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.

20 of 21 photo by Interscope/Golden Child

96 Fountain Baby by Amaarae

Metacritic's #1 Album of the First Half of 2023

Bronx-born, Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter Amaarae followed her debut LP The Angel You Don't Know with this major-label debut in June. Fountain Baby blends American R&B and African pop (among other genres) into 2023's highest-scoring album so far.

“This is a sexy, sparkling snapshot of borderless youth in 2023, with Amaarae emerging as an ascendant star.” —The Observer

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