My favorite Songs & EPs, 2023
Plus honorable mentions from my favorite albums list!
Part 1 of 2 for my end of year lists! We’ll get right into it with my favorite songs playlist, at the end of the post is another playlist with songs from my favorite EPs and Honorable Mention albums.
My Favorite Songs
Below is a playlist of my favorite songs of the year, ordered alphabetically. Didn’t overthink it and wasn’t trying to hit any number or length. Just combed through everything I heard this year and picked what stood out and stayed in my rotation all year. It has 80 songs across 4 hours and 18 minutes. More stats from the playlist:
2 songs named After Midnight
4 songs under 2 minutes long
3 songs over 5 minutes long
11 songs that start with the letter S
10 songs that start with the letter D
3 song titles that use a letter as a number
2 different songs by different artists from projects called Hell Is A Teenage Girl
5 songs that are stylized in all uppercase letters
8 songs that are stylized in all lowercase letters
Every song is basically either really fun and catchy or incredibly sad, that’s just the type of shit I’ve been on lately (my whole life). Enjoy
My Favorite Songs, 2023
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY
My Favorite EPs
I listened to 267 EPs in 2023, these were my 25 favorite ones!
25. Antennae - binki
Genres: Alternative, Indie, Punk
Recommended For Fans Of: Bakar, King Krule, Yeek
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
More punk fused indie rock from the Brooklyn artist, continues to build an impressive foundation for his sound.
24. Versions of You - Rocket
Genres: Alternative, Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Momma, Hotline TNT, Smashing Pumpkins
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Read my feature on the exciting young North Hollywood rockers here!
23. shapeless - daine
Genres: Electronic, Pop, Emo, Metal
Recommended For Fans Of: Raveena Golden, 8485, Dylan Brady
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Hyperpop meets emo (and occasionally metal) on this energized sophomore EP from the Australian artist.
22. Bubblegum - Biig Piig
Genres: Dance, Electronic, Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: yunè pinku, NEIL FRANCES, DRAMA
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
The UK singer’s hypnotically bubbly debut delivers on the promise from her breakout single Kerosene.
21. Dystopia Girl - Harmony
Genres: Electronic, Pop, Hyperpop
Recommended For Fans Of: Hannah Diamond, caro♡, Babebee
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
On the first release post-Girlpool, Harmony sways away from guitars and towards electro-pop.
20. CHRYSALIS - Unusual Demont
Genres: R&B, Indie
Recommended For Fans Of: Choker, Ryan Beatty, Isaia Huron
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
The last EP I listened to that made the list, this December release further solidifies Unusual Demont as a must-watch name in R&B.
19. BABYLON IX - yunè pinku
Genres: Electronic, Garage, Club, Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: PinkPantheress, John Glacier, Peggy Gou
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
I featured the UK producer/singer’s debut EP back in spring ‘22, and the follow up was just as delicious.
18. LFG - INJI
Genres: Dance, Pop, Electronic, Club
Recommended For Fans Of: COBRAH, Emei, Tove Lo
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Endlessly fun, hyper-aware dance pop highlights this debut EP.
17. KLEPTO - spill tab
Genres: Alternative, Indie
Recommended For Fans Of: Wallice, Blu DeTiger, Hannah Jadagu
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
spill tab raises the bar on their third and by far most impressive work to date.
16. Fourth of July - Quiet Light
Genres: Alternative, Indie, DIY
Recommended For Fans Of: Sadurn, Samia, Fazerdaze
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Austin artist Quiet Light was one of my favorite discoveries in what was a big year for them, with three project releases, this being my favorite of the bunch.
15. Blueboy Must Die - No Rome
Genres: Electronic, Indie, Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: bearface, The 1975
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
With his first new music since 2021, No Rome continues to push out touchingly human electronic bangers.
14. Health - Medium Build
Genres: Alternative, Indie Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Del Water Gap, Briston Maroney, Quinn Christopherson
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Medium Build had a huge 2023, and it all started with this stellar EP from January.
13. Like…? - Ice Spice
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Being a baddie
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
I don’t even understand how her same flow always works, but it works on every song.
12. BB/ANG3L - Tinashe
Genres: Pop, R&B, Dance
Recommended For Fans Of: Shygirl, Normani, Kehlani
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Tinashe continues to flourish in life/music since getting out of her previous record deal.
11. STILL PRETTY - Eem Triplin
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: LUCKI, Baby Keem, SSGKobe
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Johnstown, Pennsylvania rapper Eem Triplin raps with such an addicting cadence, the great bars and beats are just a bonus.
10. Delusional - Dev Lemons
Genres: Pop, Electronic, Indie Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: Remi Wolf, Magdalena Bay, Babebee
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
This EP crept up on me with how much I kept coming back to it and before I knew it , it became one of my favorites of the year.
9. Rebel Heart - Paris Williams
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: N.E.R.D., Tyler the Creator, Cousin Stizz
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
2024 is going to be a big year for Paris Williams, you’ll want to follow along. Start with my feature of his excellent January EP Rebel Heart, here.
8. Sandhills - Toro y Moi
Genres: Alternative, Indie, Folk
Recommended For Fans Of: Khruangbin, Kevin Morby
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Toro y Moi went home, to South Carolina, where he tried on his folk/country hat for a refreshingly original and earnest EP.
7. Un/limited Love - George Riley
Genres: R&B, Electronic, Soul, Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: John Glacier, Nia Archives, Dreamcastmoe
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Riley aims for dance floor hits in this groovy follow up to last year’s album.
6. Good Intentions - Hello Yello
Genres: Alternative, Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: binki, ernest rareberrg, Jean Dawson
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
The Oakland band takes a major jump on their first project since the 2019 debut EP, and establishes themselves as a band to watch out for.
5. 6 - Kenny Mason
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Paris Texas, Jean Dawson, JID, Deftones
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Even in a year without a major project rollout, Mason continues to prove why he’s been one of my favorite rappers to watch over the last two/three years (sorry I didn’t rank this at 6).
4. Confessions of a Fangirl - Cydnee with a C
Genres: Pop, Drum & Bass, Electronic, R&B
Recommended For Fans Of: Take Van, PinkPantheress, Mercury
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
This incredibly unique debut EP plays out like a collage of pictures on a teenager’s bedroom wall, a sonic mood board in the best way.
3. going…going…GONE! - Hemlocke Springs
Genres: Synth Pop, Electronic, Indie
Recommended For Fans Of: Kilo Kish, Rachel Chinouriri, Chenayder
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Hemlocke Springs beats the ‘one-hit wonder’ and ‘TikTok artist’ allegations in a major way with this creative EP of bedroom synth pop.
2. Boy Toy - Sam Austins
Genres: Alternative, Rock, Hip-Hop/Rap, Indie
Recommended For Fans Of: Jean Dawson, Kevin Abstract, Junior Varsity, Sir Chloe
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Sam Austins’ aggressive and in your face style of upbeat rock will keep you coming back for more (it did for me, all year).
1. Everything Perfect - James Ivy
Genres: Alternative, Rock, Pop, Indie
Recommended For Fans Of: Junior Varsity, Harry Teardrop, Porter Robinson
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Think every song on here has had at least one point throughout the year where I thought it was the best song on this EP. An incredibly replayable project that keeps getting better with each listen.
My Favorite Albums, Honorable Mentions
Tomorrow I’m dropping my annual list of 100 favorite albums of the year! That’s already a crazy high number, but what’s crazier is there’s still more that just missed the cut I wanted to spotlight. Here’s 11 albums that barely didn’t make my albums of 2023 list, but I still loved a lot this year. No order.
FLYEST GANGSTAS - G4 EDITION (2007) - THE FLYEST GANGSTAS
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Clipse, Neptunes, 50 Cent
BANDCAMP
Honestly if there was a proper streaming release of this project, I think it handily cracks my list. But for now head to Bandcamp to enjoy these unearthed Virginia heaters.
Hearth Room - Frost Children
Genres: Electronic, Alternative, Hyperpop, Indie
Recommended For Fans Of: underscores, 100 Gecs, George Clanton
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Frost Children are making the list with their first album of 2023, but I have to also give a shoutout to this second project they slid in at the end of the year showing a different side to their sound.
I Can’t Feel My Face Too - Robb Bank$ & Tony Shhnow
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Popstar Benny, Dc2trill
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Both rappers combined for more music than I could keep track of this year, but they came together for a great collection of entertainingly toxic raps here.
So Vanilla - Viji
Genres: Indie, Rock, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Spill Tab, HighSchool
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE
Viji’s debut album delivered lo-fi indie grunge for sad girls.
And Southern Star - Mikaela Davis
Genres: Folk, Alternative, Psychedelic, Country
Recommended For Fans Of: Jade Bird, Stevie Nicks
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Mikaela Davis’ second album (first since 2018!) was a delight, filled with 60s-tinged folk-pop.
tx3k - Texas 3000
Genres: Emo, Rock,
Recommended For Fans Of: Hotline TNT, Truth Club, The Hotelier
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Midwestern Japanese Emo alert!
LIVING PROOF - DRAIN
Genres: Metal, Hard Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: MSPAINT, SOUL GLO
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Really don’t listen to much metal, but I enjoyed this one from DRAIN. Getting to the intermission on my first listen through and hearing how seamlessly west coast rap was integrated after five straight hardcore songs had me smiling harder than pretty much any ‘first listen moment’ in 2023.
Chaos Takes the Wheel and I Am a Passenger - awakebutstillinbed
Genres: Emo, Rock, Punk, Screamo
Recommended For Fans Of: Home Is Where, Pool Kids, Oso Oso
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Emo is also a genre I don’t find myself listening to much, but I grew attached to the song Stumble from awakebutstillinbed’s debut album in 2018. 5 years later, I still feel like they’re making some of the best music in the genre.
It’s Too Quiet..’!! - Pink Siifu & Turich Benjy
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Young Thug, Armand Hammer, WiFiGawd
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
This project is all over the place, and has an all-star list of features. Great listen.
Worlds Worst - Worlds Worst
Genres: Garage, Rock, Grunge
Recommended For Fans Of: Yuck, Toner
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
I featured Worlds Worst with their second EP in 2021, and was just as impressed with their debut album this year.
Miracle-Level - Deerhoof
Genres: Indie Rock, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Palm, Animal Collective, Stereolab
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
19 albums in, and the Japanese alt-rock veterans are still finding ways to make some of the most exciting and interesting music out.
All the songs from my favorite EPs and honorable mentions are here in this playlist, that will also be updated with a song from each of my favorite albums when the list drops tomorrow. See you there!