Original image by There Stands the Glass.
My musical predilections were more informed by recent obsessions than by global events this year. I traced the footsteps of Mozart, flirted with Catholicism, read compulsively and watched the lines in my face deepen into chasms. Creeping maturity is evinced by several of the selections below. Yet my affinity for carefree fun clearly has yet to evaporate. As always, there’s no artist overlap on my songs and albums lists. A corresponding Spotify playlist is here.
1. Tierra Whack- “Burning Brains”
2. Charli XCX and Lorde- “Girl, so confusing”
3. Heems featuring Vijay Iyer and Sid Vashi- "Manto"
4. Meshell Ndgegeocello- "Travel"
5. Joel Ross- “bach (God the Father in Eternity)”
6. Tank and the Bangas featuring Samara Joy and Robert Glasper- "Remember"
7. Maxo Kream and Tyler, The Creator- "Cracc Era"
8. Sexyy Red- "Get It Sexyy"
9. Tinashe- "Nasty"
10. Joaquín Sabina- “Un última vals”
11. Mary J. Blige- “Here I Am”
12. A$AP Rocky featuring Jessica Pratt- “Highjack”
13. 070 Shake- “Winter Baby/New Jersey Blues”
14. Amyl and the Sniffers- “U Should Not Be Doing That”
15. Tyler, The Creator featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne- “Sticky”
16. Rosalía and Ralphie Choo- “Omega”
17. Horsegirl- “2468”
18. Ella Langley- “Hungover”
19. The Harlem Gospel Travelers- “Jesus Rhapsody, Pt. 1”
20. El Cousteau featuring Earl Sweatshirt- “Words2LiveBy”
21. GloRilla- “Yeah Glo!”
22. Hiatus Kaiyote- “Telescope”
23. Anna Butterss- “Shorn”
24. Marsha Ambrosius- "Wet"
25. Jeff Parker ETA IVtet- “Freakadelic”
26. Camila Cabello featuring Playboi Carti- “I LUV IT”
27. Michael Kiwanuka- “Lowdown (part 1)”
28. Scott H. Biram- “Inside a Bar”
29. Waxahatchee- “Burns Out at Midnight”
30. Ducks Ltd.- “On Our Way to the Rave”
31. Carly Pearce- “Fault Line”
32. La Luz- “Always in Love”
33. The Weeknd featuring Anitta- "São Paulo"
34. Staples Jr. Singers- “I’ve Got a Feeling”
35. Arooj Aftab- “Raat Ki Rani”
36. That Mexican OT featuring DaBaby- “Point Em Out”
37. Miranda Lambert- “Alimony”
38. Hinds- “En Forma”
39. DannyLux- “Maldito Alcohol”
40. JD McPherson- “Shining Like Gold”
41. Lainey Wilson- “Keep Up With Jones”
42. Nettspend- “Perc Soda”
43. Sprints- “Heavy”
44. Bonnie “Prince” Billy- “London May”
45. Yahritza Y Su Esencia featuring Michelle Maciel- “Nivel Dios”
46. Idles- “Gift Horse”
47. Madi Diaz- “God Person”
48. Dwight Yoakam and Post Malone- “I Don’t Know How to Say Goodbye (Bang Bang Boom Boom)”
49. Sierra Ferrell- “I Could Drive You Crazy”
50. Kabin Crew and Lisdoonvarna Crew- “The Spark”
There Stands the Glass’ top albums and songs of 2023 are ranked here.