2023 flew by, but it was another excellent year for alternative music. Rife with releases from veterans (blink-182, Paramore, Fall Out Boy) and buzzy new acts (Drain, Militarie Gun, Scowl) alike, there were also a ton of albums that went under the radar. Given that it’s the end of the year, we asked our readers to vote on the most underrated albums of 2023, and they fired back with a slew of titles that will keep us busy until the next couple of months.
Read more: 50 best albums of 2023
From Taking Back Sunday to Pierce the Veil, find the top fan picks ranked below.
5. Taking Back Sunday – 152
Taking Back Sunday’s latest album, 152, tops off a joyful year. Between surprise backyard shows on their home turf and headlining Sad Summer, the Long Island crew are still kicking and influencing the people around them. Named after the exit where the band and their friends would convene as teenagers before shows, their new record reflects a greater maturity and emotional depth. From “Keep Going,” a driving anthem about betrayal, to sweet love songs like “The One,” 152 is another bonafide great in Taking Back Sunday’s catalog.
4. Story of the Year – Tear Me to Pieces
Story of the Year made a lasting mark on pop punk with their debut album, Page Avenue. Twenty years later, their latest full-length, Tear Me to Pieces, offers similar dramatics that fit right in with those songs. The band clearly know how to write an anthem that will last, like the anxiety-riddled title track that opens with Dan Marsala’s pleads and transitions into a seamless breakdown. None of the album’s songs ever linger too long, but they all offer a nostalgic warmth that makes adulthood feel surreal.
3. Polaris – Fatalism
Polaris’ third studio album, Fatalism, was informed by not only the turmoil that consumed the world over the past few years but also the overwhelming grief that comes with losing a loved one. Marking their final project with lead guitarist Ryan Siew, who passed away in June, the album’s songs, like “Nightmare” and “Aftertouch,” took on new meanings. Needless to say, the Australian metalcore crew pushed themselves to the brink, offering a heaviness that resonates both sonically and emotionally.
2. Trophy Eyes – Suicide and Sunshine
Trophy Eyes ushered in a new era with Suicide and Sunshine. Centering on frontman John Floreani losing his best friend to suicide, the album is deep and unrelentingly vulnerable. “Life in Slow Motion” is a tear-jerker, while “What Hurts the Most” demonstrates the band’s ability to pair sad lyrics against buoyant instrumentals. Floreani’s songwriting chops shine as well — lyrics that will rock anyone who’s experienced deep loss. The result is their most frank and impassioned batch of songs in years.
1. Pierce the Veil – The Jaws of Life
The Jaws of Life, Pierce the Veil’s first proper album in seven years, sees them return with a brand-new perspective. While the album will certainly appeal to fans of their classic work (think Selfish Machines and Collide with the Sky), the band have also grown up considerably. Perhaps that’s why they reach for different genres, like alt-pop and ’90s rock, to complement frontman Vic Fuentes’ impressive vocal range. It culminates in a wildly catchy mix that will satiate oldheads and captivate new ears.
