January 18, 2024 by Elias Prodger (‘26)
2023 was a weird year of music. It acted as some sort of a transition year. 2022 felt like the most solid and consistently well-done year we have seen in music all decade. But as we moved into 2024, mainstream music seemed to be confused.
No rap albums were able to crack the top spot on the charts until Travis Scott ended his long hiatus to drop his album Utopia. Instead, the charts were largely dominated by country music. Artists like Morgan Wallen dominated radio stations and every Walmart speaker across the country. As we move into the underground, several established and legendary artists allowed for the revival of popular sounds from the 90’s such as dream pop and shoegaze. It may have been a strange year, but plenty of quality music was released. Here are my top 9 favorite albums of 2023…
Disclaimer: These albums are not explicitly the objectively best 9 albums of the year, I would have loved to include more. These 9 are my favorite new albums I heard this year…
9. Mitski-The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We
Singer songwriter and bedroom pop icon Mitski, comes through with one of her most dreamy and lowkey batch of songs to date. The increasing influence of folk and country music allows Mitski’s emotion and lyrics to come to the forefront of these songs allowing for a much more intimate listening experience. The instant gratification and accessibility of “My Love Mine All Mine,” the perfect vocal performances on songs like “I Don’t Like My Mind” with slide guitar arrangements that create a dreamy and mesmerizing atmosphere. Easily one of Mitski’s best records as she continues to be one of indie music’s most impressive artists.
8.Travis Scott- Utopia
Psychedelic trap innovator Travis Scott returns from a lengthy, controversy-filled hiatus to deliver a 19-song project which, while inconsistent, provides some of Travis’ greatest
moments in his entire discography. The beat switch in “My Eyes,” the electricity of “Fein”, even features from SZA and Drake fill out the spacey and atmospheric trap beats that have become Travis’ signature sound. Yes, this album is heavily indebted to Kanye, yes it has some of Travis’ worst songs, and yes, this album is nowhere near his creative highpoints on Rodeo and Astroworld. But in my opinion, the astronomical highlights on the album land it on this list.
7.Paranoull- After The Magic
Korean bedroom rock and shoegaze project Paranoull provides the most mind-bending production of any record I’ve heard this year. Somehow this one-man project provides a full band experience with guitar tones that sound like the millennium falcon entering hyperspace. The explosion in “Polaris,” the buildup in “Parade,” everything in this record’s production is so magical, meticulously put together, and epic. You will not hear anything quite like After The Magic this year, this is a truly special record.
6. Caroline Polacheck- Desire, I Want To Turn Into You
Indie pop veteran and inventive pop star Caroline Polacheck comes through with her most consistent and hard-hitting record to date. Caroline has been on the radar of every music fan since her early days in the indie pop group “Chairlift,” but it seems that her second solo album has captivated the hearts and ears of anyone who hears the record. The breath-taking vocal runs that open the record on “Welcome To My Island,” the flawlessly produced synthesizers and drum machines on every track are immaculate. This album is the official turning point in which Caroline becomes one of the most forward-thinking and bona fide pop stars right now.
5.Lana Del Ray- Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Boulevard?
Art pop superstar Lana Del Ray released her most beautiful and aesthetically consistent record of her entire career. As a Lana Del Ray fan, this album felt the most conceptual and personal that she’s ever released aside from maybe Norman F***ing Rockwell. The title track’s lyrical specificity and brutal honesty, the haunting and beautifully arranged harmonies of “A&W” stand out. This album is by no means a drastic left field turn in the Lana Del Ray sound, but in my opinion, this is the most refined and best version of her sound that we have heard to date.
4. Sufijan Stevens- Javelin
Singer Songwriter and chamber folk veteran Sufijan Stevens dropped a heartbreaking and emotionally taxing listening experience that will touch anyone with a soul. Sufijan’s brutal honesty in his lyrics and minimal production harkens back to his 2015 record, Carrie and Lowell, my favorite record of his in the fuzzy explosion of “Goodbye Evergreen,” the dissonance and heartfelt delivery of “Will Anybody Ever Love Me.” Sufijan once again delivers a beautifully written and arranged chamber folk album, truly one of indie music’s most prolific and consistent songwriters.
3.Jeff Rosenstock- Hell Mode
Indie rock and low-fi veteran Jeff Rosenstock released one of the most thrilling and hookiest projects of his 3-decade long career with numerous bands and solo projects. Jeff on this record continues to tastefully blend his pop punk and pop sensibilities with his raw and abrasive punk production. The chorus of “LIKED U BETTER”, everything about “FUTURE IS DUMB” is so instantly catchy and magnetic on first listen. Even three decades in, Jeff comes through with, in my opinion, some of his best songs yet and after this record, I hope Jeff never stops.
2. Boygenius- The Record
Indie folk and rock supergroup Boygenius, composed of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker provides one of the most instantly gratifying listening experiences I’ve had this year. Boygenius’ incredible versatility in sound allows for a varied and intriguing full album experience. The trio seamlessly harmonizes on softer melancholy tracks like “Cool About It” and “Emily I’m Sorry” as well as more high tempo cuts like “Not Strong Enough” and “Satanist.” Boygenius continues to be one of the most accessible and captivating groups bringing indie music to the mainstream, and I’m all for it.
1.Slowdive-Everything Is Alive
Dream pop and shoegaze legends Slowdive, despite being 30 years past their heyday, provide an angelic and moving 8 track indie masterclass. The band deviates from their standard guitar forward style on tracks like “Shanty” and “the slab” while bringing in more post-punk influences on “Kisses” and “Skin In The Game.” Slowdive proves that a band reuniting after decades can provide new and refreshing material when properly inspired. Out of any album this year, on first listen this album absolutely blew me away, and is my favorite album of 2023.