Twangville’s 2023 Favorites are…

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Weathervanes

The Twangville pick for Best New Album of 2023 is Weathervanes by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit. This list combines best of year picks from our Twangville critics plus the Readers’ Picks which you helped us create from our polls throughout the year. Congrats to all the finalists. Bring on 2024!

Official Twangville Top 50 of 2023:

01. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Weathervanes (186)
02. Tyler Childers – Rustin’ in the Rain (88)
03. Lucero – Should’ve Learned By Now (72)
04. Hiss Golden Messenger – Jump for Joy (71)
04. Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives – Altitude (71)
06. Wilco – Cousin (70)
07. Margo Price – Strays (I & II) (69)
08. Colter Wall – Little Songs (65)
09. Eilen Jewell – Get Behind the Wheel (58)
10. Gregory Alan Isakov – Appaloosa Bones (55)
10. Lydia Loveless – Nothing’s Gonna Stand in My Way Again (55)
10. Turnpike Troubadours – A Cat in the Rain (55)
13. The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds (52)
14. Parker Millsap – Wilderness Within You (51)
15. Robbie Fulks – Bluegrass Vacation (49)
16. Lori McKenna – 1988 (47)
17. Lukas Nelson & Promises of the Real – Sticks and Stones (46)
18. Drayton Farley – Twenty on High (45)
19. Chris Stapleton – Higher (44)
20. Slaid Cleaves – Together Through the Dark (38)
21. Jenny Lewis – Joy’all (34)
21. The Wood Brothers – Heart is the Hero (34)
23. Allison Russell – The Returner (32)
23. Brent Cobb – Southern Star (32)
25. Buddy and Julie Miller – In the Throes (31)
26. Jaimee Harris – Boomerang Town (29)
26. Luther Dickinson – Magic Music for Family Folk (29)
28. Taj Mahal – Savoy (28)
28. Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan (28)
30. Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – City of Gold (27)
31. John R. Miller – Heat Comes Down (26)
31. Neil Young – Chrome Dreams (26)
33. Sufjan Stevens – Javelin (25)
33. The Band of Heathens – Simple Things (25)
35. Dylan LeBlanc – Coyote (24)
35. Robert Ellis – Yesterday’s News (24)
35. Shinyribs – Transit Damage (24)
38. Andrew Kirell – Torch Songs (23)
38. Briane Dunne – Loser on the Ropes (23)
38. Eric Bibb – Ridin’ (23)
38. Nickel Creek – Celebrants (23)
42. Ben de la Cour – Sweet Anhedonia (22)
42. Iris DeMent – Workin’ on a World (22)
42. Jason Eady – Mississippi (22)
42. Ryan Adams – Return to Carnegie Hall (22)
46. Larry & Joe – Nuevo South Train (21)
46. Margo Cilker – Valley of Heart’s Delight (21)
46. William Prince – Stand in the Joy (21)
46. The Paper Kites – At the Roadhouse (21)
50. Brennan Leigh – Ain’t Through Honky Tonkin’ Yet (20)
50. Charles Wesley Godwin – Family Ties (20)
50. Joanna Connor – Best of Me (20)
50. Son Volt – Day of the Doug (20)

Additional Twangville Best of 2023 lists:

Twangville Hall of Fame

Finally to celebrate our 18th year, the Twangville Hall of Fame. Here’s our #1 picks starting from 2005.

2023: JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, Weathervanes
2022: WILCO, Cruel Country
2021: JAMES MCMURTRY, The Horses and the Hounds
2020: JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, Reunions
2019: JOSH RITTER, Fever Breaks
2018: BRANDI CARLILE, By The Way, I Forgive You
2017: JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, The Nashville Sound
2016: LYDIA LOVELESS, Real
2015: JASON ISBELL, Something More Than Free
2014: JOE FLETCHER, You’ve Got The Wrong Man
2013: JASON ISBELL, Southeastern
2012: I SEE HAWKS IN L.A., New Kind of Lonely
2011: JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, Here We Rest
2010: JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, Harlem River Blues
2009: LUCERO, 1372 Overton Park
2008: DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark & THE HOLD STEADY, Stay Positive (tie)
2007: JASON ISBELL, Sirens of The Ditch
2006: JACKIE GREENE, American Myth
2005: KATHLEEN EDWARDS, Back to Me

We hope you’ll follow us for more music reviews, interviews, and playlists throughout the year. Be sure and vote for your favorites in our Readers’ poll every week.

About the author: Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.