2023 has been another superb year for music. Whether that’s exciting debuts from artists all over the world, or veterans of the game returning with a banger, or even films offering excellent soundtracks, it seems like good music was wherever you went. Which is great.
Here’s a list of Our Best Singles of 2023. Whittling it down to just fifty was tough, but we’re happy with how it’s turned out. So much so, that you can listen along on the (Our) Best Singles Of 2023 playlist while you read and (hopefully) agree!
50. CHARTREUSE – ‘SWITCH IT ON, SWITCH IT OFF’
“The album kicks off with ‘All Seeing All the time’ a strong opener for the album and was one of the standout songs when released prior to the album and made up the Whippet EP. The band can perfectly craft a strong build to the big wave that comes over you with the chorus of “All seeing all the time / all believing all the while”.”
49. JOCK – ‘MOVING’
“It’s raw, gutsy and ready to erupt at any moment. Making it an exciting listen. Jock have dropped quite the consistent stream of singles this year, and ‘Moving’ helps build momentum into the new year.”
48. SAMUEL BLANEY – ‘PARADISE’
“The introspective lyricism is complimented by the harmonious, gentle instrumental, with the soft, melancholic song feeling rooted in nature. The tune has an otherworldly, rural feel, with Blaney crafting a sylvan soundscape. The song feels very personal but is easy to connect with as a listener, displaying the songwriter’s talent.”
47. GRANDMAS HOUSE – ‘BODY’
“Centring around concepts of struggling to feel comfortable in one’s body, the lyrics – barked out by vocalists Yasmin Berndt and Poppy Dodgson – express anger at the pressures of the modern world: “been wandering around on this world for a while/what you see is just a lie” is a line that both demonstrates the group’s powerhouse vocal, and reflects the gloomy nature of the song’s instrumental core.”
46. PORIJ – ‘YOU SHOULD KNOW ME’
45. ROYAL BLOOD – ‘MOUNTAINS AT MIDNIGHT’
44. MY FIRST TIME – ‘WIND UP MERCHANT’
“Written about the absolute lads you encounter on a night out, ‘Wind Up Merchant’ is a tongue in cheek homage to those who look to have an absolute riot with their bevs, or maybe a cheeky scrap or two. Driven by guitars determined to ram their riffs into your face, the song has no issue squaring up to you.”
43. HIMALAYAS – ‘ALONE’
42. PENNY RICH – ‘SPIRALS’
41. GHOST LOVE – ‘MOURNERS DISCO’
“Steeped in its heavy topic, ‘Mourners Disco’ tries its best to move forward in spite of the pain it feels. Soft, emotive chords ease out of the speakers, producing a mood that surrounds the mind. Cloaking it in a fog that illustrates the topic wonderfully.”
Check out our premiere of ‘Mourners Disco’.
40. THE JAPANESE HOUSE – ‘SAD TO BREATHE’
39. CHERISE – ‘2 STEPPIN’’
38. SIR CHLOE – ‘HOOVES’
“Beyond the title itself, we have single ‘Hooves’, a staple riot of the album as vocalist Dana Foote repeats “you’ve been chewing my hair over and over again”, while the former track ‘Leash’ seems to explore feelings of not wanting to belong to someone, a desire to be in control.”
37. HONEYMOAN – ‘SORRY LIKE YOU MEAN IT’
36. MAYER HAWTHORNE – ‘THE POOL’
35. SHAME – ‘FINGERS OF STEEL’
34. AMIE JAY – ‘MISS BEING IN LOVE’
“‘Miss Being in Love’ is a fantastic listen that explores the traits of last year’s Cancer Sun and puts a fresh perspective on top. Its mood projects being afraid and cautious, but musically sounds composed and ready to celebrate all the nice things that come from being an “us” again.”
33. SUDS – ‘PAINT MY BODY’
“Flooding the airwaves with Dinosaur Jr. levels of fuzz is a great way to start, and the open-hearted documentation of self-reflection helps them leave a lasting impression too. It makes you feel like you’ve known the band for years, while their sounds remains fresh-faced and close to falling apart (in the best way).”
32. NOTHING BUT THIEVES – ‘WELCOME TO THE DCC’
31. GENESIS OWUSU – ‘TIED UP!’
30. THE LAST DINNER PARTY – ‘NOTHING MATTERS’
Probably the biggest band to emerge into the mainstream, The Last Dinner Party have released a steady stream of singles that justify all of the plaudits they’ve received this year. We are throwing praise to where it all started – ‘Nothing Matters’.
29. KINDELAN – ‘HAZEL FRUSTRATION’
“For a 3-minute track, there’s so much to unpack both sonically and lyrically. A track that Laura clearly created with her heart on her sleeve, it leaves listeners wondering where ‘Hazel Frustration’ fits in the context of Kindelan’s growth both personally and artistically.”
Full feature including interview.
28. TEMPLES – ‘GAMMA RAYS’
27. GAFFA TAPE SANDY – ‘SPLIT’
26. DUA LIPA – ‘DANCE THE NIGHT’
Barbie truly reignited the excitement for the cinema, and it came with a banging soundtrack too. Whether you’re bopping to ‘I’m Just Ken’ or ‘Dance The Night’, Barbie really brought her A-game this year. Dua Lipa can seemingly do no wrong on what is the latest in a long line of hits.
25. LOW GIRL – ‘POCKETS’
“Its electronic vibe softly colours in the atmosphere while blissful melodies and deep basslines lead the way. Sarah Cosgrove’s vocals coolly interject themselves into the mix, adding hooks and rhythm into this floaty yet rigid setup.”
24. BETTER JOY – ‘HARD TO LOVE’
“While lyrically it challenges the messy topic of self-love, ‘Hard To Love’ has all the tools to make you make the straight forward decision to fall in love with it. It is simple but it utilises that simplicity to become very catchy.”
23. BOYGENIUS – ‘$20’
“Baker’s ‘$20’ delivers the “sick riffs” she wanted to bring to boygenius, but also gives all three the opportunity to let loose and scream their way through its heavy-hitting riffs and atmospheric haze.”
22. MITSKI – ‘MY LOVE MINE ALL MINE’
21. GENEVIEVE MILES – ‘THE PAST’
20. THE HIVES – ‘BOGUS OPERANDI’
“The lead single shakes off the ring rust, reintroducing the sheer power and energy that are synonymous with the band. Packed with riffs and thrilling moments, this is one of the best songs they’ve made yet.”
The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons review.
19. HOLLY HUMBERSTONE – ‘PAINT MY BEDROOM BLACK’
18. SUNFLOWER THIEVES – ‘IT’S NOT LIKE THE CHRISTMAS FILMS’
“That dose of reality and reaction to real-world events ripples through a traditionally Sunflower Thieves sound: warm, open-armed acoustic chords cut with strings. Adding a sadness to the mix, with lyrics that detail the loss of loved ones and the ever-growing awareness of their absence.”
Peeled Back: Sunflower Thieves – ‘It’s Not Like The Christmas Films’
17. GORILLAZ – ‘CRACKER ISLAND’
16. M(H)AOL – ‘ASKING FOR IT’
“A bare-bones instrumental that quickly builds itself up into an abrasive sound that fits the tone perfectly. The unashamed, sarcastic delivery of lines such as “Were you asking for it?” and “I’m just the dumb bitch that left the party with you” cut through the jagged edges to really cut deep.”
15. GLU – ‘NIGHT SHIFT’
“‘NIGHT SHIFT’ seems to dance around its relationship with vices with upbeat keys and a chorus that swells and blooms. With references to existential crisis heard throughout, it cuts a pretty strong contrast against the sedative-esque instrumental.”
14. LAURAN HIBBERD – ‘I SUCK AT GRIEVING’
13. THE AMNIOTICS – ‘HMPB’
“‘HMPB’ is a punchy number that illustrates all of that fury perfectly. Built up by raucous guitars and vocals that feel like they’re being shouted right in your face, it’s got everything you could want for when you wanna feel a little angry.”
12. JESSIE WARE – ‘FREE YOURSELF’
11. COACH PARTY – ‘ALL I WANNA DO IS HATE’
10. IDLES FT LCD SOUNDSYSTEM – ‘DANCER’
Taking a break from their relentless output last year, IDLES made a mighty return with a new attitude for groove. ‘Dancer’ is a LCD Soundsystem influenced number that harnesses the Bristol lot’s grittiness and pairs it with an overwhelming desire to dance, and the sweat too.
9. PEACH – ‘BAD TOUCH’
Another Bristol band that made waves this year is PEACH. The four-piece really came and blew our minds on their inaugural year, and a large part of that was ‘Bad Touch’. It’s furious, angular riffs are met with equally fuming vocals that really pack a punch.
8. CONFIDENCE MAN FT. DJ SEINFELD – ‘NOW U DO’
Confidence Man have continued to ride the momentum of their live shows by releasing singles that embraces their live setting. ‘Now U Do’ is arguably the biggest earworm of the year, with its simple but effective beat and effortless hooks. We’re very excited to see where they go in 2024.
7. BLACK HONEY – ‘CHARLIE BRONSON’
There were a lot of highlights from gigs this year, but not many come close to hearing ‘Charlie Bronson’ live. Hitting hard already in its studio form, we were not prepared for the sheer blast it brought to Southend’s Chinnerys. Black Honey absolutely killed it with a great record, and Charlie fuckin’ Bronson is the cherry on top.
6. FOO FIGHTERS – ‘THE TEACHER’
Foo Fighters responded to a life-altering time in the best way possible: back in the studio. New album But Here We Are is fantastic and a real highlight among many is ‘The Teacher’. A ten-minute jewel that sees the Foos explore new genres and directions that totally revitalised their sound.
5. FIZZ – ‘CLOSE ONE’
FIZZ made a dynamic entrance this year, but in amongst the group vocals and togetherness is ‘Close One’. A song that sees the Brighton band at their most intimate, it is a wonderfully raw tune that battles against the internal turmoil of dealing with an old flame one more time. Fun fact: this is the song I play when I’m in the kitchen.
4. QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE – ‘EMOTION SICKNESS’
Seven years of waiting led to a wonderful moment. QOTSA returned with ‘Emotion Sickness’. A song that brought fire and gusto back to the Queens, and all the riffage and word play you could ever need. Gloriously off-kilter and groovy, with a chorus that even gets my other half singing along, this was a great way to kick off an excited journey towards In Times New Roman…
3. JUNGLE – ‘BACK ON 74’
Viral dances on TikTok aside, Jungle are one of the most consistent acts around. You really can’t go wrong with them. ‘Back On 74’ is a prime example of this – its laid back, looped beat transports you back to the summer, and allows you the time to sink it all in.
2. PARAMORE – ‘THIS IS WHY’
Paramore followed up their shift in sound on After Laughter with the equally brilliant This Is Why, which seemed to harness the heaviness just a little more. Its title track is a wonky, hard hitting, hook-ladened tune that has not left my mind at all this year.
1. DREAM NAILS – ‘GOOD GUY’
It was hard to decide on one song to be our favourite of the year, but this is the one that kept coming back to us. Dreams Nails knocked it out of the park with their new album Doom Loop, with the recruitment of new vocalist Isamael Kirby ascending them into a new level of fuck yeah.
‘Good Guy’ takes aim at those males who portray themselves to be exactly that but hold ulterior motives. With its snaking riffs and scathing lyrics, it is a song that’s full of venom but layered with hooks that makes it so accessible. It is a fantastic song that hits hard in many ways and has continued to be a highlight in an album of highlights.
And that’s it! Our best singles of 2023. We hope you have enjoyed listening and reading along. Perhaps you could share your thoughts with us below, or online, or by post (that would be ambitious). There are a lot of new artists featured who were only just getting started this year, so it’ll be interesting to see how they do in 2024.
Next up is our FINAL list and post of 2023 – Our Best Albums Of 2023. It’s been emotional, but I’m looking forward to eating a lot of pigs in blankets soon. Until tomorrow!