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!
The Indy Review 
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