The Music Enthusiast blog’s Favourite Albums of 2023.

Sarah Evangelista (Editor/photographer/interviewer)

1- RAYE My 21st Century Blues

2- Chiiild Better Luck In The Next Life

3- Begonia Powder Blue

4- Jungle Volcano

5- BETWEEN FRIENDS I Love My Girl, She’s My Boy

Honourable mentions: Valley Lost In Translation, BabyJake Aren’t We Ever Gonna Be More Than Friends?, and The Brook & The Bluff Bluebeard

Shauna Hilferty (Photographer)

1- The Aces I’ve Loved You For So Long

2- Valley Lost In Translation

3- Nightly Wear Your Heart Out

4- Betcha Placebo

5- Quinn XCII The People’s Champ

Eva Lynch (Photographer/writer)

1- Boygenius The Record

Like so many others, the Grammys, Pitchfork and Rolling Stone included, one of my favourite albums this year has to be The Record. The boys from Boygenius, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker, have formed this year’s super group -- challenging every stereotype associated with rock and rollers for decades. Their shows are full of queer joy, as their music and their performances create a new type of rockstar which shows both how far the scene has come in and reveals the hunger many have had for this type of music and icon to look up to and relate or connect to. For many, their work is also demonstrating a new way of being, as Boygenius blaze the way breaking stereotypes and records all over the world.

When The Record first came out, I liked it yet somehow since that very first listen, it has not stopped its way from sneaking into and occupying every crevice of my brain. Very quickly it became one of my favourite albums which I am constantly listening to from front to back, and cycling through a different favourite song with every season. Each performer brings their own style and storytelling gift to the project, however, together their combined harmony and the music created by a group of friends who know each other and each other’s musical style intimately, and have only the utmost respect, creates a recipe for perfection as the three bland together seamlessly: their sty;els and voices distinct yet constantly uplifting each other in the best way possible.

I always think the ultimate test for how moved I am by an album, is how your love for it will often turn unconscious and you shift through different songs on repeat to scratch that itch in your brain, as they each offer something specific you need. From my 5am
commutes in the summer where I’d blast ‘Cool About It’ on repeat as I would subway in the dark watching the city slowly wake up, to staring out my bedroom window writing a paper to Baker’s scream in ‘Anti-Curse.’ If you are someone who enjoys rage-filled alternative music or dark indie rock, and are somehow not already obsessed: this is for you.

2- La Force XO Skeleton

The album comes from singer Ariel Engle’s ‘unnatural obsession with death’ from as early as she can remember. She claims the album is a reckoning or kind of ode to death, not as a finite state but a regenerative place. She savours the unknowingness to death and these existential questions. The lull in her voice brings an ethereal yet grounded sound to the album as her voice cuts through it all. I am so drawn in by her unique turns of phrase and profound lyricism, with lines like: "Look at those superstition freaks/Pushing notes through bricks/As if anyone can really hear them," which she somehow makes sense of. The overarching theme of the album, while all about death,
is love and this protective shroud which encircles our lives. In her Secret City Records press release she says that,

“The love is an invisible shroud that we adorn others in and are adorned
in. It’s a reminder that within us are skeletons. Symbols of death and yet
the architecture that animated us while we are alive. It’s a song about
the inevitability of death as both a motivator to love fully and at times
disincentivizing Force – why bother if I’m going to die versus I must do
so much while I’m still alive.”

Listening to this album does just that, fills me with thoughts of familiarity and a grounded-sense of comfort about navigating and facing the world and its uncertain fate. Her voice is transcendental and the whole project is open-hearted and filled with artistry, from the production of it which she did at home with a close friend, to the old-school visuals she’s paired with every song.

Isabelle Oleksiuk (Photographer)

1- Peter McPoland Piggy

2- Holly Humberstone Paint My Bedroom Black

3- Maude Latour Twin Flame

4- Chappell Roan The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess

Sammy Wrogé (Photographer/writer/interviewer)

1- Meghan Trainor Takin’ It Back (Deluxe)

2- Various Artists - Barbie the album

3- Reneé Rapp - Snow Angel (Deluxe)

4- The Band CAMINO - Afraid of the Dark

5- Miley Cyrus Endless Summer Vacation

Honourable mentions: Olivia Rodrigo GUTS, Ruel 4th Wall, and Greyson Chance Palladium (Deluxe)

Paul Storr (Photographer)

1- Blink-182 One More Time

Laury Verdoux (Writer/interviewer)

1- GINTSUGI The Elephant In The Room

The album explores hidden truths and soulful melodies. Born out of both global and personal crises, it showcases GINTSUGI's exceptional talent and musical depth across nine tracks. The immersive sound, oscillating between velvety, hallucinatory art/pop and post-rock reminiscent of the 1990s, is complemented by vivid illustrations from visual artists Giuliano Sgroi and Gabriele Barbagallo.

2- Namor Mile High Club

Namor's debut album, Mile High Club, is a captivating journey into the heart of synth-driven pop with heavy dance/electronic elements. With influences ranging from Daft Punk to Giorgio Moroder, Namor's versatile production style weaves together "four-on-the-floor" drum patterns and hyperpop breakbeats, reflecting his Californian roots and diverse musical influences. Collaborating with vocalists like Tucker Starbuck and LifeonMarzz, Namor's album is a perfect blend of storytelling and innovative soundscapes.

3- LLUCID Deep Blue Dreams

LLUCID's debut album is a futuristic musical odyssey that transcends genres and borders. The album seamlessly blends dreamy piano melodies, futuristic sounds, and poignant lyrics. The standout track, "Wasting Time" featuring Kimbra, is a heart-wrenching duet that showcases LLUCID's masterful use of autotune and his ability to spark profound emotions through his music.

4- Shop Front Heroes SuperPowers

Shop Front Heroes' debut album, SuperPowers is a true rock odyssey born in the heart of Wales that delivers a sonic punch to end the year. The dynamic five-piece band, comprising Stevie Yeomans, Jake Owen, Matt Whitehouse, Tom Jaques, and Alex Middleton, presents their signature sound and unwavering passion for genre-defying music. The album, featuring collaborations with string players, a male voice choir, and guest appearances, showcases the band's pride and sense of accomplishment.

Camilla Rose (Photographer)

1- Taylor Swift Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

2- The Maine The Maine

Janelle Choiniere (Photographer)

1- Sleep Token Take Me Back to Eden

2- Post Profit Self Defeater

3- The Wonder Years The Hum Goes on Forever

4- Plini Mirage

5- Movements RUCKUS!