Our final year-end list is my 50 favorite Singles & EPs of 2023. ICYMI, Dennis published his last week, and we previously both shared our favorite albums of the year – mine here and Dennis’ over here.
I am presenting these singles alphabetically. Ranking them is near impossible and getting my longlist back to 50 releases was hard enough in itself. If there is one takeaway from this list and our other lists it’s that 2023 was a pretty amazing year in the sonic underground.
Find my list below, and a Spotify playlist with 80% available content of my list here. Wishing you happy holidays and see you all next year!
The Ape-ettes || Simply
Rémi alone makes purchasing the Simply EP worthwhile. It’s like a forgotten early ’80s power pop hit out of France. Getting three additional hits is a pretty good deal.
Asphalt || Le Blues Du Bulldozer
Asphalt take you on a trip that starts with moody protopunk and ends with underground pop, and listening to the amazing Le Blues Du Bulldozer EP is like witnessing a metamorphosis.
Blues Lawyer || Sight Gags On The Radio
The Sight Gags On The Radio EP builds off the strength of Blues Lawyer full length. Both are must-own releases by a band in top form.
THE CELEBRITIES || REDD KARPET
No idea who are behind this act, but pretty sure they are in possession of a drum computer, a talent for writing hooks and an inbred tendency to shred guitars. The disclaimer on this EP? “PUMP THIS SHIT OUT AT FULL VOLUME YOU PUSSIES.”
Chime School || Coming To Your Town
In 2021, Chime School popped up from the fertile indie pop fields of the Bay Area with a stellar debut LP. This year we received a must own 7″ comprised of one jangle classic and a Buzzcocks cover.
Class || But Who’s Reading Me?
For a band not particularly lacking in contagious songs, Inspect The Receipt is the most poppy and catchy song of Class yet. If the rest of the EP weren’t so great, I probably would still want to own this EP. But the rest of the EP is THAT great. Note: this EP is now conveniently available on this compilation LP.
Crossed Wires || Ellipsis
Ellipsis is a 15-minute thrill of an EP and has all the right elements of what an indie punk record should sound like. Buzzin’ guitar work, rockin’ drumming, and killer vocals all built upon a foundation of high energy and strong melodies. It’s a blast to sing along to anthemic lines like “I’m feeling like a goddamn disaster // when it rains it really pours.”
Dead Billionaires || Disaster Preparedness Coloring Book
Imagine a more cathartic version of The Weakerthans with hints of Teenage Halloween and you get an idea of the sound of Dead Billionaires. I’ve played the opening track a ton this year and that opening guitar-vocal part still gets me everytime.
Deep State || Diary Of A Nobody
Deep State go out with a bang with their final release. Deep State’s blend of garage pop, alt pop, protopunk, indie rock, ’70s classic rock and power pop has, and always will be a source of joy.
Devon Milley || Big Shot
Devon Milley’s Big Shot EP has a garage-y ramshackle charm, a bit of Joey Ramone, some Terry Malts, some old school rock’n’roll “oohs and ahs” for added fun, but above all it showcases his love for Jeff Burke’s songwriting.
Faulty Cognitions || Demo
Faulty Cognitions are from San Antonio (Texas) and feature Chris Mason of Dirt Cult Records, Low Culture and Shang-A-Lang. The band plays scrappy punk rock that is really loud and unpolished but equally melodic. And they play with heart, so much heart.
Friend Of Cesar Romero || Cardiac Vacancy
Of the many many releases by FOCR in 2023 (we went from #34 to #40 in the Doomed Babe series), this was my favorite. Bittersweet punky power pop hits overload!
Gizmo || Buddy System
Gizmo churn out a winning combo of slacker vibes, crunchy power pop guitars, and ’90s alt pop sensibility – all reeled in with razor sharp hooks. “Prisoner Functionary ah-ah. Prisoner Functionary ah-ah!”
The Goods || E.P.
Featuring Rob Good (Sob Stories, Cocktails, and Re-Volts), The Goods sound both classic and modern, both clean and powerful in their power pop creations, and they hit 3 for 3 on their debut EP.
gremlin || same fate/bliss & 1-800-GREMLIN
Seemingly out of nowhere, Cincinatti’s Gremlin released two singles within the last three weeks. It’s impossible to pick a favorite.
The Growers || North-Facing Wall
Huge fan of this home recording project by Steven Boyle, who creates excellent midpaced scrappy punk rock with an emotional edge.
Hearts Apart || Bang! Wrong Again
The six songs on Bang! Wrong Again are honest, melodic and accessible punkrock tunes inspired by the songbook of the influential Jeff Burke.
Highball || Five Cubes
Highball is a new band out of Massachusetts with members of Laika’s Orbit and California X that sounds like a hybrid of Thin Lizzy and The Replacements. Color me impressed!
It Thing || Constant State / P.C.H
I’d normally recommend playing a release like this one loud, but to be honest, it will sound powerful regardless of the volume. So press play on Constant State, bop your head to that kickass guitar riff and be ready to be floored by whatever happens next.
Itchy & The Nits || Itchy & The Nits
Believe the hype, jump on the bandwagon, the Itchy & The Nits Tape is ten minutes of trashy bubblegum garage awesomeness. Total Punk Records added this band to its roster recently and I can’t wait for what that matchup will bring in 2024.
JJ And The A’s || JJ And The A’s
This self-titled EP contains six killer melodic punk songs that just fit on one 7″ and sees JJ And The A’s going from zero to 100mph in mere seconds, swerving all over the tracks, sparks flying from near collissions.
Zack Keim || Better Days / Maggie
Second year in a row that Zack Keim makes my single list, and he made Dennis’ list as well this year. The songwriting potential of Zack Keim is something to get very very excited about.
LEATHERMAN || Telephone / Tryin’ 2 4get
Brace yourself for a wild ride with lung piercing vocals and instruments that fly around frenziedly. You’ll find yourself irreversibly hooked! From the looks to the tunes, LEATHERMAN appear to be the real deal.
Mopar Stars || Shoot The Moon
This was one of those discoveries that made me drop everything, eager to tell everyone I’ve found a new favorite band again.
Outtacontroller || Just A Scratch
Just A Scratch? We all know the hooks of the catchiest dudes in the garage power pop universe cut much, much deeper.
Pedico || Winter Dance Party
Anytime Pedico puts out new music, whether it’s a cover album or an EP with originals like this one, I’m all over it.
Plastic Act || Plastic Act
The debut 7″ by Plastic Act is essential listening, particularly for fans of lo-fi proto punk that is wrapped in duct tape to harness the ramshackle energy and catchy melodies.
The Prize || First Sight
This is an amazing sophomore single by one of the most promising new power pop bands on the planet. The band’s debut LP is one of my most anticipated releases for 2024.
Råttanson || Trebled Region
You could describe Råttanson as either a power pop band, a classic rock-‘n’-roll band, or a garage rock act. But it’s all of the above really, good time music played with unshakeable ease.
Ruckus || Two Easy
Ruckus sound like a bunch of out-of-time rock’n’rollers that have just discovered the intensity of punk, and these first two songs would not look out of place on those forgotten ’60s and ’70s punk compilation LPs in your collection.
Sam Setzer || New Sounds From The Sam Setzer Group
Enthusiasts of jangly power-pop and indie rock: New Sounds From The Sam Setzer Group is an AAA+ must-hear single.
Sekunderna || Tiden Är En Dröm
One of my favorite melodic punkrock bands out of Europe deliver again. If you are a fan of punkrock in the style of Marked Men and Radioactivity, put this on the top of your listening pile.
Short Attention || Dumb Kind Of Monster
Okay, this is streching the idea behind an EP/single list somewhat and the fact that I put a 11 song, 12 minute record on my Album Of The Year list doesn’t help. The Dumb Kind Of Monster EP has 31 songs, but hear me out, it takes less than 11 minutes to listen to. It’s created by a pop punk all-star cast Chadd Derkins, Chelsea Lacatena, Dan Paquin, Grath Madden, and Mike Yannich, so you know it contains the good stuff.
Sick Thoughts || Born To Blitzkrieg
Sick Thoughts released my favorite punk LP of 2022, and it should not come as a surprise to find their latest EP in this list. What a blast to hear Sick Thoughts churn out monster hit after monster hit on Born To Blitzkrieg.
Space Cadet || Suede Originals
Postpunky, reverb-y, midpaced yet anthemic goodness by Matt Hock and David Walsh from The Explosion. Sticky tunes with earworm choruses are the common denominator on this EP. “Wooohooo what’s the matter with you?!”
Split System || SPLIIT System
The SPLIT System single is another essential release by what is one of the best punk rock bands right now, not just in Australia, but across the globe.
Steve Adamyk Band || Drunk Dial #11
Yet another fun installment of the infamous Drunk Dial Series, featuring a cover of a punk classic by The Kids and a rerecorded version of a song from Adamyk’s Sedatives days.
Street Sweeper || Street Sweeper
Street Sweeper, out of Australia of course, are a four piece that Rock-‘n’-Rolls with capital R’s on their self-titled debut single. The three songs on the 7″ sound like a punked up Thin Lizzy by the way of Eddie & The Hot Rods and The Dictators, or better said, freakin’ awesome!
Sugar Tradition || More Sugar
What a year Feel It Records had! The fuzzed-out mix of garage punk, psych rock and rhythm ‘n’ blues by Sugar Tradition is instantly recognizable and likeable.
Taxi Girls || Coming Up Roses
They’ve only just started but Taxi Girls have already carved out a niche that is build on punk attitude and pop sensibility.
Tee Vee Repairmann || Organic Mould
Leading up to what turned out to be my favorite LP of the year, Goodbye Boozy dropped the four-song Organic Mould EP. I love how it contains two typical Tee Vee Repairmann hits but also two atypical ones.
The Telephone Numbers || Weird Sisters
With their latest 7″ single, the Bay Area band further expand their reputation. Weird Sisters is the definition of a double A-side single. The eponymous track is one of those tracks that’s likeable straight from the opening seconds, with each new part building up the excitement.
Televisionaries || Lorraine
Just shy of sweeping our AOTY lists last year, Televisionaries returned with two very worthwhile singles this year. One, together with Les Greene, made Dennis’ list. I prefer this one.
Billy Tibbals || Stay Teenage
Billy Tibbals is a star-in-the-making with his natural gift for melody and hooks. Blown away by the songs Tibbals has put out so far.
Tossing Seed || When You Come Around
On their debut EP, Tossing Seed (Magelang, Indonesia) bridge the divide between ’80s underground pop (think Sarah Records, C86, Slumberland Records) and ’90s altpop (hints of Bob Mould and Evan Dando).
TV Sound || Rock & Roll For Young Beginners, Vol. 1
Rock & Roll For Young Beginners, Vol. 1 is a masterclass tutorial on how to write guitar-driven goodness.
The Uppers || Manic Melodies
This EP is a high octane powerpop’n’roll fest. If your battery needs charging, try playing the Manic Melodies EP and you are good to go.
Wandering Summer || Wandering Summer
Wandering Summer play indie rock that is at times noisy but always with a strong sense of melody, and always with purpose, passion and conviction. Show Me The Way is a modern classic.
The Whiffs || Satellites
How good must this band be if they can leave out these two songs from Scratch’N’Sniff – arguably one of the finest power pop records in recent history.
Workers Comp || Crazy With Sweat
I rediscovered how special this EP is when I went through my blog posts of the year. It also hit me (shame on me) that this is made by the same person that is behind the JINGLES project that I became so fond of this year.