My Favorite Albums of 2023 (So Far)
Halftime check-in.
By my count I’ve listened to around 65 new albums this year, not including 10 or 15 re-releases, anthologies, deluxe editions, and archival collections. I wouldn’t presume to know which of these records will still be in rotation come year’s end, let alone which (if any) will hold up in years to come. But to try to make some sense of the year thus far, a midpoint check-in might be helpful.
10 Favorite Albums of 2023 (roughly in order of preference)
U2 - Songs of Surrender
Paramore - This is Why
Joe Henry - All the Eye Can See
Billy Woods and Kenny Segal - Maps
Ron Sexsmith - The Vivian Line
Brad Mehldau - Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays the Beatles
Bob Dylan - Shadow Kingdom
Brandee Younger - Brand New Life
Sunny War - Anarchist Gospel
boygenius - The Record
10 Honorable Mentions (ordered even more loosely)
Jessie Ware - That! Feels Good!
Yo La Tengo - This Stupid World
The Hold Steady - The Price of Progress
100 gecs - 10,000 gecs
Feist - Multitudes
Lonnie Holley - Oh Me Oh My
Paul Simon - Seven Psalms
Joe Chambers - Dance Kobina
Margo Price - Strays
Brandy Clark - Brandy Clark
10 Great Re-Issues, Special Editions, etc.
Birthright: A Black Roots Music Compendium
De La Soul catalog re-release
Bob Dylan - Fragments: Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997)
The Birth of Bop: The Savoy 10-Inch LP Collection
Burt Bacharach & Elvis Costello - The Songs of Bacharach & Costello
Laraaji - Segue to Infinity
The White Stripes - Elephant: Deluxe Edition
Taylor Swift - Midnights: The Til Dawn Edition
Tyler, The Creator - Call Me if You Get Lost: The Estate Sale
John Lee Hooker - Burnin’ [Expanded Edition]
Disappointments!
Shania Twain - Queen of Me
Taj Mahal - Savoy
Pink - Trustfall
Kali Uchis - Red Moon in Venus
Gorillaz - Cracker Island