And just like that, another year has flown by. 2023 was eventful, music-wise, with so many incredible albums being released. It’s been a really big challenge ranking these projects, with quite a few of them being interchangeable, especially the top 3. The way I went about ranking these albums was simply how many times I’ve played and revisited them throughout the year, and which ones have made the most impact on me. At this rate I may need a top 50 because so many great albums couldn’t make the list. Every album I’ve reviewed on the site is worth mentioning and championing, so a massive shoutout to all artists out there still sharing their heart and love in sonic form. Without further ado, let’s get into the list!
30. Navy Blue – Ways of Knowing
Ways of Knowing is Navy Blue’s most personal and uplifting album, with incredibly soulful and beautiful songs about love, family, growth and inner peace. Having been a fan of his for quite a while now, it’s great to witness his artistic growth and maturity. Budgie’s colourful production throughout allows Sage to articulate his thoughts, dreams and pains in a way that is so moving and beautiful. This album will always be associated with my trip to Berlin earlier in the year, I played the shit out of it at that time. Review
29. Kelela – Raven
I’m going to be honest, I didn’t quite get into Kelela’s music until this year, and even listening to Raven at first, I wasn’t convinced it would be a project I’d revisit much, but boy was I wrong. It’s probably the album that grew on me the most out of all, and the more I’ve listened to it since its release, the more enamored I’ve become by the lush and textured production throughout, as well as Kelela’s incredibly poignant and direct lyrics about womanhood and motherhood. It’s a stunning body of work and one I’m still going to be playing for years to come.
28. Mary Sue & psychedelic ensemble. – CACOPHONOUS DIGRESSIONS, A RECORD OF A MOMENT IN TIME
One of Singapore’s finest emcees meets with one of London’s most eclectic and futuristic producers to create one of the most interesting, disorienting and experimental projects of the year. I was introduced to both Mary Sue and psychedelic ensemble. this year and have been blown away by the former’s ability to paint vivid pictures through incredible wordplay and tales of his own experience, and the latter’s batshit crazy production. CACOPHONOUS DIGRESSIONS, A RECORD OF A MOMENT IN TIME is a phenomenal body of work, and one I hope more people discover and support. Review
27. SKECH185 & Jeff Markey – He Left Nothing for the Swim Back
SKECH185’s presence and delivery on the mic demands attention. He’s one of the most talented emcees rapping today, with wordplay and vivid imagery on life growing up as a working-class man in Chicago, as well as the dystopian reality of living in a capitalist New York City. Jeff Markey’s production is often cacophonous and disorienting, providing the perfect soundscape for SKECH185 to tell his stories and capture a sense of urgency within his raps. There’s so much to digest with his lyrics, which is why it requires attention and multiple listens to really get the most out of it. He Left Nothing for the Swim Back is one of the better albums to come from Backwoodz Studioz in recent years. It has one of my favourite album covers too, setting the tone and energy of the music perfectly. Review
26. dadá Joãozinho – tds bem Global
This is one of my favourite discoveries of the year, without a shadow of a doubt. dadá Joãozinho is a Brazilian artist making some of the most interesting music coming out of the country currently. Despite not knowing Portuguese myself, the energy of the album itself is infectious, dark and unassuming. He explained his sound and artistic intentions via this Bandcamp interview, shining a light on the unfortunate reality of politics and the plethora of social and economic issues that are plaguing the country at the moment. There are still light and colourful moments on tds bem Global, taking inspiration from the bossa nova and Brazilian funk of the 60s and 70s, but with a dystopian modernity that makes it a captivating listen.
25. Danny Brown – Quaranta
Danny Brown’s thematic follow-up XXX is his most reflective and mature album to date. Having followed Danny’s career from the release of that album, I absolutely love the direction he took with Quaranta, which is his most subdued and introspective album to date. On the opening title track, his opening lines are “This rap shit done saved my life / And fucked it up at the same time / That pain in my heart / I can’t hide / Lot of trauma inside / You can see it in my eyes”. Listening to it for the first time, I was like damn, here we fucking go, down this super introspective and self-reflective project that looks both inwardly into his own additions and vices, but also outwardly towards the current state of the world. He’s less raspy and vocally expressive on this album in comparison to his other projects, highlighting a coming-of-age type attitude and vibe that captures his reflections poignantly on some (for the most part) smooth and soulful production. I should have reviewed this when it dropped, but it definitely deserves to be on this year’s best albums list.
24. muva of Earth – align with Nature’s Intelligence
As far as debut albums go, align with Nature’s Intelligence may be one of the most impressive projects to come out this year. muva of Earth’s voice is stunning, with spiritual and earthly jazz compositions that capture her beauty and artistic aura effortlessly. Themes of vulnerability and womanhood shine bright throughout this project, and in a way that is captivating and incredibly moving. It’s an album to get completely lost in and overwhelmed by, and one of my favourite spiritual jazz releases this year. Review
23. Yussef Dayes – Black Classical Music
Drummer Yussef Dayes is already a legend within the UK jazz scene, so the anticipation for his debut album Black Classical Music was really high, and boy did he deliver. 19 tracks of some of the most textured, groovy, inspiring jazz compositions I’ve heard this year. Celebrating the roots and origins of jazz as well as his own, the album is a sprawling, meandering and eclectic body of work, flowing seamlessly through complex and intricate compositions that are heightened by his incredible drumming and the plethora of features and contributions throughout. Review
22. Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist – VOIR DIRE
Earl Sweatshirt is a true master of his craft, and with each and every release he’s sharpening his pen game. VOIR DIRE is the first one-producer album, and who better to execute that with than the legend The Alchemist. Over 11 tracks, the talented emcee flexes his skills on the mic, flowing effortlessly over murky yet soulful beats, contemplating on his vices, mental health and the state of the world and rap around him, in his usually reflective and wordplay-filled rhymes. Al’s beats are impressive as always, with an atmospheric and soulful sound contrasting Earl’s often sluggish and murky delivery. But it’s Earl’s introspections and sharp lyricism that makes this a joy to listen to. Review
21. Mndsgn – Snaxxx
Snaxxx is one of my favourite Mndsgn releases in recent years. Though he’s evolved artistically quite a lot since 2013’s classic breatharian, I’ve missed that no-bullshit, neck-breaking beats approach to his music, and I feel like Snaxxx is a bit of a return to form in that regard. It’s a perfect mix of hard-hitting beats and smooth, soulful and funky melodies. The features add colour and personality to the album too, but it’s Mndsgn’s choice of dreamy and beautiful samples and loops, combined with those groovy beats that makes this a phenomenal body of work. Review
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