Best Indie Releases of 2023

The new year has just arrived. Here are some of the best releases from the past year, from all corners of the indie music scene.

Honey – Samia / Released January 27 / On her sophomore album, Samia experiments with sparser production but continues to use small details to capture big moments. Standout track: “Kill Her Freak Out”

The record – boygenius / Released March 31 / No year-end music list would be complete without boygenius, the indie supergroup that made a massive comeback this year with their first release since 2018. Standout track: “$20”

Could Have Done Anything – Charlotte Cornfield / Released May 12 / On her fifth album, the artist once described by Rolling Stone as “Canada’s best kept secret” writes about the intricacies of love and life with a soft country-folk sound. Standout track: “Cut & Dry”

Vampire Empire/Born For Loving You – Big Thief / Released July 19 & September 13 / Released separately but sold together on a 7-inch, these songs are the first to come from the band since their 2022 double album. They keep getting better.

The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We – Mitski / Released September 15 / On her seventh studio album, Mitski softens her sound and incorporates hints of a Southern twang. She explores themes of love and identity and continues writing her signature eerie melodies. Standout track: “My Love Mine All Mine”

Javelin – Sufjan Stevens / Released October 6 / Since his 2015 success Carrie & Lowell, Stevens has worked on several collaborations as well as some experimental projects of his own. On Javelin he seems to be back to his roots. Standout track: “A Running Start”