Criteria: Any single (be it radio, streaming, or video singles) released during the calendar year, or those released during 2022 that reached either their chart peak or greatest obvious visibility in 2023. The number of singles entries is limited to one proper single per artist. However, an artist can appear multiple times if they were on a feature or collaboration with a different lead artist.
25) Turnpike Troubadours- “Chipping Mill” (Thirty Tigers)
“Ran my heart through a chipping mill, sold my soul for rock & roll.” What a perfectly gritty line to further escalate the long-awaited return from one of the most popular Red Dirt outfits in a generation. Turnpike may have kept their rabid fan-base just barely at bay for half a decade, but once Evan Felker and company mustered the gumption for a comeback, it quickly became clear that they hadn’t missed a beat. Felker’s twang sounds just as wise and wry, and the fiddle and steel sounds just as joyously piercing.
24) Morgan Wallen- “Thought You Should Know” (Big Loud)
A refreshingly tender and soulful moment where the most commercially potent new superstar in country music–and ultimately American music as well–turns inward, acknowledges all of his human quirks and flaws, and pours out his heart in a letter to his mother. It’s beautifully intimate and conversational, all elements that absolutely soar thanks to Wallen’s sweet phrasing and humble expression.
23) Brandy Clark featuring Brandi Carlile- “Dear Insecurity” (Warner)
Clark and Carlile once again prove that they are sheer vocal magic together, and allow this gutting ballad to double as a stirring anthem again anxiety and self-doubt. It’s a warm blanket of friendly comfort and dramatic release from two modern American poets who are gracefully unafraid to wear their own imperfections on their sleeves, all in the name of great music and great humanity.
22) Black Pumas- “More Than A Love Song” (ATO)
This sensational soul duo made their long-awaited sophomore bow this year with an album that found them making slow but confident experimental strides from the core sound of their acclaimed debut. And while all of that proved intriguingly delectable in its own right, this lead single once again demonstrated just how alluring Black Pumas remain on straight-forwardly passionate soul numbers. It’s one of those performance that absolutely soars.
21) Paramore- “Running Out of Time” (Atlantic)
A frenetic, hilarious, and all-too-honest depiction of the anxiety-stirring pace that defines today’s societal expectations, a topic that makes a natural fit for Paramore’s classic coat of angsty, jittery post-punk. “Running” is perfectly nervy, relatable, danceable, and loaded with classic one-liners as only Hayley Williams can deliver (“There was a fire…metaphorically/Be there in five…hyperbolically”, “My watch is just for decoration”).
20) Lucero- “Buy A Little Time” (Thirty Tigers)
As searing and intense of a rock & roll jolt as anything I heard all year long. “Buy A Little Time” is a bawdy four-minute encapsulation of everything that has made Lucero one of the most electrifying and best-kept rock & roll secrets of the past quarter-century. Ben Nichols’ craggy vocals, Brian Venable’s blazing guitar riffs, and Rick Steff’s sensuous piano reach new scorching heights in this kerosene-drenched vat of hard rock, cowpunk, and Memphis soul.
19) Kylie Minogue- “Padam, Padam” (Kylie)
What a tantalizing joy it was to see such a sizable portion of this year’s pop music conversation dancing in rhythm with this track’s sexy heartbeat. Minogue had long-ago proven herself impervious to the passing trends and flavor-of-the-month fascinations in modern pop and dance music, assertively establishing herself as a GOAT in that canon. It was nevertheless both a revelatory surprise and comforting reminder in the year 2023 to get swept up in yet another sweltering bombard of comeback beats from this unflappable queen.
18) Noah Kahan featuring Post Malone- “Dial Drunk” (Republic)
Noah Kahan’s emergence as a rising folk-rock rocket in the mainstream has provided plenty of nostalgic joy and honest musical sustenance for those of us rabid-Mumford maniacs who would have gladly allowed the folk-revival of the early 2010s to live on forever. The fact that it was Post Malone’s continual flirtation with his rootsier side that helped propel it was the kind of pop music surprises that will never lose their novelty. “Dial Drunk” is a ravenous slice of folk-pop euphoria, chock full of gritty emotion, awesome musicianship, and a sizzling collaborative chemistry.
17) Grace Potter- “Good Time” (Fantasy)
“Good Time” is a generous bastion of celebratory classic rock vibes, muddy blues, rousing soul, trippy storytelling, and hilarious lyrics. Anchoring it all is the ever-sexy, sensational vocals of one Grace Potter. This criminally overlooked track doubles as a tremendous stand-alone jam, and one of many thrilling threads on its source concept-album, of which for me ranks as Potter’s definitive career record. Spoiler alert: expect to see it high on our forthcoming albums Best Of. You might as well start listening in advance; you can thank me later.
16) Dua Lipa- “Dance the Night” (Atlantic)
This dance-pop banger from the runaway Barbie soundtrack proved to the perfect emblem for the film’s infectious blockbuster appeal, all while falling perfectly into Dua Lipa’s signature wheelhouse. That’s not to mention that it doubled as a satisfying hold-over while we waited on the superstar’s next move within her own discography. This would have easily held its own on the track list of Future Nostalgia, every bit as engaging as smashes like “Levitating” and “Break My Heart”.
15) Luke Combs- “Fast Car” (Sony)
There are so many narratives that can be spun surrounding Luke Combs’ colossal success with this tremendous cover of Tracy Chapman’s 1988 folk-rock classic. There’s the fact that it found a true-blue country king using his superstar status to get a 35-year-old song by a black and queer woman past the stale, conservative gatekeepers of mainstream country radio. Then there’s the bonus that it was a certified crossover smash, and became a beacon at the center of country’s sheer domination of the Billboard 200 in 2023. But at the core of all of its success is the simple fact that it finds a great singer performing a great song, one that’s rife with real-life substance and eloquent storytelling. And those qualities are ultimately just as powerful, refreshing and fashionable in 2023 as they were in 1988, and any year before, in between or to come.
14) Chris Stapleton- “White Horse” (Mercury)
The country giant has assembled a tremendous body of work over the past eight years, all of which has proven itself a stunning showcase for both the songwriting and singing genius of Chris Stapleton. With that said, “White Horse” ultimately feels like the most commanding and visceral performance those mystical pipes have ever produced. The bluesy, western production proves itself just as powerful, matching Stapleton’s soulful intensity at every turn, permeating a seductive mystery that is equal-parts high-octane and profound.
13) Jimmy Buffett- “Bubbles Up” (Sun)
While it may be impossible to view this track without any ounce of emotional bias given the circumstances surrounding its release, there is still no denying that “Bubbles Up” is easily one of Jimmy Buffett’s greatest vocal performances. This single is rich with the loveliest qualities of his friendly voice, and it’s supported by a gorgeously stripped country arrangement that feels like a warm embrace meant to comfort our grief. Here, Buffett does far more than simply leave us with words of wisdom for life’s most challenging roadblocks. In reality, he wrote himself the perfect eulogy for his own life well-lived.
12) Billie Eilish- “What Was I Made For” (Atlantic)
While the earlier mentioned Dua Lipa single served as a fantastic showpiece for all of the glitzy appeal at the surface of the Barbie film, this heart-wrenching and devastatingly reflective ballad represented all of the deep social commentary living at the heart of the movie. It’s also a career performance for Billie Eilish; a deeply rewarding embodiment of the most potent elements of the brooding bedroom pop sounds that have made her this era’s most unassuming superstar.
11) Taylor Swift- “Cruel Summer” (Republic)
This fizzy bop from 2019’s Lover was originally slated for summer smash-dom back in 2020, but a worldwide pandemic had other plans. But all’s well that ends well in Swiftie-land. Instead, we got two classic quarantine albums from the superstar, and “Cruel Summer” was bestowed the distinction as the centerpiece of the biggest tour in history. It all sort of feels like poetic justice with the Eras tour unofficially serving as the final nail to live music’s COVID doldrums. And now that epic bridge is destined to soundtrack all future summers from now until the end of time…
10) Kelsea Ballerini- “If You Go Down, I’m Going Down Too” (Black River)
While Ballerini’s 2023 proved to be defined, and deservedly so, by the post-divorce confessions of Rolling Up the Welcome Mat, this durable late-2022 release from her previous record became a dark-horse highlight of the past twelve months. Easily the rootsiest moment of her career to date, this deliciously dastardly ode to friendship is laced with Shania-spunk and endlessly fiddle-laden Chicks-fluences throughout. Country music’s most delightful toe-tapper in ages, and definitely a shade I want to see her explore in droves from here on out.
9) Zach Bryan featuring Kacey Musgraves- “I Remember Everything” (Warner)
The Americana world’s version of a superstar collaboration; it unites two of this generation’s most important singer-songwriters across all spectrums of American music. Every moment of this wrenching duet gives me chills, but no moment more so than when Musgraves comes in with her ghostly first lyric: “You’re drinking everything to ease your mind, but when the hell are you gonna ease mine?”. The level of yearning this record achieves is sublimely impressive. Here’s hoping this is the precursor to a reemergence of vintage country Kacey in 2024. Either way, we know we can count on Bryan for another ten albums…at least. Bring ’em on.
8) Foo Fighters- “Under You” (Roswell)
I absolutely love that “Under You” is an unquestionable song of mourning and loss distilled into a classic Foo Fighters post-grunge anthem. For starters, its raucous sound serves as the perfect homage to the late drummer Taylor Hawkins who it is written in tribute to. Secondly, the surging sound also is indicative of the immense void that remains in our lives, even as we struggle to move back into our routines and awaken form the initial stages of shock and darkness. In reality, the roaring rock nature of this track actually makes all of those complicated emotions in Dave Grohl’s delivery all the more palpable and real. “Under You” is anthemic and devastating all the same. Is there any better combination in music, or any more honest representation of real life in general?
7) Olivia Rodrigo- “Vampire” (Geffen)
“Vampire” is unequivocally a master-class in pop-record craftsmanship. Go ahead and fight me on it; I won’t back down. This record seamlessly blends elements of singer-songwriter, rock-opera, gothic drama, and piano balladry into a perfect pop-hit package. It’s a swirling showcase for Rodrigo’s vocal power, poetic lyricism, and stylistic creativity. It’s a daunting task to resist being fascinated by the whiplashing sonic sequences (which recall the heights of vignette-driven rock) and utterly swept up in the emotional drama of it all. It’s the kind of theatrically emotional experience that used to be a normal occurrence in the top forty of a half-century ago.
6) Charles Wesley Godwin- “Miner Imperfections” (Big Loud)
An astoundingly beautiful piece of songwriting. In many ways, “Miner Imperfections” plays like this generation’s version of “Coal Miner’s Daughter”, and not simply because of the common occupational ties. Moreso because of the deep sense of humble pride and love beating at the heart of both songs. Godwin’s vocal performance is sturdy yet trembling, and both qualities beautifully represent the tribute he’s paying here to a man’s strengths, as well as his human flaws. Godwin’s been great for some time now, but this is the crowning moment he’s been building towards these past few years.
5) Margo Price- “Change of Heart” (Loma Vista)
2023 proved to be the year that Margo Price reached the sonic destination that her first three albums had slowly been navigating towards: a blazing stylistic combination of 60s honky tonk twang, 70s Cosmic American spirit, and 80s Heartland anthemia. The explosive “Change of Heart” is the apex of that musical explosion, and it sends a surging energy through your bloodstream that is nearly impossible to shake. If Price’s haunting Southern Gothic vocals won’t entrance you, then the badass riffs or unrelenting organ certainly will.
4) Rolling Stones with Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder- “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” (Polydor)
And what a sweet sound this is. The world’s most legendary surviving band sounding as vibrantly passionate as they have in many moons. This is a gorgeously pulsating slice of bluesy gospel that builds marvelously around Mick Jagger’s classic rock bite, Lady Gaga’s sumptuous harmonies, and Stevie Wonder’s soulful key strokes. It all comes together in such a distinguished fashion that so few of us could possibly expect on paper, in spite of the undeniable talent gathered. This is a true rock & roll “lightning in a bottle” moment, one that feels like both a creative and spiritual reawakening for the Stones. Quite simply one of the year’s greatest musical triumphs.
3) Miley Cyrus- “Flowers” (Columbia)
Miley Cyrus certainly got her flowers this year, and then some. From the moment this cutting pop ballad and its sly Bruno Mars paraphrase left the station in early January, a sizable bulk of the year in pop music was indebted to “Flowers”. And for good reason. It’s a dream of a pop smash, offering a beguiling vocal performance, tasty break-up bravado, tempting dance beats, and haunting soul harmonies that send the track into the stratosphere. Some singles are just flat-out unstoppable and this was one of them. It’s one of those definitive signature songs for its time, and one that will only grow in stature in the years ahead.
2)Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit- “Cast Iron Skillet” (Southeastern)
One of the stunning qualities that separates the good songwriters from the truly great is one’s ability with intimate details and using them to illustrate not just an image, but an entire story. Jason Isbell long ago established himself as a writer with that gift. And “Cast Iron Skillet” only further heightens that lofty reputation, with its masterful weaving of specific yet seemingly trivial details into gravely dark human moments that forever shape one’s worldview. This also easily ranks among his most quietly devastating vocals, yet somehow also shimmers with a subtle wink of hope and wit.
1) Ashley McBryde- “Light On In the Kitchen” (Warner)
This was one of those years where I was initially indecisive in terms of picking my top single; it originally could have landed on a wide array of the different selections featured in the countdown’s second half. Ultimately however, I couldn’t stop returning to this powerfully resonant and criminally underappreciated gem from Ashley McBryde. Her rich voice, the warm guitar, and sweet mandolin combined with the heartwarming intimacy of the song’s story hits me in all the right feels, again and again. The fact that she saves the most cunning and humorous couplet of the song (rhyming “bitchin'” with “kitchen”) for the precise moment where the song has the listener on the verge of tears is nothing short of songwriting brilliance. But the real achievement of “Light On In the Kitchen” is how McBryde so perfectly depicts the life-long comfort, guidance, and love we receive from our mothers. As she sings her mother’s words of wisdom out loud, its as if she’s trying to build them into her own internal compass, so that they’re there to provide her the same direction she’ll still need when that kitchen light inevitably no longer shines. Music is at its most beautiful when its raw, honest, and personal like real life itself. And “Light On In the Kitchen” is a luminous example of this fact.
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