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One of the albums that had the biggest impact in 2023 actually came out at the tail end of 2022: SZA\u2019s \u201cSOS.\u201d<\/strong> Between their albums<\/a> and song<\/a> lists, our three pop music critics agreed \u201cSOS\u201d was one of the year\u2019s best, along with LPs from Olivia Rodrigo<\/strong> and 100 gecs<\/strong>. Beyond that, their tastes widely diverged from one another \u2014 and, it turns out, from our readers\u2019, who didn\u2019t coalesce around any one album or song in the comments. (Michael Hasse, a reader in Paris, created this helpful Spotify playlist<\/a> with albums recommended in the comments.)<\/p>\n Roddy P Glass of London:<\/p>\n I will add my vote to \u201cNow and Then,\u201d<\/strong> though secretly, in the quiet of my heart, I know it comes nowhere near the standard the Beatles<\/strong> have always given us: perfection.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Penny Beach of Boise, Idaho:<\/p>\n Where is Noah Kahan<\/strong>? Definitely should be on this list.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Charles Grissom of Raleigh, N.C.:<\/p>\n I know these lists are about pop music, and that is driven by 20-somethings. But Jimmy Buffett<\/strong>\u2019s posthumous 2023 album \u201cEqual Strain on All Parts\u201d<\/strong> is wonderful music and storytelling, and the song \u201cPortugal or PEI\u201d<\/strong> is an absolute gem.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Patrick Tierney of Louisville, Ky.:<\/p>\n I love these lists but [Lindsay] Zoladz\u2019s in particular. Rodrigo, Polachek<\/strong>, and Debby Friday<\/strong> all made my top 10 and show how much the present and future of pop\/rock\/dance music is led by creative young women. I\u2019d add to the group three very different artists \u2014 yeule, Die Spitz, Avalon Emerson<\/strong> \u2014 that made this a great year for new music.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Scott McGlasson of Minneapolis, Minn.:<\/p>\n None of my faves of the year were even mentioned: Tim Hecker, the Necks, the National, Blonde Redhead, PJ Harvey<\/strong>. I know, I\u2019m old and not a music critic\u2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n John Franz of East Bangor, Pa.:<\/p>\n I was shocked to see some songs and performers I\u2019ve actually heard of. Peter Gabriel<\/strong>\u2019s album is brilliant. Not sure if the new Stones<\/strong> album is their best work. I found Dolly<\/strong>\u2019s album hilarious; she\u2019s a gem who I never listened to much before this new album. That\u2019s about it. Seems to me that any song from the Tedeschi Trucks<\/strong> album should be on the list. Kenny Wayne Shepherd<\/strong>. And how about Jason Isbell<\/strong>\u2019s great new album.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Dan Cain of Washington, D.C.:<\/p>\n I vote for Yo La Tengo\u2019s \u201cThis Stupid World.\u201d<\/strong> Best album in a while from one of the founding bands of indie rock. Just listen to the first 30 seconds of the opening track, ideally at a very loud volume. It\u2019s great.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Paul Kevin Smith of Austin, Texas:<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know why she doesn\u2019t get more attention, but Jessie Ware\u2019s \u201cBegin Again\u201d<\/strong> was a perfect pop\/disco song released this year.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n And we\u2019ll leave the last words to <\/strong>John Weston of Chicago:<\/p>\n So many comments here seem to rest on the idea that musical progress ended when John Bonham died, Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed, the Beatles broke up, the Big Bopper died, or Chuck Berry or Bessie Smith (let\u2019s be honest, none of y\u2019all would have cared when she died \u2026 like most of the world at the time), when \u201cThe Rite of Spring\u201d was first performed, when Beethoven finished his Ninth Symphony or with Liszt\u2019s use of the tritone in \u201cDante Sonata\u201d (how dare he!).<\/p>\n To all of those such commenters and thinkers, I shall quote the one and only Bob Dylan (referenced by many on this thread):<\/p>\n Mothers and fathers throughout the land\/<\/em> Shivani Gonzalez contributed research.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Don\u2019t criticize what you can\u2019t understand\/<\/em>
Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command\/<\/em>
Your old road is rapidly aging\/<\/em>
Please get out of the new one if you can\u2019t lend a hand\/<\/em>
For the times they are a changin\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n