Best Of 2023 "indie" Albums
My top 10 "indie" albums of 2023
In preparation of a 12 hour roundtrip road-trip to Big Sur & back for NYE weekend; I scoured “best of” lists and trusted music critics record reviews for the best albums of 2023, and made an EXTENSIVE list. Then I spent that 12 hour drive really engaging with those albums. And I spent the 6 weeks that followed doing much of the same. Admittedly, it had been years since I REALLY engaged with new music. I found myself listening to the same albums & bands that I had been listening to (& loving) for the last decade plus. But doing a deep dive into 2023 albums felt really exciting. And honestly I can’t believe how much AMAZING music was released in 2023. Well, I did all of the tireless (& obsessive) work of pouring through 2023 releases; and now I present to you (in my humble opinion), the best albums of 2023.
This will be one of several “Best of” 2023 music lists. Part 1 is my best of “Indie” albums of 2023. I put “indie” in parenthesis, cause this list consists of Indie, Americana/Folk, Rock, and everything in-between. “Indie” just seems like an easier way to categorize ha. I will also be doing dedicated posts of my “best of” lists for 2023 Jazz albums, Ambient albums, and Hip Hop albums. There’s lotta FANTASTIC music to dive into!!!!
Without further ado…
Side note: Click on the album title to be linked directly to the album on Spotify.
My top 10 “indie” albums of 2023:
Anohni - My Back Was a Bridge For You To Cross
This album immediately affected me upon first listen. Equally beautiful as it is sad. I was familiar with her earlier albums as “Antony and the Johnsons”; specifically their critically acclaimed 2005 album “I Am a Bird Now”; which I liked, but didn’t really connect to, like I did with this record. This is probably my favorite release of 2023. Read the full Pitchfork review HERE
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Weathervanes
Again, Jason Isbell is someone I’ve always been familiar with; dating all the way back to the early 2000’s with his work with the Drive-By Truckers. But his music never really resonated with me. So, I definitely didn’t go into Weathervanes with high expectations; but wow! I was blown away. What a powerful album. By all accounts this is an Americana, Folk/Country, Roots-Rock album. The songwriting is so powerful. Songs like “King of Oklahoma”; I was seeing the song play out in my head like a movie. Another stand out, was the song “When We Were Close”; a song about Jason’s friend (& fellow musician) Justin Townes Earle; whom died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl-laced cocaine in 2020 at the age of 38. The songs’ chorus also features a reference to the late great Townes Van Zandt (maybe the best songwriter ever). Fantastic album. Read the full Pitchfork review HERE
Reverend Kristen Michael Hayter - Saved
I had such an immersive experience listening to this record. I felt as if I was in the Appalachian Mountains exploring the ruins of an old 1970’s doomsday christian suicide cult’s settlement, and under some rubble I unearthed a never heard before old cassette tape of music recorded by the cult. This album is low-key kinda scary lol. These are all old christian hymns (which by the way, those old hymns sure talked a lot about blood lol). The first track has really interesting production, that makes it sound like an old cassette. And the last song, is this really beautiful ballad about Jesus; while in the background, someone is crying in tongues. It’s also jarring. This might be one of the most interesting albums i’ve ever heard. I’m seeing her live in two weeks at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s Masonic Temple. I can’t even imagine what this show is going to be like. I can’t wait! Read the full Pitchfork review HERE
Very cool album. Female-fronted band from Asheville, North Carolina. This is equal parts; indie rock, shoegaze, and country/americana. Someone on reddit called it “bootgaze” lol. Read the full Pitchfork review HERE
Water from Your Eyes - Everyone’s Crushed
Experimental indie art-rock; yet still accessible. Read full Pitchfork review HERE
Kara Jackson - Why Does The Earth Give Us People to Love
Early Norah Jones meets Joanna Newsom meets Erykah Badu. Read the full Pitchfork review HERE
Indigo De Souza - All of This Will End
Maybe my favorite sad girl album of the year (and side note: sad girl music is one of my favorite genres!). Read the full Pitchfork review HERE
Jenn Champion - The Last Night of Sadness
Jenn was in the 90’s/00’s sadcore band Carissa’s Wierd. Their 2002 album Songs About Leaving was a favorite of mine (and one that I own on vinyl, and still often listen to). But admittedly, I did not follow the bands career post-Carissa’s Wierd; although I was aware that Jenn had put out solo records as “S.”; I hadn’t ever listened to any of the material. So, when I saw she had released a 2023 album as Jenn Champion, I assumed it would be a similar sadcore/slowcore 90’s sound as the Carissa’s Wierd stuff. Nope. This was totally a fresh sound. Kinda dance-pop/electro/synthpop even. And almost Gen Z coded. Like, Charli XCX if she was depressed, full of existential dread, and often thought about dying lol. I LOVED IT! Read the full Popmatters review HERE
I was 100% completely unfamiliar with Esther Rose before listening to this album. I absolutely loved it. Fantastic indie-americana singer/songwriter. As I listened, I imagined the songs playing out like a movie. A Star is Born coded. Read the full Pitchfork review HERE
What can I say about this album that hasn’t already been said? I’ll be honest, I went into this one a lil hesitant; as theres a pretentious 20-something year old hipster that still lives inside of me whose knee-jerk reaction is to not like anything that’s “popular”. I went in assuming this album would be “overrated”, but nope. It’s perfectly rated! The Boys are brilliant! Read the full Pitchfork review HERE
Honorable Mentions:
bar italia - Tracey Denim (& The Twits)
Bully - Lucky for You
This list looks awesome -- excited to explore these recs. LOVE that Indigo De Souza album. :)