Nearly four months into 2023, there’s already been a plethora of new music releases across every genre imaginable. I’m always on the lookout for new releases to keep track of for my top albums and EPs of that year. Here are some tracks, EPs, and albums that have caught my ear and topped my charts for 2023 thus far.
“If We Ever Broke Up” by Mae Stephens
“If We Ever Broke Up” by Mae Stephens may be the best song I’ve ever discovered on TikTok. Mae Stephens popped up on my FYP dancing to her own track over a month before this single was released in early February. You can hear Stephens’ personality throughout the entire song. Her smooth and bouncy voice pairs perfectly with the funky synth that accents throughout, and a groovy bassline is the heartbeat of this song. “If We Ever Broke Up” is another perfect spring and summer track.
“Shhhh! Golf Is On” by Hot Mulligan
“Shhhh! Golf Is On” is the debut single off of Hot Mulligan’s fourth album, “Why Would I Watch,” set to release everywhere on May 12. “Shhhh! Golf Is On” puts hard-hitting lyrics over catchy instrumentals that mimic the vocals beautifully. This track is about the lead singer’s mother being an overall bad person, according to lead singer Tades Sanville. This single makes me beyond excited for what “Why Would I Watch” is going to deliver when it’s released next month.
“Moving Out” by Phoneboy
Phoneboy released their sophomore album, “Moving Out,” in March of this year. “Moving Out” is a 32-minute anthem for being in your twenties, especially during those college years. Every track on this album pairs smooth vocals with upbeat instrumentation to curate the perfect album for dancing in the living room, driving with the windows down, and going for a run at sunset. My personal favorite tracks are “Your Apartment,” “Ferrari,” and “Moving Out.” Phoneboy released the perfect spring and summer album just as the weather has started to warm up. You can read my full album review for “Moving Out” here!
“Freak of Nature” by Heart Attack Man
“Freak of Nature” is the debut single and title track of Heart Attack Man’s third album, which shares the name of the single. “Freak of Nature” is an absolute anthem for anyone who has ever felt like they don’t fit in. This song embraces straying far from the norm and rejecting others’ opinions, with vocal and instrumental anger and confidence that’s conveyed through sound alone. “Freak of Nature” almost immediately became one of my favorite Heart Attack Man songs; it made me feel like I belonged in this music scene, even if I didn’t fit in anywhere else. Heart Attack Man’s third album, “Freak of Nature,” releases everywhere May 26.
“SHAMELESS $UICIDE” by $uicideboy$ & Shakewell
“SHAMELESS $UICIDE” is a G*59 Record$ collab with artists $uicideboy$ and Shakewell. “SHAMELESS $UICIDE” presents a more melodic side of $uicideboy$, pairing flowing instrumentals with their iconic hard driving beats and melancholy lyrics. Shakewell’s more R&B-leaning rap vocals perfectly emphasize that push into a slightly more melodic sound. My favorite tracks off of this EP are “Whole Lotta Grey” and “Went to Rehab and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt.” I’ve had “SHAMELESS $UICIDE” on repeat since its release in February and I would be shocked if it didn’t show up on my top played albums in 2023.
“The Jaws of Life” by Pierce The Veil
Pierce The Veil released their fifth album, their first in seven years, “The Jaws of Life” on February 10. This album is a huge mental health album, written by the band as a kind of escape from the toll the pandemic was taking on them, individually. “The Jaws of Life” as a whole may be my second favorite Pierce The Veil album, second only to “Collide With the Sky.” This album is much more 90’s rock than emo, but still has the iconic Pierce The Veil sound. My favorite tracks off this album are “Even When I’m Not With You” and “Emergency Contact.” Pierce The Veil wrote “The Jaws of Life” as a tool to help save people from any mental turmoil they may be going through, and I think that message comes through beautifully in this album.
I have yet to be disappointed by new music so far in 2023. These artists continue to top what they’ve done in the past and impress with every new release. All of these releases can be found on Apple Music and Spotify. Keep an ear out for the Hot Mulligan’s and Heart Attack Man’s new albums set to be released in May, as I have a feeling they’ll make a reappearance on my top albums of 2023 list.