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100 Best Songs of 2023. #1 Posted, Playlist in first post (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Northern Voice
- Start date
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#40 - 3D Country - Geese
These guys are on the just released Bonnaroo lineup for 2024, so maybe I'll see them this year (if I go, I definitely will)! There are Rolling Stones vibes all over this with the country-rock ramshackle flow to it and the backing gospel choir then finally we get into guitar solo city to close things out.
These guys are on the just released Bonnaroo lineup for 2024, so maybe I'll see them this year (if I go, I definitely will)! There are Rolling Stones vibes all over this with the country-rock ramshackle flow to it and the backing gospel choir then finally we get into guitar solo city to close things out.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#39 - Cold Reactor - Everything Everything
These guys are carrying on the dance/punk tradition better than anyone these days. One of the most underrated bands going right now IMO. They just put out consistently great songs. This one may lean more pop than rock but the way he plays with his falsetto voice over deep synths and driving drums make this another classic.
These guys are carrying on the dance/punk tradition better than anyone these days. One of the most underrated bands going right now IMO. They just put out consistently great songs. This one may lean more pop than rock but the way he plays with his falsetto voice over deep synths and driving drums make this another classic.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#38 - A Good Thing - Claud
I keep waiting for Claud to get more popular but it hasn't happened yet. They aren't too far off the Holly Humberstone, Snail Mail, Soccer Mommy etc in that they just make really good indie rock. Apparently the guy from Semisonic produced this and Paul Rudd starred in the video
I keep waiting for Claud to get more popular but it hasn't happened yet. They aren't too far off the Holly Humberstone, Snail Mail, Soccer Mommy etc in that they just make really good indie rock. Apparently the guy from Semisonic produced this and Paul Rudd starred in the video
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#37 - Clean Slate - The Mountain Goats
John Darnielle sounds awesome on this and there are horns and strings all over the place here. It's a big lush indie rock song, like Arcade Fire circa 2010 with fewer groupies.
John Darnielle sounds awesome on this and there are horns and strings all over the place here. It's a big lush indie rock song, like Arcade Fire circa 2010 with fewer groupies.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#35 - Alley Light - Squirrel Flower
There's a sort of sadness in her voice through this song but the recurring guitar riff is what really puts it over the top for me. It's simple and kind of a throwback to 90s alt-rock maybe but it really works.
There's a sort of sadness in her voice through this song but the recurring guitar riff is what really puts it over the top for me. It's simple and kind of a throwback to 90s alt-rock maybe but it really works.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#34 - Open Up Wide - Dizzy
I've toned down the Canadian content this year (unintentionally) but this band is from 45 minutes up the road. They play a lot of Lorde/Eilish inspired altpoprock. The album is pretty damn good. This one pops the most live and gets the nod for me here as a result. (Headbanging, headbanging, headbanging, headbanging, headbanging, headbanging)
I've toned down the Canadian content this year (unintentionally) but this band is from 45 minutes up the road. They play a lot of Lorde/Eilish inspired altpoprock. The album is pretty damn good. This one pops the most live and gets the nod for me here as a result. (Headbanging, headbanging, headbanging, headbanging, headbanging, headbanging)
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#33 - Thick Skull - Paramore
A second instance where my favourite song on the album (This is Why) was released last year and cracked the 2022 list (it was #4). This is from the slower side of Paramore - think "Decode", "All I Wanted" and these songs tend to be slow burners that show off her amazing vocal talents. That is absolutely the case here. They build the tension for the first three-plus minutes of the song, you know she's going to let it loose but she keeps you waiting (almost teasing -"give it to me. give it to me"). And then she does. I love Paramore.
A second instance where my favourite song on the album (This is Why) was released last year and cracked the 2022 list (it was #4). This is from the slower side of Paramore - think "Decode", "All I Wanted" and these songs tend to be slow burners that show off her amazing vocal talents. That is absolutely the case here. They build the tension for the first three-plus minutes of the song, you know she's going to let it loose but she keeps you waiting (almost teasing -"give it to me. give it to me"). And then she does. I love Paramore.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#32 - Everything's Glitter - The Armed
Noisy indie rock, somewhere between Cloud Nothings and The Strokes, it has those driving guitars and big drum fills and a bit of a wail to his voice. When you think it's over, it decides to go a bit harder for a while.
Noisy indie rock, somewhere between Cloud Nothings and The Strokes, it has those driving guitars and big drum fills and a bit of a wail to his voice. When you think it's over, it decides to go a bit harder for a while.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
sighs of relief from everyone reading this list...
#31 - Is It Over Now? (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
It's a great Taylor Swift song that came out on the bonus version of 1989 and would have fit in perfectly on that album. That said, there is a reason it was initially left off IMO, it doesn't quite reach the heights of the best songs on that album and this feels about right for it for this year.
#31 - Is It Over Now? (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
It's a great Taylor Swift song that came out on the bonus version of 1989 and would have fit in perfectly on that album. That said, there is a reason it was initially left off IMO, it doesn't quite reach the heights of the best songs on that album and this feels about right for it for this year.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
Are these going to be in a single Spotify playlist @Northern Voice ?
Northern Voice
Footballguy
Yes.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#30 - Did you know there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd - Lana Del Rey
Feel like LDR is kind of polarizing and I get it but I'm also a sucker for a really good piano ballad and she's a great songwriter. Under all the incidental stories, overriding metaphor and beautiful baroque pop, the main theme here "Don't Forget Me" is really simple.
Feel like LDR is kind of polarizing and I get it but I'm also a sucker for a really good piano ballad and she's a great songwriter. Under all the incidental stories, overriding metaphor and beautiful baroque pop, the main theme here "Don't Forget Me" is really simple.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#29 - Modern Girl - Bleachers
1,2,3,4 - cue saxophone solo - yep, we're going full Springsteen here, gang vocals, big chorus, don't need to say much more.
1,2,3,4 - cue saxophone solo - yep, we're going full Springsteen here, gang vocals, big chorus, don't need to say much more.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#28 - Eat the Acid - Kesha
Yes, that Kesha. There's something about the ongoing synth line here and the way her vocals are manipulated around it - low, high, foreground, background, with no sound behind them, with all the sounds behind them, looped, repeated, vocodered, layered, simple. This song is all production and her voice but it's so so good. Sometimes I think it was the best song released this year and should be #1, as I listen again, I'm sure I have it way too low here. "You don't want to be changed like it changed me".
Yes, that Kesha. There's something about the ongoing synth line here and the way her vocals are manipulated around it - low, high, foreground, background, with no sound behind them, with all the sounds behind them, looped, repeated, vocodered, layered, simple. This song is all production and her voice but it's so so good. Sometimes I think it was the best song released this year and should be #1, as I listen again, I'm sure I have it way too low here. "You don't want to be changed like it changed me".
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#27 - Tropic Morning News - The National
I had to take a long break from The National (I associated them with the death of my dog) but the new stuff is different from that and I came back around to them to an extent this year. I didn't love either album they released but I did like a bunch of songs on each of them. This is definitely in the vein of there more recent stuff with a nice little bounce to it that carries throughout it.
I had to take a long break from The National (I associated them with the death of my dog) but the new stuff is different from that and I came back around to them to an extent this year. I didn't love either album they released but I did like a bunch of songs on each of them. This is definitely in the vein of there more recent stuff with a nice little bounce to it that carries throughout it.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#26 - Hollywood Baby - 100 Gecs
Look, I'm sorry okay, I love this song. It's a Blink-182/Sum 41 pop punk on steroids autotune banger.
Look, I'm sorry okay, I love this song. It's a Blink-182/Sum 41 pop punk on steroids autotune banger.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#25 - Cosmic Leash - Chris Farren
Chris Farren is from the Jeff Rosenstock-sphere (together they form the excellent Antartigo Vespucci band) - this is a big fun rock song with an absolutely huge chorus. CHANGE YOUR HEART, WAIT YOUR TURN, I NEED MORE TIME WITH YOU. Whole album is great.
Chris Farren is from the Jeff Rosenstock-sphere (together they form the excellent Antartigo Vespucci band) - this is a big fun rock song with an absolutely huge chorus. CHANGE YOUR HEART, WAIT YOUR TURN, I NEED MORE TIME WITH YOU. Whole album is great.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#24 - Call Me What You Like - Lovejoy
This band has a massive number of Spotify plays, think they're on the verge of being the next big thing. Big bass lines, funny smart lyrics, changes in tone and tempo throughout, a big inner monologue bridge, "I'm not paranoid, I'm a realist... I know you're gonna kill me".
This band has a massive number of Spotify plays, think they're on the verge of being the next big thing. Big bass lines, funny smart lyrics, changes in tone and tempo throughout, a big inner monologue bridge, "I'm not paranoid, I'm a realist... I know you're gonna kill me".
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#23 - I Saw - Young Fathers
I mean it as a great compliment when I say this band gives me big TV on the Radio vibes. It has the big stomp to it and it alternates between really straightforward almost speak singing and more relentless, unhinged high end shouting.
I mean it as a great compliment when I say this band gives me big TV on the Radio vibes. It has the big stomp to it and it alternates between really straightforward almost speak singing and more relentless, unhinged high end shouting.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#22 - Chosen to Deserve - Wednesday
From one of the best albums of the year - tales of adolescence sang in a beautifully low key way over Drive By Truckers-style country rock guitar riffs.
From one of the best albums of the year - tales of adolescence sang in a beautifully low key way over Drive By Truckers-style country rock guitar riffs.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#21 - Sixers - The Hold Steady
The Price of Progress was a pretty solid album all around but this was the one that stuck with me the most. As it is a Hold Steady song, it tells a story of a boy and a girl who have some issues and decide to do some drugs and listen to music together and try to find a connection. Hardly new ground for them but the story songs are still the best on every album and I love the way this one builds on itself. Franz Nicolay's keys do a lot of the driving musically while Craig Finn does his usual thing over top with some wordplay that only he can pull off. It doesn't have a happy ending.
The Price of Progress was a pretty solid album all around but this was the one that stuck with me the most. As it is a Hold Steady song, it tells a story of a boy and a girl who have some issues and decide to do some drugs and listen to music together and try to find a connection. Hardly new ground for them but the story songs are still the best on every album and I love the way this one builds on itself. Franz Nicolay's keys do a lot of the driving musically while Craig Finn does his usual thing over top with some wordplay that only he can pull off. It doesn't have a happy ending.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
Alright, let's cruise to the finish.
#20 - Salad - Blondshell
Best revenge-murder fantasy song since Goodbye Earl. This one starts out with a feeling of mystery/spooky drums and evolves from there. Eventually the guitars kick in, the salad gets poisioned and the chorus soars. “Look what you did, you’ll make a killer of a Jewish girl". It stays dark and awesome through the end.
#20 - Salad - Blondshell
Best revenge-murder fantasy song since Goodbye Earl. This one starts out with a feeling of mystery/spooky drums and evolves from there. Eventually the guitars kick in, the salad gets poisioned and the chorus soars. “Look what you did, you’ll make a killer of a Jewish girl". It stays dark and awesome through the end.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#19 - Nothing Matters - The Last Dinner Party
Feel like this was everywhere this year, one of the biggest indie songs of the year and for very good reason. I love how it starts off like it's going to be a Kate Bush song or something and I guess in a lot of ways its not too far off. Guitar solos, horn breaks, group choruses, I will **** you, nothing matters
Feel like this was everywhere this year, one of the biggest indie songs of the year and for very good reason. I love how it starts off like it's going to be a Kate Bush song or something and I guess in a lot of ways its not too far off. Guitar solos, horn breaks, group choruses, I will **** you, nothing matters
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#18 - The Way - Manchester Orchestra
No one does the slow build, quiet loud big *** rock song better than Manchester Orchestra these days. This would have fit in perfectly on A Black Mile to the Surface, which is in my opinion their absolute peak sound.
No one does the slow build, quiet loud big *** rock song better than Manchester Orchestra these days. This would have fit in perfectly on A Black Mile to the Surface, which is in my opinion their absolute peak sound.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#17 - The Sky is Melting - Alex Lahey
A song about going out into the sun, taking a bunch of edibles and having a grand old time. It has such a casual easy way about it and she's another great Aussie lyricist (see also Courtney Barnett, The Beths, etc...), wore it out all summer long. Also, it references Michael Bolton.
A song about going out into the sun, taking a bunch of edibles and having a grand old time. It has such a casual easy way about it and she's another great Aussie lyricist (see also Courtney Barnett, The Beths, etc...), wore it out all summer long. Also, it references Michael Bolton.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#16 - Vampire Empire - Big Thief
Tense and jangly in the verses in a way that makes the declaration, "I am Falllllllling" even that more potent. There's all kinds of clanging and banging going on in the background until there isn't and it's just Adrianne Lenker at her frustrated, chaotic best.
Tense and jangly in the verses in a way that makes the declaration, "I am Falllllllling" even that more potent. There's all kinds of clanging and banging going on in the background until there isn't and it's just Adrianne Lenker at her frustrated, chaotic best.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#15 - Not Strong Enough - boygenius
We're in a little run here of songs that were near the top of a lot of critics lists here but these are undeniably great and we will be back in left field soon enough. The boygenius album/project is great but a lot of times it feels like a solo song from Phoebe Bridgers then a song from Lucy Dacus etc... this one is more cohesive and feels like a full band with big harmonies, multiple sections for everyone, I wish there were more like this. I wouldn't argue with anyone who thinks this is the best song of the year, it might only be this low because I wore myself out on it a bit.
open.spotify.com
We're in a little run here of songs that were near the top of a lot of critics lists here but these are undeniably great and we will be back in left field soon enough. The boygenius album/project is great but a lot of times it feels like a solo song from Phoebe Bridgers then a song from Lucy Dacus etc... this one is more cohesive and feels like a full band with big harmonies, multiple sections for everyone, I wish there were more like this. I wouldn't argue with anyone who thinks this is the best song of the year, it might only be this low because I wore myself out on it a bit.
Not Strong Enough
boygenius, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus · Song · 2023
open.spotify.com
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#14 - Pontius Pilate's Home Movies - The New Pornographers
Dan Bejar/Destroyer didn't participate in this TNP album, so Carl Newman decided to write a Destroyer song. Sure, works for me. It's dark and brooding to start but soon enough we have Neko Case coming over the top rope with her massive voice. It has a great groove/steady drums, saxophones harmonize alongside Case and Newman. I have absolutely no idea what its about.
Dan Bejar/Destroyer didn't participate in this TNP album, so Carl Newman decided to write a Destroyer song. Sure, works for me. It's dark and brooding to start but soon enough we have Neko Case coming over the top rope with her massive voice. It has a great groove/steady drums, saxophones harmonize alongside Case and Newman. I have absolutely no idea what its about.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#13 Smoke Detector - The National
The one song per album rule allows The National to sneak a second song in the top 30 here. From Laugh Track, the second album they released this year, Smoke Detector sounds more like early days National than anything in a decade. It's tense, noisy, repetitive, it's not pretty, there's no big chorus, there ARE big drums (it was always the drumming that set those early albums apart for me and it just hasn't been there on the most recent albums). Apparently it came out of messing around at a soundcheck one day, they should do more of that.
The one song per album rule allows The National to sneak a second song in the top 30 here. From Laugh Track, the second album they released this year, Smoke Detector sounds more like early days National than anything in a decade. It's tense, noisy, repetitive, it's not pretty, there's no big chorus, there ARE big drums (it was always the drumming that set those early albums apart for me and it just hasn't been there on the most recent albums). Apparently it came out of messing around at a soundcheck one day, they should do more of that.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
Through #15:
Songs I have heard of: 0
Artists I have heard of: 21
Songs I have heard of: 0
Artists I have heard of: 21
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
Finally a song I have heard of! But only because it was on your NP top 31 in the MAD 2 countdown.#14 - Pontius Pilate's Home Movies - The New Pornographers
Dan Bejar/Destroyer didn't participate in this TNP album, so Carl Newman decided to write a Destroyer song. Sure, works for me. It's dark and brooding to start but soon enough we have Neko Case coming over the top rope with her massive voice. It has a great groove/steady drums, saxophones harmonize alongside Case and Newman. I have absolutely no idea what its about.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#12 - Settled Accounts - We Are Scientists
I am sure I am the last person still listening to We Are Scientists in 2023, they had a moment in the mid-00s with a trio of indie hits (Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt, The Scene is Dead, After Hours) and mostly faded away but every once in a while they pop up with an absolute earworm I can't get enough of. Play this one in your car as loud as possible and you'll see what i mean. They still sound like We Are Scientists who kind of sound like Hot Hot Heat. It has a jangly pop-rock intro but it wastes very little time getting to the big *** chorus, which is either going to make you love this song or not. There's some sci-fi synths around and some drum beats behind the chorus but really, it's the chorus and you're going to hear it like ten times before it's over. MAYBE IT'S TOO SOON TO FIND OUT, BUT BY NOW THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN ANSWER. YOU'RE TAKING ME FOR SETTLED ACCOUNTS AND SOMEHOW I END UP EVEN LESS SURE.
If you like this kind of nonsense, Buckle from their 2016 album is just as good.
I am sure I am the last person still listening to We Are Scientists in 2023, they had a moment in the mid-00s with a trio of indie hits (Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt, The Scene is Dead, After Hours) and mostly faded away but every once in a while they pop up with an absolute earworm I can't get enough of. Play this one in your car as loud as possible and you'll see what i mean. They still sound like We Are Scientists who kind of sound like Hot Hot Heat. It has a jangly pop-rock intro but it wastes very little time getting to the big *** chorus, which is either going to make you love this song or not. There's some sci-fi synths around and some drum beats behind the chorus but really, it's the chorus and you're going to hear it like ten times before it's over. MAYBE IT'S TOO SOON TO FIND OUT, BUT BY NOW THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN ANSWER. YOU'RE TAKING ME FOR SETTLED ACCOUNTS AND SOMEHOW I END UP EVEN LESS SURE.
If you like this kind of nonsense, Buckle from their 2016 album is just as good.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#11 - Too Much, Enough - Nation of Language
I saw these guys last month and I'm convinced they're going to be the next big rock band. Their front man has massive rock star energy and they just sound so damn good. This song sounds like it was pulled straight off an 80s synthpop album (Human League?), dusted off, given some shine and shot into my ear holes.
I saw these guys last month and I'm convinced they're going to be the next big rock band. Their front man has massive rock star energy and they just sound so damn good. This song sounds like it was pulled straight off an 80s synthpop album (Human League?), dusted off, given some shine and shot into my ear holes.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#10 - Days Move Slow - Bully
Crunchy power pop guitars, straight ahead vocals, big singalong chorus. Short and sweet at just over two minutes, they still find room for a solo, a breakdown and that chorus a few more times. SOMETHING'S GOTTA CHANGE! I KNOW!
Crunchy power pop guitars, straight ahead vocals, big singalong chorus. Short and sweet at just over two minutes, they still find room for a solo, a breakdown and that chorus a few more times. SOMETHING'S GOTTA CHANGE! I KNOW!
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#9 - vampire - Olivia Rodrigo
It should be pretty clear by now that I'm a sucker for slow moving piano ballads that explode into massive singalong choruses. This one does that but it also keeps growing outward the whole way getting bigger and bigger, moving faster and faster and hitting peak after peak. "bloodsucker, fame ****er, bleedin' me dry like a ******* vampire."
It should be pretty clear by now that I'm a sucker for slow moving piano ballads that explode into massive singalong choruses. This one does that but it also keeps growing outward the whole way getting bigger and bigger, moving faster and faster and hitting peak after peak. "bloodsucker, fame ****er, bleedin' me dry like a ******* vampire."
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#8 - Jake's Piano/Long Island - Zach Bryan
From his main release this year, the big song off this one was the duet with Kacey Musgraves but this is the song that really stuck with me. Again the first half is a slower piano ballad but then "Long Island", the second half, the guitar kicks in, and the story kicks into high gear. Bryan is great at telling these stories of desperation/hope/loss and his voice conveys the emotion in such a meaningful way. I know the backlash has already kicked in on his to an extent but I think a song like this really highlights his abilities and versatility as a really good song writer, regardless of the country/rock genre boundaries.
From his main release this year, the big song off this one was the duet with Kacey Musgraves but this is the song that really stuck with me. Again the first half is a slower piano ballad but then "Long Island", the second half, the guitar kicks in, and the story kicks into high gear. Bryan is great at telling these stories of desperation/hope/loss and his voice conveys the emotion in such a meaningful way. I know the backlash has already kicked in on his to an extent but I think a song like this really highlights his abilities and versatility as a really good song writer, regardless of the country/rock genre boundaries.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#7 - Watching the Credits - The Beths
The Beths can do no wrong in my eyes. Harmonizing guitars and vocals all over the place, big chorus, sharp lyrics.
The Beths can do no wrong in my eyes. Harmonizing guitars and vocals all over the place, big chorus, sharp lyrics.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#6 - I Don't Know What You See in Me - Belle and Sebastian
I feel like this album mostly slipped under the radar, maybe because it was a January release. This comes out like a Pet Shop Boys song or maybe Tegan and Sara, big synths, big harmonies. It's unmistakably Belle and Sebastian but it's fresh for them and I love this direction.
I feel like this album mostly slipped under the radar, maybe because it was a January release. This comes out like a Pet Shop Boys song or maybe Tegan and Sara, big synths, big harmonies. It's unmistakably Belle and Sebastian but it's fresh for them and I love this direction.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#5 - Smaccked My Head Awf - Hot Mulligan
HOW COME NONE OF YOU TOLD ME ABOUT HOT MULLIGAN BEFORE (I'm sure someone did). Anyway, this is the emo-revival I'm here for. Heartfelt, emotional, melodic. This song is mildly heartbreaking if you pay close attention but it sounds so good and feels so authentic. It reminds me of the best Modern Baseball, the emotion builds toward the end and finally feels like some catharsis and the repeated "it's okay, it's okay", it's so good and I went back and listened to everything this band has ever put out over the last few months.
HOW COME NONE OF YOU TOLD ME ABOUT HOT MULLIGAN BEFORE (I'm sure someone did). Anyway, this is the emo-revival I'm here for. Heartfelt, emotional, melodic. This song is mildly heartbreaking if you pay close attention but it sounds so good and feels so authentic. It reminds me of the best Modern Baseball, the emotion builds toward the end and finally feels like some catharsis and the repeated "it's okay, it's okay", it's so good and I went back and listened to everything this band has ever put out over the last few months.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#4 - Spot Me 100 - Hotline TNT
This whole album is great too. This song starts out as a really good but fairly generic shoegaze anthem and you can feel it building to something... but at 1:20 it absolutely soars in a way that honestly floored me the first few times I heard it and it just keeps going and going getting bigger and faster, throwing in some chirps here and there and then it breaks back down to layer the sped up second half over top of the shoegazey first half and it gets even better.
This whole album is great too. This song starts out as a really good but fairly generic shoegaze anthem and you can feel it building to something... but at 1:20 it absolutely soars in a way that honestly floored me the first few times I heard it and it just keeps going and going getting bigger and faster, throwing in some chirps here and there and then it breaks back down to layer the sped up second half over top of the shoegazey first half and it gets even better.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
#15 - Not Strong Enough - boygenius
We're in a little run here of songs that were near the top of a lot of critics lists here but these are undeniably great and we will be back in left field soon enough. The boygenius album/project is great but a lot of times it feels like a solo song from Phoebe Bridgers then a song from Lucy Dacus etc... this one is more cohesive and feels like a full band with big harmonies, multiple sections for everyone, I wish there were more like this. I wouldn't argue with anyone who thinks this is the best song of the year, it might only be this low because I wore myself out on it a bit.
Not Strong Enough
boygenius, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus · Song · 2023
Love this song. I'm becoming a huge Phoebe Bridgers fan.
Have only scrolled through the list and haven't listened to anything yet. Looking forward to it.
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#3 - The Window - Ratboys
I'm not going to say too much about this song, I know some of you know my father in law passed away in a nursing home a couple months ago and I can't really listen to this song outside of that context. I think it's an absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking love song and it really touches me every time I listen to it. I love the 90s Goo Goo Dolls-ish production too. Sue, Sue, you'll always be my girl
I'm not going to say too much about this song, I know some of you know my father in law passed away in a nursing home a couple months ago and I can't really listen to this song outside of that context. I think it's an absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking love song and it really touches me every time I listen to it. I love the 90s Goo Goo Dolls-ish production too. Sue, Sue, you'll always be my girl
Northern Voice
Footballguy
I did warn you, you will mostly hate the top two songs.
Brony
Footballguy
Listened to this album and Laugh Track by The National more than anything else last year. The Nation of Language gives me those Human League, Yaz, OMD vibes for sure. A New Goodbye is my favorite track, but there are at least 4 or 5 gems on that album.#11 - Too Much, Enough - Nation of Language
I saw these guys last month and I'm convinced they're going to be the next big rock band. Their front man has massive rock star energy and they just sound so damn good. This song sounds like it was pulled straight off an 80s synthpop album (Human League?), dusted off, given some shine and shot into my ear holes.
Brony
Footballguy
Love this song. I felt out of touch that it took a best of 2023 list (from Dec 2023) for me to find a Chicago band. Good stuff. Agree with you that The Window is their best track this year. Sorry about your FIL.#3 - The Window - Ratboys
I'm not going to say too much about this song, I know some of you know my father in law passed away in a nursing home a couple months ago and I can't really listen to this song outside of that context. I think it's an absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking love song and it really touches me every time I listen to it. I love the 90s Goo Goo Dolls-ish production too. Sue, Sue, you'll always be my girl
Northern Voice
Footballguy
#2 - So Much (for) Stardust - Fall Out Boy
Opens with stringy strings, then straight into a rumbling piano, every second verse punctuated with horns. This is throwback mid-00s Fall Out Boy at their absolute peak and hear comes the chorus. WE THOUGHT WE HAD IT ALL THOUGHT WE HAD IT ALL THOUGHT WE HAD IT ALL THOUGHT WE HAD IT ALLLLLLLL. There's probably some nostalgia in here (I was in college when From Under the Cork Tree came out but I'm shocked how much I loved this years FOB album and while this song is the clear peak, there are three or four others on their that stand on par with anything in their catalog. They do the self-referential thing here where they call back to the other big single on this album. Again like a few others though, this is all about that great big chorus SO MUCH FOR STARDUST
Opens with stringy strings, then straight into a rumbling piano, every second verse punctuated with horns. This is throwback mid-00s Fall Out Boy at their absolute peak and hear comes the chorus. WE THOUGHT WE HAD IT ALL THOUGHT WE HAD IT ALL THOUGHT WE HAD IT ALL THOUGHT WE HAD IT ALLLLLLLL. There's probably some nostalgia in here (I was in college when From Under the Cork Tree came out but I'm shocked how much I loved this years FOB album and while this song is the clear peak, there are three or four others on their that stand on par with anything in their catalog. They do the self-referential thing here where they call back to the other big single on this album. Again like a few others though, this is all about that great big chorus SO MUCH FOR STARDUST
Brony
Footballguy
One small benefit of getting older is that I now really dont GAF what others think about my musical tastes. Years ago I would've rejected Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift because C'mon Bro.#9 - vampire - Olivia Rodrigo
It should be pretty clear by now that I'm a sucker for slow moving piano ballads that explode into massive singalong choruses. This one does that but it also keeps growing outward the whole way getting bigger and bigger, moving faster and faster and hitting peak after peak. "bloodsucker, fame ****er, bleedin' me dry like a ******* vampire."
I like Olivia Rodrigo's first album a little better than this one, but this was pretty good esp this track.
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