2023 Favorites | Top 15

12.09.2023

It’s been an interesting year. Lots of new releases but fewer breakthrough performances than we saw in 2022. The gap between this year and last year is wide.

Still, there are some outstanding performances here, whether consistently across an album, or isolated standout tracks that lifted a particular album onto the rankings.

I still find myself unexpectedly touched by an album or track on the list below, even though I’ve listened to these repeatedly since their release.

Updated 12.17.23

Added Light, Dark, Light Again by Angie McMahon to Top10. An amazing album that slipped through the cracks previously.

NUMBER 15
Artist: Chartreuse
Album: Chartreuse
Release Date: 11.10.2023

NUMBER 14
Artist: Margo Price
Album: Strays II
Release Date: 01.13.2023

NUMBER 13
Artist: Arcy Drive
Album: Beach Plum (EP)
Release Date: 11.03.2023

NUMBER 12
Artist: Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives
Album: Altitude
Release Date: 05.19.2023

NUMBER 11
Artist: Owen Temple
Album: Rings on a Tree
Release Date: 09.26.2023

NUMBER 10
Artist: John Vincent III
Album: Songs For The Canyon
Release Date: 11.17.2023

NUMBER 9
Artist: H.C. McEntire
Album: Every Acre
Release Date: 01.27.2023

NUMBER 8
Artist: Grace Potter
Album: Mother Road
Release Date: 08.18.2023

NUMBER 7
Artist: Taylah Carroll
Album: The After Party EP
Release Date: 09.01.2023

NUMBER 6
Artist: Cat Power
Album: Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert
Release Date: 11.10.2023

NUMBER 6
Artist: Angie McMahon
Album: Light, Dark, Light Again
Release Date: 10.27.2023

NUMBER 5
Artist: Rett Madison
Album: One for Jackie
Release Date: 10.27.2023

NUMBER 4
Artist: Seth Lakeman
Album: The Somerset Sessions
Release Date: 04.28.2023

NUMBER 3
Artist: Gena Rose Bush
Album: Deep Is The Way
Release Date: 01.27.2023

NUMBER 2
Artist: Jess Williamson
Album: Time Ain't Accidental
Release Date: 06.09.2023

NUMBER 1
Artist: William The Conqueror
Album: Excuse Me While I Vanish
Release Date: 07.28.2023

HONORARY NUMBER 1

Artist: The Beatles
Album: Red Album 1962-1966 | 2023 Edition
Album: Blue Album 1967-1970 | 2023 Edition
Release Date: 11.10.2023

I spent countless hours in my teens and early 20’s listening to these Red and Blue compilations. I still love The Beatles - these remixes take me back to my youth while revealing nuances and secrets in these songs that I didn’t know were there.