My 100 Favorite Songs of 2023
Welcome to the 16th year of this Top 100 list. It’s hard to remember back to when I first started these but I’m pretty sure, like anything else you practice for a long time, it’s a skill I’ve become far stronger at over time. Like any collector, I’m on the hunt for things I haven’t heard without even noticing it — Shazaming songs in restaurants, shaping conversations into soliciting recommendations from others. The result was a short list of 462 songs that made the short list and turned into this final take.
Like cooking your favorite dish, each version has a slightly different flavor ever though you don’t intend for that to be the outcome. This year seemed to me to be both more punk-y and more country rock/folk/Americana. It sounded more organic, whether that meant twangy guitar or loud garage guitar (but, either way, guitars are back!). The opposite of organic, AI-generated, didn’t make the list this year. Whether it was fake Weeknd songs or a supposedly new Beatles song (gag), I didn’t love any of it. That’s not to say I never will. I predict something AI-built will be on this list eventually. But that time isn’t here just yet.
It also seemed like rappers are singing more and singers are rapping more. The lines keepblurring, making things more interesting. Finally, there seem to be a lot of songs about crying on the list this year. I never know if those observations say more about me or the state of music but always fun to take stock.
Most people I know who put out lists don’t also try to rank them. That makes sense. Ranking is foolish and takes most of my time. But then again…it’s fun. I feel like I listen far more deeply when I ultimately need to weigh in with a decision on whether any given song is better or worse than the song I heard just before this one. It’s why I co-host an entire podcast about just that. I’m not saying I’m right. (But you’ll have trouble convincing me I’m wrong)
As always, good lists come with rules. Mine are pretty simple:
- The song needs to have been released in 2023. This can be as a single or on an album. (I’m OK if it came out as a single the year prior and was part of an album this year. It’s the only way to keep up with the constant slow drip of single releases on streaming services!).
- Re-releasing a song to get better royalties is admirable but doesn’t make it eligible for this list (even if you call it “Taylor’s version” and it tops the Billboard charts!).
- Only one song per artist (unless they are featured on the track). This keeps things way more interesting.
The ideal way to consume this list is to listen to it on Spotify and use read along here while you do.
Enjoy and let me know what you think. What did I miss? What did I get exactly right?
100. Mr. McAdams by Lil Dicky. The best song from the best comedy on TV.
99. Council Skies by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Oasis goes bossa nova?
98. Through Me (The Flood) by Hozier. Has made a career out of taking people to church.
97. Agora Hills by Doja Cat. Especially for the “No, YOU hang up!”.
96. Ready For You by Cherry Glazerr. Makes me want to drive a red Camaro.
95. Hospital (One Man Down) (feat. Remi Wolf) by Madison Cunningham. Sounds like this hospital goes liberal on the laughing gas.
94. All My Life by LP Giobbi (feat. Sofi Tukker). Like riding a sunbeam.
93. Just Space For Light by U.S. Girls. As always, a U.S. Girls song with 20 different styles.
92. Consumerism by Acid Tongue. For telling kids everywhere they aren’t as punk as they think they are.
91. Lagunita by Lizzie No. As refreshing as the IPA.
90. Girls by The Dare. Like LCD Soundsystem’s snotty younger brother.
89. The Ghost by Anna B Savage. The woman is extremely polite to her spirit.
88. Human Race by Jane Bunnett and Maqueque. Somewhere, Carlos Santana is shaking his head, impressed.
87. Ribbons by Ryan Beatty. If a nap could be a song.
86. Cadillac by Sun Room. As vintage as the song name.
85. Truck by illuminati hotties. Red State indie pop.
84. The Everlasting Gobstopper by The Veldt. A song as infinite as Wonka’s candy.
83. Finallyalone by Mndsgn. The kid is clearly in awe.
82. Harvest by Rufus Wainwright (feat. Andrew Bird & Chris Stills). City boys making country music.
81. Sugar Babies by Spoon. If Spoon has new music, it’s probalby on the Top 100.
80. Dresser Hill by Mary Elizabeth Remington (feat. Adrianne Lenker). If cottage core had a theme song.
79. Cocoon — Martin Garrix & Space Ducks Remix by 070 Shake.Indulges my soft spot for synths that sound like rubber bands.
78. Eat The Rich by Last Quokka. The Aussie accent makes it seem even more punk.
77. St. Charles Square by Blur. Damon dealing with his demons.
76. Woman by Prism Bitch. The real Lez Zeppelin.
75. the BLACK seminole. by Lil Yachty. More like the PINK floyd.
74. Peppers by Lana Del Rey (feat. Tommy Genesis). Lana keeps adding to her list of cultural references.
73. Ancestors Too Young by Jeremy Dutcher. Unclassifiable in the best way.
72. Green Eyes by Sophie B. Hawkins. Apparently Sophie went off and became Nick Drake.
71. when saturn returns by Yaya Bey. Astronomy never sounded so jazzy.
70. Rapper Weed by billy woods and Kenny Segal. Who among us hasn’t thought “delivery fee is oof”?.
69. Lou’s Tune by DARGZ (feat. Moses Boyd). What the phrase “this is a vibe” is meant to describe.
68. Devotion by Arlo Parks. Arlo goes all power chords.
67. Water by Tyla. I’m here for R&B going more and more Afrobeat.
66. Rudolph by MJ Lenderman. I don’t think that’s how the original Dylan lyric goes.
65. Barulhinho de Trem by Hamilton De Holanda Trio. Translates to “train noise” so this is a pretty fun train.
64. All My Life by Lil Durk (feat. J. Cole). Because of that kid choir.
63. Ant Pile by Dominic Fike. Is tying people to ant piles a thing?
62. Get Close by The Rolling Stones. The boys sound half their age (which would make them…50?).
61. So Tell Me… by Nia Archives. That beat.
60. BRAVO by Tobe Nwigwe. Don’t feel bad Tobe, a lot of people are still learning who Bill Burr is.
59. Number 9 by Miguel (feat. Lil Yachty). Almost as trippy as The Beatles’ Revolution of the same number.
58. Ashes, Ashes by Meg Baird. A song that takes its time.
57. A Gold Cross on a Rope Chain by Josiah and the Bonnevilles. Josiah out Zach Bryan’s Zach Bryan.
56. Run by Madison McFerrin (feat. Bobby McFerrin). Complete with vocal solo from the “Don’t Worry” man himself.
55. Get Light by Nas. Sounds like Nas hasn’t lost a step.
54. Rumble by Skrillex, Fred again.. & Flowdan. A song built to test headphones.
53. Hard Times (All Around) by The Nude Party. I’m voting Nude Party in 2024.
52. King of Oklahoma by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. Is there a better down-and-out storyteller than Jason Isbell?
51. Woman by Finom. What an underwater guitar would sound like?
50. El Que by Angélica Garcia. You don’t need to know what she’s chanting, only that she‘s raising evil spirits while chanting it.
49. Taking Things For Granted by Joy Oladokun. I’ll swim with you, Joy.
48. Reds for a Blue Planet by Bobby Lee. Somewhere Tarantino is writing up a scene set to this.
47. Sad Face by BØRNS. His sad face is a dead ringer for McCartney’s.
46. Brass Bell by Screaming Females. Love the irony of someone screaming “It’s too loud” over a monster AC/DC riff.
45. No Reason by The Chemical Brothers. As fun as their heyday.
44. Irreversible Damage by Algiers (feat. Zack De La Rocha). Algiers will be playing the part of Run The Jewels this year.
43. Every Little Heart by The Tallest Man On Earth. The Tallest Man keeps chruning out fascinating wide-eyed folk.
42. Gatto Gelato by Alison Goldfrapp. If it’s got Goldfrapp in the name, the groove is gonna be good.
41. pawnshop by Kara Jackson. Giving off serious Joni Mitchell vibes.
40. 1965 heartbreaker by caaaaseyyyy. Like a Back to the Future fever dream.
39. Backburner by Jamila Woods. All the cooking metaphors make me hungry.
38. Hate Me Harder by Kesha. If I have to hear “Tik Tok” one more time I just might.
37. Fox Hunt by Sierra Ferrell. Bluegrass meets Hunger Games.
36. Crybaby by Nanna. She whisper-sings with the best of them.
35. Nothing Left To Lose by Everything But The Girl. Like they never left.
34. The Idea by Briston Maroney. Giving off serious Elliott Smith vibes.
33. Sticky by Ni’jah (feat. Childish Gambino & KIRBY). The year’s creepiest banjo riff?
32. Ghosts Again by Depeche Mode. Like a warm synthy hug from an old friend.
31. Vandal by Kele. Fun up and down the guitar neck.
30. Playing For Time — Dark-Side Mix by Peter Gabriel. Peter knows things the rest of us can only guess.
29. God Is a Circle by Yves Tumor. Giving off serious Tricky vibes.
28. namesake by Noname. Noname didn’t come to make friends.
27. Exhausting Lover by Ben Folds. Life on the road ain’t always glamorous.
26. Leaving the Light by Genesis Owusu. Like being stuck in an infinite side-scroller.
25. Chosen to Deserve by Wednesday. Sometimes one killer riff is all it takes.
24. Prescription by Remi Wolf. Consistently intriguing.
23. Hard to Love by Bully. Like the 90’s never ended.
22. Glory by Gabriels. Sounds timeless.
21. What It Is (Block Boy) by Doechii (feat. Kodak Black). Mostly for comparing herself to a Lemon Pepper Ten Piece.
20. Mankind? by Sunbörn (feat. Ida Nielsen, BIGYUKI). When Danish bands channel Afrofuturism.
19. Amnesia by M83. If neon pink could be a song.
18. Grey Matter by Deer Tick. If Bruce Springsteen was from Nashville instead of Jersey.
17. Dumbest Girl Alive by 100 gecs. When your inner algorithm malfunctions.
16. What Happens To A Heart by The Lemon Twigs. Just the right amount of Air Supply.
15. That’s How Love Is Made by The War and Treaty. No frills.
14. Rear View by Manchester Orchestra. If your own heartbeat could write a song.
13. Kool Aid by Royel Otis. Giving off serious The War on Drugs vibes.
12. vampire by Olivia Rodrigo. Following in the great tradition of snarky breakup songs.
11. 2122 by Geese. Just the right amount of unhinged.
10. Estranged Fruit by Fishbone. I don’t see how this isn’t sung by a cartoon cat in a fedora.
9. Squid by RVG. Tentacle goth: new genre?
8. Wonder by En Attendant Ana. The exact BPM of blood coursing through your body when the heart is racing.
7. Welcome To My Island by Caroline Polachek. The screeches and calls on this island are other-wordly.
6. Boy’s a liar Pt. 2 by PinkPantheress, Ice Spice. Catchy enough to withstand hundreds of plays.
5. Tears can be so soft by Christine and the Queens. Water has never sounded slinkier.
4. Nothing Matters by The Last Dinner Party. The nihilistic ABBA 2023 deserves.
3. Oscar Winning Tears. by RAYE. Personally, I bought the performance.
2. Not Strong Enough by boygenius. 3 artists that already have made the Top 100 = supergroup!
- The Window by Ratboys. A heartbreakingly beautiful meditation on watching someone die of Covid from afar.
