Really, the wack thing about Spotify wrapped is that it’s not at all an accurate representation of how I listen to music and what I’m listening to on any given day. Like, sure, I listened to SZA’S Kill Bill a ridiculous number of times, but Wrapped can’t show you how many times I ran back several songs from Frank Ocean’s Blonde on my CD player, or the many, many (many) plays Spellling’s Turning Wheel got on my turntable. To account for the gap, here’s my 2023 Music Wrapped featuring my favorite albums of the year, some of the CDs and vinyls I purchased last year (as well as me gushing about my favorite record store here in Georgia), as well as some of the albums I’m going to be listening to for the first time in 2024.
I have a huge problem with listening to albums when they come out, so you'll have to forgive all of the albums that are a year (or several years) old. Or, don't, you know, because music is evergreen, and if i want to feel big feelings to You Know That I'm No Good, literally who can stop me?
FAVE ALBUMS OF 2023
AGE OF PLEASURE, JANELLE MONAE
Like literally every Black gay person, I went absolutely hog for this album, and it's been on repeat all throughout the year, but especially during summer. Sitting on a beach, slightly buzzed watching the waves with Water Slide in your ear is easily one of the best feelings ever. I honestly want a full instrumental version of this, all of it flows together so nicely, like an Earth, Wind, and Fire album!
Top 3 Songs: Float (ft. Sean Kuti and Egyptian Luvr), Lipstick Lover, Water Slide
RENAISSANCE, BEYONCE
Like, don't even pretend to be shocked that Renaissance ruled my world again this year. So much so that it totally warped my Spotify Wrapped, like I loved it but I wish we got the 'exclude from wrapped' option earlier in the year -_-. Anyways, no need for me to explain. This album is pure gold, and we all know it.
Top 3 Songs: Alien Superstar, America Has a Problem, Pure/Honey
JAGUAR II, VICTORIA MONET
I'm not sure why, I'll probably have to give it another listen, but I wasn't the hugest fan of the first Jaguar album by Victoria Monet. This one, though? Absolutely delicious, every song sensual and fun, like the entire vibe is brown skin and gold jewelry, and I definitely want to have this on vinyl. Also, On My Mama is one of the best music videos ever, you don't even have to argue with your mama because she'll agree with me too!
Top 3 Songs: Cadillac (A Pimp's Anthem), Party Girls (ft. Buju Banton), Hollywood (ft. Earth, Wind and Fire)
NATURAL BROWN PROM QUEEN, SUDAN ARCHIVES
This one is a late addition, as in I literally online listened to it in December of last year, but I enjoyed it so much! It's silly to compare albums because they have their own texture and emotion, but I definitely liked this one more than Athena, which felt a little too safe to be a full mystical, magical moment. Another album I want as a vinyl or a CD
Top 3 Songs: Is This Real (Can You Hear Me?), Copycat (Broken Notions), Freakalizer
GOING...GOING...GONE!, HEMLOCKE SPRINGS
Is there anything better than watching someone go from your TikTok FYP page to having an album? Before you answer, no, there's not. Like a lot of people, I first heard of hemlocke through girlfriend and that really cool bridge. every song we got out of her next has been so fun. My only complaint about this album is that it's so short. I am a musical lover, I am a song bitch, I need songs that are at least five minutes, and hemlocke was doing so many cool things with her voice and the melodies, ugh! Bring back eight minute songs, please!
Top 3 Songs: girlfriend, p.o.s, heavun
CHROME BULL, DUCKWRTH
Another album I listened to on the beach, and then listened to like, fifteen times over and over and over at my best friend's house. I'm honestly obsessed with Duckwrth's music, it's so funky and groovy, and then to give us a house album? Oh, he wanted me fed. Thank you for my plate!
Top 3 Songs: 11:30, Ce Soir, Super Saiyan
WHERE THE FLOWERS DON'T DIE, MONALEO
Monaleo stans lemme hear you make some noise~! She's such a great rapper, and everything she does delights me! Every freestyle, every bar, it's pure magic to me. Really looking forward to hearing new music from her!
Top 3 Songs: Beating Down Yo Block, Cologne Song, Ridgemont Baby
TURNING WHEEL, SPELLLING
My friend, Nic, got me into Spellling in 2022, and I've literally never been sane since then. Seeing her in concert, listening to her fantastic voice live only made my obsession worse. And then the remix/extended version of the album Spellling and the Mystery School with the longer version of Boys in School, oh. Oh! Yeah, expect this to be on my 2024 music wrapped as well, like it's an evergreen album, it's pure magic.
Top 3 Songs: Awaken, Emperor With An Egg, Turning Wheel
KATYRAMINE, KATRYAMINE
Another album that's way too short, because what do you mean this is only a half hour long? Be so serious! Anyways, this is another made just for me, because I love Katryanda and love Amine, so God told them both to make this one. You guys are welcome!
Top 3 Songs: letstalkaboutit, Master P, EYE
2000AND4EVA, BREE RUNWAY
Blah, blah, blah, this came out in 2020...Okay, and I was born in 1999, and I'm still golden and fantastic. I think people get over albums way too fast nowadays. Like Traumazine came out in 2022, and people were acting like it was ancient history. Please, love and appreciate the music that artists have so kindly made for you, like wear down a CD, listen to something again and again. Anyways, rant over. This album is a banger, and I burned a CD so I could have it forever, you want one?
Top 3 Songs: Gucci (ft. Maliibu Mitch), ROLLS ROYCE, ATM (ft. Missy Elliot)
BACK TO BLACK, AMY WINEHOUSE
Another album that's evergreen to me, like if I could mainline this album I would. If I could eat this album like Ralph Fiennes in Red Dragon, I would. Like, it needs to be inside of me. Every song makes me cry, ever note is brilliant. Never, ever forget how awesome Amy Winehouse's music is.
Top 3 Songs: You Know That I'm No Good, Love is a Losing Game, Wake Up Alone
LINGER AWHILE, SAMARA JOY
No, because Samara Joy is literally only a year younger than me, and her voice is so rich and lush, you'd think you were listening to Sarah Vaughn. I love that people my age and younger are getting into jazz and blues, like yes! Yes, open your heart to the beauty of discordant melodies and smooth, steady voices! Also, I saw her at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, and she sang 'Round Midnight, and me and my dad were losing it, so good!
Top 3 Songs: Guess Who I Saw Today, Misty, Can't Get Out of This Mood
CDS AND ALBUMS BOUGHT IN 2023
In 2023, I actually wound up getting a lot of CDS and albums, mostly because I was so excited to have my CD player and turntable back, and I wanted everything to be in physical form, after being separated from my stuff for seven months. I don't think I'm gonna be as silly about buying things this year, but I definitely do want to own more physical media. Down with streaming...Up with putting a beautiful little CD into a CD player!
There's a few places in and around Atlanta to get music, but my personal favorites are Wuxtry Records in Decater, Half-Price Books (also in Decater), and Criminal Records in Little Five Points. Wuxtry, it's more old-man rock and alternative and older albums, but I did get a few more modern ones there. There selection of jazz and classical is really extensive, and they also have casettes! Fantastic place, my dad and I went all the time when we had a car. Criminal Records is younger and trendier, they have more albums from this decade, and the people behind the counter won't laugh at you if you ask for My Chemical Romance, so that's nice! Criminal Records also does album listening parties, and other cute events, so there's that as well!
(Also...I never really keep track of the media I buy, so there will most likely be some bits missing, oh no!)
FROM HPB
Cooleyhighharmony, Boys ii Men
Ceremonials, Florence + the Machine
Rumors, Fleetwood Mac
Loose, Nelly Furtado
Supernatural, Carlos Santana
FROM WUXTRY
Plastic Beach, Gorillaz
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Lauyrn Hill
Stankonia, Outkast
FROM CRIMINAL
Journey in Satchidananda, Alice Coltrane
Humanz, Gorillaz
When the Pawn, Fiona Apple
Age of Pleasure, Janelle Monae
Black Parade, MCR
Brand New Eyes, Paramore
DON'T REMEMBER/MISC
Unreal Earth, Hozier
Dream Girl Evil, Florence + The Machine
ALBUMS I WANT TO LISTEN TO IN 2024
Now, don't laugh when most of these are things that everyone and their mama has already heard because I haven't heard them. I keep planning to set time aside to listen to new music, and then I never do and this year, I'm going to like, consciously seek out new albums + stuff I've heard about and never got around to trying.
There's definitely more! I have a whole Spotify playlist of albums I need to listen to here. Any suggestions?
Endless Summer Vacation, Miley Cyrus
Succubus, Cobrah
Human After All, Daft Punk
Muthalificent, bbymutha
Tension, Kylie Minogue
Where is Home / Hae Ke Koe, Abel Selaocoe
Hello Christ? I'm 'Bout to Sin Again, Flyana Boss
Volcano, Jungle
Cheerleader, Ashnikko
Unflesh, Gazelle Twin
No Thank You, Little Simz
Live From Blackalachia, Moses Sumney
Amor, Samoht
God, that was so long! Thank you for reading and enjoying. What were your favorite listens of 2023, and what albums are you trying to get around to in 2024? Also, also! Do you think your Spotify Wrapped was accurate to how you listened to music?