Best Albums of 2023
We heard some of the best music in 2023. We fell in love with these albums at first listen. Our picks range from the guitar-washed sounds of Taleen Kali’s Flower of Life to the electronic clangs of Debby Friday’s GOOD LUCK.
Our full list is below!
DAIISTAR - Good Time
After releasing their debut single in early 2023, Austin band DAIISTAR quickly became a favorite among noise-pop/psych-rock fans. Their debut album Good Time, produced by The Black Angels' Alex Maas and released on the influential label Fuzz Club, highlights their ability to write killer songs. From the head-nodding beat on “LMN BB LMN” to the entrancing bass on “Repeater,” the band’s intention to be a light through dark times is realized.
Debby Friday - GOOD LUCK
From the opening metallic clangs of “GOOD LUCK,” Debby Friday’s album is a trip to the underground. A former raver, Friday taps into the ethereal sounds of the night, creating an environment in which she thrives. On the electronic R&B song “SO HARD TO TELL” Friday exudes vulnerability as she sings to her younger self, before plunging back into the depths of the club with Pelada on “I GOT IT.” GOOD LUCK is electronic music at its best: raw, abrasive, and powerful.
DijahSB - The Flower That Knew
Toronto rapper DIjahSB blooms on their second album The Flower That Knew. Sonically, the album blends uplifting hip-hop/jazz beats underneath the overarching theme of personal growth. On songs like “Don’t Touch” and “Chantel’s Garden,” DijahSB points to the strength that stems from having a support system and the importance of understanding your value. Working with producers Cheap Limousine and Harrison, DIjahSB reaches for self-actualization across the release.
Diles que no me maten - Obrigaggi
Named after a short story by Mexican writer Juan Rulfo, Diles que no me maten makes foreground music. Their latest offering Obrigaggi is an experimental art-rock odyssey. At times, the songs are sparse, giving the listener room to breathe. Each track slowly bleeds into the next. The band effortlessly turns quotidian life into poetry. Lyrically, DQNMM does more than blur the line between fantasy and reality. They stop us in our tracks and implore us to listen.
Karen y Los Remedios - Silencio
How can we heal through rhythm? That is the question that Mexico City’s Karen Y Los Remedios tries to answer on their debut album Silencio. The duo, made of Ana Karen G Barajas and Guillermo Berbeyer, fuses Latin American, alternative, and electronic influences to create something fresh. Their cumbia beats are slowed to the point they become bewitching rhythms, as Barajas sings about heartbreak and desire. Silencio is about finding comfort in yourself and forging a path forward, moving beyond the pain.
Meagre Martin - Gut Punch
Adding elements like pedal steel guitar to indie rock and folk, Meagre Martin creates what the band dubs “faux country.” Their debut album Gut Punch is a deep examination of the life the trio left behind after leaving their native United States. Songs like “Amerika” and “Mountain” are poignant observations about a country where you no longer feel at home.
Rid of Me - Access To The Lonely
On their second album, Access To The Lonely, noise punk band Rid of Me does not hold back. The 11-track release is a masterclass in self-examination, dealing head-on with feelings of identity and disillusionment. From the solo on “Libertarian Noise Rock,” courtesy of metal guitarist Alex Cheskis (World Below) to the melodic guitar textures on “The Weekend,” is undoubtedly a rock album. Itarya Rosenberg’s delivery underscores the vocalist’s resilience, countering the album’s theme of feeling defeated.
The Seshen - Nowhere
Oakland band The Seshen has been making music for over ten years. On Nowhere, the band moves through personal conflict by creating exquisite soundscapes. Despite a divorce between two of the founding members, The Seshen moves together as one. Songs like “Nowhere” and “Waiting for Dawn” dig into the end of the relationship, with vocalist Lalin St. Juste singing out into the ether.
Taleen Kali - Flower of Life
With its loud guitars and heavenly vocals, Taleen Kali’s Flower of Life is a no-skips album. The sound encompasses vocalist Kali’s influences, ranging from Brit rock to shoegaze to goth. Produced by Jeff Schneider (The Smashing Pumpkins) and Josiah Mazzaschi at LA’s famed The Cave studio, the album explores themes of love (“Fine Line”), isolation (“Only Lovers Left Alive”), and resilience (“Flower of Life”). On the standout track “Vague Flesh,” Kali’s voice levitates above melancholic synths, at the same time, never taking her foot off the guitar pedal.
Ulrika Spacek - The Sheer Drop
After forming in Berlin, alt-rock Ulrika Spacek released two albums in less than one year. On their third album The Sheer Drop, the band goes further to create elaborate guitar textures and melodic bass lines. Standouts like “If The Wheels Are Coming Off, The Wheels Are Coming Off” and “Compact Trauma” reinforce the band’s elevated spot in the art rock space.