In 2023, we had everything from infectious dance tracks to punchy breakup anthems from Grammy winners and emerging artists. Miley Cyrus received her flowers for “Flowers,” Victoria Monét received her shining stamp of approval from music veterans like Kelly Rowland, and of course, the Taylor’s Version train is still in transit. Latin artists like Bad Bunny, Karol G, and Peso Pluma took over the charts this year, boygenius redefined what it means to be a supergroup, and Lil Yachty dropped an absolute banger (!!!) of a genre-bending album. Top artists broke records, sold out Madison Square Garden 10 times over, and brought Ticketmaster to its knees.
As the year comes to a close, we’ve outlined the best albums of 2023, from seasoned vets to stars on the rise (in no particular order).
Taylor Swift — 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
It’s no mystery that it’s Taylor Swift’s world and we just live in it. The highly-anticipated re-release of her 2014 pop album, 1989, brought forth twinkly vault tracks with heart-wrenching lyrics as the Swiftian prophecy would have it.
Bad Bunny — Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana
When Benito dropped this album in October, it immediately broke records and became this year’s most-streamed album in a single day on Spotify.
Miley Cyrus — Endless Summer Vacation
Miley Cyrus cemented her spot as a pop culture icon a long time ago. From the megahit “Flowers” to experimental pop tracks á la “Violet Chemistry,” her tenth studio album is a reflection of all the factors that go into just being Miley.
Lil Yachty — Let’s Start Here.
After watching Pink Floyd’s live performances from the ’70s, Lil Yachty was inspired to create his psychedelic rock album Let’s Start Here — all while sprinkling his hip-hop flair throughout.
boygenius — The Record
Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker joined forces for their first full-length LP as boygenius in ’23. From the self-referencing “Letter to an Old Poet” to delightfully noisy tracks like “$20,” the supergroup proves that they’re worth that title.
Lana Del Rey — Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard?
Over the years, LDR has brought her fresh perspective to the music scene by mixing pop, trap, and jazz elements with influences like Elvis and Nancy Sinatra. She’s even inspired artists like Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift in their songwriting, and the Jack Antonoff-produced Did You Know There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard? remains faithful to the Sad Girl Empire that she’s conquered since the 2010s.
Chappell Roan — The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
If you look up the term “Rising Star” in the dictionary, there’s probably a pic of Chappell Roan in a full drag-inspired look. The artist—who hails from Missouri and initially grew a dedicated following on TikTok—has brought camp back to pop with tracks like “My Kink Is Karma” and “Red Wine Supernova,” all while expanding her range with standout emotional ballads like “Kaleidoscope.”
Victoria Monét — Jaguar II
If you haven’t heard “On My Mama” at all this year, you either a) live under a rock, or b) didn’t recognize it by name. Over the years, Victoria Monét has penned bangers for artists like Ariana Grande and Fifth Harmony. Now, the triple threat is finally being recognized on the frontlines with her undeniable star power that earned her several Grammy nominations.
Olivia Rodrigo — GUTS
O-Rod’s angsty teen tendencies matured into twenty-something tendencies, and with that growth came an expansion into her purple-tinted cinematic universe on GUTS. “Vampire” pulls at your heartstrings while the snarky opener “All-American Bitch” gives SOUR‘s “Brutal” a run for its money.
Ice Spice — …Like? EP
2023 was definitely the year of Ice Spice. The Bronx native became an it-girl thanks to her soft voice and punchy bars that have graced features with Pink Pantheress, Taylor Swift, and Nicki Minaj, and her …Like? EP is proof that a full-length project would simply break the internet when the time comes.
Troye Sivan — Something to Give Each Other
Inspired by autobiographical stories, Troye Sivan’s third album taps into the infatuation of new love with tracks like “One of Your Girls” and “What’s The Time Where You Are?” while cranking out high-energy euro-pop-inspired club bangers á la “Rush.”
Karol G — Mañana Será Bonito
Karol G took her heartbreak from the end of her high-profile engagement and turned it into the absolute force that’s her album, Mañana Será Bonito. With influences ranging from Selena to Shakira, Karol proves that her big Bichota energy isn’t going anywhere as her record became the first No. 1 all-Spanish-language album by a female artist on Billboard’s Hot 200 albums chart.
Nicki Minaj — Pink Friday 2
The Queen of Rap has officially returned with a continuation of her major-label debut, Pink Friday. Her first album since 2018’s Queen delivers all the Nicki-isms we all know and love, from her Sparks Notes-worthy wit to energetic production that’ll take over your TikTok FYP.
Caroline Polachek — Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
Caroline Polachek’s siren-like vocals ooze over experimental tracks on her second solo venture, Desire, I Want to Turn Into You, where her star continues to shine with songs like “Sunset” and “Smoke.”
The Aces — I’ve Loved You For So Long
Indie-pop band The Aces dropped their third album, I’ve Loved You For So Long, just in time for Pride 2023. The record sees the quartet at their best, acting as a love letter to their teenage selves as they unravel religious trauma, embrace self-discovery, and celebrate queer joy across 11 tracks that play out like a coming-of-age film soundtrack.
Janelle Monáe — The Age of Pleasure
On “Float,” Janelle Monáe muses, “It’s hard to look at my resume and not find a reason to toast”— and The Age of Pleasure is at now the top of that list. The artist dropped the sensually tropical-tinged record at a moment in their career when they fully feel their authenticity. Janelle’s clever lyrics ride chill beats that are sure to put anyone at ease with themselves in the name of pleasure.
Kim Petras — Feed The Beast
Riding off the high of her Grammy win and the massive success of “Unholy” with Sam Smith, Kim Petras proved that she’s here to stay with her powerhouse vocals and pop-prowess on her official major label debut.
Peso Pluma — Génesis
Peso Pluma embraced his Mexican roots with trap and reggaeton influences on Génesis, and as his star continues to rise, so does the corridos tumbados genre.
Måneskin — Rush!
It didn’t take much for Måneskin to make waves after they won Eurovision in 2021, and the Italian rockers continued packing a punch with their third album, Rush!
Reneé Rapp — Snow Angel
If Reneé Rapp has anything, it’s the range. The singer-songwriter with theater-trained powerhouse pipes went from playing Regina George on Broadway to finding her own voice on her debut album, Snow Angel. From vulnerable accounts of traumatic events with grandiose production to stripped-back confessionals that wish generational hurt on an ex, Reneé’s longtime dream of taking the stage is in full force.
Hozier — Unreal Unearth
Heartbreak feels good in a place like this, all thanks to the emotional poetry that stemmed from Hozier’s past relationship and made its way onto Unreal Unearth.
Travis Scott — UTOPIA
If you didn’t think Travis Scott could get any better— think again. His innovative fourth studio album finds him at the height of his powers as a performer, songwriter, producer, and collaborator. There’s a reason it landed the No.1 spot on Billboard’s Top 200 chart for four consecutive weeks.
Tate McRae — THINK LATER
While Tate McRae writes one hell of a sad girl anthem, the Canadian artist’s piano-tinged tracks are put on the back burner for up-tempo choreography on her TikTok-viral megahit “Greedy” and Britney/Xtina-inspired “Exes.” With energetic live performances that have put Tate on the map as a Main Pop Girl, THINK LATER proves that she can truly have the best of both worlds.
Ryan Beatty — Calico
From his Bieber-inspired teen pop days to now, Ryan Beatty has made a musical transformation with BROCKHAMPTON and Tyler The Creator collabs under his belt. The crooner reinvented his sound with 2023’s Calico thanks to heartfelt lyrics and peeled-back production.
Paramore — This Is Why
Paramore’s first album in six years was well worth the wait as the trio emerged with experimental sounds that marry frontwoman Hayley Williams’ solo ventures and the band’s past pop-punk eras. This Is Why explores topics from the toxic news cycle and navigating adulthood to deeply personal accounts of the band’s relationships with mental health and each other.
Sam Smith— Gloria
“Unholy” pretty much took over the world at the beginning of 2023 and broke records as it became the first song by trans and non-binary artists to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and Kim Petras became the first out trans woman to win a Grammy in a major category. Sam Smith’s Gloria relishes in the sensuality of “Unholy” and explores a more upbeat and lighthearted side to the singer through songs like “I’m Not Here to Make Friends.” Of course, Sam’s signature ballads don’t go untouched—they’ve just found a new voice.
Kali Uchis — Red Moon in Venus
After the release of her fully Spanish album Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios), Kali Uchis continued to serve dreamy vocals and visuals with her Spanglish follow-up, Red Moon in Venus. From “Moonlight” to “Hasta Cuando,” the Colombian artist continues to protect her energy and provide glimmering accounts of desire, heartbreak, faith, and honesty.
Zach Bryan — Zach Bryan
Country crooner Zach Bryan took matters into his own hands when it came to his self-titled album. The self-written and produced venture includes spoken word poetry and collaborations with Kacey Musgraves and The Lumineers, showcasing Zach’s multifaceted talent in several avenues.
Maisie Peters — The Good Witch
Maisie Peters came back with a vengeance on her second album. The singer-songwriter reflects on a past relationship in all of its stages—the early days of infatuation, the frustration of seeing your ex move on with someone who’s eerily similar to you, and the realization that comes with reeling in newfound singleness. With honest, unfiltered thoughts laced throughout, The Good Witch proves that in the end, rockstar Maisie Peters won the breakup.
The Beaches — Blame My Ex
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been severely traumatized by an ex—so much so, that you pretty much enter your villain era. The lead single to The Beaches’ sophomore record, “Blame Brett,” explores just that, as the rest of the album expands upon the “kismet” of sparking up a flirty fling, finding solitude in hanging out with yourself, and the vulnerability of admitting deep feelings for someone over summery garage-band instrumentals.
Assistant News Editor
Sam is an assistant news editor at Cosmo, covering all things pop culture, entertainment, and celebrity news. She previously covered those same topics along with health, lifestyle, and beauty at Seventeen. When she isn’t draping her cheeks in blush, you can probably find her live-tweeting awards shows or making SwiftToks.
Courtney Young is a freelance writer covering all things entertainment and pop culture, having previously written for Betches, Mic, and The Cut. Her Real Housewives locale of choice is New Jersey, her emotional support show is Girls, and her toxic trait is romanticizing mafia culture. You can follow her on Instagram @courtneyyoungg.
