The 20 Best Albums of 2023 So Far

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – July 6, 2023

Which albums impressed critics during the first half of the year? In the gallery on this page we rank the highest-scoring LPs released between January 1, 2023 and June 30, 2023. Albums are ranked by their Metascores as of July 3, 2023 and must have at least 7 reviews from professional critics to be eligible. Resissues, EPs, live albums, and compilations are excluded.

16 of 21 photo by EMI

89That! Feels Good! by Jessie Ware

(#5) English pop singer-songwriter Jessie Ware's fifth studio album (and follow-up to 2020's excellent What's Your Pleasure?) is the best-reviewed release of her career to date.

“The vast majority of Ware’s fifth LP serves as a masterclass in following up a beloved previous album – taking What’s Your Pleasure’s core elements and stretching them into wilder and weirder directions. Now, that feels good.” —Beats Per Minute

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