*This list is curated by co-editor Greg Jones
20) J.M. Clifford – “Complicated Man”
-One of the themes that has always attracted me to quality music is the connection between the sacred and the profane. Clifford’s “Complicated Man” features both much like icons like Johnny Cash. I can certainly personally connect with Clifford’s sentiments here. The instrumentation is roots country with a beautiful moving string section that allows the vocal to soar over the arrangement. Get your toes tapping to this one while allowing the lyrics to permeate a deeper sense of meaning. What does it mean to be “fallen” and “broken,” all while acknowledging that the “good Lord” made another “complicated man?” This is my kind of music from start to finish! Love it!
19) FNTN – “Setting Sun”
-Sometimes these end of year lists end up being so focused on the folk and Americana stuff that we feature, that there’s not enough indie rock. Well let me tell you, FNTN’s “Setting Sun” is an indie rock jam that absolutely encapsulates the sound that I love to feature. The beat keeps the track moving, the guitars have an expressive energy all their own, and the vocal cuts through the mix perfectly. It’s a joyful, brilliant sound that allows the listener to connect with both the lyrics and the instrumentation. If you’ve ever been in the later stage of a relationship where you know it’s about to end but you can’t quite explain what’s wrong… this song will resonate. If you’re a fan of this kind of energetic indie rock music, definitely swing on by our indie rock playlist as well.
18) Levee Wolf – “Pam”
-I always tell people that I love narrative folk music, which is true. However, it’s hard to explain that I don’t like all (or even most) of it because it’s hard to find clever, fulfilling songwriting in that genre. But let me tell you Levee Wolf has created an incredible piece of folk songwriting with this great tune “Pam.” It’s about a waitress, sort of. It’s all about disappointment, rejection, sadness, joy, escapism, and reality. This is the most salt-of-the-earth song I heard all year and I love it. Any time a song can remind me this much of the late, great John Prine, it’s sure to be a winner. I hope you’ll listen to this a thousand times, share it with a thousand friends, and tap your toes every time. Just slow down when you spin it, ok?
17) Hannah Wyatt – “santa rio, goodbye”
-I don’t know where Joe Purdy is right now, but if I could get ahold of him I would play him this tune. Hannah Wyatt has captured the beautiful contemplative style of Purdy’s western-influenced folk music incredibly well here. It’s a bit of a cowboy song in some places with the fiddle and guitar, but at the end of the day it’s a narrative folk tune with heartache in its soul. I don’t fully know what these lyrics mean, but they seem to carry spiritual weight to them. The great thing is, even without fully knowing the context, the song makes sense as a hopeful lament; it laments the past and has hope for the new direction… a way back home.
16) Laura Lucas – “Valentine’s”
-These are some of the most beautiful vocal harmonies I’ve heard in 2023, full stop. This song “Valentine’s” by Laura Lucas is sure to find a following among our devoted folk followers. The unhurried, contemplative style here is absolutely wonderful. I appreciate how the orchestration creates another layer as the song unfolds. But I could honestly listen to this type of delicate, emotional harmony all day. There’s a breathtaking effect when the harmonies hit just right and they do throughout this meaningful, engaging song. I love this one.
15) Tricia Collins – “In the Light of the Moon”
-If you put the genres that defined my 2023 in a melting pot, they would probably produce something along the lines of this song from Tricia Collins. You’ll hear a beautiful lead vocal voice, easy going roots-country instrumentation, brilliant harmonies, and a banjo. The overall sound reminds me of bands like the Arcadian Wild or the Harmaleighs. The lyrics encourage the listener to think about relationships that have that romantic ideal with depth, sincerity, and connection. The beautiful vocals and overall sweetness of the track definitely make it stand out in multiple genre directions from Americana, to acoustic singer songwriter, to even a dash of indie pop. It’s beautiful and well worth your consideration.
14) Gillian Grogan – “Lo the Feeling”
-Every time I listen to this song, I am reminded how good it is. I’m sure there’s a genre or way to categorize it, but to me it’s just richly rewarding songwriting. Grogan’s voice is perfectly suited for the timeless Americana vibes that the song includes. There are shades of Old World folk music that somehow, almost ironically, collide with a contemporary folk style. The haunting energy from the ancillary string work balances with the intimacy of the vocal to create a texture unlike anything else you’ve heard in “folk” music today. This is experimental, deep, and sensational. If I was a music professor instead of a history teacher, I would study this one in classes. I think it’s an exceptional piece of songwriting and I hope that more people will find Grogan’s outstanding work.
13) Levi Barrett – “Orofino”
-This was the very first song I added to the song of the year list back in the beginning of 2023. I have listened to it a lot of times. It’s about riding a motorcycle. The lonesomeness of the guitar playing provides a satisfying metaphor of riding in the open road. But don’t take this the wrong… this is absolutely a love song. It’s about a motorcycle. It’s about a feeling. It’s about riding. I’ve shared it with a lot of my friends who love the open road. There’s a soulfulness to this song that I can’t quite shake… and I’m okay with that.
12) Theo Kandel – “Grail Quest”
-I know the whole point of this list is to tell you these are the best songs I have heard all year, but every time I want to write, “this is one of the best songs I heard all year.” Kandel writes with a James Taylor style that absolutely stands out from the crowd. There’s an endearing sincerity to the lyrical work on this one. I love the chord progression and unexpected turns in the melodic structure. Kandel’s songwriting is definitely unique. I am looking forward to hearing even more from this emerging artist, but this song… wow. I don’t say “wow” out loud when listening to new music that often, but I certainly did with this one on more than one occasion. I am a new Theo Kandel fan after this track.
11) Dan Croll – “Talk To You”
-I have come to really love Dan Croll’s music this year. I love the infectious positivity in the sonic construction. The layered harmonies are really satisfying on this song. The chromatic chord progressions are my favorite, so hearing them in this track really make it pop all the more. Croll’s songwriting brings a real sense of emotion. The shades of classic mid-20th century pop music is quite satisfying to my particular curatorial ear. In other words, I really like this artist, performance, and song. It’s not a break up song… it’s a hopeful get back together song… and frankly, I love that.
(Make sure to follow the site on socials or via email to get the top 10, coming in a few days!)
