The Guardian's Best Albums of 2023 So Far

From the unique sonic world of Yaeji to the dark folk music of Lankum, here are our picks of the best LPs from the first half of the year

Published: June 06, 2023 12:00 Source

# 1

Tracey Denim by bar italia

Album • May 19 / 2023 Slacker Rock

# 2

Legitimate Cause by Bawo

EP • Jan 30 / 2023 UK Hip Hop

# 3

Maps by Billy Woods + Kenny Segal

Album • May 05 / 2023 Abstract Hip Hop Jazz Rap Conscious Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop

# 4

Live at Bush Hall by Black Country, New Road

Album • Mar 24 / 2023 Progressive Pop Art Rock Chamber Pop

# 5

Therapy by Brendan Eder Ensemble

Album • Mar 03 / 2023 Chamber Music Neoclassical New Age

# 6

Desire, I Want To Turn Into You by Caroline Polachek

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

# 7

Sundown by Eddie Chacon

Album • Mar 31 / 2023 Smooth Soul

# 8

Fuse by Everything But the Girl

Album • Apr 21 / 2023 Alternative R&B Downtempo UK Bass

# 9

Clubs Hit by Império Pacífico

Album • Dec 27 / 2022 Balearic Beat

# 10

Imagine This Is a High Dimensional Space of All Possibilities by James Holden

Album • Mar 31 / 2023 Progressive Electronic

# 11

Time Ain't Accidental by Jess Williamson

Album • Jun 09 / 2023 Americana Singer-Songwriter Alt-Country

# 12

That! Feels Good! by Jessie Ware

Album • Apr 28 / 2023 Disco Dance-Pop

# 13

Permanent Damage by Joesef

Album • Jan 13 / 2023 Contemporary R&B

# 14

SCARING THE HOES by JPEGMAFIA + Danny Brown

Album • Mar 24 / 2023 Experimental Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 15

Red Moon in Venus by Kali Uchis

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

# 16

Raven by Kelela

Album • Feb 10 / 2023 Alternative R&B Electronic

# 17

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

Album • Mar 24 / 2023 Singer-Songwriter Art Pop

# 18

False Lankum by Lankum

Album • Mar 24 / 2023 Irish Folk Music Avant-Folk

# 19

Let’s Start Here. by Lil Yachty

Album • Jan 27 / 2023 Neo-Psychedelia Psychedelic Rock

# 20

This Is Why by Paramore

Album • Feb 10 / 2023 Post-Punk Revival

# 21

Sremm 4 Life by Rae Sremmurd

Album • Apr 07 / 2023 Trap Pop Rap Southern Hip Hop

# 22

Radial Gate by Sluice

Album • Mar 03 / 2023 Contemporary Folk Alt-Country

# 23

Blómi by Susanne Sundfør

Album • Apr 28 / 2023 Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk

# 24

Everything Harmony by The Lemon Twigs

Album • May 05 / 2023 Soft Rock Pop Rock

# 25

First Two Pages of Frankenstein by The National

Album • Apr 28 / 2023 Chamber Pop

# 26

V by Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Album • Mar 17 / 2023 Psychedelic Pop Neo-Psychedelia Psychedelic Rock

# 27

Rat Saw God by Wednesday

Album • Apr 07 / 2023 Indie Rock Noise Rock

# 28

An Inbuilt Fault by Westerman

Album • May 05 / 2023 Art Pop

# 29

With a Hammer by Yaeji

Album • Apr 07 / 2023 Glitch Pop

# 30

This Stupid World by Yo La Tengo

Album • Feb 10 / 2023 Indie Rock Post-Rock

# 31

Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) by Yves Tumor

Album • Mar 17 / 2023 Neo-Psychedelia Post-Punk