The AllMusic 2023

Year
In
Review

These are our favorite blues albums of 2023, including rave-ups from relative newcomers Christone "Kingfish" Ingram (pictured) and Nat Myers, and releases from blues stalwarts Joe Louis Walker, Bobby Rush, and Taj Mahal.

All My Love for You

Bobby Rush

All My Love for You

An unusually amiable and sunny record by the reigning king of the blues.

Ain't Giving Up

Chris Duarte

Ain't Giving Up

A house-rocking collection of boogies, shuffles, and ravers that keeps the focus on the songs.

Live in London

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram

Live in London

The young blues guitar king delivers a polished, incendiary set of performances with his quartet, offering old and new songs, and a cover.

Writing on the Wall

Coco Montoya

Writing on the Wall

The celebrated blues guitarist's first album in four years finds him using his road band in the studio to excellent result.

Ridin'

Eric Bibb

Ridin'

The American bluesman follows 2021's Dear America with a related collection of songs about struggle, family, and freedom.

The Deep and the Dirty

Eric Johanson

The Deep and the Dirty

A sharply-honed, muscled, and varied collection of contemporary blues-rock.

Peace... Like a River

Gov't Mule

Peace... Like a River

Recorded at the same time as 2021's Heavy Load Blues, this set, composed entirely of originals, channels the band's '70s influences.

Death Wish Blues

Jesse Dayton / Samantha Fish

Death Wish Blues

The guitar slingers, a studio band, and producer Jon Spencer deliver a set of originals crisscrossing garage blues, punk, funk, and more.

Blues Deluxe, Vol. 2

Joe Bonamassa

Blues Deluxe, Vol. 2

The guitar slinger celebrates the 20th anniversary of his first all-blues album by showing off how much he's grown in the last two decades.

Weight of the World

Joe Louis Walker

Weight of the World

A vigorous exploration of a variety of soul-blues styles.

Yellow Peril

Nat Myers

Yellow Peril

Hard luck, trouble, and some witty contemplation of prejudice from this Korean-American blues phenom.

Exorcist

Selwyn Birchwood

Exorcist

The Florida-based bluesman and his exceptional band offer striking new contexts for American blues.

Savoy

Taj Mahal

Savoy

With his old friend, producer John Simon, the great bluesman delivers a collection of finger-popping covers evoking the famed ballroom's greatest era.

Oscar's Motel

The Cash Box Kings

Oscar's Motel

A lively, witty collection of retro-styled Chicago blues that seems fresh and modern.

Life Don't Miss Nobody

Tracy Nelson

Life Don't Miss Nobody

The iconic American roots singer returns from a decade-long break to deliver a powerhouse set of standards, covers, and originals.

Shake That Thing: The Blues in Britain 1963-1973

Various Artists

Shake That Thing: The Blues in Britain 1963-1973

This Cherry Red collection traces the evolution and influence of the British blues as they birthed the template for classic rock.

Tell Everybody! 21st Century Juke Joint Blues From Easy Eye Sound

Various Artists

Tell Everybody! 21st Century Juke Joint Blues From Easy Eye Sound

12-track collection of veteran and younger artists digging deep into various strains of blues, ancient and future.

artist image
Taj Mahal