50 Best Selling Albums of 2023
50 Best Selling Albums
Our best selling albums of 2023 are an eclectic bunch, representing a dynamic and diverse year in music. There were exciting new releases by Kali Uchis, boygenius, and Olivia Rodrigo. And there were several classic albums from Pink Floyd and Fleetwood Mac, once again demonstrating the power and timelessness of good music. Our very own Gram Parsons live album also earned a spot on the list! Lana Del Rey has a strong presence with four albums making our top sellers list! Also on the list more than once are SZA (who cracked the No. 1 spot with Ctrl), Tyler, The Creator, The Smiths, Radiohead, Phoebe Bridgers, and, of course, Taylor Swift, who had an incredible year.
Read on to see our list of the 50 Best Selling Albums of 2023.
50. Depeche Mode - Violator
On their widely acclaimed 1990 album, Depeche Mode took a new, more collaborative approach in their recording, and blended synth-pop, alt-rock and Goth to produce flawless tracks like “Enjoy The Silence” and “Personal Jesus.”
49. Gram Parsons & The Fallen Angels - The Last Roundup: Live From The Bijou Café In Philadelphia, 3/16/73
In November we released a special two-LP live recording from Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels.The Last Roundup: Live from the Bijou Cafe in Philadelphia March 16th, 1973 is the first available live club performance of Parsons and the Fallen Angels and Gram's first new solo material to be released in four decades! Recently unearthed from the Amoeba vault and featuring Emmylou Harris on vocals, The Last Roundup was released on double vinyl as a Record Store Day Black Friday exclusive.
48. Justin Hurwitz - La La Land OST
There's just something about listening to the La La Land original soundtrack on wax. Hopes and dreams, John Legend and jazz all sound a little warmer, a little more grand on crisp, crackling vinyl.
47. Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin's debut studio album is a landmark work. Selected Ambient Works 85-92 takes fans back to Richard D. James' earliest days as an artist, starting with cassette tape recordings from his early teen years. A lush, textured, dreamy LP that changed the electronic music landscape.
46. System Of A Down - Toxicity
2001’s Toxicity incorporates elements of prog-rock, jazz, and Armenian and Greek music into the band’s crushing nu-metal sound - a formula that continues to mesmerize fans of hard rock. The idiosyncratic single “Chop Suey” was nominated for a Grammy for Best Metal Performance.
45. Tyler, The Creator - Call Me If You Get Lost
Tyler, The Creator’s CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST is an ambitious, smart evolutionary leap. The opening interlude sets the tone with a woozy, distorted melody as Tyler declares himself Tyler Baudelaire, a direct spiritual descendent of the boundary-pushing Les Fleurs du mal poet. The vibe of the album shifts in a way that’s both effortless and extraordinary, the production switching between genres with mere seconds, the mood shifting in the blink of an eye. If you needed more evidence that Tyler, The Creator is one of the sharpest minds and most fearless avant-gardists in hip-hop today, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST is proof.
Radiohead's 1995 album The Bends is another vinyl essential. One of the band's more straightforward rock LPs — if you can call anything Radiohead does "straightforward" — the group's sophomore LP takes independent rock 'n' roll into spacier, stranger, more haunting dimensions.
43. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
Released in 2017, Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. sounds as fresh, timely, and important as ever. Smart as hell, soulful, and with Lamar's unparalleled storytelling abilities, DAMN. just hits harder than most records.
42. Phoebe Bridgers - Stranger In The Alps
It's the album that started at all. Stranger In The Alps introduced Phoebe Bridgers to a wider audience, with its moving melange of sorrow, redemption, and transcendence. An unforgettable debut from one of our most intriguing contemporary artists.
41. Steve Lacy - Gemini Rights
Steve Lacy’s Gemini Rights is further proof that he’s one of the most interesting, innovative artists working in contemporary R&B. Lacy continues to push the genre forward, adding elements of rock, psychedelia, funk, and tropicalia to these exquisitely-crafted tracks. The vibe is bittersweet, the feeling relatable, the grooves vividly-rendered and ear-catching. Produced by DJ Dahl and Lacy's The Internet bandmate Matt Martians, the album features particularly great guest vocals from Fousheé on “Sunshine.”
Clairo's Immunity finds her stretching out into new, more mature territory with interesting arrangements. “Sofia,” for instance, has more dynamics than your standard lo-fi pop and offers a substantial melody contrasted with busy percussion and interludes of staticky guitar. “Bags” and “Alewife” have more indie rock flair, with the keys in the chorus of “Bags” sounding almost like a child's organ. Perhaps the real trick is that none of the songs are swallowed up by heavy production - even the autotune on “Closer To You” feels like a natural touch for the dreaminess of the track. These are heartfelt songs with lyrics that cut to the core, especially for younger fans.
39. Mac Miller - Circles
The loss of rapper Mac Miller continues to be felt. Miller's posthumous album Circles adds much more to the "what if..." pondering of his future creative output as he matured as both a person and an artist, with the tracks showcasing more of Miller's vocals rather than rapping style. Producer Jon Brion finished the project that had already been in the pre-planning stages before Miller's death, adding only the most organic of elements to the already existing tracks. Circles now gets the deluxe treatment after its initial release, with the addition of two bonus songs: "Right" and "Floating."
38. Taylor Swift - Reputation
This year was a huge one for Taylor Swift and her legion of fans, so it's no surprise that her 2017 album Reputation made it to our list of best-sellers. This is the last album in her discography that has yet to receive a Taylor's Version re-recording and fans are already speculating about its potential release. Early 2024 perhaps? We shall see.
Added to the National Recording Registry in 2004, Nevermind is an expert melding of pop hooks with punk, grunge and alternative rock. The album is credited with bringing those sounds to the mainstream, and they largely never left it. Released in 1991, the album was remastered and reissued this year for its 30th anniversary in multiple CD and LP formats. It's no surprise this classic album, which found even more interest with the new versions, cracked our top ten best sellers list for 2023.
36. Various Artists - Barbie: The Album
Barbie: The Album is pure, perfect pop. The soundtrack to director Greta Gerwig's film features some of the best and brightest on the pop charts, curated and produced by Mark Ronson. Lizzo's "Pink" starts the party, and with tracks by Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, and Fifty Fifty featuring Kaliii, it's a nonstop dance marathon. Billie Eilish provides a soul-searching moment, while Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice create the rap-meets-Aqua moment Barbie fans crave. Barbie: The Album is the most fun you'll have listening to a soundtrack this year.
35. MF DOOM - Operation Doomsday
The legendary, late MF DOOM's 1999 debut has a sound so distinctive and so original that it immediately became one of the most influential hip-hop albums available. Featuring lo-fi production, ultra-smart stream-of-consciousness flows, a solid dose of weirdness, and a deep reverence for cartoons, Operation Doomsday showcased DOOM as a true one-of-a-kind.
34. Silk Sonic - An Evening With Silk Sonic
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s collaboration as Silk Sonic, An Evening with Silk Sonic, is finally out on vinyl! The turntable is the ideal place for this lush, smooth, throwback LP that brings the classic sound of ‘60s and ‘70s soul, funk, and R&B into the modern milieu. The tracks are evocative, gorgeous, and sweepingly romantic—this is some of the finest work the pair have done, with Bootsy Collins, D’Mile, Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, and Dap-Kings drummer Homer Steinweiss, Thundercat, and Babyface all contributing to the excellence. An Evening with Silk Sonic is an old school music lover’s delight.
33. Melanie Martinez - Portals
Nobody in pop music is doing it like Melanie Martinez. On her third album, Portals, Martinez delivers candy-coated pop with a dark heart. The lead singles are named "Death" and "Void" after all. But damn, are they catchy. This is constantly morphing pop, imaginative and fantastic (in both the "really good" sense of the word and the "Martinez may be, and in fact, does portray herself as mystical creature in the videos" sense of the word.) Portals is well-named; this album will take you to strange and wonderful sonic and emotional places.
32. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
Featuring “Bigmouth Strikes Again” and “There is a Light That Never Goes Out,” The Smiths’ 1986 classic continues to be a major influence on younger generations with its artful songwriting and half-sardonic, half-painfully sincere lyrics.
31. Mac Miller - Swimming
Mac Miller's last album to be released before his tragic death in 2018 is also one of his best. On Swimming, the rapper explores themes of self-exploration and healing over production from the formidable lineup of Dâm-Funk, Dev Hynes, J. Cole, DJ Dahi, Tae Beast, Cardo, and Flying Lotus.
30. Olivia Rodrigo - GUTS
GUTS is an excellent spotlight for Olivia Rodrigo's ability to write gut-punching, left-of-center pop with ultra relatable lyrics. "Vampire" is an emotionally devastating breakup anthem that feels sing-a-long (or sob-a-long) ready. "bad idea right?" is a wry, clever, totally catchy chronicle of lying to yourself about a bad idea ex. Never has feeling bad felt so good to listen to. Rodrigo is one of the best young songwriters on the scene and GUTS is a masterpiece.
29. Seatbelts - Cowboy Bebop OST
The long-awaited release of Seatbelts's Cowboy Bebop soundtrack on vinyl was worth the wait. The atmospheric jazz companion to the original anime series is a delight to both fans of the show and those who enjoy evocative, expansive lounge/avant-garde/spy jazz LPs.
28. Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
This timeless genre-bending album from the fiercely talented Hill was certified platinum in 2021. Broadening the horizons of the genre forever, it was the first hiphop album to win a GRAMMY for Album of The Year.
27. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence
The epitome of old-school glamour and tragedy, Lana Del Rey's oeuvre just makes sense on vinyl. Immerse yourself in the moody, melancholy world of Ultraviolence.
26. One Direction - FOUR
One Direction's 2014 album FOUR is a non-stop thrill ride. The band's songwriting sounds bigger, better, and bolder than ever, with four-star track after four-star track. Catchy as hell and ultra fun.
25. Madvillain - Madvillainy
In 2004, MF DOOM and Madlib released their supergroup debut record. With its dirty, underground sound, unconventional structures, and surreal lyricism, Madvillainy kept finding new ears in 2023 and inspiring a new generation of DJs and MCs who wanted to opt for a scrappier, funkier, and rawer approach to their music. With the unexpected passing of MF DOOM in October, fans were eager to celebrate and appreciate the mysterious rapper's art again.
Daft Punk's second LP, Discovery, is packed to the gills with French house hits. Danceable, emotional, and electrifying, this is one of the great electronic albums and one of the duo's absolute best.
23. Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher
Phoebe Bridgers' intelligent, wry indie folk continues to evolve as she refines her sound on the album Punisher. Her recent side projects like Better Oblivion Community Center have not deflected her love for introspective and haunting songs -- some call it emo-folk -- like the title track. "Kyoto" is the one exception to the consistent bedroom pop atmosphere on Punisher, especially when it soars into a tangible chorus with horns and steady drums.
22. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
With such massive hits as “Go Your Own Way,” “Don't Stop,” and “Dreams,” 1977's Rumours was Fleetwood Mac's most successful album. With numerous Album of the Year awards in '77 and '78, the record settled into that sweet spot of both widespread commercial appeal and critical acclaim, selling well all the way through 2023.
21. Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
When it was released in 2012, Lana Del Rey's major label debut Born To Die marked her as one of the most intriguing new artists in music. Peerless storytelling, gorgeously sad atmosphere, and addictively good songs make Born to Die essential listening.
20. Radiohead - In Rainbows
Radiohead's 2007 LP In Rainbows was controversial on release due to its "pay what you want" digital download pricing, but all these years later, fans just recognize it as one of the band's best. Bleak yet beautiful, sometimes discomfiting and slightly otherworldly, it's also a rocker of an album in a way only Radiohead can manage.
19. Tame Impala - Currents
Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker shifted gears a bit on his third album, Currents, drawing as much from ’80s soul and disco as he did from prog-rock and psychedelia. Though such a change could have threatened to derail a good thing, it was a move that highlighted his impressive range as a musician and ultimately helped broaden the group's fanbase. Released in 2015, Currents sounds even tastier today and remains a top seller for us all these years later.
18. Elliott Smith - Either/Or
The beloved singer/songwriter’s third album which yielded three songs to the Good Will Hunting soundtrack. His bestselling album, it hits that sweet spot between his early lo-fi sparseness and the later, more polished sound.
17. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
Pink Floyd's 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon, with its iconic cover by Storm Thorgerson, continues to earn new fans and remains an important part of any serious rock lover's record collection. Fans sought out the 2016 reissue on 180-gram vinyl and this essential album was once again among our top sellers in 2023.
16. Sade - The Best of Sade
This 1994 compilation, which was released on 180-gram 2LP vinyl in 2016, draws from the silky-voiced artist’s first four albums and includes mega-hits like “No Ordinary Love,” as well as several deep cuts and "Please Send Me Someone to Love" from the Philadelphia film soundtrack. It's no surprise it remais a popular purchase into 2023.
15. Jeff Buckley - Grace
Jeff Buckley's cult favorite LP Grace belongs in pretty much every record collection. Haunting and heartbreaking, Grace is a lasting document of the power of music and a monument to a talented songwriter who left us too soon.
14. Tyler, The Creator - Flower Boy
Tyler, the Creator shows up twice on this top sellers list, first with his amazing 2017 album Flower Boy. This immaculately produced, beat-heavy, lyrically brilliant album sure doesn’t seem to be pulling any punches when Tyler repeatedly raps about his constant state of loneliness and boredom. “I’m the loneliest man alive/But I keep on dancing to throw them off,” he says at one point. In the end, what really matters about Flower Boy is how across-the-board awesome it is and how Tyler speaks his mind without any apologies.
13. Lana Del Rey - NFR!
For Norman Fucking Rockwell, Lana Del Rey changed things up by collaborating with Jack Antonoff of indie rock groups Bleachers and Fun. She also threw in a surprisingly angelic cover of Sublime's “Doin' Time/Summertime,” in which she eschews her usual sardonic tone and reveals more of her vocal range. But never fear, “Fuck It I Love You” is appropriately swooning and sultry with her bad girl image intact, despite moments of pure sweetness, as in when she sings, “Dream a little dream of me.” “The Greatest” is more of a straightforward pop-soul number with a lovely chorus and delicate harmonies, while “hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have . . .” is a sparse and poetic ballad with a nod to Tori Amos.
12. Arctic Monkeys - AM
Fully embracing the darker direction Arctic Monkeys chose after their danceable, upbeat debut, AM is a groove-heavy rocker with strains of blues, psych and even a little hip hop, earning the band a Grammy nomination and a BRIT Award in 2014. A best seller of 2023, it is also the band's most successful album to date in the U.S.
11. The Strokes - Is This It
The Strokes' wildly successful 2001 debut sparked a revival of interest in rock n’ roll influenced by the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, paving the way for other acts like Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand and Kings of Leon. With its relatively lo-fi production and strong melodies, combined with Julian Casablancas’ disaffected lyrics about city life, the album still feels effortlessly cool twenty years later.
10. Cigarettes After Sex - Cigarettes After Sex
Cigarettes After Sex's self-titled debut stands apart from the rest of the dream-pop crowd, mostly thanks to Greg Gonzalez's up-front, feminine vocals. Another strength is the band's songwriting, which emerges from the standard, subdued and echoing sound, and will draw in fans of other genres.
9. Boygenius - The Record
At last. Boygenius, the supergroup consisting of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus, released their debut full-length, simply called the record. It's pure magic what these usually solo artists have done together, creating a collection of songs that manages to be wistful and contemplative, hard-rocking and joyful. The lyrics are smart and specific; you feel like you're getting an intimate glimpse into the artists' lives, even as the songs feel like they're tailor-made for whatever you're going through. the record is a standout, which will come as no surprise to fans of these once-in-a-lifetime artists.
SZA continues to cross-pollinate genres and defy conventions on the innovative, electrifying SOS. Often pegged as R&B, glossy/catchy enough to be considered pop, SZA's songwriting giddily toys with expectations by pulling in elements from alt-rock, hip-hop, jazz, grunge, and indie. The lyrics are clever, confident, and specific; even as it feels like we're getting a glimpse into SZA's own life, the tracks are ready to be your personal anthem. (Who, in breakup mode, hasn't hungered for a song like "I Hate U"?) SOS is more evidence that SZA is really something special in today's homogenized musical landscape.
7. Tyler, The Creator - IGOR
Tyler, the Creator’s work has always been raw but his brilliant 2019 album IGOR is raw in an entirely different way — it’s intensely emotional and vulnerable, a collection of songs that show The Creator spreading his wings into a whole new realm of lyrical and stylistic possibilities. He sings more than raps, giving voice to heartache, loss, and growth in a way that hits you in the gut when you least expect it. Tyler, the Creator produced, wrote, and arranged all the tracks on this must-hear record; it’s a major evolution for the artist and it's no surpise it remains a top seller in 2023.
6. Kali Uchis - Red Moon In Venus
On Red Moon in Venus, Kali Uchis provides even further evidence that she's one of the most imaginative, exciting artists in contemporary pop. Uchis' sonic preoccupations on this one include burning desire, heartbreak, and divine femininity; that's reflected in the lyrics but it's also the overwhelming vibe of this intoxicating album. The songs are seductive and atmospheric, blending genre elements into a heady, potent musical potion. If your days are feeling staid and bland, this is the inspiration you'll need to paint the town red.
5. The Smiths - Hatful of Hollow
This 1983 compilation album of mostly BBC Radio 1 sessions has earned a solid place in the beloved band’s discography, and was a best seller of 2023. Tracks like "What Difference Does It Make" and "This Charming Man" were re-recorded with slight differences either as singles or album tracks on their self-titled debut in 1984.
4. Taylor Swift - Midnights
Taylor Swift released her 10th studio album in October 2022, the much-buzzed-about, easy-to-love Midnights. In her own words, the album follows Swift on a “journey through terrors and sweet dreams” over the course of “13 sleepless nights.” Once again, Jack Antonoff shares many of the co-writing and production credits, while lyrically Swift delves into some fittingly dark subject matter (self-loathing, revenge fantasies, and thinking about what might have been). On the guest appearance front, Lana Del Rey co-wrote and co-stars on the track “Snow on the Beach.” It was one of the most hotly-anticipated albums last fall and its popularity continued all the way into the end of 2023.
Weird, wild, and wonderful, MF DOOM was a true original and his 2004 album MM..Food? is a must-have hip-hop record. Experimental, hard-hitting, and filled with irresistible jazz-influenced melodies, MM..Food? is the type of album that'll change your life.
2. Lana Del Rey - Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd?
Lana Del Rey delivered another excellent slice of glamorous sunshine noir on Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd. "When's it going to be my turn? Don't forget me," she sings hauntingly on the title track, setting the stage for the album's lyrical preoccupations. Del Rey gets more personal than on her previous storytelling-focused outings here (although there are plenty of tales of moody Didion-penned starlet types here, too), as she sings of her family and what seems to be a very real rumination of wanting it all, fearing you won't get it, and then not being entirely sure you do want what you've got. Lana Del Rey's technicolor-hued tracks are always emotionally affecting but Ocean Blvd just might be some of her most impactful yet.
Despite the big-name guests like Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott, SZA is the star of her own show on her 2017 debut release. Serving up sultry melodies, impassioned lyrics, dreamy production, and confident, gorgeous vocals, the album feels like a soundtrack for late summer nights. It's no wonder it was our top selling album of 2023.
