Since the end of the year is nearly here let us recap the best in new indie/alt/and then some from 2023! For over two decades (online since 2010), I’ve put together various end-of-the-year wrap ups and my favorite lists always involve the songs I discovered. What follows are the most memorable singles played on Xposure, the tunes I blasted while stuck in traffic, and music I brooded to through my headphones.
Behind the List
Since 2002 I would make a monthly playlist and burn CDs for friends. At the end of the year, I like to list my top according to play count, culture and my gut (well, ears).
The Music
So many genres so little time. I stick to what I know best which is indie, alternative and electronica. Well, I probably know Wu-Tang and Townes Van Zandt better but this isn’t the time for a hipster pissing match.
The Methodology
My primary decision when it comes to putting one song on top of another is usually based in emotion. Why was I so attached to that song versus another? There are also excel sheets, drugs, and loud listening parties.
Once I get close to 75ish I start organizing them in order of weighted play count and emotional importance. The last step is really just “massaging the playlist“ so it has a nice flow.
Is this a Recipe Blog?
No and good point. You want the list not a pile of poor grammar word salad aimed at search engine optimization. Enough ego typing and let us get to my ego listing!
Replay
Top 50 Songs of 2023
50) SUICIDAL-IDOL – ecstacy
Yes, I really am starting with a Tik-Tok song tah you’ve probably heard on short reels or advertisements for crappy products on Twitter.
49) Little Dragon – Slugs of Love
Little Dragon return and sound sort like their old selves with this fun romp
48) King Krule – Seaforth
The most played on top single from the return of Archy Marshall aka King Krule.
47) Fences – No One
Not the depressing Fences I prefer but a good song nonetheless.
46) Bully – Change Your Mind
Bully ruled the indie airwaves this year and this was my favorite song.
45) Girl Ray – Up
Certainly getting some disco vibes from Girl Ray‘s latest album Prestige so put it on and hit the roller rink while you can!
44) Marika Hackman – No Caffeine
A last minute add to the list that I got into late in the year.
43) Isabel LaRosa – older
Sure its creepy but its a good song and she’s over 18. Don’t be creepy and message her tho.
42) Cherry Glazer – Ready For You
Another highly anticipated album released in 2023 and my favorite song from Cherry Glazer’s I Don’t Want You Anymore.
41) Future Island – The Tower
Seasons was so damn good (even topping my 2014 list) that its hard to expect more from Future Islands but they keep giving good tunes and even better live performances.
40) Hotline TNT – Protocol
New York indie rockers Hotline TNT returned in 2023 and this one really stuck with me thus it making the list, duh.
39) Arlo Parks – Weightless
Arlo Parks just keeps delivering the goods and setting themselves up as one of the best in indie music.
38) Jadu Heart – Freedom
If I keep playing this artist I probably need to settle on one way to pronounce their name.
37) The Kills – New York
Of the three songs including LA Hex and 103, New York had the most classic The Kills vibe to it.
36) Explosions in the Sky – Ten Billion People
Post Rock might be my favorite genre of music and boy howdy are we lucky to have Explosion in the Sky right in our own backyard!
35) Young Fathers – Holy Moly
What a fun and weird song from Young Fathers – which should be expected.
34) Indigo Sparkle – In The Garden
The rhythm and flow of this one just pours over you like warm molasses. Try it! Even nude and with some syrup.
33) Vacations – Next Exit
Heard this one while literally on vacation and driving through the hill country and it stuck.
32) Nation of Language – Weak in Your Light
Another band that has made multiple years of recent lists and with a few good songs to choose from this year – with Weak in Your Light being my selection over Sole Obsession.
31) Palace – All We’ve Ever Wanted
Not sure were this one came from but it has been a pretty solid listen throughout the year.
30) King Krule – Empty Stomach Space Cadet
Seeing King Krule for the first time at Stubb’s Austin was an experience – especially since I went to the venue with no ticket and ended up in the VIP balcony. Still, I would have been fine listening from the street the show was so good.
29) GUM, Ambrose Kenny-Smith – Minor Setback
Have I used the term earworm yet? This song is kinda that but less annoying than the expression indicates.
28) Chris Farren – Cosmic Leash
Holy shit this one takes you for a ride! Toxic dating makes for good songwriting.
27) Blonde Redhead – Sit Down for Dinner, pt. 2
Its the highly anticipated return of Blonde Redhead and the first of two songs from Sit Down for Dinner.
26) Local Natives – Just Before The Morning
I didn’t even know they had new music yet I was listening to new stuff from Local Natives all year. Good problems?
25) Jungle – Back on 74
This song makes the list just for the music video and TikTok trend alone! Have fun and dance away.
24) Sleep Token – Granite
This song starts one way then goes hard and I’m all for it. Perfect mad at someone music for sure.
23) Mannequin Pussy – Sometimes
This one was hard to place and probably deserves a higher spot on the list with more listening time. Either way, it is definitely worth sharing!
22) Rahill – Futbol
It took me a few listens to get this is about soccer even though its titled Futbol. Guess the tertiary listens were so good I didn’t need to pay attention to the lyrics?
21) HEALTH – ASHAMED
From video games to sound tracks and regular albums I love the wealth of industrial music we get from HEALTH. Catch him in Austin March 7th.
20) Blonde Redhead – Snowman
Sit Down for Dinner had a slow trickle of good songs and it was Snowman that I liked the most, even though others were certainly played more.
19) Slowdive – the slab
What a year it was for Shoegaze and especially the return of Slowdive.
18) Vagabon – Do Your Worst
Another artist I struggled with when narrowing down which songs should make the list. So many from Vagabon’s Sorry I Haven’t Called were so good but Do our Worst, has to be the best.
17) STRFKR – Always / Never
This one is good for the headphones, background or over the loud speaker.
16) Yves Tumor – Meteora Blues
One of my most played songs early in 2023 stuck towards the top until the end of the year.
15) The National, Bon Iver – Weird Goodbyes
Two albums from the National and so many songs to pick from. Consider this breakup song the first of a few to make the countdown.
14) Tennis – Let’s Make a Mistake Tonight
New music from Tennis this low on the list is actually a good thing because we were blessed with so many new albums from our all time indie favorites.
13) The New Pornographers – Angelcover
Have I mentioned this was a year for a lot of our favorite indie artists making a return?
12) The National, Phoebe Bridgers – Your Mind Is Not Your Friend
According to the data, this was my second most played song of 2023. Sad much?
11) The American Analog Set – Gin Shakes
It took me this long of listening to The American Analog Set to realize they were from Austin.
Top Ten Songs of 2023
10) ODESZA, Yellow House – Heavier
Seeing ODESZA live is certainly a treat but I was not expecting how great this song would be until witnessing it live at ACL Fest earlier this year.
09) Sufjan Stevens – Goodbye Evergreen
Earlier in the year Sufjan Stevens lost his longtime partner dedicated the beautiful album Javelin to him. This was the first time Stevens publicly opened up about his sexuality.
08) Mitski – Bug Like an Angel
Slow and quite at time then powerful in others. Bug Like an Angel was written about substance abuse, particularly dealing with alcoholism.
07) Fig, Scribble – Pink Sea
I heard this song driving back from meeting a long time friend. While listening in the car I suddenly felt as though this is what it might be like hearing Bruce Springsteen in the 80’s for the first time. Not sure what that means but I am going to stick with it.
06) boygenius – Not Strong Enough
The supergroup of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus have individually made my lists before and this song was certainly worthy of a top ten spot.
05) David Kushner – Daylight
Written about Kushner and his girlfriend’s struggle maintaining premarital abstinence, this powerful ballad blew up on TikTok and social media before topping the charts.
04) Caroline Rose – Miami
Often songs released early in the year are forgotten by the recap season but not this great tune from Caroline Rose. It is certainly one of those songs that just gets better as it plays.
03) The National – Space Invader
TWO albums from The National in a year many thought the band was finished? Tropical Morning News was probably the highest ranking songs on most year-end-lists, as it should be, but Space Invader was more important to me for some reason.
02) Jive Talk – Everything Always
Nashville’s Jive Talk absolutely floored me with Everything Always. It just takes you on a journey and keeps getting better with every listen. They played in Austin and their live show is certainly something to behold.
01) The Last Dinner Party – Nothing Matters
Often while listening to music I hear a song and think “well that’s a number one.” Turns out, Nothing Matters stood the test of time over the course of 2023 and never relinquished its unofficial spot. The song is certainly different and not radio friendly but most worthy of your ears and 2023’s Top Song.
Playlist
