Our Top Songs of 2023: #100 - #51 Feat Strawberry Fuzz, Feist, All Time Low, Fall Out Boy, The Maine, Darlingside, Cold War Kids, Boys Like Girls, The Gaslight Anthem, Low Coast, Frances Luke Accord & more!
And so we�ve come to the final list of the year, following our Top EPs and Top Albums; Our Top Songs of 2023. There was such a avalanche great songs this year, so many that felt essential to 2023 that it was a vicious struggle trying to choose what to include. We had incredible new/�new� tracks from two of the greatest rock bands of all time, powerful numbers by incredible Americana songwriters, incisive bangers from rap gods, pop-punk anthems, gems from rising singer-songwriters�everyone and their mother seemed to drop a worthy song or two this year.
In past years, I�ve done what I can to keep the list to 50 songs, but with a list of over 200 songs to choose from, it felt like only focusing on 50 would be a disservice. So, this year I am counting down my Top 100 Songs of 2023. Today, we�re sharing numbers 100 � 51, with the top 50 dropping tomorrow.
As mentioned in the Top EPs and Top Albums list, we range our lists from Dec 2022 � Nov 2023, so anything released Dec 2023 will be countered towards next year. Without further ado, here are our Top Songs of 2023!
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100. Dub Pistols � Nah Give It Up
UK dub/ska group�s toast-worthy jam is a horn-laden, rock steady delight.
99. Sam Barber � Ghost Town
Rising country songwriter�s dives into the cultural divides destroying the dream of small town American life.
98. Noah Gundersen � Swim
Gundersen�s moving track tackles depression, hardship and desire with an impeccable grace on this stunning track.
97. Zach Bryan � East Side of Sorrow
A highlight from the prolific super-star�s fantastic self-titled album.
96. Augustana � Something Beautiful
The kind of devastatingly beautiful pop rock that doesn�t get written nearly enough anymore.
95. Sunliner � First Against The Wall
Ragged and rebellious punk rock of the highest degree.
94. Sincere Engineer � Inside My Head
A song for anyone searching for their will to live, and not finding it the one place it needs to be.
93. Blood Ceremony � The Hellfire Club
A throwback to 70�s Sabbath with some unexpected jazz flute thrown in for an extra dose of psychedelic fun.
92. Green Day � Look Ma, No Brains!
Green Day haven�t sounded as gloriously snotty as they do here in decades. A throwback to their pop-punk best.
91. Keturah � Kwanumkwanu
Euphoric Afrofolk from the Malawian singer with a lovely, sunny guitar line.
90. Genesis Owusu � Tied Up!
The kind of funky, genre-bending jam that can get all tribes out on the dance floor.
89. Bleachers � Modern Girl
An E-Street worthy party jam from one of the busiest guys in the music biz.
88. Roselit Bone � Ofrenda
Gothic country rock meets rockabilly meets Mexican ranchera music to form a stately, swelling ballad about accepting the acceptance of death.
87. The Menzingers � Hope is a Dangerous Little Thing
These Philly punks leave it all on the floor for this heart-baring mid-tempo sing along.
86. L.S. Dunes � Grey Veins
With one line (�I don�t wanna to kill time like it doesn�t matter�), this emo-veteran supergroup tears apathy and indifference to shreds.
85. Somebody�s Child � Jungle
Irish rocker goes deep for this tribal Britpop banger.
84. New Found Glory � Watch the Lilies Grow
Inspired by guitarist Chad Gilbert�s battle with cancer, the pop-punk vets write one of the tenderest ballads about the potential of not watching your child grow up.
83. Matt Andersen � Only an Island
Andersen writes his own classic romantic soul ballad that will raise glasses to the air and tears to the ground.
82. Stephen Kellogg � It Goes Fast
A heartfelt folk reminder about appreciating all the moments in life.
81. Militarie Gun � Never Fucked Up Once
In less than two and a half minutes, this L.A. band proves why they were one of the most buzzed about punk rock bands of the year.
80. Drayton Farley � Norfolk Blues
Farley perfectly captures the real struggle of the modern working man in this stark alt. country number.
79. Alma Mater � Fading Moon
Swooning acoustic alt-pop from new Oregon-based duo.
78. Peter Gabriel � Olive Tree (Bright-Side Mix)
The alternative music legend sounds as vibrant as ever on this sunny, musical extravaganza.
77. We Are Scientists � Human Resources
Indie rockers embrace synths for this new catchy, enigmatic bop.
76. Letdown. � Crying in the Shower
Blake Coddington takes lines like �I�m running out of porn stars and highs that I can chase� and makes them sound like a desperate cry for help in this emotional rocker.
75. The Lowlies � Simple Reminder
Folk group writes the perfect Covid aftermath song; �It sure does feel good to be outside again.�
74. Levi Turner � Drunk Driving Airplanes
Sorrowful, haunting Americana from one of the first signees to Zach Bryan�s label.
73. The Luka State � Matter of Fact
The kind of straight-forward, melodic rock n� roll not many new bands are making anymore (at least not this well).
72. Ben Folds � Exhausting Lover
The piano rocker writes a story of a regretful affair in the comical, painfully honest way only he could.
71. Belle and Sebastian � I Don�t Know What You See In Me
Ebullient, bubbly twee-pop from one of Scotland�s national treasures.
70. Now More Than Ever � Don�t Rush, Don�t Wait
Tyson Ritter�s (All-American Rejects) new band writes a perfect motivator for going after a perfect girl, who �lights her cigarette, just like Joan Jett�.
69. Stroke 9 � Waves
They ay have been relegated to one-hit wonder status, but these 90�s alt veterans can still write a jam like it was still 1999.
68. Arkells � Laundry Pile
The Canadian pop-rockers hit home with another somber number reaching out to a distraught lover.
67. Wax Owls � Start Again
L.A. folk rockers �see �em all come running� towards the stage with this new harmony-laden hymn.
66. Dessa � Long Wave
A pining psalm of lost connection that is one more worthy notch in the formidable rapper/singer/songwriter�s list of musical belt.
65. Housewife � Fuck Around Phase
An upstart anthem for being a young, snotty asshole with no fucks to give.
64. David Garza � Rock & Roll Heart
Garza name-drops Nipsey Hustle, Kobe Bryant and Van Morrison in this look at modern times and introspective recalling of his own musical journey.
63. The Carolyn � LBB
�My knees were weak when you needed me� is the kind of shame-filled admission that cuts so deeply, it makes sense why the song is under 2 minutes � any more would just be extra fat.
62. Frances Luke Accord � Saint Mary
Indelible, warm harmonies perfect for a Fall in the woods or Spring on the plains. Folk for all seasons.
61. Low Coast � Hard to Believe
Indie emo band calls out the hypocrisy of the right (�We�re putting our guns and borders in front of our sons and daughters�) while pondering our state as a people in 2023.
60. The Gaslight Anthem � Little Fires
A fiery return to form from the reunited Jersey rockers. This one fires on all cylinders.
59. Boys Like Girls � Language
Another welcome reunion this year was from this early 00�s pop-punk group, who have taken a cue from their frontman�s Night Game project to add some 80�s stadium pomp to their catchy punk tunes.
58. Cold War Kids � Double Life
The Long Beach alternative rockers are �trying to get a grip for all eternity� on this rousing, gender-fluid track from their fantastic new album.
57. Darlingside � Right Friend
The folk group once again uses impeccable harmonizing to make this ode to a friend one of the most comforting sounding tracks of the year.
56. The Maine � How to Exit a Room
The Arizona band continue their hot streak with this stylish, 80�s-inflected song that disguises its narrator�s social anxiety behind glossy hooks.
55. The Penske File � Chorus Girl
A classic power-pop ode to a classic-rock loving girl from this snappy Canadian band.
54. Fall Out Boy � Fake Out
The pop punk vets show they haven�t lost their knack for quick, witty earworms over the last twenty years.
53. All Time Low � Tell Me I�m Alive
�I�m messy, I�m reckless, I fuck shit up for breakfast�. If you haven�t related to this before, ATL�s latest banger will make you feel it as it rallies you to pick yourself up out of the gutter.
52. Feist � Borrowed Trouble
The Canadian alt-pop chanteuse returns after a long hiatus with his subtly powerful chamber pop that baits someone asking for trouble; �I�ll take all of it that you�ve got to give�.
51. Strawberry Fuzz � East of the 405
These Los Angeles scuzz punks write a song that anyone who lives in the city will instantly appreciate in our traffic-heavy city.
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Want to find out what our Top 50 songs are? Come back tomorrow for that list, and listen to these first fifty in our Top Songs of 2023 Playlist!
