This year was full of beloved songs and breakout hits, but album creation is a different beast.
As Business Insider's senior music reporter, I spend a lot of time thinking about that distinction. What transforms a collection of tracks into an album? And how is it further transformed by its audience?
I always approach my year-end roundups with those questions in mind. This time around, they led me to differentiate the song ranking and the album ranking entirely. Every selection for the list below is a cohesive work of art, better consumed in one sitting than sliced into bite-sized pieces.
Keep reading to see my favorite albums released in 2023, ranked from worst to best. (Please note: SZA's "SOS" came out in 2022.)