Albums that explain in which direction music is going

In December, almost all music magazines, as well as many general publications, publish their own personal ranking of the best albums released during the year. It is a well-established activity in the industry, but it is often difficult to fully agree with these selections: determining which are truly the most interesting records of the last twelve months is, if you think about it, a highly debatable and subjective practice. Consulting these rankings—beyond one's preferences—is still a way to see what the critics are paying attention to at this historical moment and which musical genre the most appreciated artists come from.

Here are 5 albums that appear at the top of the rankings compiled by the most authoritative international music magazines, from the most respected and niche to the most mainstream, including The Wire, Pitchfork, Billboard, Crack Magazine, NME, New York Times , and Time Out.

Yo La Tengo – This Stupid World

According to The Wire, perhaps the most authoritative music magazine in the world, the best album of 2023 is Yo La Tengo's, one of the most cult alternative-rock groups of the Nineties. This Stupid World is an album that immediately seemed like a classic to the very devoted fanbase of the American band. It contains the distinctive features of the New Jersey group: distorted guitars, sweet melodies, and melancholic lyrics. According to The Wire, it is the band's best production in over twenty years.

Boygenius – The Record

The group composed of American singer-songwriters Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus—all three already well-established—was one of the most significant musical phenomena of the year. The band's previous albums were appreciated mainly by the younger indie-rock audience, but with The record, the trio achieved great success both in terms of audience and critical acclaim. NME elected it as the best album of 2023, stating that the three singer-songwriters are among the most impactful and influential of their generation.

Lana Del Rey – Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd

Lana Del Rey is one of the most original American singers with the most loyal audience of the last decade: she has been able to develop an orchestral, cinematic, and melancholic style that has made her very recognizable and beloved. According to the authoritative publication Time Out, which placed it at the top of its annual ranking, her ninth studio album perfectly aligns with this mood and presents Lana Del Rey's most intimate lyrics.

SZA – SOS

SZA (pronounced "Siza"), although having only two albums released over several years, is one of the most appreciated R&B singers on the international scene. Her latest album, SOS, in addition to receiving critical acclaim, also enjoyed commercial success: after staying at the top of the charts for ten weeks, Pitchfork chose it as the album of the year, as did critic Jon Pareles of the New York Times.

Billy Woods & Kenny Segal – Maps

Active in the New York hip-hop scene since the Nineties, Billy Woods is one of the most respected figures in American underground rap—although his character is somewhat elusive (for example, he tends not to show his face). Maps is a dark and reflective album where Billy Woods collaborates again with producer Kenny Segal. The album is at the top of the rankings of several authoritative publications, including The Fader. Music journalist Giovanni Ansaldo of Internazionale elected it as the album of the year, writing that Woods "touches peaks of absolute poetry in expressing his discomfort."

Thru Collected – Il Grande Fulmine

As for Italy, one of the most appreciated albums by the country's music publications, including Rolling Stone and Internazionale, is Il Grande Fulmine by Thru Collected. The project based in Naples—bringing together artists like Altea, Alice, Specchiopaura, Sano, and others—represents the freshest and most interesting drift of new Italian music, encompassing hyper-pop, trap, and indie. "If it still makes sense to talk about alternative music in 2024, they are truly exemplary specimens," wrote the Italian edition of Billboard. The most appreciated tracks among the album's over 25 tracks are A danz ro ragn, blending traditional Neapolitan music with electronics, and Terza Stagione, reflecting the collective's heterogeneity and potential.