm becoming. In general, I think this is a softer album that I would've expected from the Foo Fighters, but it had a few bangers on it to be sure. They always sound like they're having a great time making their music, and this album is no exception. If you're a rock fan, definitely give it a try. But Here We Are includes 10 songs, runs about 48 minutes in length, and is labeled as a rock album by Apple Music.
Life Is Like A Song - Kenny Rogers (released 6/2/2023)
-Favorite Song: Tell Me That You Love Me with Dolly Parton (written by B. Lawson, E. Pittarelli, T. Cerney)
-Honorable Mentions: Love Is A Drug (written by J. Leo, T. Nichols); Wonderful Tonight (E. Clapton)
I definitely knew I'd be listening to Rogers's final album when I found out about it. Released just over three years after his death in 2020, he sounds as good as he ever did, and of course we got a Dolly Parton collaboration as well. Posthumous releases always get me a little emotional, partly because it's so good to hear their voices and partly because you know new music from that artist is just not possible moving forward (and no, AI is not the same, obviously). It's a comforting, classic sounding country album to be sure. Life Is Like A Song includes 12 songs, runs about 43 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
Sweet Western Sound - Tanya Tucker (released 6/2/2023)
-Favorite Song: Kindness (written by P. Hanseroth, T. Hanseroth)
-Honorable Mentions: City Of Gold (written by J. Nero)
2023 seemed to be a big year for a lot of legends to release new music. Tanya Tucker has been a huge fixture in country music since the 1970s, and she is still going after it today. My mom shared Tucker's music with me when I was about five years old, so listening to any of her stuff, including this new album, is a big nostalgia hit for me. Nobody sounds like her, and her brand of country music is a great listening experience. Sweet Western Sound includes 10 songs, runs about 35 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
Weathervanes - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (released 6/9/2023)
-Favorite Song: Strawberry Woman (written by J. Isbell)
-Honorable Mentions: Death Wish (written by J. Isbell); King of Oklahoma (written by J. Isbell); Volunteer (written by J. Isbell); Vestavia Hills (written by J. Isbell); White Beretta (written by J. Isbell)
I have really gotten to like and appreciate Jason Isbell's songwriting over the past few years, but I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I enjoyed this album. I was definitely shocked to see it classified as a rock album, because this is 100% a country album to me. It has many of the ingredients that make a really impactful country album for me: humble yet poignant lyrics, interesting and comforting guitar sections, and even some fiddle thrown in for good measure. Isbell and his band play like a well oiled machine, and it makes this whole album a very enjoyable experience. Weathervanes includes 13 songs, runs about 61 minutes in length, and is labeled as a rock album by Apple Music.
The Show - Niall Horan (released 6/9/2023)
-Favorite Song: You Could Start A Cult (written by N. Horan, J. Little, J. Bunetta, M. Landon, J. Ryan, R. von Dijk)
-Honorable Mentions: If You Leave Me (written by N. Horan, J. Bunetta, M. Sabath, C. Ailin, J. Little)
This album was getting a lot of hype, and I don't mind Niall much so I figured I'd give it a try. This was my first venture into his solo stuff, and honestly kind of like with Harry Styles last year I was somewhat underwhelmed by it. There were a couple of songs here that I did like, but all in all it was not the most interesting thing I heard all year. Horan does have a nice voice, and this is an okay pop album, and if you're a fan of either him or One Direction you'll probably enjoy it. The Show includes 10 songs, runs about 31 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
Sewer Rat - Franklin Jonas (released 6/21/2023)
-Favorite Song: Hoboken (written by F. Jonas, C. Brand, D. Weingarten)
-Honorable Mentions: Cocaine (written by F. Jonas, C. Brand, B. Killen)
Finally and officially, all four Jonas Brothers have released their musical debuts to the public. Franklin, known affectionately by his brothers and their fans as Frankie, dropped this EP earlier this year, and it's about what I expected it to be in a good way. He didn't try to emulate his older brothers and their pop sound at all, which I respect and like, and while I wasn't crazy about the whole EP I'm interested in seeing where he goes moving forward. It's not a bad alt project, and he clearly has the musical talent that runs through the Jonas bloodstream. Sewer Rat includes 5 songs, runs about 16 minutes in length, and is labeled as an alternative album by Apple Music.
chemistry - Kelly Clarkson (released 6/23/2023)
-Favorite Song: i hate love ft. Steve Martin (written by K. Clarkson, J. Shatkin, N. Jonas)
-Honorable Mentions: skip this part (written by K. Clarkson, J. Halbert); down to you (written by K. Clarkson, J. Shatkin, M. McDonald); chemistry (written by K. Clarkson, E. Serna, J. Shatkin); favorite kind of high (written by K. Clarkson, C. Jepsen, J. Shatkin); magic (written by K. Clarkson, J. Shatkin, R. Runyon); rock hudson (written by K. Clarkson, J. Shatkin); red flag collector (written by K. Clarkson, J. Caraco, J. Halbert); did you know (written by K. Clarkson, C. Kelly, J. Shatkin, J. Ryan, R. Cunningham); you don't make me cry ft. River Rose (written by K. Clarkson, J. Shatkin); roses (written by K. Clarkson, A. Allen, J. Shatkin, S. Douglas)
Ya'll know how much I love Kelly, and she actually ended up being my #2 artist on Apple Music this year. I knew this album would be a doozy after following the story of her very public divorce from Brandon Blackstock, and I was absolutely right. It's not super angry, bitter, or sad like you would expect from a typical "breakup" album, but a healthy mix of all three combined with a little bit of happiness and fun as well. For her tenth studio album, I'm extremely pleased with this album as a long time fan. chemistry includes 22 songs, runs about 72 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
The Good Witch - Maisie Peters (released 6/23/2023)
-Favorite Song: The Band And I (written by M. Peters, A. Haas, I. Franzino, I. Dunn)
-Honorable Mentions: The Good Witch (written by M. Peters, J. Rubel); Coming Of Age (written by M. Peters, T. Burman, E. Anderfjärd); Body Better (written by M. Peters, I. Dunn, M. Tellez)
I saw this album on my best friend's Instagram story over the summer and decided to give it a try. I don't really know what I was expecting, but I will say I ended up enjoying it. Peters is young, and in certain songs that shines through, but the same thing happens with artsits like Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo. It's a fun little alt/indie/pop/rockish album, and I'll be interested to hear more from Peters in the future. The Good Witch includes 15 songs, runs about 47 minutes in length, and is labeled as an alternative album by Apple Music.
The Narrow Way - Steffany Gretzinger (released 7/7/2023)
-Favorite Song: Shadow of Shaddai (written by S. Gretzinger, M. Wong)
-Honorable Mentions: No Turning Back with Leeland (written by S. Gretzinger, J. Ingram, L. Mooring, C. Moore); The Narrow Way (written by S. Gretzinger, J. Ingram)
Steffany Gretzinger has been a worship fave for me for a while now, so I absolutely wanted to check out this record. She's been blessed with such a powerful voice and songwriting ability, and I believe she stewards that gift to her fullest ability. This album ended up being very peaceful, calming, and mindful, which I really appreciate when my mind gets a little too busy. If you need music to meditate or journal to, this is a great choice. The Narrow Way includes 8 songs, runs about 46 minutes in length, and is labeled as a Christian album by Apple Music.
Speak Now (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift (released 7/7/2023)
-Favorite (New) Song: Foolish One (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) (written by T. Swift)
-Honorable (New) Mentions: Electric Touch (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) ft. Fall Out Boy (written by T. Swift); When Emma Falls in Love (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) (written by T. Swift); Castles Crumbling (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) ft. Hayley Williams (written by T. Swift)
In May, after over a year of waiting for news, Taylor finally announced on her incredible Eras Tour that her next rerelease album would be her third magical, purple era of Speak Now. Speak Now was alway a bit meh to me even when it released back in 2010 (not that you would know since I still know every song by heart), but Taylor's Version has definitely turned my opinion around on it. Her vocal coach should be the highest paid person in the music industry for how much more full and mature her voice now sounds, and the amount of love she clearly still has for all of these songs shines through in every note. The Vault tracks are a lot of fun, the original tracks feel new and refreshed yet still familiar, and it continues the trend of this reclamation project being incredible. Speak Now (Taylor's Version) includes 22 songs and 1 video, runs about 106 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
Dante Bowe - Dante Bowe (released 7/21/2023)
-Favorite Song: Breaking All My Rules with VIC MENSA (written by D. Bowe, V. Mensah, D. Pinckney, J. Lay, M. Perez, M. McHenry, C. Jackson)
-Honorable Mentions: Hide Me (written by D. Bowe, S. Harrison, F. Harrison, J. Webb, V. Smith); Your Majesty with Flavour (written by D. Bowe, J. Lay, C. Okol, S. Nweke, A. John, C. Jackson)
Being a big Dante Bowe fan from when he was a part of Maverick City Music, I was very interested in hearing his first solo project since parting ways with the worship collective. I can definitely say it was a very different experience from what I'm used to hearing from him, and not quite what I was expecting. The whole album does have a fun, high energy vibe to it, and the songs that stuck out to me are great to move and jam to. The album is a mix of CCM and more R&B-leaning stuff, so there's a little something for fans of multiple genres here. Dante Bowe includes 14 songs, runs about 49 minutes in length, and is labeled as an R&B/soul album by Apple Music.
Starcatcher - Greta Van Fleet (released 7/21/2023)
-Favorite Song: The Indigo Streak (written by D. Cobb, J. Kiszka, J. Kiszka, S. Kiszka, D. Wägner)
-Honorable Mentions: The Falling Sky (written by D. Cobb, J. Kiszka, J. Kiszka, S. Kiszka, D. Wägner); Meeting The Master (written by D. Cobb, J. Kiszka, J. Kiszka, S. Kiszka, D. Wägner); Farewell For Now (written by D. Cobb, J. Kiszka, J. Kiszka, S. Kiszka, D. Wägner)
I was quite excited to see Greta Van Fleet was putting out new music this year. Since being introduced to their music about two years ago by my brother, I've really enjoyed their blend of new and classic rock. This album didn't grab me the same way 2021's The Battle at Garden's Gate did, but I'd a fun listen nonetheless. If you're into classic rock, check these guys out, I think you'll be impressed. Starcatcher includes 10 songs, runs about 43 minutes in length, and is labeled as a rock album by Apple Music.
Hidden Here - Tiffany Hudson (released 7/21/2023)
-Favorite Song: Tears (written by T. Hudson, J. Holiday)
-Honorable Mentions: Hidden Here (written by T. Hudson, J. Williams, J. Holiday, B. Booi, D. Balshaw, R. Ellis); Obey (written by T. Hudson, J. Holiday, M. Wong)
This is another release I was very, very excited about this year. Tiffany Hudson, known primarily for her platform as a worship leader with Elevation Worship, dropped her first solo project, and as expected it was quite beautiful. She's another one who's been blessed with a gift in musical worship and is stewarding it to her fullest capability. This is a very nice listen and would be perfect for a calming session or as background music for journaling or a Bible study. Hidden Here includes 8 songs and 1 video, runs about 40 minutes in length, and is labeled as a Christian album by Apple Music.
The Loveliest Time - Carly Rae Jepsen (released 7/28/2023)
-Favorite Song: Stadium Love (written by C. Jepsen, L. Delhomme)
-Honorable Mentions: Shy Boy (written by C. Jepsen, E. Gruska, N. Campany, B. Watson, N. Cyphert, B. Romans, K. Shearer, J. Williams); Kollage (written by C. Jepsen, P. Berger); Come Over (written by C. Jepsen, J. Palmer, N. Campany, J. Hill, N. Cyphert)
I talked a bit about this album earlier this year when I did my Diva Spotlight post on Carly Rae Jepsen. I didn't like it quite as much as I did 2022's The Loneliest Time, of which this is a sister album, but it still had some bops on it. Jepsen is very good at making music that makes you want to dance, and the types of songs on this album are indicative of that. If you like this nu-disco sound that's been prevalent so far this decade, you'll probably like this album. The Loveliest Time includes 13 songs, runs about 44 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
Everything Is Alive - Darlingside (released 7/28/2023)
-Favorite Song: Lose The Keys (written by D. Mitchell, A. Mukharji, H. Paseltiner, D. Senft)
-Honorable Mentions: Can't Help Falling Apart (written by D. Mitchell, A. Mukharji, H. Paseltiner, D. Senft)
I actually found Darlingside a few months ago when I listened to their 2018 Tiny Desk Concert for NPR. This quartet of guys has a really cool vibe to them, and their music is simultaneously intriguing and simple. The music feels very light and is paired with poignant lyrics that sound more like poetry than other songs you'd hear on the radio these days. I love the indie singer-songwriter sound right now, and while this whole album didn't grip me I still recommend the group if you've never heard of them. Everything Is Alive includes 12 songs, runs about 40 minutes in length, and is labeled as a singer/songwriter album by Apple Music.
AUSTIN - Post Malone (released 7/28/2023)
-Favorite Song: Overdrive (written by A. Post, A. Watt, L. Bell, B. Walsh)
-Honorable Mentions: Something Real (written by L. Bell, A. Watt, B. Walsh, A. Post); Chemical (written by L. Bell, A. Watt, A. Post, B. Walsh); Mourning (written by A. Watt, L. Bell, A. Post); Hold My Breath (written by A. Watt, L. Bell, A. Post); Texas Tea (written by L. Bell, B. Walsh, A. Post, R. Yacoub)
I know I was excited when I saw Post Malone was dropping a new album two years in a row. I honestly felt a bit alone in the fact that I liked 2022's Twelve Carat Toothache, so I wasn't quite sure what we'd be looking at with this year's AUSTIN. Posty is still experimenting with new sounds to be sure, but this album does sound much more like his usual style than his previous album did. It'll take a lot to get me to not like a Post Malone album, and I'm glad I enjoyed this chapter as much as I have the previous ones. AUSTIN includes 18 songs, runs about 57 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
You're the One - Rhiannon Giddens (released 8/17/2023)
-Favorite Song: If You Don't Know How Sweet It Is (written by R. Giddens, B. Bhiman)
-Honorable Mentions: You Louisiana Man (written by R. Giddens); Who Are You Dreaming Of (written by R. Giddens, D. Powell)
I've been aware of Rhiannon Giddens since she and her former group, Carolina Chocolate Drops, were featured on the soundtrack for the first Hunger Games movie. She has such a unique voice, both classically old-timey and modern and clear, and this album shows she can switch between bluegrass and blues style music to more contemporary jazz with ease. Her style may not be for everyone, but I find listening to her to be a lot of fun. This was a cool find this year, and I'm glad I listened to it. You're the One includes 12 songs, runs about 42 minutes in length, and is labeled as a singer/songwriter album by Apple Music.
Drama Queen - Idina Menzel (released 8/18/2023)
-Favorite Song: Beast (written by I. Menzel, N. Lambroza, J. Lucas, S. Wilcox)
-Honorable Mentions: Paradise ft. Nile Rodgers (written by I. Menzel, N. Rodgers, J. Myrin); Make Me Hate Me (written by I. Menzel, E. Cannata, L. Veltz, J. Robbins); Royalty (written by I. Menzel, M. Allan, L. Robbins)
Ya'll know how much I love Idina Menzel and how much I look up to her as a vocalist. That being said, it's always a little weird for me to hear her venture into pop music as opposed to show tunes. She still sounds great, but her voice just doesn't fit pop the same way it fits musical theatre or Disney music. This album is definitely high energy, colorful, and shiny, and there were a few songs on it that I did enjoy. Drama Queen includes 10 songs, runs about 30 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
I Believe - Phil Wickham (released 8/18/2023)
-Favorite Song: Sunday Is Coming (written by P. Wickham, J. Smith, S. Furtick, A. Disch)
-Honorable Mentions: Creator (written by P. Wickham, B. Fowler, K. Getty); The Jesus Way (written by P. Wickham, J. Smith); Psalm 23 ft. Tiffany Hudson (written by P. Wickham)
Phil Wickham is such a powerhouse figure in worship music, and for good reason. What I really appreciate about his music is that he doesn't write just for the here and now - he writes songs that last in the long run. He has such a lovely voice, and his joy and love for the Lord shine through constantly and consistently. This is a beautiful album, and perfect for lifting a heavy spirit. I Believe includes 14 songs, runs about 63 minutes in length, and is labeled as a Christian album by Apple Music.
Zach Bryan - Zach Bryan (released 8/25/2023)
-Favorite Song: I Remember Everything ft. Kacey Musgraves (written by Z. Bryan, K. Musgraves)
-Honorable Mentions: Summertime's Close (written by Z. Bryan); East Side of Sorrow (written by Z. Bryan); Hey Driver ft. The War and Treaty (written by Z. Bryan); Jake's Piano - Long Island (written by Z. Bryan)
I've said it before, I'll say it again - I know ya'll like Morgan Wallen, but Zach Bryan is RIGHT THERE. I'm not sure why my brain insists on comparing the two, but I just think Bryan is so good at what he does and I haven't had a bad time listening to his music yet. He's a great songwriter, capable of making you feel happy and free for three and a half minutes then turning around in the next song and absolutely breaking your heart. This isn't quite as heavy a hitter as 2022's American Heartbreak, but it's a great country album on its own. Zach Bryan includes 16 songs, runs about 54 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
Crowns Down (Live) - Gateway Worship (released 9/8/2023)
-Favorite Song: A Million Times ft. Maddison Serban (written by J. Harris, M. Harris, Z. Rowe)
-Honorable Mentions: Praise The Lord ft. Matthew Harris (written by M. Harris, N. Bays, M. Kuiper, L. Smith); Who Else ft. Claire Smith (written by J. Funderburk, A. Gamboa, Z. Rowe)
Gateway has something really special happening in their worship ministry and has for quite a while. I live not far from there, and have gotten to know a few of the people involved with their worship, and it's so cool to be able to hear what they're up to when they drop a new album. This is a great track list of praise and adoration from start to finish. Check them out - they can hold their own with the other big names, that's for sure. Crowns Down (Live) includes 10 songs and 6 videos, runs about 93 minutes in length, and is labeled as a Christian album by Apple Music.
Bewitched - Laufey (released 9/8/2023)
-Favorite Song: While You Were Sleeping (written by S. Stewart, L. Jónsdóttir)
-Honorable Mentions: Haunted (written by S. Stewart, L. Jónsdóttir); From The Start (written by S. Stewart, L. Jónsdóttir); Serendipity (written by S. Stewart, L. Jónsdóttir)
Ya'll, I really, really like Laufey and am super into her musical vibe right now. She has such a beautiful voice, and is another modern artist who seems to have stepped out of the past with her jazz and bossa nova influences. It's crazy to me that she's only like twenty-four; her vocal maturity makes her sound older than that in a good way. I'm glad she's back, I'm glad people are listening to her, and I'll recommend her to anyone. Bewitched includes 14 songs, runs about 48 minutes in length, and is labeled as a jazz album by Apple Music.
GUTS - Olivia Rodrigo (released 9/8/2023)
-Favorite Song: bad idea right? (written by O. Rodrigo, D. Nigro)
-Honorable Mentions: all-american bitch (written by O. Rodrigo, D. Nigro); vampire (written by O. Rodrigo, D. Nigro); lacy (written by O. Rodrigo, D. Nigro); making the bed (written by O. Rodrigo, D. Nigro); get him back! (written by O. Rodrigo, D. Nigro); the grudge (written by D. Nigro, O. Rodrigo); pretty isn't pretty (written by O. Rodrigo, D. Nigro, A. Allen)
I was admittedly a little worried I wouldn't like GUTS as much as I enjoyed 2021's SOUR, just because it's pretty difficult for lightning to strike twice on pleasant surprises like that. However, I sure do like it a lot, but I will say I still think SOUR is my favorite of the two. Rodrigo is back, two years more mature and definitely a bit edgier, and while this album feels more like a middle finger than her first it's a ton of fun. It's a little bit darker, but I'm definitely here for it. GUTS includes 12 songs, runs about 39 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
Pioneer - Cory Asbury (released 9/15/2023)
-Favorite Song: These are the Days (written by C. Asbury, P. Mabury, E. Hulse)
-Honorable Mentions: The Promise is the Same (written by C. Asbury, P. Mabury, L. McKenna); My Inheritance (written by C. Asbury, P. Mabury, S. Stevens); Kind (written by C. Asbury, P. Mabury, M. Farren, S. Fee, J. Reeves); Only Jesus for my Pain (written by C. Asbury, P. Mabury, B. Hastings); Until We Meet Again (written by C. Asbury, P. Mabury, T. Douglas)
It's so good to see new Cory Asbury music drop this year. This guy is a heck of a songwriter, sounding like he could fit in either in a church sanctuary or a Nashville bar both with his vocal and lyrical styles. This album feels a bit raw, and definitely very emotional, and he clearly poured his entire heart into these songs. Even if country isn't your favorite, if you're a worship fan I encourage you to check this one out. Pioneer includes 11 songs, runs about 38 minutes in length, and is labeled as a Christian album by Apple Music.
Silence Between Songs - Madison Beer (released 9/15/2023)
-Favorite Song: Reckless (written by M. Beer, L. Clampitt, J. Dussolliett, T. Sommers)
-Honorable Mentions: Showed Me (How I Fell In Love With You) (written by M. Beer, L. Clampitt, T. Sommers, H. Clark, J. McGuinn, J. Dussolliet)
Madison Beer was another artist I found through a student, so I figured I'd give her long awaited second album a try. She's got a very good voice, and her songwriting packs in a lot more emotion than I would expect from someone of her age. I wasn't super crazy about the entire thing, but I had a couple of songs that I really loved. I'll be interested to see where her career takes her and following her music moving forward. Silence Between Songs includes 14 songs, runs about 45 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We - Mitski (released 9/15/2023)
-Favorite Song: I Don't Like My Mind (written by M. Miyawaki)
The more I listen to Mitski, the more I like her. She has such a cool vibe, very alt, indie, and singer-songwriter. I may have only had one song grab me off of this one, but I totally get why this album was so anticipated. She's a really interesting artist, and I recommend giving her a listen to try her out for yourself. The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We includes 11 songs, runs about 32 minutes in length, and is labeled as an alternative album by Apple Music.
Bluegrass - Willie Nelson (released 9/15/2023)
-Favorite Song: A Good Hearted Woman (written by W. Jennings, W. Nelson)
-Honorable Mentions: Sad Songs and Waltzes (written by W. Nelson); Still Is Still Moving To Me (written by W. Nelson); On the Road Again (written by W. Nelson)
Willie Nelson has always been the pinnacle of country music to me, and I will probably continue to think that way for the rest of my life. For his impressively numbered 74th album, he has reimagined a dozen of his songs to be in a bluegrass style, and it really refreshes a lot of these old classics. For his first foray into this genre, I think he did a pretty good job. At 90 years old, the man is still going strong and not planning on stopping anytime soon. Bluegrass includes 12 songs, runs about 44 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
Boys of Faith - Zach Bryan (released 9/22/2023)
-Favorite Song: Sarah's Place ft. Noah Kahan (written by Z. Bryan, N. Kahan)
How exciting it was to see a second project from Zach Bryan released in 2023. While not a full length album, this EP still includes some more classic Zach Bryan songwriting. I preferred his self-titled album a little more over this I will say, but don't skip out on this EP. With guest artists like Noah Kahan and Bon Iver, he couldn't really lose with this one. Boys of Faith includes 5 songs, runs about 16 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
Autumn Variations - Ed Sheeran (released 9/29/2023)
-Favorite Song: Amazing (written by E. Sheeran, A. Dessner)
-Honorable Mentions: Magical (written by E. Sheeran, A. Dessner); American Town (written by E. Sheeran, A. Dessner); Midnight (written by E. Sheeran, A. Dessner)
Ed Sheeran announcing a second full length album this year was another very pleasant surprise. This is the type of music I love hearing from Sheeran - not overly produced, much more down to earth, and still poppy but in a softer way. He has really been on a roll this year, and I love seeing this new direction after the conclusion of his mathematical series of albums. He's definitely a force to be reckoned with in today's music. Autumn Variations includes 14 songs and 1 video, runs about 50 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
Memory Lane - Old Dominion (released 10/6/2023)
-Favorite Song: Easier Said with Rum (written by M. Ramsey, B. Tursi, M. Jenkins, C. McGill)
-Honorable Mentions: Different About You (written by M. Ramsey, T. Rosen, B. Tursi, Z. Crowell); Beautiful Sky (written by M. Ramsey, B. Tursi, T. Rosen, J. Osborne)
Old Dominion is back with new music this year, so we definitely checked that out. I think these guys are a lot of fun, and they seem to truly enjoy the music that they make. This album had a little bit of a more serious energy to me than 2021's Time, Tequila & Therapy, but it's still good country music to me. This is a group I'm glad I found and I'm glad to still be listening to. Memory Lane includes 18 songs, runs about 54 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
Compadres - Charlie Worsham (released 10/13/2023)
-Favorite Song: Kiss Like You Dance ft. Kip Moore (written by A. DeRoberts, A. Albert, J. Nite)
-Honorable Mentions: Handful of Dust ft. Lainey Wilson (written by T. Arata)
I saw Charlie Worsham open for Brad Paisley back in 2014 and knew immediately that I really liked him. His 2023 EP is a fun project, with each song featuring a duet with one of his other country music buddies like Lainey Wilson, Kip Moore, and Luke Combs amongst others. I think Worsham has a great voice, and a fun energy that he brings to his music. If you haven't had the chance to check out his work, I highly encourage it. Compadres includes 5 songs, runs about 21 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
Strays II - Margo Price (released 10/13/2023)
-Favorite (New) Song: Malibu ft. Jonathan Wilson & Buck Meek (written by M. Price, J. Ivey, M. Campbell)
-Honorable (New) Mentions: Strays (written by M. Price, J. Ivey); Mind Travel (written by M. Price, J. Ivey)
I initially thought this was just a rerelease of Price's album from January, which it kind of us, but it also includes nine extra songs that aren't exactly B-sides, but more songs that just didn't fit on the initial release. I still think I like the original Strays a little better, but there was some good stuff on this new back nine. That psychedelic country sound is still prevalent throughout the new stuff without sounding like copy-paste from the first half. I'll say it again, give Margo Price a listen if you haven't before. Strays II includes 19 songs, runs about 82 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
ONE MORE TIME... - blink-182 (released 10/20/2023)
-Favorite Song: FELL IN LOVE (written by T. Barker, M. Hoppus, N. Long, R. Tedder, T. DeLonge, R. Smith)
-Honorable Mentions: DANCE WITH ME (written by T. Barker, M. Hoppus, N. Long, T. DeLonge, A. Rubin, D. Book); OTHER SIDE (written by T. Barker, M. Hoppus, T. DeLonge)
This album was highly anticipated this whole year, and thought I wasn't an avid listener of blink-182 during my teenage years like a lot of other millennials I was still hyped to check it out. Travis Barker, Tom DeLonge, and Mark Hoppus are another example of a band that's just a well oiled machine at this point, working together seamlessly to produce good music. This album was exactly what I expected - high energy, lots of fun, and a good blend of classic blink-182 sound while still sounding fresh and new. If you're a fan of this band, you'll likely think this is a good album. ONE MORE TIME... includes 19 songs, runs about 50 minutes in length, and is labeled as a rock album by Apple Music.
EIGHT - Brooke Ligertwood (released 10/20/2023)
-Favorite Song: King Of Kings (written by B. Ligertwood, S. Ligertwood, J. Ingram, E. Smith, E. Heideriqui, L. Cortazio, E. Cortazio, M. Smith, O. Gamboa)
-Honorable Mentions: Fear Of God (written by B. Ligertwood, J. Ingram); Desert Song (written by B. Ligertwood); Authority with John Wilds (written by C. Brown, S. Furtick, B. Ligertwood, S. Ligertwood); Calvary's Enough (written by B. Ligertwood, S. Ligertwood, A. King)
Brooke Ligertwood is my top role model when it comes to worship music, so to see an album from her two years in a row was incredibly exciting for me. This album has a different feel from 2022's SEVEN, feeling a little softer and more intimate despite the use of a really excellent choir on most of the tracks. Including songs both new and reimagined, I discovered a lot of songs on here that I'd known for years but didn't realize that she either helped cowrite or wrote totally on her own. Her heart for the Lord is undeniable throughout this entire hour of listening. EIGHT includes 11 songs, runs about 59 minutes in length, and is labeled as a Christian album by Apple Music.
1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift (released 10/27/2023)
-Favorite (New) Song: Say Don't Go (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) (written by T. Swift, D. Warren)
-Honorable Mentions: Now That We Don't Talk (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) (written by T. Swift, J. Antonoff); Suburban Legends (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) (written by T. Swift, J. Antonoff); Bad Blood (Taylor's Version) ft. Kendrick Lamar (written by T. Swift, K. Lamar, K. Schuster, M. Martin)
As in 2021, we were blessed this year with two rereleases from Taylor, this fall in the form of her light blue, first real and true pop era 1989. If ever forced to say what my "least" favorite T. Swift album is, I've historically stated this was it, but like with Speak Now the Taylor's Version really changed my mind about it as a whole. The higher range on most of the songs no longer sounds like a stretch or a strain on her vocals, and I have to say these Vault tracks are probably the best we've seen since Red (Taylor's Version). This long awaited banger of an album sounds so free, light, and fun, and it truly is. 1989 (Taylor's Version) includes 22 songs, runs about 81 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
Equal Strain On All Parts - Jimmy Buffett (released 11/3/2023)
-Favorite Song: Like My Dog (written by S. Emerick, H. Allen)
-Honorable Mentions: University of Bourbon Street ft. Preservation Hall Jazz Band (written by J. Buffett, W. Kimbrough); Audience of One (written by J. Buffett, M. McAnally, E. McAnally, M. Utley); Nobody Works On Friday (written by J. Buffett, M. Utley, E. McAnally)
Losing Jimmy Buffett this year hurt pretty bad, not gonna lie. Arguably one of the most laid back, carefree guys in music and claimed by both rock and country fans alike, he will be sorely missed. This album was already scheduled to be released before his death in September, but it hit different listening to it two months after his passing. This is exactly what you'd hope a Jimmy Buffett album would be: beachy, light, and fun. Equal Strain On All Parts includes 14 songs, runs about 53 minutes in length, and is labeled as a rock album by Apple Music.
Spiral Bound - Rebecca Sugar (released 11/3/2023)
-Favorite Song: Good Morning Afternoon (written by R. Sugar)
-Honorable Mentions: Sweet Time (written by R. Sugar)
I found about this EP a little bit late, but I'm so glad I snuck it in here at year's end. If you've read previous posts of mine, you know that I'm a big Steven Universe fan, and Rebecca Sugar is the mastermind we have to thank for giving us that delightful show. I loved getting to check out her music that wasn't tied to a TV project, and thought it was simply delightful. It's a cute, sweet, easy little EP that's likely to make you smile. Spiral Bound includes 6 songs, runs about 13 minutes in length, and is labeled as an alternative folk album by Apple Music.
The Fear of Fear - Spiritbox (released 11/3/2023)
-Favorite Song: Jaded (written by C. LaPlante, D. Braunstein, M. Stringer)
Spiritbox is another group I found through my husband, and while ya'll know I struggle with metal I gave this EP a shot. I definitely think it's cool to hear female lead vocalists in heavy metal or hard rock bands, and Courtney LaPlante is a good one to listen to in my opinion. I had one song here grab me and really catch my attention, but overall I don't think this record was for me. If you're a rock or metal fan, though, give it a shot and see what you think. The Fear of Fear includes 6 songs, runs about 25 minutes in length, and is labeled as a rock album by Apple Music.
The Maybe Man - AJR (released 11/10/2023)
-Favorite Song: Touchy Feely Fool (written by R. Met, J. Met, A. Met)
-Honorable Mentions: Inertia (written by R. Met, J. Met, A. Met)
I have really grown to like AJR a lot over the last couple of years. Their fun formula of symphonic pop music and self-depreciating yet deeply honest lyrics makes this trio of brothers that much more interesting to listen to. While nothing on this album hit me like Don't Throw Out My Legos or Dear Winter, I still found it to be a pretty good album through and through. I'm excited to see what these guys come up with next. The Maybe Man includes 12 songs, runs about 44 minutes in length, and is labeled as an alternative album by Apple Music.
Higher - Chris Stapleton (released 11/10/2023)
-Favorite Song: South Dakota (written by C. Stapleton, D. Cobb, D. Mixon, J. Cure)
-Honorable Mentions: Trust (written by C. Stapleton, S. McEwan); Higher (written by C. Stapleton)
Man, Chris Stapleton may be one of the best things to come out of country music in the last decade. He hits those high notes like he doesn't even have to try, his songwriting is incredible, and he's pretty good on the guitar to boot. His music is so down to earth and comfortable, yet also just feels like something you haven't heard in a very long time bringing up those feelings of nostalgia. If he puts new music out, you can bet I'm going to listen to it. Higher includes 14 songs, runs about 55 minutes in length, and is labeled as a country album by Apple Music.
Rockstar - Dolly Parton (released 11/17/2023)
-Favorite Song: Magic Man (Carl Version) ft. Ann Wilson (written by A. Wilson, N. Wilson)
-Honorable Mentions: Every Breath You Take ft. Sting (written by G. Sumner); What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done for You ft. Stevie Nicks (written by S. Nicks, K. Dukes, J. Condos); Purple Rain (written by P. Nelson); I Hate Myself for Loving You ft. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (written by J. Jett, D. Child); Night Moves ft. Chris Stapleton (written by R. Seger); Wrecking Ball ft. Miley Cyrus (written by L. Gottwald, S. Skarbek, S. Moccio, D. Kim, H. Walter, M. McDonald); (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction ft. P!nk & Brandi Carlile (written by K. Richards, M. Jagger); Stairway to Heaven ft. Lizzo & Sasha Flute (written by J. Page, R. Plant); What's Up? ft. Linda Perry (written by L. Perry); You're No Good ft. Emmylou Harris & Sheryl Crow (written by C. Ballard); Heartbreaker ft. Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo (written by G. Gill, C. Wade); Let It Be ft. Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr (written by P. McCartney, J. Lennon); Free Bird ft. Lynyrd Skynyrd (written by R. Van Zant, A. Collins)
I, for one, was super excited when Dolly announced she'd be recording a rock album so she could feel she lived up to her nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She sounds like she had an absolute blast making this record, and she got some really awesome musicians to help her do it. The album was way longer than I expected it to be, but it doesn't feel like it overstays its welcome and stays true to its rock roots, not super countryfying every song like she so easily could have done. In a year of many, many cover albums, this one may be my favorite. Rockstar includes 30 songs, runs about 142 minutes in length, and is labeled as a rock album by Apple Music.
ANXIOUS-AVOIDANT - Simu Liu (released 11/17/2023)
-Favorite Song: Don't (written by S. Liu, G. Fornell, M. Jade, Q. Delbridge)
-Honorable Mentions: Warm (written by J. Karvinen, D. Wilson, I. Juber)
I had a very similar reaction to finding out Simu Liu was putting out music that I did to Jeremy Renner - curious and optimistic. Turns out, this Ken can sing! It's a fairly basic pop EP as far as musicality, but Liu has a nice voice and seems to be pretty ok as a songwriter. If Shang Chi puts out more music in the future, I'll definitely check it out. ANXIOUS-AVOIDANT includes 4 songs, runs about 12 minutes in length, and is labeled as a pop album by Apple Music.
Pink Friday 2 - Nicki Minaj (released 12/8/2023)
-Favorite Song: Are You Gone Already (written by F. O'Connell, O. Maraj)
-Honorable Mentions: Beep Beep (written by S. Lindstrom, G. Valencia, O. Maraj); Cowgirl ft. Lourdiz (written by R. Ogren, L. Gottwald, R. Valdes, A. Cantu, O. Maraj); Big Difference (written by D. Milano, J. Gwin, M. Mule, I. De Boni, M. Slade, K. Torres, O. Maraj); Pink Friday Girls (written by R. Ogren, J. Reid, R. Hazard, A. Cantu, O. Maraj); Love Me Enough ft. Monica & Keyshia Cole (written by J. L'Étranger, J. Tranter, V. Monét, R. Vojtesak, D. Milano, O. Maraj, S. Lindstrom)
I both was and wasn't shocked when Nicki Minaj recanted her retirement statement and announced a new album this year. That being said, with all the hype surrounding it, I wish this had been just a little bit more. It didn't find myself downloading almost the entire album like I did with Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded or Queen, but overall it's a pretty good rap album. It doesn't have the most creative title, and it features a lot of samples from pop music of the past, but it's still what I expect from Nicki: fun. Pink Friday 2 includes 24 songs, runs about 77 minutes in length, and is labeled as a hip hop/rap album by Apple Music.
There you have it - 2023 in music! If you made it to the end, please know how much I appreciate you reading my ramblings each week for the last four years. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
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