All Songs Considered

Talking about the best albums of 2023

Dec 5, 2023

Rodney Carmichael, Nate Chinen, and Ann Powers discuss the best albums of 2023. They explore the association between intimacy and rawness in music, dissect an album with jazz influences, and highlight surprising departures by artists. The hosts also delve into Corin Bailey Ray's impactful album and a record with dirty southern sounds. The podcast concludes with reflections on the year and upcoming content.

52:32

Creator website

Episode guests

Ann Powers

Nate Chinen

Rodney Carmichael

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

'Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?' by Cara Jackson combines folk, indie, and blues influences, creating a raw and intimate atmosphere that connects with listeners.

'La Hi' by Sampha represents a shift towards artists pursuing creative freedom and challenging commercial success by infusing jazz, hip-hop, and soul elements into his music.

Deep dives

Albums that made us feel things and put a frame around our feelings

The podcast episode discusses how certain albums from 2023 made the hosts feel and provided a lens through which they understood their emotions.

Introduction

3min

Intimacy and Rawness in Music

14min

The Omnichord Real Book: Exploring a Non-Jazz Album with a Jazz Influence

6min

Artists Departures and Surprising Albums

5min

Diverse and Fearless: Corin Bailey Ray's Impactful Album

8min

Dirty Sounds and Southern Poetry

18min

Reflections on the Year and Upcoming Content

3min

It's that time of year again. Over the next few weeks at NPR.org and here on the All Songs Considered podcast, we'll be sharing lists of and conversations about the best music of 2023.

We're kicking things off with the standout albums of the year. Gathered on the show are NPR Music's three main critics: Rodney Carmichael, who writes about hip-hop and R&B; Nate Chinen of WRTI, who covers jazz and classical and Ann Powers, maven of pop, rock, folk, country and a little of everything else. Speaking with editor Daoud Tyler-Ameen, the trio dives into a heavy and heady year to discuss the releases that inspired the most vivid feelings, and together make a case — in an era when singles and playlists drive the industry numbers — for the album as a still-indispensable art form.

The fun won't stop there. Stay tuned for more conversations about the songs that made us drop everything and the tours that turned into vessels for community. There will be lists of our favorite releases on NPR.org and conversations about the sounds and stars that defined the year, enough to keep you listening well into 2024.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.

All Songs Considered

Talking about the best albums of 2023

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Albums that made us feel things and put a frame around our feelings

The distinctiveness of Cara Jackson's debut album

The exploration of sound and freedom in "La Hi" by Sampha

The innovation and fusion of genres in "Dynamic Maximum Tension" by Darcy James Argue's Secret Society

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts