It was a great year for music. New artists rose to fame, old artists released new albums and both continued to break barriers. Trending albums and artists this year came from different genres of music, including rock, pop, country, alternative indie, rap and hip hop. Many albums stood out to me, but my top five albums of 2023 were the ones that were the most influential and fun to listen to.

5. “Utopia,” Travis Scott 

“Utopia” is Travis Scott’s fourth studio album, following the release of his junior album “Astroworld” back in 2018. Scott released “K-Pop” featuring Bad Bunny with The Weekend as “Utopia’s” lead single before the album dropped. Scott put out three more singles, “Delresto,” “Meltdown” and I” Know,” before the record came out on July 28. This project is Scott’s idea of being vulnerable. The album is a great example of a spectacle loaded with pop superstars.

4. “For All The Dogs,” Drake 

Drake continued with his upbeat and modern sound with the release of “For All The Dogs” on Oct. 6. The album got a lot of attention from teenagers because of Drake’s early release of the singles “Slime You Out” and “8AM in Charlotte.” “For All the Dogs” shows much of Drake’s recent persona and embodies his sensitivities.

3. “Think Later,” Tate McRae

The most recently released album on the list, Tate McRae’s “Think Later” stuck with me in the past few weeks as one of the best albums of 2023. Having two singles go viral on TikTok—”Greedy” and “Exes”—made fans excited for the Dec. 8 release of what is her second studio album. Following up on her May 2022 record “I Used To Think I Could Fly,” McRae relies on a similar, yet somehow different message in “Think Later.” McRae sings of how you should not be missing your past significant others and how you are the most important person in your life. This album resonated with me so much because it is hard to move past relationships and prioritize yourself, which McRae hits spot on with her lyrics.

2. “One Thing At A Time,” Morgan Wallen 

If you know country music, you have heard the name Morgan Wallen. Wallen has become one of the most famous country singers, and for good reason. Earlier this year, he released “One Thing At A Time,” which was one of the most listened-to country albums of all time, competing with Taylor Swift’s debut record. “One Thing At A Time” talks about Wallen’s life in a cycle, and at each point along the way, he’s got all kinds of bumper-sticker slogans, frat-brotherly advice and heartfelt apologies to bestow upon his enormous fanbase.

1. “The Show,” Niall Horan 

“The Show” by Niall Horan is my favorite album released this year. Horan was previously in hit boy band One Direction. “The Show” is Horan’s first studio album in three years, and he released two singles, “Heaven” and “Meltdown,” to excite listeners before the putting out the album on June 9. I loved “Heaven” and “Meltdown,” so I was excited to hear the rest of the album when it came out. It did not disappoint. This album might be considered Horan’s version of a love letter, but it also describes the emotions of going through the hardships of life. To me, that is easily something I can relate to because everyone always goes through many things in life.

What were your favorite albums of the year? List them in our comments section.

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