Our Favorite 10 (Unsung) Albums of 2023

The year in music was a quiet one, with few releases from major pop girlies. With Beyoncé and Taylor Swift on huge tours – after both dropping acclaimed albums last year – 2023 had a lot of room for incredible discoveries from smaller yet just as talented artists. They may not have dominated the world, but these 10 albums packed a powerful punch and are most certainly worth your time. Check them out below.

10. Ava Max - "Diamonds & Dancefloors"

Chart-topping singer Ava Max's sophomore effort "Diamonds & Dancefloors" is nothing short of an icy cool pop album that is served straight up and engineered to get you moving. With inspired samples ("Can't Fight the Moonlight," and Bernard Herrmann's "Twisted Nerve" score) and '80s-style synths, Max's take on modern pop music is a well-crafted delight, resulting in bangers like "Dancing's Done," "Ghost" and "In the Dark."

9. DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ — "Destiny"

"Destiny" is the latest project from enigmatic producer DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ. It's a four-hour, 41-track epic trek through dance music. Weaving together house music, pop, R&B and even ambient sounds, DJ Sabrina's music sometimes sounds like the best music you'd hear your Sims characters play. With no constraints like physical media, "Destiny" was made for the boundaryless era of the streaming age. DJ Sabrina's latest album sprawls and is full of surprises like with "For Now and Forever," "Get Over It" and "Figuring it Out." Listening to "Destiny" might feel intimidating at first but it's a rewarding journey to take.

8. Christine and the Queens — "Paranoia, Angels, True Love"

Christine and the Queens returned this year with the ambitious "Paranoia, Angels, True Love," a 90-minute, 20-track triple album that's a companion to the 2022 LP "Redcar les adorables étoiles (prologue)." About the new effort, which has three tracks featuring Madonna, Chris said the album was inspired by "the glorious dramaturgy" of Tony Kushner's gay seminal play "Angels in America," saying the new music is "a key towards heart-opening transformation, a prayer towards the self." It's a moving and epic queer album that bursts with emotion, like on singles "A Day in the Water" and "To Be Honest," and an album that deserves to be heard.

7. a.s.o. — "a.s.o."

If you're looking for the perfect soundtrack to play when you rob a bank and then make love with your accomplice, then look no further than a.s.o.'s debut self-titled album. The Berlin-based duo, made up of singer/songwriter Alia Seror-O'Neill and producer Lewie Day, put together a super sexy 11-track album that blends together dream pop and trip hop. With cinematic flourishes, the German group's impressive debut is captivating and sounds unlike anything else in 2023.

6. Romy — "Mid-Air"

The latest member of the seminal U.K. trio The xx to go solo, Romy's long-awaited debut album "Mid-Air" is pop perfection. Unafraid to be queer, the album revels in dance music, thanks to production from rising U.K. artist Fred Again, resulting in wall-to-wall bangers that are truly joyful. Romy's debut peaks at its core with the songs "Twice" and "Did I" and finishes off just as strong with the uplifting "Enjoy Your Life" and the energetic closer "She's On My Mind."