Carlos’s 25 Favorite Albums of 2023
In the last few times I made this list, I remember myself focusing so much on thinking “is this album really #13? Shouldn’t this other one go ahead of that album.” And while I kept a running list the entire year of all the albums I listened to and where I would “rank” them, I did so more focused on which I felt was more impactful instead of which I felt was better. And so here we are, my 25 favorite albums of 2023.
Before we get started, some standout songs from this year whose albums didn’t make the cut:
"Y o Y" and "*69"- Born At Midnite
"El After" - Clara Yolks
"Only Daedalus" - U.S. Girls
"Spring Bug" - Helena Deland
"A Night to Remember" - beabadoobee & Laufey
25.
Rustlin’ in the Rain | Tyler Childers
Country
Tyler Childers is one of my favorite voices and writers in country, which for me often goes more toward the folk direction. I was really excited for this album and, while there were some tracks that clicked, it felt like it could give more. But some did, so 25.
Favorite song: "In Your Love"
24.
Bravo! | Sorry Girls
Soft Rock / Dream Pop
I fell in love with the three singles off of this album from the beginning of 2023. While the rest of the album was nice, the dreamy soft rock feel of these songs is the type of thing you want to hear when you feel like the protagonist while riding transit. Seeing that they’re on the same label as my favorite band, TOPS, wasn’t so surprising as I felt that they had a similar sound.
Favorite songs: "Breathe", "Prettier Things"
23.
the record | boygenius
Indie folk
I did enjoy it at first but it didn’t stick like the first boygenius EP. Maybe I’m not smart enough to get it this time.
Favorite song: "$20", "We’re In Love"
22.
Yard | Slow Pulp
Indie rock / folk rock
Very cool Midwest rock album and I saw them perform it live, what more is there to say.
Favorite song: "Doubt"
21.
Daydreamer | Molly Burch
Indie pop / Pop ballad
Perfect groovy bike ride music. The songs don’t carry so much, but I always enjoy Molly Burch’s voice and the general vibe of her songs
Favorite songs: "2003", "Tattoo"
20.
Jardin | MUNYA
Indie pop / Dream pop
Great follow up to her previous album which I adore and think is a Canadian indie classic. Absolutely adore MUNYA’s voice, go listen to “Inhibitions / Intuitions” she released with Kainalu, one of my favorite songs I discovered this year.
Favorite songs: "Un Deux Trois", "Hello Hi"
19.
Little Songs | Colter Wall
Country
If you haven’t heard this man’s voice yet please go listen to my favorite album of his, Imaginary Appalachia, and then see how much richer from that he sounds on this one.
Favorite songs: "For a Long While", "Evangelina"
18.
Nadie sabe lo que va a pasar | Bad Bunny
Trap
This album was better you all made it out to be. Trap Bad Bunny is fun.
Favorite songs: "FINA", "LOS PITS"
17.
strongboi | strongboi
Dream pop
Very 2018 bedroom dream pop-core, we love to hear it
Favorite song: "fool around"
16.
GÉNESIS | Peso Pluma
Corrido tumbado
We all know how Peso Pluma blew up in the last year, even after releasing a handful of great singles. What I appreciate is that this album is full of its own hits and doesn’t just load it with previously released tracks to fill up time (-ahem Grupo Frontera-). Shouting the chorus from “LADY GAGA” any time it plays makes it all worth it.
Favorite songs: "LUNA", "LADY GAGA"
15.
Prestige | Girl Ray
Disco pop
I thought this was such a cool album and I wish I had discovered them earlier. Groovy disco pop-rock with some undercover hits that if you like Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” then you’ll have fun with a lot of these songs
Favorite songs: "Everybody’s Saying That", "True Love"
14.
Drop Cherries | Billie Marten
Singer-songwriter
This one really reminded me of Laura Marling or maybe even a little Adrianne Lenker. I caught it from hearing “I Can’t Get My Head Around You” and love how unsettled and nearly aching the song felt while still anchoring itself with Billie Marten’s voice. Other songs on the album are usually softer and more delicate, but the way this one stuck out made the entire album so enjoyable.
Favorite song: "I Can’t Get My Head Around You"
13.
Colmillo de Leche | Carín León
Regional mexicana
Carín León has quietly become one of the standout singers of this generation in Mexico. If you haven’t seen his (Home) Tiny Desk, you’ll see the kind of range that is only found in a handful of artists. León shows this range off across different genres in this hour-plus long album that I think will end up being a standout.
Favorite songs: "Indispensable", "Primera Cita"
12.
Surf The Sun | Eleni Drake
Folk / Singer-songwriter
An artist I just discovered this year and I can’t wait to hear more from her moving forward! “Shades of You” was on every single folky fall playlist I made this year.
Favorite songs: "Shades of You", "Strawberry Moon"
11.
Lucha | Y La Bamba
Psychedelic rock
Very complete very cool very good psychedlic soft rock in Spanish.
Favorite songs: "Ceniza”, "Nunca"
10.
Red Moon in Venus | Kali Uchis
R&B
I love how Kali Uchis followed up her last album that had “Telepatía” on every playlist I ever made in 2021. Since Isolation, she really has created a unique sound and I love when she pushes more into singing in Spanish and taking Latin rhythms into her style.
Favorite song: "Endlessly"
9.
Cinérama | Julia Jean-Baptiste
Pop
I heard this early on and put it high on my list. Hearing bits of it again every now and then, I don’t see how I can send it down any further. These French pop songs are so catchy and it’s more pop-pop, not cold-weather muddling-through Montreal pop.
Favorite song: "Empathie"
8.
mini mix, vol. 3 | Magdalena Bay
Electropop
Magdalena Bay make my absolute favorite pop sound out of any artist right now. It’s like some kind of synthpop/electropop but not as intense as Charli. “Top Dog” one of the top songs of the year. The transitions are -chef’s kiss-. I love them and I wish this record had more tracks but I guess we’ll have to wait for the next one. I have a rule of not allowing EPs on this list. At 15 minutes and 7 tracks, Spotify calls this an album, so I will too.
Favorite song: "Top Dog"
7.
Norm | Andy Shauf
Singer-songwriter / Chamber pop
First time really picking up Andy Shauf and he took me on a wild ride of a story in this album, which I didn’t really catch until I listened to the lyrics more carefully. I think that his composition is worth noting—such attention to detail that really came out when I heard him perform this live in the early part of the year.
Favorite song: "Halloween Store"
6.
Silencio | Karen y Los Remedios
Synth-tropical / Cumbia
A spectacularly crafted modern cumbia album that even casts a haunting gaze with its deeper tropical feel. I love hearing this kind of contemporary cumbia, slowed down and angsty.
Favorite songs: "Lagrimas", "Plexo Lunar"
5.
Autopoiética | Mon Laferte
Latin alternative
Another underrated artist in the major Latin American space, Mon Laferte pours her heart out into everything she makes and it’s always so present. Lots of experimental stuff here; some more traditional pop, some salsa, some regional Mexican, all Mon. “Amantes Suicidas” a modern salsa hit that sounds like it’s straight out of the classics albums of the last century.
Favorite songs: "Amantes Suicidas", "40 y MM"
4.
Golden State | Logan Ledger
Folk / Country
My favorite country/folk album of a year with the golden voice of Logan Ledger. If you like the sound of Erin Rae or Tyler Childers, you’ll really dig into this one. This is the kind of nostalgic voice that you want to hear on a drive through Appalachia without it feeling too corny. The duet with Erin Rae is easily one of my top 5 songs of the year.
Favorite songs: "Some Misty Morning", "All the Wine in California"
3.
Pollen | Tennis
Indie pop
Very basic of me, but big Tennis fan. While this didn’t have huge standouts that people might often recognize from their last album, this one felt much more complete. Yes Swimmer had “Need Your Love” but this one felt so delightful and moved just right from beginning to end.
Favorite songs: "Pollen Song", "Forbidden Doors"
2.
The Land Is Inhospitable, and So Are We | Mitski
Indie folk / Singer-songwriter
Is this the closest thing we’ll ever get to a Mitski folk/country album? Oh my god her style fits this genre so well and I just know these songs will marinate so well over time. Maybe the traditional Mitski fans didn’t love it (maybe they did, I just didn’t see it blow up like I’d expect) but this is my favorite Mitski album. Such beautiful production across every track, something we can basically come to expect from Mitski, but transcends so much in this album. It makes so much sense that she’ll be touring this in smaller, theatre type venues. Mitski Dive Bar Tour when??
Favorite songs: "Heaven", "My Love All Mine", "Star", "Buffalo Replaced"
1.
The Loveliest Time | Carly Rae Jepsen
Pop!
It’s just as good as Dedicated. That should say enough, but Miss Carly Rae truly knows how to make pop anthems. This one is no skips for me; perfect for road trips, for beach days, for playing at your local Marshalls/Homegoods. Also “Kollage”as a little semi-Kali Uchis type moment from Carly Rae? Lovely. This is supposed to be the B-sides sibling of last year’s The Loneliest Time, but all I hear is A-sides.
Favorite songs: "Kollage", "Come Over", "So Right"