In “More Than A Love Song”, Black Pumas have created a sound that’s as funky as any James Brown tune and at the same time as smooth as Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey.” I seriously enjoy listening to this song and look forward to following this duo throughout their career. This song is a total vibe, with Black Pumas once again making music that feels like a perfect drive down a smooth highway with beautiful mountain vistas out the window and the sun shining down. #8 Black Pumas - "More Than A Love Song" (from the album Chronicles of a Diamond) It’s full of energy, persistence, wonder, and life. The ups and downs of her voice, the music, and the story it portrays flow like a river. The title track, “The Returner,” is true to her signature sound: silky, sultry, and unapologetically dramatic. This new album is proving to have some real gems on it too. She received much critical acclaim for her debut solo album, Outside Child which came out in 2021 and had some really great unique sounding and profoundly deep songs. #9 Allison Russel - "The Returner" (from the album The Returner)Īllison Russell has been making big splashes on the music scene recently. For me, it’s Chill Vibes for the 2023 win. Something about 2023 (or maybe a few things) has me feeling like I want my music to calm my nervous system and soothe my soul. It's got a good beat, relatable lyrics, and a chill vibe, which as you will see, is true for just about everything on my list. And not to my surprise (because, as I said, I know I dig lots of what Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit has been doing over the last 10 years), I really, really like this song. So, when I saw this song title from a band I knew I already liked, I immediately gave the track a whirl. Two of them, actually, sit on my stove, get used multiple times a day, and are only washed when absolutely necessary. For the past twenty-five years, I have been a hardcore cast iron skillet user. I know that they say don’t judge a book by its cover, but the title of this song is what first caught my eye. #10 Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - "Cast Iron Skillet" (from the album Weathervanes) It sure was hard to make tons of cuts, but here are my TOP 10 FAVORITE SONGS FROM 2023, and a little bit about why I like each one. So, with that caveat, I’m going to give this Top 10 thing a shot! And after looking back over my Trail Mix playlists for the year, and going through notebooks and emails for mentions of new releases that I’ve jotted down, I think I’ve come up with a pretty good list. And it’s kind of random what comes across my headphones, or at least somewhat algorithmic and beyond my control. Even if I got paid to listen to new releases for 40 hours a week, (which sounds like a really great gig, don’t you think?) I would still only be able to listen to a fraction of what gets put out. There is sooo much music out there, and sooo much really awesome music out there, and sooo much access to that really awesome music at the click of a button that it’s utterly impossible to sift through it all. It’s not a new problem, but I think it’s getting worse. But, to be honest, it's also a little daunting because creating a Top Ten List is not an easy task. I must say, I am pretty excited about this. But I’ve never before done an actual End of the Year Top 10 List Write-Up. In years past, I’ve done a pretty loosey-goosey best of new releases themed Trail Mix show sometime around the end of the year.
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