The year 2023 was a year in which various beautiful albums were released in the music world and provided us with a kind of therapy against the difficulties of life with excellent melodies. Music from many different genres provided listeners with unique experiences. It was a year that once again emphasised the universality of music and its importance in human life. Let's take a look at what we listened to this year
Former trance artist James Holden made a stunning comeback this year with his new album. The album features a richly programmed and layered content with a theme centered around dance music. You can feel his electroacoustic style to the core.
Starting as a side project consisting of members from Engraved and Archaic Decapitator, Fires in Distance gained recognition in 2020 with the album 'Echoes From the Deep November.' This year, they released 'Air Not Meant for Us,' a sequel to their previous album. The work is characterized by a sense of despair and fear, particularly tearing at our hearts with the track 'Crumbling Pillars of a Tranquil Mind,' which spans over nine minutes.
The Record stood out as one of the standout supergroup albums of the year. Over the past decade, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus have individually captivated their fans with their performances, and when they came together, the album became truly unparalleled. Each artist embellishes The Record with heartfelt stories and confident melodies, breaking down their own brands of truth in a compelling and thoughtful manner. If you're looking to immerse yourself in friendship and guitar, we recommend listening to this album.
Artist and model Kelela's second album, Raven, was eagerly anticipated by fans of her 2013 mixtape Cut 4 Me and her 2017 debut album Take Me Apart. The songs offer soul under the moonlight and rhythms that look towards the future. The structure of the songs and the tempo of the album act as an invitation to a new relationship with time
The sixth album from Billy Woods and Elucid, Armand Hammer, is a humor-filled album reminiscent of Hieronymus Bosch paintings. It presents a blend of modern chaos and romanticism, accompanied by beats drawn from the likes of JPEGMAFIA, El-P, and more. The album features not only old and new friends but also a variety of sounds and ideas. Bringing together various artists, the album provides a veritable feast of voices.
Rapper Noname's albums, which shed light on global issues, now examine audience reactions to songs addressing the oppression of Black people. Her debut album, Room 25, aims for peace between violence and inequality, while her second album, Sundial, encourages listeners to engage in introspection and questioning. 'Hold Me Down' challenges racist, capitalist systems, and indifference, while 'Namesake' pairs with supporting military propaganda.
Guts, Rodrigo's second album, is an album with a rebellious girl spirit that could fit into any classic high school movie from 10 Things I Hate About You to Bottoms. Drawing inspiration from Blondie and Toni Basil to Hole and Letters to Cleo, Avril Lavigne and The Veronicas, and even more recently, Lorde, Rodrigo garnered considerable praise this year for her exploration of themes such as terrible guys, social anxiety, poor self-image, and competitive obsessions with other beautiful women.
In March, Yves Tumor kicked off with a DJ set at a Deftones concert supported by Marc Jacobs, delivering a fantastic performance. Tumor's music is built on the contradiction of tarnishing beautiful things and decay with style. This work embellishes striking melodies with what can be described as 'dirty' sounds. Tumor's lyrics reflect on the steps we take to find satisfaction in desperate times. Everyone is searching for something to fill the void that surrounds their inner worlds.
Sufjan Stevens describes his tenth studio album, Javelin, as a record that pushes the boundaries of creativity. The album incorporates psychedelic, melancholic, and folk music elements. Dedicated to his partner Evans Richardson, this album explores themes of loneliness and treating loved ones better.
Iris DeMent's new album includes a series of songs titled 'Workin' on a World,' which is about showing love and courage for what is right, despite feeling politically and socially risky since 2016. The album addresses Islamophobia and paranoia, expressing daily nightmares involving gun violence and climate issues in a poignant manner through powerful vocals and delicate piano playing.
Mitski's new album is quite expansive, and her songwriting is as enchanting as ever. Writing and performing with a unique conviction, Mitski reflects on the negotiations we make with ourselves and the determined path toward self-destruction. With songs that are like gentle melodies reminding us of what we have and what we can let go of, Mitski offers a gentle and honest balm for our wounds.
With each released album, her discography comes even more alive, and the narrative becomes more intricate. This sentiment can be expanded as a commentary on millennial anxiety. However, Lana, who describes herself as a 'modern woman with a fragile structure,' reveals her most intimate and vulnerable self in this album. She was hesitant to send early drafts to producer Drew Erickson and even hesitated to release the finished version. There is no rhythm, no structure—just Lana's beautiful voice picking up clues while wandering through the misty forest of her own memories. That's why, for some, it belonged to her as the best album of the year.