2023 was a year full of new music. In the past twelve months, many new artists have made names for themselves — Gracie Abrams, Madison Beer, and Reneé Rapp to name a few — while those already at the top of their game returned with their best projects yet. Some wild choices have been made in music in 2023, and I mean that in the best way possible. While new albums across all genres were released in 2023, there were a few that stuck out to me and are ones I’ve made my entire personality.
It was nearly impossible to come up with my 10 favorite albums released this year since so many talented voices knocked it out of the park, but I somehow did it!
Rolling Up The Welcome Mat by Kelsea Ballerini
On her first Valentine’s Day after her messy, public divorce in Aug. 2022, Ballerini told her side of the story with a collection of six self-written tracks and a short film. She didn’t originally intend to perform these songs live, but the universe had other plans. After this project gained traction on TikTok, it landed her a musical guest spot on Saturday Night Live. Ballerini also went public with her new boo Chase Stokes. She then dropped an extended version of Rolling Up The Welcome Mat on Aug. 11, which featured a new song titled “How Do I Do This” about opening up to someone after heartbreak.
Good Riddance by Gracie Abrams
I don’t know about you but many songs from Abrams’ debut album, released on Feb. 24, sit at the top of my Sad Girl Hours playlist. Thanks to this masterpiece of a record, the bedroom pop phenom has had an insane breakthrough year, which has included opening for Taylor Swift on the record-breaking Eras tour, headlining her own Good Riddance tour, and even scoring a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Each song on Good Riddance tugs at the listener’s heartstrings differently. The album tells a story about lost and found love from start to finish, and many fans have reflected that it’s the perfect depiction of their internal feelings.
The Show by Niall Horan
The One Direction star tried something new on his third solo album, which was released on June 9, to immense critical acclaim. Mixing synth and rock influences with Horan’s signature soft pop sound, it’s one of his most cohesive and heartfelt projects yet. Comforting, sentimental tracks like “Meltdown” and “Never Grow Up” feel like a hug to me as a listener, but as usual, Horan includes a healthy amount of upbeat bops like “If You Leave Me” and the lead single “Heaven.” And let’s not forget “Science,” which had me in a puddle of my own tears.
Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift
Swift’s Eras tour has become a defining phenomenon in pop culture and broken several records — but it’s not the only way she made 2023 her year. The superstar is currently re-recording her first six albums in an effort to reclaim their masters, denoting the new ones as (Taylor’s Version). As of Dec. 2023, she’s released four re-records. On July 7 Swift put out Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), which sent fans on a trip down memory lane. With a thirteen-year gap (Swift’s lucky number) between the original Speak Now album and Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), longtime Swifties got to hear the songs they grew up with once again. Though this wasn’t the original purpose of the re-recorded project, Swift’s allowing many to relive their childhood in an unmatched way — not many other artists are facilitating these kinds of experiences.
Snow Angel by Renee Rapp
Throughout the year, Rapp has cemented her status as a main pop girl and grown her fanbase beyond just theater kids. On Aug. 18, she dropped Snow Angel, which became the biggest female debut album of the year in all genres. This project landed the rising star her first VMA nominations, including one for Best New Artist. It’s clear that wherever she goes, Rapp will always take what she learned about storytelling and vocal technique from her Broadway days with her. But between the album’s candid and heartfelt tracks such as “Snow Angel” and “23,” she’s not afraid to let her humor shine through.
The album’s current single “Tummy Hurts” is probably as real as it gets. I, too, just want some recognition for having “good tits and a big heart.”
GUTS by Olivia Rodrigo
Upon their first listen to Rodrigo’s sophomore album, many fans were surprised to see the singer’s punk rock side shine through. Released on Sept. 8, the 20-year-old doesn’t shy away from discussing the dark aspects of her stardom such as unwanted attention from older men (“vampire,” “the grudge”), being picked apart for one’s appearance (“pretty isn’t pretty”), and the unhealthy trap of comparing yourself to others (“lacy,” “teenage dream”). Making big strides since her breakthrough in 2021 with SOUR, Rodrigo once again showed her ability to wrap harsh truths in profound, eclectic storytelling.
Silence Between Songs by Madison Beer
Did you know that Beer almost released an entirely different sophomore project with the test pressings ready to go before she went back to the drawing board? I can’t thank her enough for listening to that intuitive feeling because Silence Between Songs turned out to be a resonant, ethereal masterpiece. The project highlights Beer’s mature perspective as she connects with the calm between peaks in her life. Silence Between Songs documents Beer’s journey of learning to embrace her emotions rather than bottling them up and encourages listeners to do the same.
Scarlet by Doja Cat
After a July 2023 Threads post where Doja Cat called out certain fans for their parasocial tendencies, the singer was met with intense backlash as many questioned whether the star appreciated her fans. The singer adopted a confident, cocky personality of “Scarlet” when she doubled down with her record-breaking single, “Paint The Town Red.” Doja’s third studio album is named after her alter ego and has a true rap sound. Scarlet shows Doja’s significant developments since she dropped Planet Her in 2021, both as a songwriter and a performer.
1989 (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift
On each of Swift’s re-recorded albums, she includes a few “From The Vault” songs or previously unheard tracks that didn’t originally make the cut. Swift warned fans in an Aug. 9 announcement that the 1989 (Taylor’s Version) vault tracks would be “so insane” – and true to her word — and they turned out to be some of Swift’s best songs yet. The no-skip perfection that is 1989 (Taylor’s Version) dropped on Oct. 27. Between the powerful “Is It Over Now?” that many are convinced is about Harry Styles, “Slut!” whose title got everyone talking when it was revealed, and “Now That We Don’t Talk” which fans related to so hard that it inspired a TikTok trend. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is the pop bible.
Think Later by Tate McRae
McRae knocked it out of the park with the release of her sophomore album on Dec. 8 and she’s now cementing her status as the future of pop music. After the rising star dropped the music video for “exes,” comparisons between her and the legendary Britney Spears started rolling in. While McRae is bringing choreography and hip-hop dancing back to the stage and music videos, the album also features some highly relatable anthems. McRae sings about being backstabbed by a friend (“we’re not alike”), going back to someone you know is bad for you (“stay done,” “guilty conscience”), and the expectations vs. reality of living in LA (“plastic palm trees”).
She holds nothing back about the experience of growing up in the spotlight.