Top 50 of 2023 / #5 – 1: Pure Joy, The Devil and Being the Worst

We’re here. We have gone through the top 45 tracks of 2023 all to get to this point. There is nothing much else to say other than these are my 5 best tracks of 2023. After this you will have 50 tracks to check out and when someone says, “Man, music now sucks…Nothing good comes out anymore.” You can print this list out, slap them in the face with it and tell them to listen to music and shut up. Ok. That’s a bit aggressive, but hey, people need to wake up to good music.

5. Killer Mike ft. El-P: Don’t Let the Devil

It is fitting that the first single off Killer Mike’s new solo record is basically a Run the Jewels track. I love Killer Mike and his explosive delivery punches holes in a rich 70s soul backing track as he raps about the devil, hypocrisy in religion, injustice and holding thos in power accountable. El-P then jumps in to drop bars about how great he and Mike are, how the church is corrupt and his love for Mike. Amongst all the religious, racial and societal themes in this track the love between Killer Mike and El-P comes through. It is this love that gives us hope in a world where the devil has more power than ever.

4. G Flip: The Worst Person Alive

This is the highest an Aussie artist has ever placed on the top 50. G Flip has made it on past top 50s and their career has only gone up year after year. This track is in line with Olivia Rodrigo’s coming of age break – up songs as G Flip sings about how they have gone from the “love of your life / Now I’m the worst person alive.” It is a song about conflicting emotions after a relationship ends and how you may still love the person, but in order to deal with the loss there is anger and you have now turned into the worst person alive. Lyrically it is something everyone can relate to, but musically is where this track really shines. G Flip’s skater punk drums with shimmering guitar blast out as their vocal becomes raw and unbridled. I get the sense this track is G Flip’s musical vision totally realised within this unique space of pop, punk and singer songwriter. This is an amazing track and one that will be on a lot of 2023 lists.

3. Janelle Monáe: Float

It is great to get new music from Janelle Monáe, who can do everything from act to sing to probably build a boat. Monáe’s new track Float is all about embracing your true identity and self in the face of criticism, hate and fear from others. You float above those messages to live your true gender, your true sexuality and your true self. This is an incredibly uplifting and inspirational track with one of the best funk and brass backing bands over. It is about standing tall with your head up and floating over all the negative messages you hear in your life. In a year with a lot of chaos and negativity, let Monáe be the lighthouse that guides you to inner peace.

2. Sufjan Stevens: So You Are Tired

Stevens has been putting out some music recently, but this is his first full LP in a few years. It is a heartfelt track about religion, spirituality, forgiveness, death and learning from your mistakes. Like most Sufjan Stevens tracks his angelic vocal is paired with a choir, which is more of a spiritual awakening than a song. In this track Stevens learns about himself and forgiveness at the time of death. It is a heavy track, but it touches on all the big questions we all think about as time passes. In the end, we all become tired and we are a culmination of our lives and those we have loved.

1 . Boygenius: Not Strong Enough

Boygenius has been on this list already, but it has been a big year for Phoebe, Lucy and Julien. They have dropped their first LP and have taken the music world by storm. Their storytelling, soulful harmonies and excellent musicality have captured the hearts of both critics and the public. For me, Not Strong Enough is the standout on the record and easily the best track of 2023. The track explores depression, the consequences and senselessness of toxic masculinity and the longing to be more than who we are. The mix of indie folk with a touch of country creates a lush musical landscape for the band’s vocals to dance and play throughout the track. No matter how many times I listened to the top 10 in preparation for the top 50 this track always came out on top. I love this track and it is a fitting top track of 2023.