The world yet again witnessed a phenomenal year of great music releases in 2023.
There was very rarely a dull moment for music lovers this year as some of the greatest artists released albums this year encapsulating the array of emotions we all endured within the past 12 months.
Brig‘s writers delivered an array of genres in their favourite albums of the year with some clear favourites.
Boygenius – The Record
Consisting of musical trio Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, The Record became an instant success for Boygenius.
With their intense fandom clinging onto each powerful lyric in the album, the songs reverberated through the music scene this year. This skyrocketed them into even bigger success, with them embarking on a world tour and playing SNL.
The album encapsulated what it means to have loving friendships and to what extent they would go for each other.
With the announcement of their debut album, they released the singles $20, Emily I’m Sorry and True Blue which became instant fan favourites.
Other notable songs from the album include Not Strong Enough, about not being able to stick up for one another with an underlying theme of self-hatred and We’re in Love, about the importance of the trio’s friendship.
Lana Del Rey – Did You Know There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
Released on March 24 2023, under Interscope and Polydor records, Did You Know There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd is the American singer’s ninth studio album.
The album speaks of Del Rey’s maturity through the carefully articulated language and themes used and through the record.
Fan favourites within the album include Margaret, a song about producer Jack Antonoff’s Fiancé, actress Margaret Qualley, A&W and Let the Light In featuring Father John Misty.
Inhaler – Cuts & Bruises
The four-piece up-and-coming rock band from Dublin, Ireland released their anticipated sophomore album ‘Cuts & Bruises’ in February of this year, contributing to what was already a widely acclaimed discography.
Following on from its release, the band embarked on a year-long worldwide tour, providing fans with shows across North America and Europe.
Releasing their first single, These Are The Days in Summer 2022, they then followed it on with releasing fan favourites Love Will Get You There and If You’re Gonna Break My Heart.
Other notable songs from the Album include the Rock ballads Dublin In Ecstasy, Now You Got Me and the 80s-infused The Things I Do and Just To Keep You Satisfied.
Blur – The Ballad of Darren
The Ballad of Darren, released on 21 July 2023, is the ninth studio album from legendary Brit-pop figures.
The record follows their long-awaited reunion in late 2022, with impending Wembley shows enticing the band back into the studio to cement themselves in Brit-pop culture further.
The Ballad of Darren features 10 tracks such as Barbaric, The Narcissist, Avalon and St. Charles Square.
The Brig music writers also included some other incredible artists within their rotunda of top albums this year.
- The National – Laugh Track
- The National – First Two Pages of Frankenstein
- Paramore – This is Why
- Water From Your Eyes – Everyone’s Crushed
- Maisie Peters – The Good Witch
- Nieve Ella – Lifetime of Wanting EP
- Noah Kahan – We’ll All be Here Forever Deluxe
- Zulu – A New Tomorrow
- Mitski – The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We
- Sleep Token – Take Me Back To Eden
- Olivia Rodrigo – GUTS
- Holly Humberstone – Painting My Bedroom Black
- Fred Again.. – Secret Life
- Foo Fighters – But Here We Are
- Fall Out Boy – So Much (For) Stardust
- Slowdive – everything is alive
- 100 gecs – 10,000 gecs
- Troye Sivan – Something To Give Each Other
Featured Image Credits: Top left – Olivia Rodrigo / Spotify, Top right – Slowdive / Spotify, Bottom left – Mitski / Spotify, Bottom right – Paramore / Spotify
BA(Hons) International Politics and Languages
Politics and Music journalist
