Criteria: Any album that was officially released during the calendar year of 2023 is eligible. Extended-play releases are also eligible. Neither compilation albums or reissues of a previously released album are eligible.
50) Shania Twain- Queen of Me
Shania Twain’s epic career has always been defined by its many pillars of positivity. Optimism and empowerment. Fun and romance. Independence and perseverance. Yet it’s on this newest release where she sounds as liberated and free-spirited as she ever has. Liberated by the acceptance that she is not the same singer she once was, and free-spirited for the fact that she gets to continue a musical story that she once thought had been stolen from her. This spirit sets the stage for her danciest–and undeniably campiest–album to date, but her sheer exuberance and charisma makes it irresistible. And in between all these eye-popping bops, there are some truly tender moments that showcase the weathered warmth of her new voice tremendously, while giving the album its true heartbeat.
My Top Three Tracks: “Not Just A Girl”, “Last Day of Summer”, “Queen of Me”
49) Kesha- Gag Order
The fifth album from the one-time queen of party-pop serves as both a cathartic exorcism of one’s past demons, and an artistic rebirth for a brighter future. With legendary producer Rick Rubin at the helm, Kesha forgoes all her past musical identities to craft a deeply guttural album that dives deep into experimental art-rock overtones. In the process, she leaves no personal or traumatic stone unturned, laying bare all of her scars, insecurities, and doubts. And while much of that is certainly a veiled account of the aftermath from the Dr. Luke legal scandal that inspires the cheeky album title, it’s Kesha’s brave confrontation of all of the darkest aspects of life in general that transcends this into a truly universally piercing battle cry for life’s most testing moments.
My Top Three Tracks: “Living In My Head”, “Only Love Can Save Us Now”, “Happy”
48) Dolly Parton- Rockstar
In many ways, Dolly Parton and rock music were actually made for each other. At both their best and worst, each have always shamelessly indulged in all of life’s most grandiose and dramatic excesses. And Rockstar is inarguably so many of those things: dramatic, grandiose, shameless, and at thirty tracks, certainly full of excess. In the end though, that’s what makes it such a fun and joyful indulgence with each repeat listen. Her ability to gather such an immense collection of legendary talent is, on its own, a landmark achievement on her part. When Dolly goes in on something, she goes all in, and then some. Perhaps no other record in her enormous catalog exhibits that fearless nerve and gumption more boldly than Rockstar. It belongs here not so much for the album it is, but rather for the sheer event that it is.
My Top Three Tracks: “Wrecking Ball” (with Miley Cyrus), “Either Or” (with Kid Rock), “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me” (with Elton John)
47) Blink-182- One More Time…
With vocalist Tom DeLonge back in the fold for the first time in over a decade, One More Time… is the sound of a veteran band reinvigorated. A group renewed by the perfect balance between an appreciation for their past (warts and all) and a renewed energy for a future, centered by the belief that it will be just as rewarding as their past glory days. The project’s spiritual center is of course the emotional title track, an anomalous ballad moment that is as valuable for its surprising vulnerability as it is for the fact that is indeed an anomaly. But the Blink boys are also well aware that the true joy in hearing any band back together is to hear them do what they do best, which in this case translates to a generous trove of frenetic, jolting and snarky pop-punk anthems.
My Top Three Tracks: “Dance With Me”, “Anthem Part 3”, “One More Time”
46) Boygenius- The Record
The sublime harmonies of the first five seconds of this record alone prove to be worth the five blue-balling years that separated this indie supergroup’s (seems sort of oxie-moronic, doesn’t it?) 2018 EP and this full-fledged debut. Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker certainly prove to be every bit the collective force that was suggested back then. Together, they craft Everlyesque harmonies that rival The Secret Sisters, and combine it with the kind of sharply literate and probing lyrics that have already established them each individually as artistic heirs to women like Fiona Apple and Liz Phair. Their voices lure you in and their cutting and confessional lyrics leave you transfixed even after the music stops. An unassuming gem that will hopefully have many sequels.
My Top Three Tracks: “Without You Without Them”, “True Blue”, “Satanist”
45) Dierks Bentley- Gravel & Gold
Twenty years into his resilient career and Dierks Bentley continues crafting the kind of sturdy and reliable country records that have made him a durable and, at-times, underrated troubadour within Nashville’s mainstream. And this is arguably the most roots-based album he’s released in over a decade, loaded with the signature mountain rock-meets-bluegrass tapestry of his earlier eras that suits his rugged voice in the best and most natural ways. It’s also a classic Bentley road record, an album centered around his classic themes of travel and movement, both physically and within life’s emotional journeys. However at this stage in his career, that classic restlessness and curiosity of one’s youth have slowly and beautifully been replaced by a warm and mature sense of peace and contentment.
My Top Three Tracks: “Sun Sets In Colorado”, “Heartbreak Drinking Tour”, “Gold”
44) The Revivalists- Pour It Out Into the Night
The fifth long-player from these crackling roots-rockers retains all of the sizzling sparks and anthemic soul of its four predecessors, while also subtly inserting its fair share of pop and folk leanings. The results make for an album that is a bit more of a grower than an immediate shower, but it’s fully committed to long-term listener satisfaction. Lead singer David Shaw is given as ample space as ever before to really display the unique and expansive character of his considerable range. His bandmates adjust accordingly in providing him with the precise surroundings as dictated by the song, whether it be a boisterous roar or a more intimate ambience. The results are a well-balanced and riveting listen throughout.
My Top Three Tracks: “Don’t Look Back”, “Down In the Dirt”, “Say Goodbye”
43) The War & Treaty- Lover’s Game
The third studio album from married duo Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter is a shining example of an adored Americana act transitioning to the mainstream Nashville system, without the presence of a major label stereotypically interfering with said act’s pre-existing magic. Lover’s Game certainly benefits from a little added Music City polish and production, but it only emphasizes the soulful power of the War & Treaty, rather than watering it down. That’s a testament to both the presence of producer Dave Cobb, and the unwavering vision, taste, and talents of the Trotters themselves. This is another rafter-rattling rendition of their melting pot of country, soul, rock, and blues sounds, which evolves boldly forward thanks to some of their strongest songs and vocal showcases to date.
My Top Three Tracks: “Lover’s Game”, “Ain’t No Harmin’ Me”, “Yesterday’s Burn”
42) Mitski- The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We
Mitski has been one of modern music’s most fascinating enigmas for well over a decade now. Over the course of six records, she’s acquired one of the most raw and introspective lyrical catalogs of the current era, while exploring a chameleonic sonic journey that started out in chamber pop and most recently landed in the synthy indie rock of last year’s Laurel Hell. With The Land.., we find her navigating back to the orchestral pop of her earlier work while replacing the synths with a more sparse and gothic country-inflected touch. It’s a gorgeous dichotomy proves to cut to the aching and beautiful core of her music like never before. This album is utterly and bitterly alluring.
My Top Three Tracks: “Bug Like An Angel”, “I Don’t Like My Mind”, “My Love Mine All Mine”
41) Post Malone- Austin
With Austin, we found Post Malone the pop-culture icon further evolving into Post Malone the artist. Doubling down on the sonic pivot of last year’s Twelve Carat Toothache, Malone unleashes his most confessional songs to date, and dresses them in a stripped indie-pop sound that he intelligently recognizes suits them far better than his signature rock-rap revelry ever could. Throughout, Malone attempts to reconcile his life’s most toxic influences, both from outside forces and from within himself. He does so with a sweet, trembly folk timbre that represents a larger-than-life personality’s willingness to bare his most intimate moments for all the world to dissect. In doing so, he officially establishes himself not just a potent hitmaker to watch in the years ahead, but as a pivotal artistic voice as well.
My Top Three Tracks: “Chemical”, “Green Thumb”, “Laugh It Off”
40) Buddy & Julie Miller- In the Throes
The undisputed king and queen of the Americana scene reunite for their fourth duets record, and immediately remind us all that the nakedly raw and unvarnished sound they create together is as uniquely striking as anything in the history of recorded music. The haunting blend created between Buddy’s equally full-bodied voice and guitar-work and Julie’s harsh but soulful rasp has and remains a beautiful metaphor for the real life experience. It’s muddy. It’s imperfect. The beauty it offers in its contrast between light and darkness is undeniably haunting. In addition, the record serves as a bold reminder that Julie Miller’s pen is as gorgeously refined as her vocals are gorgeously the opposite. As on previous outings, she has a hand in the writing of all tracks, making In the Throes another showcase of one of America’s most criminally overlooked narrative voices.
My Top Three Tracks: “You’re My Thrill”, “Don’t Make Her Cry”, “The Painkillers Ain’t Workin'”
39) The Gaslight Anthem- History Books
A rippling and contemplative return from this New Jersey rock quartet, which is clearly inspired by the passage of time that occurred between this and their previous 2014 LP. The value of time is a consistent thread throughout the record, whether it be cherishing it with those loved ones you’ve taken for granted, or the resolution to stop wasting it on those who aren’t contributing to one’s growth or peace. All of this is once again filtered through the band’s raucous and distorted rock roar, and lead vocalist Brian Fallon’s commanding voice, equal parts throttling and stoic. Plus, all of those near-cliched Springsteen aspirations and comparisons finally see their triumphant justice when The Boss himself drops by for a duet that’s a bow on an already solid comeback.
My Top Three Tracks: “Spider Bites”, “History Books” (featuring Bruce Springsteen), “Positive Charge”
38) Jon Batiste- World Music Radio
The diversely talented Jon Batiste had a lot of industry expectations riding on the release of World Music Radio, what with it being the follow-up to We Are, which won the 2022 Grammy Award for all-genre Album of the Year. It’s clear however that Batiste remained far more concerned about making music that was culturally deep and relevant, rather than chasing any commercial aspirations. This concept record, which stars a fictional interstellar DJ named Billy Bob Bo, is a bona fide cornucopia of musical sounds and cross-cultural celebrations. It’s a joyously vibrant listening experience to lose yourself in, and by its conclusion you feel as if you’ve taken a mini-tour of musical tastes across the globe. It takes a wildly prolific and educated musician to pull off such a project, and Batiste does it with aplomb.
My Top Three Tracks: “Calling Your Name”, “Butterfly”, “Movement 18′ (Heroes)”
37) Shakey Graves- Movie of the Week
For the better part of the past decade, Shakey Graves has built a sturdy reputation as one of folk-rock’s most creative and intriguing acts. He did so on the strength of a style that seamlessly melded his affinity for both abstract, literate songwriting and a sardonic wit, with the two elements always complimenting rather than contradicting one another. This juicy dichotomy certainly reaches its fever pitch on the heady Movie of the Week, which proves to be the most complex exploration of singer Alejandro Rose-Garcia’s trippy psyche to date. The arrangements and songs ping-pong between a swelling wall of sound and folksy whisper, as if to illustrate the complicated extremes that can cripple our minds as we navigate life’s emotional roller-coaster. It’s nowhere near background music, but it certainly earns your extra attention.
My Top Three Tracks: “Ready or Not” (featuring Sierra Ferrell), “Big In the World”, “Heartstopper”
36) Iris DeMent- Workin’ On A World
As the social and political climates in America spiraled out of control in the years since her last record, we had to know it was only a matter of time before Iris DeMent returned to give us an album rife with the pointed social commentaries that are trademarks in her catalog. As always, DeMent pulls no punches in joining us as we bitch about the injustices around us. And as always, she also does so with a heavy dose of the hindsight, accountability, and objectivity that we all need to commit to in order to push towards progress. Basically, she doesn’t let a single one of us off the hook in contributing our fair share. The fact that she retains her masterful ability to marry all of this heavy material with a delightful sonic experience that makes plenty of time for tempo, hooks, and humor is itself a vastly remarkable and refreshing feat. When it comes to what’s left of folk poets in the 2020s, DeMent may be the most pivotal.
My Top Three Tracks: “Workin’ On A World”, “Goin’ Down to Sing in Texas”, “Warriors of Love”
35) Kelly Clarkson- Chemistry
Created in the aftermath of Kelly Clarkson’s messy divorce, Chemistry arrived with high hopes, and for good reason after all. This would be one of the present moment’s finest vocalists delivering what promised to be an epic break-up album for the ages. The record certainly delivers plenty of wrenching ballads in that vein, but Chemistry is truly more of an exploration of the various stages of a relationship, than it is a straight-up divorce record. This admittedly makes it a bit uneven and disjointed in light of those initial expectations, but the life cycle of a romance is precisely those things and more as well. Clarkson’s angelic pipes gracefully guide us through all of it: the fun, the anger, the devastation, and ultimately, the path to recovery.
My Top Three Tracks: “Favorite Kind of High”, “Lighthouse”, “I Hate Love” (featuring Steve Martin)
34) Cold War Kids- Cold War Kids
An impressively solid rock set that both bangs and probes in equal amounts, Cold War Kids finds Nathan Willett and his troops providing one of the strongest showcases of their soulful and varied sound yet. Rock attitude and folk reflection collide emphatically with soulful power notes and New Wave beats. Willett attacks each song and topic with ferocious abandon, pushed further by both the energy of his bandmates and the biting nature of so much of the subject matter. It all carries an extra weight of passionate and, at times, ominous stakes in the post-COVID world. It’s the kind of music that strikes an intimate cord, while also leaving you ready to rock out to it in a live environment.
My Top Three Tracks: “Double Life”, “Another Name”, “Sunday In the City”
33) Jimmy Buffett- Equal Strain On All Parts
As Jimmy Buffett recorded Equal Strain On All Parts, the legend was well aware that he was creating his final album, as his battle with cancer took its toll. It’s this important fact which makes everything about this album pack an extra powerful punch. That obviously goes without saying for the more melancholy moments of reflection, but it especially elevates the impact of the contrasting signature moments of jubilance and comedy. Buffett’s well-balanced life perspective of gratitude and humility was one of his most endearing qualities, both as a person and a musician. That he was able to to retain those mantras even while staring down mortality, and create one final, vibrant celebration of life represents the true essence of his entire legacy.
My Top Three Tracks: “University of Bourbon Street” (featuring Preservation Hall Jazz Band), “Bubbles Up”, “Close Calls”
32) Duane Betts- Wild & Precious Life
For the past quarter-century, Duane Betts has been quietly but consistently carrying the torch for the rich musical lineage he inherited from father Dickey Betts and his role in The Allman Brothers Band. Here, Betts takes another break from his numerous group outfits to record his second solo album, and it’s unsurprisingly a glorious experience that recalls the sounds of vintage Southern Rock and 70s blues, all while still carving out his own artistic identity. His singing, songwriting, and especially his virtuosic guitar work sound simultaneously transplanted from a golden past and rooted in a modern, confident POV. Guest turns from names like Derek Trucks, Nicki Bluhm, and Marcus King add an extra sprinkle of magic to an already luxurious delight of an album.
My Top Three Tracks: “Waiting on a Song”, “Saints to Sinners”, “Cold Dark World” (featuring Marcus King)
31) Lana Del Rey- Did You Know There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
With each new record, Lana Del Rey continues to prove that there are no bounds to the mysterious and lonely depths of her mystical alt-pop sound. That’s as true as ever on Ocean Blvd, another exceptionally grim yet lovely entry in her singular catalog. It’d be incredibly easy to assess the baroque complexities of Del Rey’s music and dismiss all of its drama, doom & gloom, and inaccessibility as pretentious fodder for the elite or hipster crowds. At the heart of it all however is an every-day woman navigating the common-woman strife and heartache of the world that inevitably gives us all a run for our money. Her presentation of it all leaves us in a haze that is inarguably bewildering, but also healing in its own way. Like all of her preceding work, this Tunnel is one devastating but beautifully honest and resonant place.
My Top Three Tracks: “The Grants”, “A&W”, “Candy Necklace” (featuring Jon Batiste)
30) Lucinda Williams- Stories From A Rock n Roll Heart
Lucinda Williams’ ultimate legacy will always point to her contributions as an alt-country maverick and a catalog of poetic classics that proved to be a launching pad for the eventual Americana movement. However, it’s important to remember what a badass rock & roller she’s always been at heart. Her fifteenth album is as rousing a reminder of this as anything else in her canon, and the fact that it arrived in the aftermath of a debilitating stroke and her 70th birthday is nothing less than remarkable. Stories finds her diving confidently into classic Heartland Rock themes and sounds with as much fervor and bite as she exhibited three decades prior. She still manages to rip our hearts out with a few country pivots here and there, but she quickly nurses the pain with the kind of anthemic spirit that artists half her age would kill for. She ain’t lyin’: this is one comeback you don’t want to miss.
My Top Three Tracks: “New York Comeback” (featuring Bruce Springsteen)”, “Jukebox” (featuring Angel Olsen), “Rock n Roll Heart” (featuring Bruce Springsteen & Patti Scialfa)
29) Lori McKenna- 1988
With her twelfth studio album, Lori McKenna delivers an album that’s as autobiographical and family-centered as anything she’s ever released. It serves as another striking example of how much McKenna’s own life stories resemble our own. In fact, with her endlessly magical ability to frame her humble experiences with such poetic but resonant honesty, she makes you feel like she knows your own story more than you do yourself. Throughout 1988, McKenna continually confronts the highs and lows of marriage, parenthood, aging, addiction, and so much more. Producer Dave Cobb also returns to insert a slightly punchier aesthetic than her most recent works. The results make McKenna’s music as accessible and infectious as ever, without robbing one ounce of its gritty soul.
My Top Three Tracks: “The Old Woman In Me”, “1988”, “Wonder Drug”
28) Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real- Sticks & Stones
Sticks & Stones is a rip-roaring, knee-slapping slice of honky-tonk heaven that sounds just as entertaining and relevant in 2023 as it would have in 1973. Nelson’s penetrating twang is both as unapologetically nasally and versatile as his father’s, and Promise of the Real plays with the same scintillating precision and energy as The Family. They inflect each of these hardcore country tunes with ample servings of whatever they call for: loads of comedic wit and turns of phrase, mournful heartbreak when necessary, and always astute musical showmanship. And when mainstream darling Lainey Wilson stops by for a saucy duet, it becomes equally apparent how naturally she would fit as a permanent band-member, but also how much pure star-power this unassuming underground band delivers in their own right.
My Top Three Tracks: “Alchohalleluah”, “Every Time I Drink”, “More Than Friends” (featuring Lainey Wilson)
27) Jessi Colter- Edge of Forever
Despite her place as the true queen of country outlaws, Jessi Colter has truly spent her entire career as a hidden gem in the musical landscape. An artistic force to reckon with that could’ve been a permanent superstar, but instead has spent the past five decades periodically returning to remind us just what a special artist she has always been. Luckily for us, 2023 marked one of these aforementioned reminders, and the delivery of one of Colter’s finest achievements, at the age of 80 no less. Exquisitely produced by artistic descendent Margo Price and mixed by son Shooter Jennings, Edge of Forever once again unlocks the magnetic power of Colter’s voice and her gorgeously timeless brand of country-soul. Every tasteful flourish is executed with the utmost purpose, shining a glowing light on Colter’s emotionally resonant ability to connect with a gripping lyric and send its message surging through our veins.
My Top Three Tracks: “Hard on Easy Street”, “Angel in the Fire”, “Maybe You Should” (featuring Margo Price)
26) Tanya Tucker- Sweet Western Sound
The remarkable third act of Tanya Tucker’s unstoppable career continues in heavenly, transcendent fashion here as her charmed union with co-producers and disciples Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings bears more magical fruit from its labor. The legend’s wine-stained, reedy rasp is given a sweet tapestry of production and another gripping collective of songs that brings out its perfectly flawed beauty. She honors her past while waxing bittersweet nostalgia and forgiving herself of missteps. She pleads for grace and understanding during the aging process. She embraces what the rest of her future holds, while still doing all she can to avoid mortality. It all melds together to create the kind of life appreciation and perspective that we can all aspire for in our golden years. Yes, the renaissance of Tanya Tucker is as sweet of a western sound that we can ask for.
My Top Three Tracks: “Kindness”, “City of Gold”, “That Wasn’t Me”
Continue to: Part II
The 706 