We listened to a lot of music in 2023. Here are the Streaming Now staff’s favorite albums of the year.
‘Black Rainbows’ by Corinne Bailey Rae
Listening to the new Corinne Bailey Rae album is like no other experience of the singer/songwriter’s discography, nor is it like anything else in 2023. As intended, Black Rainbows would be the most disappointing album of the year for those expecting a “Put Your Records On” follow-up.
A united vision with sonic chaos and beauty in equal measure, Bailey Rae bends the tropes of jazz, pop, art-rock, and R&B to form an individually powerful, magnificently detailed announcement of herself as an artist and a human. Black Rainbows is pure music magic, a work without care for accessibility that we cannot ignore.
-Cory Cogley
‘Take Me Back To Eden’ by Sleep Token
Sleep Token was a band whose songs I had listened to here and there, but they never made it heavy into my rotation. That is, not until this year with their album Take Me Back To Eden. The band stuns with a mixture of stellar vocal performances, outstanding instrumentals, and their own unique blend of genres.
While they’re mostly credited as a metal band, Sleep Token truly sounds nothing like anyone else in the genre. The vocals are silky smooth and often take on R&B and pop tones. Aside from catchy lyrics and captivating melodies, they’re quite the showmen, with their own unique and interesting lore (which is definitely worth taking some time to look into) and very cool masks. While those elements often feel gimmicky with other bands, the music is good that they only seem to add to what makes this one special.
-Zach Grey
‘Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd’ by Lana Del Rey
Despite having the same degree of musical talent, Lana Del Rey will never reach the same height of fame as Taylor Swift or Beyoncé. She doesn’t have the universal appeal required for such a feat, nor does she seem to want that. What she does instead of working toward world domination is write and record gems of albums that go widely under-listened but resonate with those who do hear them.
Del Rey did just that with her ninth studio album, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. While it did have the highest streaming numbers of any of her album releases to date, Did You Know was another example of Del Rey saving her talents for those who appreciate her most. Her voice is as strong and melodious as it’s ever been, her writing is still outstanding, and she knows how to push herself creatively without straying from what sets her apart as a musician. This was an easy favorite for the year and an automatic classic among her output.
-Acacia Deadrick
Each of these albums is streaming now wherever you listen to music.