It’s the most wonderful time of the year—end-of-year list season! Here is my annual contribution to my favorite topic—music. This post will detail my Top 10 favorite faith based albums of 2023 and why I liked them.
As always, when listening to music I’m looking for songs and albums to take me to that place of longing for home—where heaven and earth are close. Celtic Christians called it Thin Places, the German word for it is Sehnsucht, but ultimately it is the bearing out that nothing in this world will truly satisfy. Music is powerful and music most often takes me there.
So perhaps it is through the notes strung together or the lyrical phrases pieced together, but these albums and songs are the ones that did it for me in 2023. I was looking for warmth this year, and the higher on the list (especially in the Top 3) the more I found it in spades.
It’s been a really strong year for music, so let’s get to it!
10. Lauren Daigle – Self Titled
4 Stars
Confusing release strategy aside this jazz-infused pop album is top-notch. She’s still at the top of her game with this 23 track epic.
Top Tracks: “New” “Thank God I Do” “Waiting” “These Are the Days” and “Be Okay.”
9. Colony House – Cannonballers
4 Stars
Cannonballers released early in the year, but though it slipped down in my rankings due to other albums I enjoyed more, I stuck with it all year. There’s some surf-rock elements thrown into their typical pop rock aesthetic and it adds a nice twist.
Top Tracks: “Landlocked Surf Rock” “One of Those Days” “Would Ya, Could Ya” “Trying to Survive” and “Man on the Run”
8. Sam Hauge – Out of Isolation
4 Stars
One man punk artist/band Sam Hauge went a dropped a fire indie record in 2023 that everyone should give a listen. The Jesusfreakhideout staff #2 AOTY is a prime example that independent music has made up any gap in quality that once existed. Out of Isolation is terrific and worthy of all the praise being heaped on it just critics and fans alike.
Top Tracks: “Going in Circles” “Throw Me to the Wolves” and “Under a Spell”
7. Peabod – Play!
4.5 Stars
I had to keep coming back to this record as a whole set of songs (after 8 singles prior to its release) to acclimate to the sequencing and dig deeper into the lyrics. It was worth the effort delivering a much needed dose of delight and joy to each listen. Isaac is in fine form as he sets out on the indie musicians journey. There’s more singing than normal, but he nails that too.
Top Tracks: “Start a Band” “Press Play” “Deep Cuts” “Pink Lemonade” and “Lifetime Supply.”
Peabod interviewed on the JFH Podcast Episode 199.
6. Dave Barnes – Featherbrained Wealth Motel
4.5 Stars
I enjoyed writing the review for this quirky album so I’ll just quote myself here:
“Dave Barnes is a six-layer dip of a man. (That’s not an insult.) Meaning, like a certain green and reluctant hero, he has layers. Musician? Of course. Stand-up comedian? Let’s just say he can’t stand sitting down. Song crafter for a who’s-who of Nashville artists? Yup. Podcaster? Check. Hand model? Well, let’s not go too far. His newest album, the curiously titled Featherbrained Wealth Motel is the result of his fascinating experiment in stretching his established guy and guitar pop stylings. Realizing that his familiarity with the iconic Beatles catalog wasn’t strong, Barnes dedicated an entire year to listening through their discography just to see how they would influence his music.”
Featherbrained Wealth Motel Review
5. Cory Asbury – Pioneer
4 Stars
Pioneer was such a pleasant surprise to me in 2023. Eschewing his more congregational worship leanings for a relationship Americana/country record was bold and it pays off. Several of these tracks bring out the waterworks in me.
Top Tracks: “Pioneer” “The Promise is the Same” “My Inheritance” “These Are the Days” and “Kind.”
4. Chase Tremaine – Accidental Days
4.5 Stars
Full disclosure: Chase is a friend, we podcast together semi-regularly, we’ve hung out in person, I’ve seen him perform a house show…and be that as it may, Accidental Days isn’t on this list for any of those reasons. Truly. This pop/rock gem is Chase hitting another gear as he keeps getting better with each independent release. I’ve listened to this one a ton this year.
Top Tracks: “Middle of My Words” “Tired Side of Content” “Settled in the Unsettled” “Choose” and “New Creation Gray”
Full Review of Accidental Days
3. Tow’rs – Joy Alchemy
4.5 Stars
Maybe I’ll get around to writing a review for this one (Narrator: “He finally did”), but it’s certainly not for any lack of love for Joy Alchemy. This is the first of three records that each hit every requirement for my more recent listening ear. 1. Warmth 2. Lyrical Meat/Poetry 3. Vibe 4. Repeat listenability.
Previously unknown to me, this husband-and-wife-centered band drips with authenticity and depth. It begs for repeat listens and delivers something new each time. Recorded live it has all the feel of an intimate house show.
Top Tracks: “Forgone” “Uncertainty” “Bakers Dozen” “Orion” and “Southern Facing Room”
2. Jon Guerra – Ordinary Ways
4.5 Stars
“Guerra avoids trying to match the grandiose moments of Keeper of Days,opting to allow Ordinary Ways to describe the mundane majesty of everyday life. While its predecessor was full of big moments and some righteous anger over injustice, Guerra seems more preoccupied with beautiful simplicity this time around. He hasn’t exhausted his questions by any stretch, but asks them with an earnest longing while maintaining a hopeful reverence that God’s ways are not his ways.”
Top Tracks: “Let a Little Light In” “Nazareth” “How Long” Like You, Lord” “Thank You, Lord”
1. The Arcadian Wild – Welcome
5 Stars
“Welcome is everything that I have come to love about music over the years: it’s warm, vocally enthralling, musically riveting, and lyrically poignant. It is without a doubt the kind of record that keeps unveiling greater depth and nuance to appreciate with repeat listens.”
That’s it’s! What were your favorites of 2023?! Let me know in the comments!
Other posts you may enjoy:
Jukebox Junkie’s Top 20 Albums of 2023
Jesusfreakhideout 2023 Top 10 Album & Song Lists
Happy listening!
Josh
Thanks for the interesting list. Here’s my pick for 2023 – Pure by Abbie Gamboa