2023 has delivered a ton of new music and as we get to the end of the year, it’s time to reflect on those releases we kept going back and back to.
We’ve already shared our Top Country Albums of the year so now we’re switching our focus onto pop. There’s been a lot of pop from all corners of the globe and we’ve listened to a lot, but there’s a handful of releases that we’ve had on repeat play since they came out.
Presented in no particular order, we’ve highlighted the 5 pop albums that we’ve spent plenty of time with over the past 12 months. Keep reading to find out which albums we’ve picked…
1. Olivia Rodrigo – ‘GUTS’
Following up 2021’s ‘Sour’ was going to be no easy feat but somehow Olivia Rodrigo managed to deliver an album as consistent as her debut, and just as addictive. Switching between introspective piano ballads and rebellious teen-rock, Rodrigo showed that she’s no one-hit wonder. Lead single ‘Vampire’ gave her another number 1 across the globe while ‘Get Him Back’ and ‘Bad Idea Right?’ have become anthems for a generation. Is it too soon to ask for album number 3?
2. Kylie Minogue – ‘Tension’
Kylie Minogue has had quite the 2023 thanks to the unexpected success of her infectious single ‘Padam Padam’, her first UK Top 10 hit in years. The single paved the way for ‘Tension’, the singer’s 16th studio album, which is a mix of forward-thinking pop bangers and 80s throwback gems. The album may not be her most cohesive, and clearly the brief changed part way through recording, but no one makes pop music like Kylie do they?
3. Bad Bunny – ‘Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana’
The biggest star in modern music, Bad Bunny continues to go from strength-to-strength with every album release. He broke records with 2022’s ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’ and earlier this year he dropped the lengthy ‘Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana’ featuring the hits ‘Where She Goes’, ‘Un Preview’ and ‘Monaco’. Operating in his own lane, Bad Bunny is untouchable right now and his ability to put out top quality music at a breakneck pace remains impressive. Darker than ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’, ‘Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana’ is nothing short of a masterpiece.
4. Maluma – ‘Don Juan’
One of Colombia’s biggest success stories, Maluma unleashed his sprawling sixth studio album ‘Don Juan’ in 2023. In places, the record moved away from the reggaeton sound that has been the star’s signature with songs like ‘Junio’ and the hit ‘Según Quién’ with Carín León. He used the song ‘Procura’ to announce that he is about to become a dad for the first time and he proved he can do traditional styles with the epic ‘La Fórmula’ with Marc Anthony. More mature than his previous records, ‘Don Juan’ is another step closer to world domination.
5. Adam Lambert – ‘High Drama’
Former ‘American Idol’ star turned Queen frontman Adam Lambert, who has achieved success as a solo artist too, dropped his sixth studio album ‘High Drama’ this year. A collection of covers, the album is further proof that Lambert can sing absolutely anything and make it sound like it was meant for him. From Noël Coward to Bonnie Tyler, Lambert effortlessly showcased his range on this record and we particularly loved his electro-pop version of Kings of Leon’s ‘Sex on Fire’.
