The musical world was hit by a tidal wave of creativity last year, as artists experimented with genre and turned to personal stories that resonated deeply with fans. These albums epitomize a year of invention, cultural impact, and storytelling on a personal level. Whether through genre-bending hyperpop and Afrobeats to more inward-looking R&B and alternative rock, 2023 proved that this is a year when artists leaned into their authentic voice. Each of these listed artists has brought something new to the genre they hold, redefining music with each new release.
Here are a few standout 2023 albums that captured hearts, one-upped predecessors, or otherwise set the tone for the musical landscape in their own specific ways:
1. SOS, by SZA
While it came out in late 2022, SOS is a project well celebrated into 2023. It really cemented SZA as not only a voice in modern R&B but in emotional storytelling. She delves deeper into more personal themes such as heartbreak and resilience, sending powerful messages regarding empowerment that speak directly to what her audience experiences. Singles like “Kill Bill” and “Snooze” resonated on social media and radio alike, with SOS being a cultural touchstone for both Gen Z and millennial listeners, who find her mix of vulnerability and strength refreshing. This album is also part of a bigger trend where R&B artists redefine the genre to become as much about lyrical storytelling as it is about vocal prowess.
2. Guts, by Olivia Rodrigo
With the phenomenal success of her debut album Sour, Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts inaugurates a new phase of her sound and message. Drawing from the early 2000s pop-punk and alternative rock, Guts is a music product from Rodrigo’s growth-thoroughly musical and personal-with a sharper lens toward self-discovery and independence. Songs like “Vampire” only prove how mature she can be lyrically, giving an intense connection to the audience who find pieces of themselves in her narratives of betrayal, anger, and empowerment. Rodrigo’s success is part of a larger revival of pop-punk sounds in mainstream music that connect with younger audiences looking for an edge in pop.
3. The Age of Pleasure, by Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe’s The Age of Pleasure completely lives up to the meaning of its name, an unapologetic and free-spirited journey into self-discovery, sensuality, and identity. Monáe fuses reggae with funk and R&B into an album that is as much of a musical boundary-pusher as it is a societal one. This is all part of a wider trend in which artists use their music as a vessel for self-love and, by extension, self-confidence, making available to fans the space to be themselves, unapologetically. The fearlessness in Monáe has sealed her reputation as an artist unafraid to redefine what exactly it means to be a mainstream musician.
4. Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, by Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey’s latest release is a poetically mature effort, cloaking chamber pop, gospel, and soul in intimate isolation, introspection, and Americana. She has been mastering the art of atmospheric storytelling for years now, each song a chapter in some unfinished novel. Her success continues to underscore the larger movement toward cinematic, introspective pop and artists like Del Rey who redefine what constitutes a “pop” record through heavy personal reflection and literary influence. The album cements her status as one of the most nuanced and introspective voices in music.
5. Jaguar II, by Victoria Monét
Victoria Monét’s Jaguar II is a dive into mid-tempo R&B and pop with nods to the likes of Janet Jackson. The sultry tones dominate her music, with grooves like “On My Mama” showing her voice in today’s R&B landscape. Monét’s work speaks to how R&B is getting layered and danceable once more, merging classic vibes with fresh production. This, in return, brings her mainstream recognition with her classy, delicate approach to R&B while celebrating its golden era sounds that influence the young listener and the longtime R&B fan alike.
6. The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, by Mitski
Mitski’s album is a bold leap for indie rock: orchestral arrangements combined with poetically introspective lyrics. As a melancholic storyteller, Mitski shares the emotions of loneliness and hope. Demonstrating the evolution of indie music to more grandiose, cinematic sounds, it still maintains the raw emotion that so many listeners adore. Mitski’s career serves as an excellent example of this-as indie artists increasingly create music out of existential questions and musical stylistics that belie strict interpretations of what indie and mainstream are.
7. 10,000 gecs, by 100 gecs
Hyperpop duo 100 gecs took their chaotic genre-surfing music to the next level in their album 10,000 gecs, which somehow manages to strut ska, nu-metal, and pop all at once. This release furthers the genre of hyperpop-a mixture of absurdity and vulnerability. With this genre gaining more momentum, this album takes another step in encouraging genres that are not “traditional” but still appeal to those listeners who crave something odd and high in energy. 100 gecs has become the staple for this movement-inspiring artists and audiences alike by driving head-first into the unknown in pop.
8. Water Made Us, by Jamila Woods
The title Water Made Us by Jamila Woods does sound poetic and intimate. Woods has this certain ability with soulful R&B that tells tales of love, self-reflection, and identity. The fact that she knows how to cut through genres while penning great lyrics has made her the voice of this generation in the R&B scene. The success of Woods points to the growing trend of artists using R&B as a medium for talking about deeply personal things. Her songs have that soulfulness, yet accessibility, which makes Water Made Us a modern R&B gem.
9. Fountain Baby, by Amaarae
Amaarae’s Fountain Baby is an album that really pushes the boundaries of genre-bending, combining Afrobeats, punk, and hip-hop. The album became international in scope, highlighting Afrobeats’ growth in mainstream music. Rebellious, amorous, Amaarae writes tracks in the flourish of various cultural influences. Besides, Afrobeats reinvent the borders of the genre today by powering up rock, hip-hop, and pop; one would do well to keep an eye on Amaarae as she takes her sound onto the world stage.
10. Get Up, by NewJeans
With the album Get Up, NewJeans bursts into the international scene as an ultra-Y2K-nostalgic girl group out of South Korea, with a fresh new take on K-pop. Behind hits such as “Super Shy” and “ETA,” the refreshingly youthful energy that came with NewJeans brought something new to the table. The group best serves as an exemplary modern case of how K-pop has remained a global force for trends and influence. The Y2K-inspired visuals and sounds definitely paid off, serving to bridge the gap between older fans of pop nostalgia and a new generation of K-pop enthusiasts.