Featuring standout releases from Janelle Monáe and Victoria Monét to Boygenius and Ashnikko, here are our top 15 albums from this year.
WORDS BY ZOYA RAZA-SHEIKH HEADER DESIGN BY YOSEF PHELAN In a year of underdog mega-releases and skyrocketing debut albums, 2023 has proven that LGBTQIA+ artists—and their experiences—are what make the music industry interesting.
Victoria Monét revived R&B in style, Sufjan Stevens made us all weep, and Troye Sivan’s comeback reminded us what it’s like to get lost in a party.
Oh, and Boygenius defied all expectations with an alt-rock full-length drop. Nobody would’ve guessed how artists like Janelle Monáe or Chappell Roan would shake up the sounds they play with, or how 100 gecs would gleefully shred the rulebook.