The Forty-Five's Albums of the Year 2023

How do you vote on the best albums of 2023 – get a bunch of music editors and critics in the room to battle it out, that's how.

Published: December 10, 2023 15:54 Source

# 1

the record by boygenius

Album • Mar 31 / 2023 Singer-Songwriter Indie Folk Indie Rock

# 2

Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd by Lana Del Rey

Album • Mar 24 / 2023 Singer-Songwriter Art Pop

# 3

GUTS by Olivia Rodrigo

Album • Sep 08 / 2023 Pop Rock Singer-Songwriter Alternative Rock

# 4

Raven by Kelela

Album • Feb 10 / 2023 Alternative R&B Electronic

# 5

Desire, I Want To Turn Into You by Caroline Polachek

Album • Feb 14 / 2023 Art Pop Alt-Pop Electronic

# 6

Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love? by Kara Jackson

Album • Apr 14 / 2023 Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk Chamber Folk

# 7

The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We by Mitski

Album • Sep 15 / 2023 Singer-Songwriter Indie Folk

# 8

Blondshell by Blondshell

Album • Apr 07 / 2023 Indie Rock

# 9

This Is Why by Paramore

Album • Feb 10 / 2023 Post-Punk Revival

# 10

Sundial by Noname

Album • Aug 11 / 2023 Jazz Rap Conscious Hip Hop Political Hip Hop

# 11

That! Feels Good! by Jessie Ware

Album • Apr 28 / 2023 Disco Dance-Pop

# 12

Honey by Samia

Album • Jan 27 / 2023 Singer-Songwriter Indie Pop

# 13

All of This Will End by Indigo De Souza

Album • Apr 28 / 2023 Indie Rock

# 14

Fountain Baby by Amaarae

Album • Jun 09 / 2023 Afrobeats Alternative R&B

# 15

Wallsocket by underscores

Album • Sep 22 / 2023 Indietronica Indie Rock Electropop

# 16

UNFORGIVEN by LE SSERAFIM

Album • May 01 / 2023 K-Pop Dance-Pop

# 17

Rat Saw God by Wednesday

Album • Apr 07 / 2023 Indie Rock Noise Rock

# 18

Black Rainbows by Corinne Bailey Rae

Album • Sep 15 / 2023 Art Pop Art Rock

# 19

Messy by Olivia Dean

Album • Jun 30 / 2023 Contemporary R&B Pop Soul

# 20

Crazymad, For Me by CMAT

Album • Oct 13 / 2023 Pop Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 21

My Soft Machine by Arlo Parks

Album • May 26 / 2023 Bedroom Pop Alt-Pop

# 22

Scarlet by Doja Cat

Album • Sep 22 / 2023 Pop Rap West Coast Hip Hop

# 23

Red Moon in Venus by Kali Uchis

Album • Mar 03 / 2023 Neo-Soul Contemporary R&B

# 24

Girl In The Half Pearl by Liv.e

Album • Feb 10 / 2023 Neo-Soul Alternative R&B Neo-Psychedelia

# 25

With a Hammer by Yaeji

Album • Apr 07 / 2023 Glitch Pop

# 26

Santhosam by Priya Ragu

Album • Oct 20 / 2023 Contemporary R&B Dance-Pop

# 27

Mommy by Be Your Own Pet

Album • Aug 25 / 2023 Garage Rock Revival

# 28

I<3UQTINVU by Jockstrap

Album • Nov 03 / 2023 Glitch Pop Electronic Dance Music

# 29

Soft Like Steel by LVRA

EP • Mar 22 / 2023 Hyperpop

# 30

Sweet Justice by Tkay Maidza

Album • Nov 03 / 2023 Contemporary R&B Pop Rap

# 31

softscars by yeule

Album • Sep 22 / 2023 Dream Pop Indietronica Indie Rock

# 32

BB/ANG3L by Tinashe

Album • Sep 08 / 2023 Alternative R&B Electronic

# 33

Everyone's Crushed by Water From Your Eyes

Album • May 26 / 2023 Experimental Rock Art Pop

# 34

falling or flying by Jorja Smith

Album • Sep 29 / 2023 Contemporary R&B

# 35

Bewitched by Laufey

Album • Sep 08 / 2023 Traditional Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 36

Madres by Sofia Kourtesis

Album • Oct 27 / 2023 Deep House Latin House

# 37

Paint My Bedroom Black by Holly Humberstone

Album • Oct 13 / 2023 Alt-Pop

# 38

The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan

Album • Sep 22 / 2023 Synthpop Dance-Pop Alt-Pop

# 39

Lucky for You by Bully

Album • Jun 02 / 2023 Indie Rock Slacker Rock

# 40

Bubblegum by Biig Piig

Album • Jan 20 / 2023 Alt-Pop Alternative R&B

# 41

My 21st Century Blues by RAYE

Album • Feb 03 / 2023 Contemporary R&B Pop Rap UK Hip Hop

# 42

WEEDKILLER by Ashnikko

Album • Jun 02 / 2023 Pop Rap Trap

# 43

Ride Or Die by ARXX

Album • Mar 31 / 2023 Indie Rock

# 44

Roach by Miya Folick

Album • May 26 / 2023 Indie Pop Alt-Pop

# 45

In The End It Always Does by The Japanese House

Album • Jun 30 / 2023 Alt-Pop Indietronica Indie Pop