Flash's Alt-Rock Top 15 of 2023
E - Foo Fighters - Under You :: This track and album is remarkable for being entirely drummed by Dave Grohl following the death of the Foo Fighters' drummer, Taylor Hawkins. The lead single, "Rescued", gets the most airplay, but "Kings and Queens, and in-betweens all deserve a life," and this secondary single is stronger in my mind. Here's Dave Grohl, singing with his signature emotion and growl, with hope for the future: "Someday I'll come out from Under You." Even the best rock musician on the planet is trying to escape someone: we all know the feeling. "Under You" is an anthem for the oppressed. $
D - Noah Kahan - Stick Season :: I called this "the Alcohol one" for a long time, saying 'I'm SO SICK of Dial Drunk, I wish they would play the Alcohol one instead!' because of the best line. What do you do when you lose everything? Stick-Season is about all those feelings, and "dream[ing] each night of some version of you that I might not have but I did not lose." They lyrics of this one are immaculate. $
C - boygenius - Not Strong Enough
Harmonized vocals in a beautiful fully-orchestrated song, everything laid out perfectly. The whole song feels like being serenaded, but about sadness. Their other single, "Cool About it" is stronger lyrically, but it's a little sparse for my taste. Dave Grohl drummed for this band once. $
B - The Killers - Your Side of Town
This song deserves all the attention it got. It feels like the Killers wrote a solid song, and then fluffed it up with big synths and effects, which is what the Killers do best. "The Man" never took off like I wanted, but "Your Side of Town" is the single we've needed from the Killers for years.
A - Milky Chance - Living in a Haze
:: This album sounds like the same song for an hour. Do you like this song? I do. After "Stolen Dance" and "Synchronize," I was ready for another solid single. This is the lead-off and the best on the album "I wish I was a disco boy...I should be dancin' the pain away." I wish I could go to a disco and dance the pain away too, my friend. (Bonus: Roomie was the one who told me Milky Chance were German.) $
9 - Green Day - The American Dream is Killing Me
:: "Send out an SOS, it's getting serious!" The song feels formulatic, like it was written by songwriters rather than a band. That pains me. But...every lyric is right. It's strong. Every musical stanza fits in, holds attention, and carries the tune. Green Day found the right formula in this song, creating a much better comeback than Blink-182's "Edging." (Blink-182 is NOT on my countdown.) $
8 - TALK - Run Away to Mars
:: Very few songs can be this simple and spare and catch so much attention. This was #11 on SiriusXM AltNation, and for a good reason. His heart pours out his mouth when he asks, "What if I run away to Mars? Would you find me in the stars?" While I sit here contemplating my own run-away-to-Mars, wondering if I'll ever come back from the stars. I have this song to keep me company. $
7 - Lovejoy - Normal People Things
:: This song was a surprise - I liked Lovejoy's "Call me what you like," but it was quickly overplayed. This song gives the manic energy of the most interesting goths I've ever met. It's a straightforward band, though: It has a drummer, bassist, guitarist, vocals. This song shows how a simple band can sound BIG on a recording, even with manic energy.
6 - Matt Maeson - Get Happy :: "I'll just GET HAPPY instead, like you said!" God, I wish I could tell that to people. I'm a pretty positive person anyway, but being told to cheer up or smile when I'm fighting my battles? It's like nails on a chalkboard. I'd be doing better if I could. Matt Maeson sings about his stints at rock bottom, and you can feel them when he shouts into the microphone, "I CAN'T WAIT 'TIL TOMORROW!!" If you don't already know his song "Cringe," that's your next stop. $
5 - Beach Weather - Sex, Drugs, Etc. You woke up and it's 9pm Friday night. Time to call your friends and start the adventure. "Bulletproof Passengers, on the road to Sex, Drugs Etc." "Dressin' up for Polaroids and Cigarettes," they feel like college nights out when I would go out and catch a low-key vibe with the other bored friends. This song reminds me of someone, with whom I enjoyed nothing more than sex, cannabis and etc.
4 - Bleachers - Modern Girl :: This song is a TREASURE. Jack Antonoff is still making magic. "I Wanna Get Better" is the track that made me fall for this band. Do you know Jack Antonoff, also from fun.? Modern Girl is an awesome party-opener, a screaming sax solo to start and a "WHOOOAAAAAAAAAOOOO!" that starts the energy up. Then vocals in cadence, so you know the rhythm and can dance. Not to mention, I -love- authentic multi-track vocals. The energy of a live show exists in this song. I love to join in for my favorite line: "BLEACHERS PLAYING ONLYFANS?!? (They're playin' it like a heart attack for ya)." $
3 - Jack Kays - Caffeine :: Every time this song comes on the radio, I jam. The song has so much anticipation, feeling like those first couple dates where things are going well and the feeling is hype. It's short, but the "Whoa-o Whoa-os" are an extension of that feeling in the chorus, like caffeine, pure gold. $
2 - AJR - Yes I'm a Mess :: AJR's OK Orchestra album carried me through a lot of 2022, and the singles they've released afterwards have been middling at best. The guys are still quirky and charming, but the music gets a bit grating if they don't have a strong theme. This song has a strong theme. I think many of us enjoy the chant: "Yes, I'm a mess, with an S on my chest! Got stress fillin' up my head! So I spent last night blowing up my life, and you won't see me again!" "I can hate my guts when the sun comes up, but I like myself like this." The song is a BOP, too. $
1 - Beaches - Blame Brett
:: Track of the Year, hands down. "Dump me from the cycle!" she croons on the first line, before the instruments kick in. That accent on the "cy" propels the song into a snowball: there's double-tracked vocals, and a hammering, non-stop tempo that feels at home on Faction Punk. The filtered vocals are like a rock club in the 90s. She sings about how she's looking for a lover, but it won't work out: blame her ex, Brett. Is nothing more entrancing than the singer suggesting, 'I'm looking for love, and YOU'RE next?' It's an all girl group, and I hope they have more in them. This song is wonderful. Punk's not dead, it's on the countdown right here! $
Errata
I'm learning more and more that I unintentionally learn the lyrics to my favorite songs. Expect some quotes. $$
(I have to leave Young the Giant off, because they were not a 2023 release.)
(Gorillaz, too, are from 2022, and I didn't like the Blur track.)
Honorable Mentions go to: Benee - Green Honda, Royal Otis - Sofa King, Death Cab for Cutie - Arrow in the Wall, Fall Out Boy - Love from the Other Side, Blink-182, One More Time, Silversun Pickups - Empty Nest. This was a great year for music. I might write about the also-rans later. They have stories and paragraphs too!