Top 50 of 2023 / #30 – 26: Our First Reggae Track, A Lot of Gecs and Some More Bunnies

We are nearing the top 20, which will be really tight and some hard decisions will need to be made. Having said that, we will get close to the halfway mark with this section…so it will be a sprint to the finish from then on. For those of you following along, we will return to our huge theme of foundational artists on this year’s list and hip hop will become more prevalent as we near number 1. Speaking of foundational artists…

30. Shaggy ft. Patrice Roberts: Whine and Jumping

Out of no where Shaggy dropped an EP where he makes a witches’ brew of dub step, dance hall and club, which is all about fun. In the last few years Shaggy is stretching out from his 90s pop reggae and exploring more club and dub genres with some very catchy tracks. Even though this is a Shaggy track about fun, marijuana and drinking a Lake Michigan sized glass of rum, it is Patrice Roberts who really steals the show. Her energy is great and it is great ot hear Shaggy having fun and sining about getting high.

29. City and Colour: Meant to Be

I have been a big fan of City and Colour, a.k.a. Dallas Green, since his 2013 record The Hurry and the Harm. He has been on top 50 lists before and he is back in all of his fragile indie folk greatness. Meant to Be brings in themes of questioning religion, managing grief and searching for purpose, all wrapped up in atmospheric slide guitar and ethereal vocals. This is City and Colour at his best and a track that will touch your soul.

28. 100 Gecs: Hollywood Baby

100 Gecs is an interesting mix of Daft Punk, 90s skater punk and Black Flag. Hollywood Baby blasts the excess of Hollywood with the most amped up tripped out robotic electro vocals you have ever heard. It makes for this interesting conflict between criticising excess, while doing it in the most over the top blown out vocals possible. However, at the core of this track is some old school skater / 90s punk with some crunching guitar and pounding drums. It is that rock core that puts it over the top and on the 50 for me.

27. Iggy Pop: Strung Out Johnny

This was one of the first tracks on the top 50 list due to its early release date in 2023. Iggy’s vocal has taken on a weathered late career Leonard Cohen patina in his later years, which works in this track about heroine, suffering and a wasted life. If there is one thing Iggy Pop is an authority in is the consequences and ravages of drug abuse, so the track takes on a personal note…as if Iggy Pop is talking to his past self in an attempt to save himself from what is to come. It’s great that Iggy Pop is still putting out meaningful music that is both personal and well executed.

26. Caroline Polachek: Bunny is a Rider

This is one sexy slick track. The arrangement moves from sparse electro beats with snaps and whistles, to an epic dance chorus. Polachek’s staccato delivery is both sexy and electric throughout the track. This is pop at its best with catchy vocals, electro clicks and buzzes, while still being fresh and trying new things. A definite must listen from a talented artist.

Now that we are in the 20s it is the business end. From here on out I will not have witty…or not so witty depending on your point of view…hints about the next section. We will be getting closer and closer to the top 10, so get ready.