Our Annual Report concludes with our biggest list — the 200 (!!!) Best Songs of 2023. Make sure to also see our list of the 50 Best Albums of the Year, and check out our complete recap of the best music, film, and TV of 2023 with awards, lists, and interviews all in one place here.
Boy, 2023 sure was a year! A year among years that — OK, now that the casuals have kept scrolling, let’s talk real shit: Let’s talk about the music industry, where Consequence is heading, and why we wanted to write about 200 songs.
By now you know the deal with music media: fewer outlets, fewer jobs for critics, less coverage, and more new music each Friday than any listener can hear in a week. At the same time, readership for reviews has fallen across the industry. If you’ve paid close attention to Consequence in recent years, you’ve probably seen some of our attempts to navigate this uncertain terrain, like the Songs of the Week roundup or the monthly Staff Picks of best albums, which have allowed us to sustainably analyze a lot more new music.
These changes were public, but Consequence has also been evolving behind the scenes. Our senior editors changed a lot over the last three years, and so did our structure. Consequence of Sound became Consequence. We reinvented ourselves to become more collaborative: fewer top-down editorial decisions, more input from a growing team of staff writers and editors. Some readers might recognize their names: Eddie Fu, Abby Jones, Jonah Krueger, Liz Shannon Miller, Sun Noor, Paolo Ragusa, and Mary Siroky. Their passion made a 200-song list possible.
Consequence will continue to grow, but some things never change. Our publisher is still Alex Young, who started the company in his dorm room in 2007. And we still fucking love music. In 2023, as the shape of our staff came into focus, we ramped up our new music coverage for the first time in years. This list is part of that growth — it used to be 50 songs, and now it’s 200. We wish we could write a full article about every single track, and maybe someday the industry will support that. For now, during the biggest abundance of great music in all of human history, we’re so grateful for the opportunity to celebrate our picks for the 200 best songs of 2023.
— Wren Graves
Features Editor
200. M83 — “Amnesia”
Anthony Gonzalez has offered a beyond-worthy successor to Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming’s “Reunion” — “Amnesia” is both dramatic and serene, energizing and spacey. — Paolo Ragusa
199. mazie — “Are You Feeling It Now?”
It’s a groovy, playful disco track about an acid trip that’s sweeter, sexier, and more enjoyable than… most acid trips. — P. Ragusa
198. Veeze — “Not a Drill”
“This not a fire drill, this the real thing,” Veeze raps on the opening of “Not a Drill,” going on to prove the statement with his off-kilter flow and colorful wordplay involving Disney and sports references. — Eddie Fu
197. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard — “Dragon”
King Gizz go metal once again on this winding prog-thrash epic that sees the band pushing its technical skill to the extreme. — Jon Hadusek
196. Poppy — “Spit”
“Spit” is Poppy at her most vicious and acerbic, with her screams and whispers backed by nu-metal guitars and industrial drum-and-bass percussion. — J. Hadusek
195. Ryan Gosling — “I’m Just Ken”
This Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt-written ballad (featuring Slash on guitar!) could singlehandedly cure toxic masculinity, if only the world would listen. — Liz Shannon Miller
194. Teens in Trouble — “You Don’t Want to Mess with Me”
Snap, crackle, and (damn fine, PUP’s Stefan Babcock-featuring power) pop. — Jonah Krueger
193. Hotline TNT — “I Thought You’d Change”
Hotline TNT’s Will Anderson sings pretty well on this track, but he actually doesn’t need to — the fuzzy guitars and inventive drumming do all the storytelling for him. — P. Ragusa
192. Corey Taylor — “Dead Flies”
Corey Taylor slows things down for this grungy nod to Alice in Chains — a darker moment on his otherwise jubilant CMF2 album. — J. Hadusek
191. Computerwife — “Lexapro”
The slow, dreamy, strangely beautiful anthem Lexapro users everywhere have been waiting for. — J. Krueger
190. redveil feat. JPEGMAFIA — “black enuff”
A joyful, daring, and unapologetic anthem that is meant to be blasted as loud as the horns on the beat. — Sun Noor
189. glass beach — “The CIA”
With its indie-emo-jazz-metal fusion, glass beach’s return is extremely glass beach — and thank god for that. — J. Krueger
188. Armani White & Denzel Curry — “GOATED.”
Come for the swaggy beat by July Da Producer and Myles William, enjoy Armani White’s percussive “Goated” hook, and stick around for one of the great scene-stealing guest verses of the year. — W. Graves
187. Stolen Jars — “Won’t Stay Gone Forever”
This delicate love letter to New York City takes a light xx-inspired touch to capture the wistfulness even a bustling city can instill — especially when it’s forced to a standstill. — Ben Kaye
186. Job for a Cowboy — “The Agony Seeping Storm”
Job for a Cowboy broke a nine-year hiatus with “The Agony Seeping Storm,” a perfected version of the progressive death metal of the band’s first four studio albums. — J. Hadusek
185. Queens of the Stone Age — “Paper Machete”
If you liked Queens of the Stone Age’s 2005 hit “Little Sister,” but wished they’d axe the cowbell in favor of more crunchy guitars and some tortured Josh Homme anguish, get a load of this one. — P. Ragusa
184. Willie Nelson, Billy Strings — “California Sober”
From a rising icon and a beloved legend, the ultimate 2023 anthem for former hellraisers who are too old for that shit and just want to kick back with some buds and bud. — W. Graves
183. Momma — “Bang Bang”
There’s nothing like a good, horny love song to make you feel young again — only on “Bang Bang,” Momma’s early 2000s-esque rock stylings will make you feel old at the same time (in a good way). — P. Ragusa
182. André 300 — “I Swear I Really Wanted to Make a Rap Album But This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me”
If you listen closely halfway through, the flute kind of mimics a rap song, so at least the title feels honest. — S. Noor
181. Friko — “Crimson to Chrome”
The Chicago rock trio are having unpretentious fun singing about deep shit, making “Crimson to Chrome” perfect for pretty much any occasion. — W. Graves
180. 100 gecs — “Dumbest Girl Alive”
The damn song starts with the THX sound — an early signal that the fun levels are maxed out. — J. Krueger
179. Dirty Honey — “Won’t Take Me Alive”
A killer, killer guitar riff is at the heart of this surging ‘80s-style rocker from Dirty Honey, who are quickly becoming a mainstay on the US hard-rock circuit after emerging in recent years. — J. Hadusek
178. NxWorries — “Daydreaming”
The breezy “Daydreaming” is NxWorries at their best, with a smooth vocal delivery and seductive lyrics from Anderson .Paak over Knxwledge’s sensual, guitar-driven instrumental. — E. Fu
177. Erick the Architect — “Parkour”
The sonic architect of Flatbush Zombies reunites with producer James Blake for this moody, paranoid taste of his upcoming debut solo album. — W. Graves
176. Dog Race — “There’s a Mouse in My House”
This British group dropped two songs and dipped, but hopefully there’s an album coming, because 2022’s “Terror” would have slayed during the blog-rock era, and 2023’s “There’s a Mouse in My House” manages to bottle some of the epic rock grandeur of early Arcade Fire. — W. Graves
175. ATEEZ — “Bouncy”
Listen to it, catch the vibe, then watch the music video for K-pop group ATEEZ’s biggest hit yet and feel your whole world tilt off its axis. — Mary Siroky
174. Denzel Curry feat. Kenny Mason — “SKED”
Producer Charlie Heat lives up to his surname on this one, as two of the sharpest pens in rap put on a masterclass in funky, shape-shifting flows. — W. Graves
173. Code Orange — “Grooming My Replacement”
Pittsburgh’s Code Orange continue to expand their sonic palette on their latest album, The Above, as evidenced by the amalgam of industrial, metalcore, hardcore, and nu-metal on “Grooming My Replacement.” — Spencer Kaufman
172. Model/Actriz — “Crossing Guard”
The most visceral, noisy, and pulsating cut from Model/Actriz’s debut album, Dogsbody, makes for a catchy introduction to this buzzy band. — S. Noor
171. aldn — “Headstrong Gunner”
It’s quite possibly the catchiest song about suicidal ideation since the moody ’80s heyday of Morrissey and Robert Smith. — P. Ragusa
170. That Mexican OT feat. Paul Wall and Drodi — “Johnny Dang”
Not since early Freddie Gibbs has a rapper uncorked such a variety of coke-line flows, and the cherry on top of That Mexican OT’s breakout hit is a vintage verse by the legend Paul Wall. — W. Graves
169. Voivod — “Morgöth Tales”
Forty-plus years into their career, Voivod continue to churn out rock-solid metal, offering their unique brand of progressive thrash on the title track to their latest album, Morgöth Tales. — S. Kaufman
168. Janelle Monáe — “Lipstick Lover”
Choosing the absolute standouts from Janelle Monáe’s delightfully all-encompassing, summery 2023 album is a delightful predicament, but the joyful “Lipstick Lover” is easily in the conversation. — M. Siroky
167. Sufjan Stevens — “So You Are Tired”
Y’all like crying and beautiful folk and touching lyricism and crying? — J. Krueger
166. Danger Mouse, Jemini — “Brooklyn Bazquiat”
A braggadocios banger for all of the early-2000s alternative rap fans out there. — J. Krueger
165. Nervosa — “Seed of Death”
Brazilian thrash metal at its finest, “Seed of Death” is a fine example of founder Prika Amaral’s newfound ability to dual wield the guitar and mic, having recently taken over on lead vocals for the first time since the group’s formation. — J. Hadusek
164. TEMS — “Me & U”
A beautiful profession of faith over a propulsive polyrhythm, “Me & U” is simplicity inside complexity, stillness within a dance. — W. Graves
163. Sen Morimoto — “If the Answer Isn’t Love”
This hazy stack of jazz horns and jagged guitars is distinctly Sen Morimoto, while also feeling like an inventive new sound. — B. Kaye
162. Anjimille — “The King”
The writing is on the wall and the king will die at the start of Anjimile’s powerful comeback single, which interpolates Philip Glass’ “Vessels” and grows in scope and majesty to take in a world of injustice. — W. Graves
161. Mammoth WVH — “I’m Alright”
Leave it to a Van Halen to keep classic rock ‘n’ roll thriving in 2023 with enough massive, melodic vocals and amp-melting, delicious riffs to make anyone forget we once thought “guitar rock” was dead. — B. Kaye
160. Short Fictions — “Wasting”
Short Fictions deliver an emo, power-pop anthem perfect for the end of the world. — J. Krueger
159. Latto feat. Cardi B — “Put It on the Floor Again”
Sharing a common rival in Nicki Minaj, Latto and Cardi B spend most of this rambunctious track boasting about their lavish lifestyles and brushing off lames while also popping off against their biggest hater. — E. Fu
158. Burna Boy — “Big 7”
Not even Burna Boy seems to know why he called it “Big 7” (oh sorry, the title represents “attainable and harmonious growth,” hope that clears things up), but when one of the globe’s most effortless melodists is feeling this “wavy” we can’t help but groove along. — W. Graves
157. MAETA feat. Free Nationals — “Through the Night”
This fast-rising R&B star teamed up with Free Nationals, Anderson .Paak’s no-longer-secret weapons, for one of the slinkiest, most urgently sensual tracks of the year. — W. Graves
156. TEKE::TEKE — “Gotoku Lemon”
Fitting for a late-night prowl through a Japanese street market or a sip of cappuccino at a hip coffee shop, this avant-psych conglomeration will have the uninitiated reaching for their Shazam. — B. Kaye
155. Audrey Nuna — “IdgaF”
Perhaps the most underrated bad-bitch-bop of 2023. — J. Krueger
154. Ratboys — “No Way”
Ratboys demonstrate an unmatched ability to carve a melodic hook that sticks in a composition even as it builds and changes multiple times throughout its runtime. — B. Kaye
153. Saya Gray — “PREYING MANTIS !”
Coming at the midpoint of Saya Gray’s OWERTY, this track has all frantic energy of the album’s poles with the mellow beauty of its core, making it easily the most accessible in an intriguing collection. — B. Kaye
152. Arlo Parks — “Weightless”
A true lyrical poet, Arlo Parks brings a romantic touch to what it means to long for someone else — even someone you know you shouldn’t want. — L.S. Miller
151. Miley Cyrus — “Flowers”
The most instantly iconic Miley song since “Wrecking Ball” is further evidence that after her Disney Channel start and a surprisingly experimental teenage rebellion, Cyrus is only now entering her prime. — W. Graves
150. Chelsea Wolfe — “Dusk”
The vivid imagery laced throughout the hypnotic enegry of “Dusk” simply proves how great of a storyteller Chelsea Wolfe is. — S. Noor
149. TOMORROW X TOGETHER feat. Anitta — “Back For More”
It’s one of the best cross-cultural collaborations of the year, with choreography built to perfectly accent the song’s throwback energy. — M. Siroky
148. Lola Brooke — “Best Side”
Consequence CoSigned artist Lola Brooke really puts her “best side” forward on this track (I’m so sorry). — J. Krueger
147. Olivia Rodrigo — “ballad of a homeschooled girl”
A bubbly gulp of pop punk with lyrics that every teen can relate to and a lonely title that helps explain why Rodrigo — with all of her advantages — writes and sings about outsiders with such conviction. — W. Graves
146. Young Fathers — “Rice”
If you’re trying to remember that song that fills you with such unshakable joy you forget where you are despite not really understanding what’s being sung, it’s “Rice” by Young Fathers. — B. Kaye
145. LE SSERAFIM — “Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s wife”
Get hooked by the Jersey club beat; stay for the motivational lyrics and stellar live performances. — M. Siroky
144. Full of Hell, Nothing — “Spend the Grace”
The collaborative overlap is seamless between Full of Hell and Nothing, who deftly balance their respective harsh textures and colossal shoegazing doom. — J. Hadusek
143. Zach Bryan — “Nine Ball”
Someday we might figure out how Zach Bryan makes crafting irresistible country melodies seem so effortless, but while we try to crack it, we’re thankful he knows the secret. — M. Siroky
142. Romy — “She’s On My Mind”
If you ever listened to The xx and thought, “I wonder what it would sound like if Romy embraced the lineage of exuberant queer dance pop and completed a house music pivot,” then this is for you. — P. Ragusa
141. Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar — “America Has a Problem”
Despite the title, “America Has a Problem” isn’t so much about politics as it is about delivering the best possible groove — and with Kendrick Lamar’s verses, mission accomplished. — L.S. Miller
140. Ragana — “Pain”
“I’M DYING TO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.” — J. Krueger
139. IAN SWEET — “Your Spit”
In our Track by Track with IAN SWEET’s Jilian Medford, she described this song as “mostly about making out” — which, yeah. — B. Kaye
138. Slipknot — “Bone Church”
The masked metallers of Iowa treated fans this year with this one-off single featuring an accordion and venturing into Pink Floyd territory while maintaining the band’s sinister vibe. — S. Kaufman
137. Slow Pulp — “Broadview”
Of all the alt-country-influenced, pedal steel-featuring indie tunes of 2023, “Broadview” easily ranks among the best. — J. Krueger
136. V — “Slow Dancing”
If you want to pass over a moody, dreamy, yearning track that makes room for a flute solo in the year 2023, then that’s your journey, I guess. — M. Siroky
135. Christine and the Queens — “To be honest”
If you’re going to be convinced to dive into the criminally underappreciated PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE, “To be honest” is the track to do it. — B. Kaye
134. Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter — “ALL MY FRIENDS ARE GOING TO HELL”
Kristen Hayter (formally Lingua Ignota) does it the way only Kristen Hayter can: epic, out-there, and deeply unnerving. — J. Krueger
133. Zombie Juice feat. The Underachievers — “Dizzy”
True to its name, “Dizzy” finds Zombie Juice trading paranoid, rapid-fire bars with fellow Flatbush Avenue rappers The Underachievers over sinister synths, though they still take a beat to juxtapose their blessings and losses. — E. Fu
132. Deeper — “Glare”
“Glare” is elevated by spine-tingling guitar riffs and vocalist Nic Gohl’s contrasting imagery, with anxious distance populating the space between his disoriented yelps. — P. Ragusa
131. Alex Lahey — “The Sky Is Melting”
The loveliest song ever written about overdoing it on edibles and coming up with Jeffrey Epstein conspiracy theories. — L.S. Miller
130. Balming Tiger — “Buriburi”
It’s addictive, it’s energizing, and it’s so different from anything else out there, which also serves as a good summary of Balming Tiger’s sound overall. — M. Siroky
129. Tyler, the Creator — “SORRY NOT SORRY”
Tyler, the Creator makes being sincere and sardonic in the same breath seem easy, especially in the final 30 seconds of this single-verse bar-buster. — B. Kaye
128. Ihsahn — “Pilgrimage to Oblivion”
Norwegian black metal master Ihsahn offered up both a full metal version of “Pilgrimage to Oblivion” along with an orchestral equivalent, fully illustrating the compositional layers and sheer breadth of his latest solo work. — J. Hadusek
127. Wednesday — “Quarry”
One of the catchiest tunes from a record with only catchy tunes. — J. Krueger
126. Caroline Polachek — “Smoke”
And the award for Most Tasteful “Na Na Nas” of the Year goes to… — J. Krueger
125. The Beatles — “Now and Then”
An unexpected visit from some ghosts that proves to be a welcome reminder of why they’re so missed and why their influence will be eternal. — L.S. Miller
124. Janelle Monáe — “Float”
Erotically-charged lyrics combined with a sumptuous summery beat — we’ll float anywhere with Janelle. — L.S. Miller
123. Danny Brown — “Quaranta”
One of Brown’s final recordings before getting sober, “Quaranta” reflects on aging, the hardships of middle-class fame, and how “This rap shit done saved my life/ And fucked it up at the same time.” — W. Graves
122. Genesis Owusu — “See Ya There!”
One order of sexy slow-jam about telling someone you’ll see them in hell, please. — J. Krueger
121. Paramore — “You First”
We’ve got the devil on the shoulder, the two wolves parable, and the final girl metaphor — all the bases in the “internal struggle” dichotomy are covered, and boy, is it a fun run around the bags. — B. Kaye
120. XG — “Shooting Star”
Don’t sleep on this seven-member global act, who are embracing nostalgic girl group traits (like making a song longer than three minutes) with a healthy dose of modern energy. — M. Siroky
119. Caroline Rose — “Miami”
The centerpiece of Caroline Rose’s The Art of Forgetting is loud, moving, desperate, explosive, passionate, and one of the bravest entries in their discography. — P. Ragusa
118. Mick Jenkins — “Guapanese”
In a hook-free, stream of consciousness masterclass of flow, Jenkins obliterates the kind of MC who has nothing more interesting to rap about than money. — W. Graves
117. Jung Kook feat. Latto — “Seven”
Your honor, he’s an absolute superstar, and this BTS member took his solo presence to the next level with this sexy, endlessly charming, chart-topping smash this year. — M. Siroky
116. H31R — “Backwards”
This song highlights the Purple Tape Pedigree duo’s quirky, off-kilter experimentations when it comes to their glitchy production technique. — S. Noor
115. Squid — “Undergrowth”
Lockdowns were a mind-melting time for just about everyone, and this post-punk spiral with a jazz backbone really captures the depths of darkness into which that mental wax could drip. — B. Kaye
114. Palehound — “Independence Day”
Finally, a Fourth of July song for us sad indie rock fans. — J. Krueger
113. Angie McMahon — “Letting Go”
How could such a purposively positive song ending on a purifying refrain of, “It’s okay/ Make mistakes,” not be one of the best songs of a year like 2023? — B. Kaye
112. Soul Glo — “If I Speak (Shut the Fuck Up)”
You can hear the pent up anger being released by vocalist Pierce Jordan as the track progresses, making for a very cathartic scream-along. — S. Noor
111. Home Is Where — “Yes! Yes! A Thousand Times Yes!”
A little twinkly, a little freak-folky, and totally explosive, this ditty will have you crying out “Yes! Yes! A Thousand Times Yes!” (once again, I’m so sorry). — J. Krueger
110. The Hives — “Bogus Operandi”
Like the soundtrack to a car chase sequence, “Bogus Operandi” is all high-octane, hair-raising action from the Swedish rockers. — P. Ragusa
109. Squirrel Flower — “Stick”
Turns out big guitars, powerful melodies, and sticky hooks still make for a pretty damn great indie rock song. — J. Krueger
108. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit — “King of Oklahoma”
The everyman Americana tale has turned into this: A heartbreaking and beautiful tune about the cost — personal, financial, and moral — of pharmaceutical addiction. — B. Kaye
107. Judas Priest — “Trial by Fire”
The Metal Gods are still firing on all cylinders after 50-plus years in the game, and if “Trial by Fire” is any indication, Rob Halford and company’s upcoming album, Invincible Shield, should be another winner. — S. Kaufman
106. Underscores — “Locals (Girls Like Us)”
With any luck, songs like “Locals (Girls Like Us)” will be the future of hyper-pop. — J. Krueger
105. Sampha — “Satellite Business”
Sampha’s attempt at a minimalist yet deeply spiritual rap song succeeds in the heavenly electronics and layered vocals.— S. Noor
104. Taylor Swift — “Is It Over Now?”
1989 (Taylor’s Version) has some of the best “vault” songs yet, with the crowd favorite being this moment airing out the dirty laundry. — M. Siroky
103. The National — “Eucalyptus”
I’ll hear arguments for why this should be “New Order T-Shirt,” but only if you’ve heard the “Eucalyptus” chorus live and still think the debate’s worth having. — B. Kaye
102. Truth Club — “Uh-Oh”
This song is most definitely NOT an “Uh-Oh” (for the last time, I’m so sorry). — J. Krueger
101. The Rolling Stones feat. Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder — “Sweet Sweet Sounds of Heaven”
Legacy acts don’t need to keep churning out impeccably produced, astoundingly soulful songs featuring head-turning collaborators to bolster their icon status — which makes it that much more exciting when they do. — B. Kaye
