What were the best albums of 2023? Our critics name their top 10

There's no respite from the chaos of the world like putting on an album and listening to it in full. The records I most favored in 2023 offered distinct ways of tuning everything out.

Some offered escapism via hauntingly elegant and daydream-y soundscapes (Mitski, Lana Del Rey). Some offered loud, heavy and/or angsty catharsis (Minnesota native Alicia Bognanno's band Bully, Olivia Rodrigo, Noname). And some just delivered feel-good, problem-shrugging fun (Winnipeg newcomer Boy Golden, tribute albums to Doug Sahm and Bob Dylan). I'm honestly not sure how people get by without records.

1. Mitski, "The Land Is Hospitable and So Are We"

2. Son Volt, "Day of the Doug"

3. Bully, "Lucky for You"

4. Boy Golden, "For Jimmy"

5. Lana Del Rey, "Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd"

7. Olivia Rodrigo, "Guts"

8. Noname, "Sundial"

9. Deer Tick, "Emotional Contracts"

10. Durand Jones, "Wait Till I Get Over"

See also: Riemenschneider's best Minnesota albums of 2023.

2. Lana Del Rey, "Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd." In her best and most potent album, the languid Los Angeles chanteuse ruminates about God, death, family and repairing broken pottery, among other topics.

3. Paul Simon, "Seven Psalms." In a hauntingly understated seven-song suite, one of America's greatest songwriters of all time meditates on life, mortality and God.

4. Jelly Roll, "Whitsitt Chapel." He makes the surprisingly graceful transition from prolific indie rapper to repentant criminal as country-gospel singer.

5. Bettye LaVette, "LaVette." This inspired veteran song stylist interprets 11 selections from the obscure catalog of Randall Bramblett as if he penned these tales of woe for her.

6. Zach Bryan, "Zach Bryan." With 16 tunes this time (after 34 last year), he's established himself as a hyper-prolific songwriter of remarkably high quality, with a little vocal help from Kacey Musgraves, the Lumineers and the War & Treaty.

8. Abraham Alexander, "Sea/Sons." Raised in Greece by Nigerian immigrants and orphaned as a teenager in Texas, the Fort Worth acoustic soul man's organic, bluesy vibe is as alluring as his back story is daunting.

9. Megan Moroney, "Lucky." This Georgia newcomer is as mainstream country as Dolly Parton with a refined mix of clever, witty, playful, fun, sentimental, Southern and sadness.