best of TheWayWeWere Best of 2023: FINALE

December 23, 2023

I'm late to the party this year because I've spend last two weeks in Thailand, but I hope I'll be able to do everything on time :gayriahcat3:

This is my 8th 'best of' countdown (you can find here 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th (+best of decade) and 6th, 7th). As always, it's based on my last.fm scrobbling stats along with point system that reflects not only the amount of plays/scrobbles, but also chart performance in my YTT (abandoned though)

I'm gonna go with 150 singles and 50 albums :rip:

--- previous winners ---

Spoiler

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

December 23, 2023

R E C A P

[.] Honourable Mentions / Throwbacks [x]

TOP 50 ALBUMS:

39   Shania Twain | Queen of Me
40   Rita Ora | You & I
41   Kim Petras | Problématique
42   Anne-Marie | UNHEALTHY

TOP 150 SINGLES:

Edited January 5 by TheWayWeWere

December 23, 2023

So, let's start with albums and singles that were released before eligible period :gaynetcat4: and some picks that didn't make it into the main list :gaycat7:

T O P 1 0 R E C U R R E N T S I N G L E S:

T O P 1 0 R E C U R R E N T A L B U M S:

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few thoughts:

· Midnights slowly became one of my favorite Taylor records even though I wasn't impressed by it at first, I really love cozy/wintery vibes of it.
· Neon Nights is such an underrated 00s pop classic. Bop after bop. The new deluxe is pretty, but she should've included her unreleased 2nd London Records album on it.
· Ariana is the new queen of l3aks.
· I really need Lily Allen to make music again
· Whitney's biopic was...well..unneeded to say at least

Now some omissions from main list

H O N O U R A B L E M E N T I O N S

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FLO | 3 of Us - EP
While the singles they released after 'The Lead - EP' failed to express me, this little EP of droplets was somehow so good again! As someone said, "The new EP ... finds FLO modernizing old R&B songwriting and production tropes with the contemporary edge of today’s attitudes and Afrobeats, respectively". I freaking excited for their debut, I can't believe we still don't have it, after two outstanding EPs, their charisma and performing skills!

Dawn Richard | The Architect - EP
What a nice surprise at the end of the year! I'm all here for Dawn's music experiments, and this one is such a nice addition to her discography. Colorful, bouncing, layered production make this such a fascinating little tringle/EP. The bopping 'Bubblegum' is a bit an outliner here, but it's cute moment between two monumental creative songs.

Tinashe | BB/ANG3L
I love Tinashe and the start of this project seems so promising, but in the end it was so..uneventful..? Like.. album with only 7 tracks? and 20 minutes lenght? No official promises of part 2/deluxe? And the fact that these 7 tracks are not even standouts for her standards. Cute little album, but I hope she moves onto the next project in 2024.

PinkPantheress | Heaven knows
Such a nice find of this year. I really love "2000s meets drum'n'bass meets UK-garage meets 2010s hyper-pop" sound of it. Pretty diverse and interesting album, very joyful and creative, probably something I would love to hear from Charli XCX in like...2017

boygenius | the record
I'm honestly surprised how well recived this album was It's not bad, of course, it's very beatiful, poetry, powerful work. I really love how collaborative it is, how well they sound together - it's like they're always been in a band. But at the same time I found myself liking only a handful of songs and not really connecting to most of the record.

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The National, Taylor Swift | The Alcott

I really think there's some magic between Taylor and Aaron Dessner. This aching ballad with its melancholic and simple piano chords is clearly the best moment onf 'First Two Pages of Frankenstein'.

MØ | Attack of the Ghost Riders

I really love when MØ experiments with some rock elements, "True Romance" is one of her best songs ever, and this little tribute to The Raveonettes is so well-done.

Tamar Braxton | Changed

I'm so happy she's back (I hope so, at least). Confronting r&b mellow track with a great use of SWV's sample.

Noah Cyrus, Vance Joy | Everybody Needs Someone

Nice start from her latest album, while the pop-country sound is still astonishing with her voice, I also really love more hopeful view of it.

James Bay | Goodbye Never Felt So Bad

Great, summery, anthemic track, much better than a lot of his last album. Great combination of pop and his rock-ish roots.

Rob Grant, Lana Del Rey | Lost at Sea

This woman just can't do something wrong. The way she even makes her father talented somehow

Hatchie | Nosedive

This is kinda how Masochism should've sound (if it existed ) - energetic, dark, punchy, badass.

MUNA | One That Got Away

MUNA follows the formula of their self-titled album with pulsating synth beat all over this jam. Addictive, catchy, kinda repetitive - this feels like a very nice bonus to the last era.

Gorillaz, Adeleye Omotayo | Silent Running

Easily the best song from 'Cracker Island' and one of their best song in years. Magical synth, groovy and hypnotic athmosphere, catchy hook. Sounds like Daft Pank/The Weeknd track in a good way.

Demi Lovato | Still Alive
While I still think Scream VI is too overrated (we need more major kills), this pop-rock anthem was very fun and energetic way to improve it. Not iconic as "Red Right Hand", needed more "oomph", but pretty likeable.

Edited December 24, 2023 by TheWayWeWere

December 23, 2023

Wow!

Great start! :worship:

December 23, 2023

love the banner, it has vibes of those promo posters on walls and stuff, so cool!

lots of fun HMs! Pinkpantheress and Tinashe are my faves there, also shout out to Hatchie. I know that song was good but I kind of forgot about it lksjfsj

and YES midnights re-evaluation :clap3:

December 23, 2023

Anti-hero still being huge during 2023 :hawkeye:

December 23, 2023

YESS excited for yours

Tinashe in HM :clap3:

December 24, 2023

This Is Why + Anti-Hero in recurrents list :worship:

December 24, 2023

very excited :duca:

Nosedive and One That Got Away deserved a lot more

BTD in the top 10 albums :clap3:

December 24, 2023

𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢-𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 & 𝐓𝐈𝐖

December 24, 2023

the first update is here

T O P 5 0 A L B U M S

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50 ANOHNI | My Back Was a Bridge For You To Cross
"The truth is that our love will ricochet through eternity"
The reunion of Anohni and the Johnsons managed to became a stunning record with heavy lyricism and powerful messages. The arrangement on it is less captivating than on "Hopelessness", but its simplicity helps to showcase magical vocals of Anohni and soften her sound. Very soulful and tragically beautiful.
highlights: Scapegoat, Can't, It Must Change, Sliver of Ice

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49 Bree Runway | WOAH, WHAT A BLUR! - EP
"Why the hell Gaultier send me **** from the archive?"
'This surprise release flaunts the London artist's boundless creativity' (c) NME. I know this is mostly disliked by her fans, but I actually enjoyed this more than any of her releases, this small EP provides both her experimental stuff with some really good pop productions. Wish it was expanded more.
highlights: ARCHIVE MAMI, FWMM, THAT GIRL

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48 ALMA | Time Machine
"Is there any place for all? Somewhere we can all fit?"
'Time Machine is the record of an artist searching for greater meaning but at the cost of fun' (c) TheGuardian. I still can't believe how she writes some of the best pop songs out there for other artists, but can't make a good work of art for herself. 'While the album touches on a lot of heavy topics, the music remains lighthearted which for the most part seems to wash away some of the seriousness' (c) TheLineOfBestFit. I feel myself that the biggest problem with this album is how you never feel her energy like we did on her debut mixtape.
highlights: One In A Million, Summer Really Hurt Us, I Forgive Me, I Will Survive

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47 Cher | Christmas
"Hey, are you ready to roll? From L.A. to the North Pole"
I love some good christmas music, so I was pretty happy with Cher's album announcement. But despite her fun, flashy, camp persona, album was somewhat... boring? I wish she'd go more into original christmas song routine or, at least, make some fresh arrangements for good ol' covers (for example, her '99 rendition of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" sound much better than the new one). The new songs are amazing, but covers drag this album down for me. Probably the most surprising thing is how good Cher and Cyndi sound together, their two duets here is easily the best songs from album.
highlights: Angels in the Snow, Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart, Drop Top Sleigh Ride, Christmas Ain't Christmas Without You

T O P 1 5 0 S I N G L E S

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150 Timbaland, Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake | Keep Going Up
"I'm no longer settlin', I'm upgradin'"
I hope Nelly stays away from those sh!tty people now with GI2M sequel exist It's cute bawp, but lies nowhere close to anything Timba done in 2006-2007.

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149 Tinashe | Talk to Me Nice
"Come get me laid, sing me lullabies"
I really love more dark sound of hers, it's so mellow, vibey, some kind of "bedroom r&b".

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148 Shygirl, Tinashe | Heaven
" I know we broke up, I still don't feel free"
Another thing I love Tinashe for - is her dance roots, her unique whisper vocals elevates this song to some ethereal level. Really cute short bop.

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147 London Grammar, Sebastian | Dancing By Night
"I know I always seem to make the same mistakes"
While I feel like Hannah's heavenly voice is made for dance music, this rendition of old outtake is kinda... just okay? It's beautiful, etherical, but otherwise kinda misses any "oomph". Nice addition to their remixes project though.

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146 Sophie Ellis-Bextor | Everything Is Sweet
"Take me to a place enchanted, take me to a heavenly fortress"
Probably one of her best songs in years and years. "...this latest single ... is a stellar piece of work that builds, builds and breaks down the shimmering electropop she has championed. Sincerity and sadness push through in equal measure, flowing across the heavy-set synth charms and hidden strengths Ellis-Bextor pieces together" (c) CultFollowing.

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145 Alison Goldfrapp | So Hard So Hot
"Do you know how stars were made?"
Whew..This is one of those times when song's title speaks for the song itself. This is so pure, sexy, groovy, , funky, dreamy! That punching ending alone

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144 Hailee Steinfeld | SunKissing
"I had a dream that we were underwater drowning in us"
This gurl... Like, releasing one cute bop per 1-2 year is not gonna make your music career This is one is very cute, summery, upbeat, extremely catchy. Her career on the other side...

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143 Madison Beer | Home to Another One
"Say you hate me - it's okay, boy, you're not the only one"
I just can't believe she released probably the best and the boppest song of her career only to follow with an album full of boring monotonous ballads Madison, sis..

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142 Miguel | Give It To Me
"I can ease your tension tonight"
I hate how tiktok's success of "Sure Thing" killed any hype for his new music This is gorgeous, I really love hypnotic production and especially some guitar elements here and there.

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141 ALMA | Tell Mama
"Don't waste your time, just wipe your tears away"
This is pretty cute pop bawp to all the mothers out there.

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140 Ellie Goulding | Like a Saviour
"Electric feelings keep me dreaming"
Cute europop bop, a bit of "Blinding Lights" shadow, but overall nice mix of pop/dance/drum/bass and etc. Probably one of the least favorites from HTH singles.

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139 boygenius | Not Strong Enough
"Always an angel, never a god"
'This song is fuckboy-genius' (c) boygenius

December 24, 2023

Interesting set :clap3:

December 24, 2023

loveeeeee the original Heaven but I don’t like the production on the new one :mandown:

I fully agree about the Madison writeup, the album was cute but HTAO was the standout by far!

Taylor, Caroline, SZA and Paramore for recurrent :heart:

December 24, 2023

Not Strong Enough + Like A Saviour + Keep Going Up :heart2:

December 25, 2023

Like a Saviour :katie2:

December 25, 2023

Happy to see Christmas here, I thought it was very enjoyable tbh, and I love how dancey it was :clap3:

Everything Is Sweet and So Hard So Hot are GEMS :clap3:

Like a Saviour is cute

December 25, 2023

Talk to Me Nice :clap3: it's so low though :noparty:

talking about Miguel, i just realized where is his new album? he was dropping snippets on youtube that i liked + singles that i ~~forgot about~~ liked

December 25, 2023

Finally you're BACK ~~from Thailand~~

My Back Was a Bridge is one of my favorite album this year :clap3: The Bree Runway Ep is cute, but I really need a full-length album as soon as possible

Talk To Me Nice, Everything Is Sweet, Give It To Me, Like a Saviour & Not Strong Enough are bops

i kinda forgot Dawn Richard released new music this year Let me tune in real quick!

December 25, 2023

Not Strong Enough :worship: One of the best songs of 2023.

December 25, 2023

thanks y'all for comments

T O P 5 0 A L B U M S

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46 Christine and the Queens | Redcar les adorables étoiles (prologue)
"What is still alive? Is this demential drive?"
While I usually love his more experimental side, this album never touched me the way I expected to. 'For all of its angels and prophecies and mid-century decadence, what we are left with is a very quiet collection of songs with all the weight of ephemera' (c) Pitchfork.
highlights: Looking for love, Ma bien aimée bye bye, rien dire, Combien de temps

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45 Yuna | Y5
"I've never love somebody so much it hurts inside"
First of all I hate when artists release albums in parts or anything It makes such a frustrating experience in the end. Second of all, while she released this album in five parts - it feels like it was the same part all over again. Instead of exploring maybe different genres or sounds it feels like too long and too boring record. Far from her best works, but not without some really great gems.
highlights: Can't Get Over You, Cigarette, Don't Wanna Know, Make a Move

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44 Låpsley | Cautionary Tales of Youth
"Are you lonely? are you hurting? Is your sleep light?"
Her third album is probably the easiest to find access to. It's mostly leaned on pop/r&b sound with her usual vulnerability in her lyrics. 'It’s a personal collection that unfolds with each listen, revealing new intricacies – lyrical, instrumental and contextual – while finding beauty and balance in the quieter moments' (c) NME. I love that she finds some light and happiness through the dark times.
highlights: 32 Floors, Dial Two Seven, Levitate, Smoke and Fire

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43 V V Brown | Am I British Yet?
"You leave me on the side to die, but dance upon my harmony"
I can't believe she's finally back. I would be happy if she continues more electronic sound of S&D or Glitch, but even with this, kinda political record, she shines through. I really love production of it and variety of genres she tries here. And while I don't really like all of the spoken word interludes, I understand for what purpose she put them in. 'She succeeds in channelling her anger, sadness and defiance, all the while conveying gratitude for the richness of her Caribbean roots' (c) The Observer
highlights: Black British, No Fear, Twisted, History

T O P 1 5 0 S I N G L E S

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138 Róisín Murphy | You Knew
"Your mere reactions, I take actions"
I'm not gonna talk about her questionable twitter remarks and everything - we're here to discuss the music. And she kinda just proves she's kinda incapable to do bad music - this collab with DJ Koze is pure producing masterpiece, I really love how they adopt underground club and kinda weird sound here and make it dope.

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137 Mylène Farmer, Aaron | Rayon vert
"Rien, rien, rien , rien d'immortel"
Delightfully great collab, I don't really like most of her duets, but this one works so well. I really like minimal bassline production, it gives the song mostly dark vibe and interpolating some mid80s sound.

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136 Róisín Murphy | CooCool
"That ol' magic is back"
A perfect transition of disco-leaned Roisin Machine into more laidback sound of Hit Parade. Very summery, vibey, lightful, bright, old school love song.

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135 Cher | DJ Play a Christmas Song
"I wanna be dancing all night long"
This woman is freaking fantastic. I can't believe she just created such a perfect classic christmas song in her 70s. Absolute banger - both nostalgic, warm, cozy and christmassy in a good way.

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134 Anne-Marie | Trainwreck
"I know you hope I'm cryin', but I'm doin' just fine"
Low-key the second best song from the album (after the title track) - I think this is the closest she came with some great pop hooks here, earwormy chorus, jarring lyrics - good result in the end.

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133 Taylor Swift | Karma
"Karma's gonna track you down"
I'm still mad she choose this song as a single when Midnights has like a ton of better songs And that Ice Spice remix...welp...

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132 Christine and the Queens | A day in the water
"Do you want to feel the sun from underwater?"
Wow, this song feels like a glass, so fragile, tender, intimate.

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131 Julia Michaels | Sorry to Me Too
"I'm havin' so much trouble gettin' over you"
I may sound a bit cruel, but I feel like she's at her best when she writes about heartbreak/break-ups and etc 'While Julia’s newest single is essentially an analysis of a breakup; it is the song’s over tone that showcases her creative leap, leaning into a beat that’s consistent and driven by danceable underlying instrumentals' (c) CelebMix

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130 Doja Cat | Demons
"I'm a puppet, I'm a sheep, I'm a cash cow"
This is freaking epic and iconic in some way. I really love the energy on this, and video/single artwork is crazy amazing in any way possible.

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129 Britney Spears, will.i.am | Mind Your Business
"Wesh iya, wesh iya, wesh iya, wesh iya, weshee ya"
Drag me but this is my guilty pleasure bop of the year I really like how nonsense lyrics are and overall over-the-top and kitsch athmosphere of it.

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128 Emeli Sandé | How Were We To Know
"I won't think about it 'cause I don't know how to handle this ****"
I love how even without commercial success Emeli never stops to release some quality pop music. Title track from her new album is one of her best in years. 'It offers a raw and uncut – though self-reflective and soft-hearted – perspective of a seemingly fractured, broken-down relationship, whilst showcasing the breathtaking vocal prowess that Sandé possesses' (c) YorkCalling

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127 Fall Out Boy | Love From the Other Side
"What would you trade the pain for?"
I can't believe they finally released great music it's been a while I think it's good they finally decided to cintribute in a pop punk revival. 'This return to their late 2000s sound doesn’t appear to be a throwback, but a continuation of what could have happened if they hadn’t taken a hiatus' (c) TheEdge

December 25, 2023

7 hours ago, Kiss It Better said:

talking about Miguel, i just realized where is his new album? he was dropping snippets on youtube that i liked + singles that i ~~forgot about~~ liked

I just can't how he wasted any hype of Sure Thing and his extremal performance :deadbanana2:

December 25, 2023

DJ Play a Masterpiece :clap3:

Karma is cute

December 26, 2023

The way i enjoy Redcar les adorables more than his new album :dies:

DJ Play a Christmas Song, Karma & Demons are bops :jonny: Mind Your Business is also my guilty pleasure too. There's something messy about it that makes me love :dies:

December 26, 2023

Keep Going Up + Needs + heaven + Sunkissing + Home to another one + like a savior :clap3:

trainwreck + karma + love from the other side :worship:

December 26, 2023

not Yuna making this year's list :dies: it was such a nice album and has some gems but agreed with OP, her slicing it into 5 EPs was not the serve she thinks it is

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