Sorry suckers, but I do unfortunately think 2023 was my year–I drove across the country with my best friend, moved to a new city with old friends, and landed a “dream” job… all while being in LOVE. So you know what that means for 2024? Probably scarlet fever.
My 2023 soundtrack was RENAISSANCE, RENAISSANCE, RENAISSANCE: at the B-Day show in LA, Bey themed nights at the club, and the never ending loop of “And you can’t get no higherrrrrrrrrr than this,” blaring across my dusty apartment. The little girl in me who brought her CD of Dangerously In Love to 1st grade show-and-tell felt so goddamn full this year.
But I guess some artists released music this year too, including both Lana Del Rey and her nepo daddy. And off Lana went, releasing not only the best album of 2023, but also her first broadcasted performance in a decade, so golden, velvety, and enrapturing beyond belief. She’s just… she’s it, folks. I’ve discussed the emotional gymnastics of my relationship with her, but the truth is that she is just fucking brilliant. What a gift it is to live in the time of the delicacy of Lana Del Rey and Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd.
So without any further ado, presenting my personal favorite albums & tracks of 2023.
2023 favorite albums of the year:
1. Did you know that there’s a tunnel under ocean boulevard – Lana Del Rey
2. Raven – Kelela
3. Fountain Baby – Amaarae
4. SCARING THE HOES – JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown
5. I Killed Your Dog – L’Rain
6. Desire, I Want To Turn Into You – Caroline Polacheck
7. Let’s Start Here. – Lil Yachty
8. Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) – Yves Tumor
9. GUTS – Olivia Rodrigo
10. Old Friend – Hazel City
2023 favorite tracks of the year:
1. Making The Band (Danity Kane) – Earl Sweatshirt
2. Hollywood Bowl – Rob Grant, Lana Del Rey
3. Seaforth – King Krule
4. sAy sOMETHINg – Lil Yachty
5. Leave Me – Luck
6. Boy’s a liar Pt. 2 – PinkPantheress, Ice Spice
7. Vampire Empire – Big Thief
8. The Hillbillies – Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar
9. Enough – Brian Eno and Fred again
10. MY HOUSE – Beyonce
The Peeling 