Happy Holidays.
Fueled by the fantastic year-end charts of Mr. Keith Law and Eclectic Music Lover, I was inspired to craft my own list of the 25 songs that soundtracked my 2023. To streamline things (and maybe sneak in a bit of personal indulgence), I’m focusing solely on releases after October 2022. It’s not strictly a “most played” list, but that undoubtedly cast a long shadow here. You’ll recognize some familiar tunes that were featured here this year, but I’ve sprinkled in some hidden treasures too. So buckle up and dive into my sonic journey through the past year! (scroll down for the Spotify widget with all these songs).
- “We Can Be Anything“ by Baby Queen. This is a total earworm that appeared here in September. Sadly, despite being a high point, it overshadowed everything else on her new album.
- “Goodmorning” by Crusoe. Another familiar gem that’s bound to resonate with regular readers. In the realm of wordless electronica, this track sets the bar impossibly high.
- “Primary Colors” by Baseball Game. This song snuck its way into my top tracks without me even realizing it. It might not be the one I actively pick to play, but whenever it pops up, I can’t help but get completely drawn in. It’s that subtle magic you know?
- “We Are One” by Wild Youth. Wild Youth represented Ireland with “We Are One” in this year’s Eurovision contest. As you can expect from that show, it didn’t even reach the finals.
- “When We Were Young” by blink-182. I really loved blink-182’s self-titled album and this song wasn’t even the one I featured on this blog earlier this year. It’s also not the last one from that record on this list.
- “Godzilla” by Nanna. This solo offering from Of Monsters and Men‘s vocalist envelops you in a warm embrace of swirling melodies and ethereal vocals, proving that sometimes, the quietest roar can be the most captivating.
- “Bug Like an Angel” by Mitski. I didn’t love the Japanese-American artist’s latest album, other than this stunning tune, which I wrote about here before.
- “Sunbeams” by Michael FK. I didn’t have time to write about this enchanting song earlier, but I did write about this Moldovan artist back in 2020. I highly recommend checking out his work.
- “How Many Dreams?” by DMA’s. I’m gutted this Australian act has toured the UK quite a lot recently and I still haven’t been able to see them live. I mean, this isn’t even the track from their latest album I liked the second-most.
- “Childhood Eyes” by Yellowcard. As you can tell, I have a soft spot for punk-rock acts from the early 2000s. This release didn’t grab me initially, but it’s definitely grown on me.
- “Girls Are Mean” by Boyish. Lead vocalist India Shore and vocalist and guitar player Claire Altendahl founded this indie rock duo when they auditioned at Berklee College of Music. On “Girls Are Mean”, the mix of pop, rock, and electronic elements created a soundscape that was both familiar and fresh, keeping me engaged throughout the track.
- “Egyptian Summer” by Good Strangers. This is a song I raved about back in August, and honestly, my feelings haven’t faded a bit. This stunning debut track from their equally remarkable EP cemented my love for this Irish band. It’s truly special.
- “Under The Influence(r)” by The Summer Set. It isn’t all smooth sailing here- lines like “You made me want to call my mom” have me scratching my head. But the sheer energy and infectious melody are undeniable, and it is pure pleasure to have them back making music together.
- “Where Do I Sign?” by Weathers. When Weathers dropped “Where Do I Sign?” as their lead single, I expected it to be the crown jewel of their new album. Boy, was I wrong.
- “Nothing Is Perfect” by Metric. I feel I could listen to this song’s intro on repeat the whole day. It appears on their latest album, Formentera II, a follow-up to their successful record from 2022.
- “Jai Alai” by DMA’s. And there you have it! As I was saying, these guys are quickly climbing the ranks of my favorite bands. They got one more song in this list.
- “Trastevere” by Måneskin. I didn’t like this Italian band when they won Eurovision in 2021: their glam rock excess not quite clicking with me. But “The Loneliest” started chipping away at those walls, and “Trastevere” has brought the whole damn building down. This stripped-down masterpiece, with its achingly beautiful melody and Damiano’s raw vocals, is everything I ever wanted in an acoustic rock anthem. This is how you weave storytelling and raw emotion into a sonic tapestry that leaves you breathless.
- “Cool About it” by boygenius. It is not a groundbreaking track, but I just love this song. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it’s the comfort it brings? Whatever it is, I keep hitting repeat.
- “Nothing To Say” by Weathers. Not quite my top spot on Weathers’ latest album, but “Nothing To Say” comes awfully close. The catchiness is practically contagious.
- “Amnesia” by M83. A truly impressive comeback from the French act. I loved it when it was released and I still love it now.
- “In One Ear & Out the Other” by Chicane. The eletronic music legend knows how to create ethereal soundscapes to lose yourself in. This one is no exception.
- “Kill Ur Vibe” by All Time Low. I just love this song’s rhythm. It’s a punk-infused chill pill. Not mosh pit, but midnight drives and quiet defiance.
- “21 Year Vacancy” by DMAs. Unsurprisingly, this was my favorite track from their latest album. A beautiful and emotionally resonant indie rock ballad about revisiting the past, acknowledging lost dreams, and finding peace with the journey taken.
- “One of a Kind” by Weathers. Here it is: my most played song of 2023. The soaring melody grabs me every time, and the lyrics pack a punch that keeps me hitting repeat.
- “Blink Wave” by blink-182. I never expected blink-182 to drop a synth-drenched, 80s-inspired track like “Blink Wave.” When I heard the rumors about it, I was skeptical, but let me tell you, this song blew me away. Who knew these pop-punk legends had an 80s synth masterpiece in them? It’s so good, the only reason it wasn’t my most played of 2023 is the album’s late November release.
