The 40 Best Songs of 2023
The last post of my old blog, Central Village, was a list of of the 40 best songs of 2007, posted December 18, 2007. Misery Business was #1 and no good music has been released since. Until now! Here are my 40 best songs of 2023:
40-37: The old folks still got it: I honestly didn’t think any of these guys were making worthwhile new music anymore, but these songs stopped me in my tracks this year:
Can't Believe We're Here, J. Mascis
Now and Then, The Beatles
Kisses, Slowdive
Fallout, Yo La Tengo
36-30: Blog Era, revisited: Indie Rock-ass indie rock that, for one reason or another, would have felt at home on Central Village back in the day:
Too Young to Die, M. Ward and First Aid Kit
Over, Chvrches
Alive, Bakar!
Youth+, Jean Dawson
That's Physics, Baby, Pool Kids
Highlands, Middle Kids
29-25: Local Kids Do Good: Nashville artists that got my attention. Mostly credit 91.1 WNXP and Lightning 100 for the tips:
Lose You, Bully ft. Soccer Mommy
The Weakness, Ruston Kelly ft. Samia
I Remember Everything, Zach Bryan ft. Kacey Musgraves
If I Were a Fish, Corook ft. Oliva Barton
Thick Skull, Paramore ft. Julian Baker
Shove, Mali Velasquez
24-21 - Play it Loud: Break glass in case of emergency music.
Do it Faster, Militarie Gun
Say What You Mean, No Pressure
If You Were Still Here, Stateside
Sacrificial Participant, Better Lovers
And the top 20:
I'm Your Man, Mitski
This record came out the week my daughter was born and I fully expected it to completely own me upon release, but it was overall a bit of a letdown. This track towards the end rose to the occasion tho.
In Your Love, Tyler Childers
Love it when an artist who has a cult following and charts his own path with concept releases can also put out a timeless AAA radio single when he feels like it.
Dinah, Maple Glider
It’s on the nose but devastating nonetheless, the best Bridgers-core of 2023.
American Teenager, Ethel Cain
I knew the name and her reputation as an artist on the rise before knew this was her song I had been hearing on the radio for months. Undeniable.
Telephone, Quinn Cicala
Shout out Tilly from Home is Where, who mentioned this song in a passing Instagram story I happened to catch and click thru. Post-Country forever.
Good Good Things, Drain
One of the big winners from Spotify knowing what I like before I do, this was a fixture for months as the first track to come on after listening to something else.
Devotion, Arlo Parks
One of my most Shazammed tracks of 2023, indie radio staple.
Sullenboy, Fiddlehead
The first in a series of me picking the best track on a stacked album.
Vampire Empire, Big Thief
I find this song very funny, but it’s still an absolute banger.
Bang Bang, Momma
Excellent album last year leads into a one-off throwback single that feels like something off the Gran Turismo (1997) Soundtrack.
If You Insist, Jason Isbell
Tough to pick just one from Weathervanes but this one probably grabbed me tighter and longer than anything else on there.
Rudolph, M.J. Lenderman
Big year for Lenderman in my ears, and I resisted picking a live version of something from last year’s Boat songs that’s on Live and Loose. The release of Rudolph is what set my fandom in motion this year and deserves a nod.
Honeycomb, Daisy Jones and the Six
I didn’t love this show, and I didn’t name my daughter after this show, but this song is absolutely incredible and one of the all time great fictional band songs.
Fairlies, Grian Chatten
I was late to the Fontaines D.C. party, but they are obviously pretty great and this is a stellar extension of that sound.
Salad, Blondshell
This whole album is clever and engaging, this track is the clear standout.
Bath County, Wednesday
This is the track that set me on my Wednesday obsession, that led to an M.J. Lenderman obsession and deserves recognition.
Yes! Yes! A Thousand Times Yes!, Home Is Where
Proof of concept that if HiW wanted to take a Float On-esque pivot to mainstream indie radio rock they absolutely could.
Will Anybody Ever Love Me?, Sufjan Stevens
Tough to pick between this and “…Tired” and Running Start, this one racked up the most listens and gets the spot.
The Clutch, Palehound
Close to a perfect 2023 song.
Not Strong Enough, Boygenius
This will likely be remembered as the year of Boygenius, and this is the best song on arguably the best album of the year.
Spotify Playlist here. Merry Christmas!