Top 50 of 2023 / #50 – 46: Spiderman, The Blues and Metal

It is time! The annual top 50 new tracks is here. Now, before we begin let’s lay the ground rules. First, the cut off date was the second week of November, so anything after that will have to wait for next year. Secondly, I tried not to double up bands, but a few might sneak through due to featuring artists and a few bands put out two new records in the same year. Finally, the top 5 will be announced on the year end show in January…Rihanna and Taylor Swift are not in the top 5 this year…so the top 5 is up in the air. Enough rules, let’s get into the Top 50 of 2023!

50. The Rolling Stones: The Rolling Stone Blues:

First of all, thank Jesus I found alternative album art, which is vastly better than the original art. The Stones have been famous for two things over the last 40 plus years, amazing live shows and bloated filler studio releases. That all changed with Hackney Diamonds, which gave the band new energy for most likely their final release. The Rolling Stone Blues is a Muddy Waters cover and acts as a throwback to the stripped back, raw and punky late 60s of the band’s zenith. Ending their career with an emotional and passionate rendition of the song that gave the band its name would be a fantastic final note.

49. Metroboom ft. James Blake: Hummingbird

The Spider – Verse soundtracks have put out some amazing hits and this year’s record is no exception. This year we have James Blake providing the hit off the record with his hypnotising and emotive chorus on Hummingbird. You drift along with his vocal, which is a cross between a neon buzz and angels from heaven. Blake was busy this year with his own record Playing Robots Into Heaven, but for me this is his standout track of the year.

48. Avenged Sevenfold: Nobody

After seven years away from the studio, Avenged Sevenfold decided to put out some fire metal to make sure you don’t forget that they can tear it up. This is a song about contrasts, mortality and the fragility of life. However, what keeps bringing me back to this track is that fire guitar riff. It is one of favourite metal guitar riffs of the past five years and is metal perfection. The guitar goes from crunchy and soul crushing to an 80s glittery high octane solo. This track is a metal masterclass on guitar and should not be missed.

47. Death Pill: Dirty Rotten Youth

Did someone say Ukrainian feminist death punk? If you did, Death Pill is just for you. They embody the young anarchist / activist energy of all great punk bands and throw in some black / death metal crunch to finish it off. Dirty Rotten Youth is a great showcase of the band’s death metal chops with all the crunchy guitar and blistering drums you could ask for. This all woman metal band has also put out two new singles, so this is a band on the rise that we will probably hear from again on the top 50 of 2024.

46. Post Malone: Mourning

Now, I am not a Post Malone guy…but this track is just so damn catchy I couldn’t resist. This is a theme that will come up in the top 50 this year…bands / artists I don’t really like putting out tracks I couldn’t resist. This is classic Malone fair with a song about getting drunk and using drugs to excess, but there are hints of regret and rethinking his party lifestyle. This has a bit more of a darker mature edge that hooked me. Moreover, his vocal with that cruisey bass and acoustic guitar is just catnip for me. I hope this is a turn for Malone and we see more mature material from him, because I do like his vocal. This track goes down well and is made for the summer.

There it is, the first five. We will try for two posts a week leading up to the top 5 in January. I will try to get some other reviews for new tracks up, but it will depend on how long these posts take. I mean…listening to 50 tracks over and over is a lot of work…fun work…but work. The next 5 will look at emotional tributes, a Bunny and a band taking full advantage of its third act.