Editor’s Pick: Favorite Albums of 2023

Albums haven’t gone out of style. Yes, we all stream, and yes, playlists and mixtapes are great too, and some of us really get into earworms. But the whole album concept abides, even if it’s sometimes in CD or even in streaming form. At times it’s hard to find the time to sit through an entire one, but just like when you go for a long walk outside, you never ever regret that you did it. This year there were loads and loads of great albums. I’ll hereby present my favorites – top “Baker’s Dozen” thirteen this year.

Jason Isbell Weathervanes. This is hands down one of the top three Jason Isbell albums now – for some it is even tied with Southeastern. Songs cover painful topics from Justin Townes Earle’s passing, abortion, the searing pain of worrying about your child during the breaking news of another of our all too frequent school shootings. Addiction, mental illness, family estrangement. Each song is done with depth and care, and with the hot 400 Unit and ripping guitar, the album is as close to perfection as you can get. A++. REVIEW: Jason Isbell Weathervanes

Said Cleaves Through the Dark. This album is quite thoroughly beautiful. Slaid’s vocals are slightly breathless and fully relatable, the songs spin tales of not going back to our old lives, a brother who passed away and carrying on until the next heartbreak that life throws at you, even when you’re rolling up nickels and dimes. It’s all earthy and relatable. REVIEW: Slaid Cleaves Together Through the Dark

Tanya Tucker Sweet Western Sound. This was produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings. The album is bookended by Billy Joe Shaver’s vocals, which is a really cool feature. On the first song, “Tanya,” it’s Billy Joe Shaver’s voice singing a cappella – a voice message left on Tanya’s answering machine. A time capsule. The songs are expansive and totally relatable, all the way through, and Tanya’s vocals, always recognizable, are graceful and honest. REVIEW: Tanya Tucker Sweet Western Sound

Ben de la Cour Sweet Anhedonia. It helps, as you embark into this album, to know that “anhedonia” is when you are no longer able to experience pleasure; when you’ve gone numb, that is. The songs are dark, twisted, empathetic, and so intelligent and good. Ben enlisted LUELLA, Becky Warren, Elizabeth Cook, and Emily Scott Robinson to sing on this album, and every one of them shines. It was produced by Jim White and has other notable musicians on the roster including banjo by Curtis McMurtry. REVIEW: Ben de la Cour “Sweet Anhedonia”

Terry Klein Leave the Light On. Terry’s songwriting is reflective and spins stories full of honest, sometimes dark, sometimes just plain neutral imagery. No sugarcoating. There’s reflecting on the years passing in a relationship, grief, observations of nature in your domain, and a song in the middle that tells a story of a man who’s lost something that’ll make you shout out loud “noooooo”! The best songs are the ones when Terry’s vocals really soar. REVIEW: Terry Klein “Leave The Light On”

Jeffrey Martin Thank God We Left the Garden. Jeffrey has a mellow soothing voice as he sings about anguishing childhood mistakes, the awful feeling of running over an animal, secret compartments in bibles, personal anger and loneliness. He has a pretty, ruminative delivery with these deeply reflective tunes. Try not to cry. REVIEW: Jeffrey Martin “Thank God We Left the Garden”

JD Clayton Long Way From Home. JD Clayton offered up a fantastic album this year. Somber, direct, and with exceptional songwriting. Birds tweeting, our simple dreams to become millionaires, truths of the happiness and conflict in relationships, loss, shyness, and more all done with guitars and fiddle and grooves and all just savory and good. REVIEW: JD Clayton “Long Way From Home”

Lori McKenna 1888. The album starts off with the idea that the old woman in me looking back to me now thinks I look good in these jeans, and then the hope that you have happy children. Reflecting back, bouncing negative folks, reminiscences, there’s just so much songwriting richness here. Lori’s fundamental groundedness in her master songwritership is always a joy and a cathartic release to listen to. REVIEW: Lori McKenna “1988”

Brandy Clark self-titled. Brandy takes on some absolutely shocking topics with a bold determination, and that in and of itself carries the album. Incest and retaliation, the voices in our minds cruelly dictating our insecurities, and lots more. She also enlists Derek Trucks and Brandi Carlile for some irresistible tones, both guitar and vocals. https://www.brandyclarkmusic.com

Jon Dee Graham Only Dead For A Little While. A little heavy, and a lot profound, this album investigates a wide range of human experience, from the first man scratching his name on a rock, to the epic “see you by the fire when we arrive” nod to folks who have passed on, to teenagers hanging out with ghosts and our past, and everyone who has brought him here to us, Jon Dee takes our hands and dives with us down into the most base of all human fears – the meaning of life, death and the hope for an afterlife. REVIEW: Jon Dee Graham “Only Dead For A Little While”

Malcolm Holcombe Bits and Pieces. Malcolm shares some harsh realities here in his signature growl. Forgotten lifetimes, senseless murders, guns and money, MLK, liars, and then, finally, some glimpse of hope in the conscience of man, all with Malcolm’s punctuated guitar playing. Sit back and let it all wash over you. REVIEW: Malcolm Holcombe “Bits and Pieces”

Helene Cronin Landmarks. The stand out characteristic of Helene’s album is that she breaks new topical ground, and on a depth and breadth that will hold your attention. Questions about the existence of evil if there is a benevolent god, women fighting back after humiliation. Powerful and mature. REVIEW: Helene Cronin “Landmarks”

Pony Bradshaw Georgia Rounder. This album is wise and moving songs about the aftermath of war, Appalachia being left behind, and other particularly southern Appalachian images like those of homemade wines and pulled pork plates. Slow and reflective most of the time, the songs are steeped in sorrow and the bare limitations of the human spirit. REVIEW: Pony Bradshaw picks up where he left off with North Georgia Rounder

Enjoy my road trip earworms here: Editor’s Pick: Road Trip Earworms 2023: Favorite Songs and top favorite year-end lists from our other writers here: 2023’s “45 RPM (Reasons to Purchase Music)” with Playlist and here: Top Picks of 2023: Dave Nowels Self-Indulgence