THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER’S 100 BEST SONGS OF 2023 - SONGS 100-51
It's that time again for my picks of the best songs of this year. As usual, I’ve put all my picks on one playlist for easy listening. I hope everyone reading enjoys the music I highlighted in this year-end roundup post. My next post featuring my top album picks is coming up next week. So, without further ado, these are The Reclusive Blogger’s picks for the 100 Best Songs of 2023…
That’s it that’s my list for my 2023! Stay tuned for my top albums from this year! Also, sound off in the comments below on your favorite songs from the year?
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER’S 100 BEST SONGS OF 2023 - SONGS 50-1
It's that time again for my picks of the best songs of this year. As usual, I’ve put all my picks on one playlist for easy listening. I hope everyone reading enjoys the music I highlighted in this year-end roundup post. My next post featuring my top album picks is coming up next week. So, without further ado, these are The Reclusive Blogger’s picks for the 100 Best Songs of 2023…
That’s it that’s my list for my 2023! Stay tuned for my top albums from this year! Also, sound off in the comments below on your favorite songs from the year?
JAMES BAY CHARMS IN OPENING SPOT ON THE LUMINEERS BRIGHTSIDE WORLD TOUR AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL
Indie Folk act The Lumineers (“Ho Hey”, “Cleopatra”) brought their Brightside World Tour to The Hollywood Bowl last Friday (September 15th), playing a dazzling sold-out show with special guest and opener James Bay (“Let It Go”, “Hold Back The River”). It was the second time The Lumineers were playing the Hollywood Bowl, so this was a special night for them. The last time The Lumineers played here in 2016, they had just released their debut Grammy-nominated album. So, tonight was big for them and their fans. It was also a significant night for their special guest and opener, James Bay. An accomplished artist in his own right, he had many of his fans turn out for the gig. One of those fans who attended was me. It is always great to see music fans turn up early to support the opener. I would love to see more of this happen for smaller upcoming artists. The Bowl was starting to fill up quickly with people running in just as James Bay had begun to play his first song, the Pop Rock Stomper, “Best Fake Smile” from his debut, ‘Chaos and the Calm’. Bay's striking guitar melodies echoed throughout the canyons of the gorgeously lit arena. Even though I had been to the Hollywood Bowl once before, the current view I had with my seat in the garden box section allowed me to see the stunning bowl shape everyone talked about so much. I finally understood what everyone was talking about. It was also the first time I had seen James in concert since 2018 with the ‘Electric Light’ era. I could see how much has changed and grown since then, a clear and clean melding of the best parts of all his album eras. It was also great to hear how fantastic his current tour band lineup sounds with Bay. The drummer adds a hard-hitting and soulful element into the mix. James' guitar solos in the set are distinct, precise, and have a purpose. Overall, his opening set seemed to delight his and Lumineers fans alike. Other song highlights were “When We Were On Fire”, the emotional “Let It Go”, and “Hold Back The River”, where the crowd sang along. We even got to hear an unreleased track titled, “All My Broken Pieces”, which he played before his latest single, “Goodbye Never Felt So Bad”.
The unreleased track and his current singles note his seamless shift towards a new musical direction. The newer sounds are much more mellow and assured, leaning towards a poppier folk, towards a similar musical vein like The Lumineers. Although, his progression seems like a natural ark that his music would take. I cannot help but attribute some of this progression to him recently becoming a father and husband as you mature quickly. Many of the attendees were families and couples who were enjoying a night out on a Friday. Headliners The Lumineers, whom much of this crowd was waiting for, and in all honesty, quite patiently, walked onstage to Rihanna's “Desperado” and the audience's loud applause. Besides the intriguing walkout track, the band had a lot of energy, starting with some of their biggest hits like “Hey Ho”, “Stubborn Love”, and “Angela”. I had not heard of this before bands or artists performing their big hits and crowd faves first. This setlist was an interesting choice by The Lumineers. Frontman and Lead singer Wesley Schultz's anecdotal stage banter was also notable and affable. The Brightside Tour was a fun and incredibly joyful night, and when laid out in all of its dazzling folk rock glory, a massive triumph for their fans. If you were new to The Lumineers or fans of the opener, James Bay, it was a night of inspired fun, seeing into the luminescent and nostalgic world of The Lumineers. You can check out some of my snapshots from the gig below, no pro camera this time!
Thank you to Republic Records for inviting me out, and don’t forget to check out James Bay’s new single “Goodbye Never Felt So Bad” which is out now on all DSPs.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER’S TEN BEST ALBUMS OF 2022
Hey geeks and music freaks! It's time for year-end music roundups. The first one up is the best songs from the year. Me like so many, find comfort within music. These are my picks for the 10 Best albums of 2022…
I hope you had time to read and ponder the first list. If not, you can catch up and read my picks for the 100 best songs of 2022 here and here. Below are my top ten picks for best albums of the year. In a year that was full of incredibly diverse soundscapes from a plethora of artists. From breakout artists tipping the needle to your establishment acts pushing their artistry. It was initially hard to narrow down to only ten albums from the entire year. That’s why I made an extended version that featured my top 15 albums in an Instagram reel video which you can view by clicking here. But first, let’s dive into that top ten.
This is the list of albums for my 2022! Also, what were your favorite albums this year? Let me know about by dropping a comment below or through a tweet!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER’S 100 BEST SONGS OF 2022 - PART TWO
Hey geeks and music freaks! It's time for year-end music roundups. The first one up is the best songs from the year. Me like so many, find comfort within music. So I hope you can find some new songs that aim to to that as well. These are my (aka TRB) picks for the 100 Best Songs of 2022… Part two
Hey geeks and music freaks! It's time for year-end music roundups. The first one up is the best songs from the year. While 2022 personally has been up and down, ultimately leading to lots of growth. Like many, it has also been ripe with change and uncertainty for many reasons. I know the one thing many of us have come to rely on— and that's the comfort of music. The caliber of music, the creativity, and the sheer amount of music that came out this year— 2022 was calling for a supersized version. So, I hope you enjoy the first of a few year-end roundups coming in the next couple of weeks. These are my picks for the 100 Best Songs of 2022…
50. Bryce Vine - “Moonrock”
49. Noah Cyrus - “I Just Want A Lover”
48. Suelgi - “28 Reasons”
47. SOHN - “Segre”
46. Halsey - “So Good”
45. Dove Cameron - "Boyfriend"
44. Doechii - "Persuasive"
43. Denzel Curry (Feat. slowthai) - "Zatoichi"
42. Dry Cleaning - "Anna Calls From The Arctic"
41. Polyphia (Feat. Steve Vai) - “Ego Death”
40. The Weeknd - "Sacrifice"
39. Willow - “curious/furious”
38. Sabrina Carpenter - “Fast Times“
37. Empress Of - "Save Me"
36. Rina Swayawayna - "This Hell"
35. Aespa - "Illusion"
34. FKA Twigs (feat. The Weeknd) - "Tears In The Club"
33. Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Feat. Perfume Genius) - "Spitting Off The Edge of The World"
32. MUNA - "What I Want"
31. Conan Gray - "Disaster"
30. The 1975 - “All I Need To Hear”
29. Maggie Rogers - "That's Where I Am"
28. Bad Bunny - "Titi Me Pregunto"
27. IYLA - “FOH”
26. Ab-Soul - "Do Better"
25. Yard Act - "The Overload"
24. LE SSERAFIM - "ANTIFRAGILE"
23. Florence + The Machine - "King"
22. Bloc Party - "In Situ"
21. Mothica - “Sensitive”
20. Franz Ferdinand - “Curious”
19. Harry Styles - “As It Was”
18. Caroline Palochek - "Billions"
17. MICHELLE - "Pose"
16. Soccer Mommy - "Shotgun"
15. Kendrick Lamar - “N95”
14. Mitski - "Working For The Knife"
13. Lizzo - “About Damn Time”
12. Phoebe Bridgers - "Sidelines"
11. Everything, Everything - "Pizza Boy"
10. Placebo - “Beautiful James”
9. NewJeans - “Hype Boy”
8. Wet Leg - "Ur Mum"
7. Paramore - "This Is Why"
6. Bastille - “Hope For The Future”
5. Rosalia - “SOAKO”
4. Beyoncé -“Alien Superstar”
3. Arctic Monkeys - “Body Paint”
2. Nova Twins - "Cleopatra"
1. My Chemical Romance - "The Foundations Of Decay"
That’s it that’s my list for my 2022! Stay tuned for my top albums and music videos! Also, let me know what your favorite songs were this year? Is there anything on this list you disagree about? Let me know about by dropping a comment in the comments section or through emoji.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER’S 100 BEST SONGS OF 2022 - PART ONE
Hey geeks and music freaks! It's time for year-end music roundups. The first one up is the best songs from the year. Me like so many, find comfort within music. So I hope you can find some new songs that aim to to that as well. These are my (aka TRB) picks for the 100 Best Songs of 2022…
Hey geeks and music freaks! It's time for year-end music roundups. The first one up is the best songs from the year. While 2022 personally has been up and down, ultimately leading to lots of growth. Like many, it has also been ripe with change and uncertainty for many reasons. I know the one thing many of us have come to rely on—and that's the comfort of music. The caliber of music, the creativity, and the sheer amount of music that came out this year— 2022 was calling for a supersized version. So, I hope you enjoy the first of a few year-end roundups coming in the next couple of weeks. These are my picks for the 100 Best Songs of 2022…
100. LATTO - “It’s Givin’”
99. EDITORS - “Karma Climb”
98. Em Beihold - “Numb Little Bug”
97. Kae Temptest (Feat. Lianne La Havas) - "No Prizes"
96. Labrinth + Zendaya (Euphoria Season 2 Soundtrack) - “I’m Tired”
95. Ralph Pelleymounter - “Steady Love”
94. Kimbra - “replay!”
93. Carly Rae Jepsen - “Beach House”
92. Gayle - "abcdefu"
91. BIM - "O.T.R"
90. Tove Styrke - “Cool Me Down”
89. Tove Lo - “How Long” From (Euphoria Season 2 Soundtrack)
88. Jazmine Sullivan - “Roster”
87. Eddie Benjamin (Feat. Alessia Cara) - “Only You”
86. Hope Tala - “Stayed At The Party”
85. Charlie Puth - "Light Switch"
84. Ethel Cain - “A House In Nebraska”
83. Hermanos Gutierrez - “Thunderbird”
82. Pink Pantheress -"Picture In My Mind"
81. Arkells + Lights - "Human Being"
80. Meghan Thee Stallion - "Her"
79. Freddie Gibbs - “Dark Hearted”
78. Kings Elliott - “Butterfly Pen”
77. Stormzy - “This Is What I Mean”
76. Omar Apollo - “Evergreen”
75. Joesef - "Just Come Home With Me Tonight"
74. Joji - “Glimpse Of Us”
73. Sophie Ellis-Bextor + Wuh Oh - "Hypnotized"
72. Paige Bea - "4x4"
71. Stromae - “L’enfer”
70. Allison Ponthier - “Hollywood Forever Cemetery”
69. Jonah Yano - “leslianne”
68. Boys World - “So What”
67. Nina Nesbitt - “Pressure Makes Diamonds”
66. Maneskin - “The Loneliest”
65. Ed Sheeran (Feat. Lil’ Baby) - “2step”
64. Slipknot - “Yen”
63. Weyes Blood - “Grapevine”
62. Twice - “Talk That Talk”
61. ARO - "Against Mine"
60. Camila Cabello + WILLOW - “Psychofreak”
59. Giant Rooks - "Morning Blue"
58. Spiritbox - "Rotoscope"
57. Adele - "Oh My God"
56. J-Hope - "Arson"
55. Billie Eillish - "TV"
54. Dave - "Starlight"
53. (G)I-DLE - “My Bag”
52. Steve Lacy - "Bad Habit"
51. FLO - "Cardboard Box"
INTERVIEW WITH... WISTFUL POP SINGER-SONGWRITER KINGS ELLIOT
Kings Elliot is not your typical pop singer and songwriter, while many of today's pop artists turn to a bass-heavy, synth-based sound that is often reminiscent of the 80s and catered to dance floors & clubs. Elliot skirts all of this. On her new EP, Bored Of The Circus, the artist creates a palette of wistfully beautiful cinematic stories set against ethereal pop. Visit The Reclusive Blogger and click the link to read my interview with Kings Elliot
Kings Elliot is not your typical pop singer and songwriter, while many of today's pop artists turn to a bass-heavy, synth-based sound that is often reminiscent of the 80s and catered to dance floors & clubs. Elliot finds inspiration for her sound and lyrics from Disney (she divulges her favorite below), her small hometown in Switzerland, her struggles with mental health, and music from the 1940s & 1950s. On her new EP, ‘Bored Of The Circus’, the artist creates a palette of wistfully beautiful cinematic stories set against ethereal pop. You can read the interview I did with Elliot below. I asked about her childhood, music influences, songwriting process, and more.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Hi, Kings Elliot! Thanks for taking time out with me and TRB for this interview. My first question is how has your 2022 been so far both creatively and personally?
KINGS ELLIOT: Of course!! Thank you for taking the time!
2022 has truly been my favourite year on this planet so far! I've had the privilege of going on my first ever tour, and that being a stadium tour with Imagine Dragons which was just absolutely mind-blowing. I've released my second EP 'Bored Of The Circus' which I'm so very proud of and I'm about to lock myself in the studio to write and produce new music which I could not be more excited about.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Can you talk about how you got start in music? Was music and playing music something that was always present in your life? Particularly growing up?
KINGS ELLIOT: I've always sang and I always made up my own songs, ever since I was in pre-school. Now I know I was 'writing' and it just never left me. It's always been my greatest coping tool and it will never not be that for me.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Growing up in a small Swiss town, How do you think growing up in a small town has shaped your artistry? If it has at all?
KINGS ELLIOT: Because I was kind of the only one in my immediate surrounding chasing this pretty unrealistic dream, I had to learn to prove myself and become very headstrong at a very young age. No one ever encouraged me or said it was a good idea. Many (including myself) doubted that I could make it my profession one day.
I think that made me more dedicated than maybe someone who slipped into it more easily. I finished my education in Switzerland, I worked and saved up money, relocated to a different country and I just kept pushing for it.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: I’d like to ask you about your latest EP, ‘Bored Of The Circus’ and the overall creative process for the EP? How has your creative process adapted or grown over the years?
KINGS ELLIOT: It's honestly always different. I find that question hard because it's kind of like an ever-flowing process. I write down lyrics and melodies randomly when I feel something. My main collaborator Conway (halfrhymes) and I are in constant contact and exchange thoughts and ideas all the time. When I get into the studio we can then hone in on it all and have fun creating the world around the words and melodies. It's always different and it's my favourite part.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: I love the haunting, melodious almost lilting quality your song “Butterfly Pen” has. Can you delve into the backstory of the track and talk a bit more the visuals as well?
KINGS ELLIOT: The lyrics in this song are my favourite lyrics of the whole EP. They describe the state of a world that has turned grey after the hurt I've experienced. In the background you sometimes hear a little birdy sing and thats kevin, a small baby bird I rescued and looked after for a week before handing him to wildlife rehabilitation. I love that he has a place in this song forever. The visuals to the song capture the sadness and helplessness one can feel while in a depressive episode where even leaving the bed is a very difficult thing to do.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Where tackling themes of mental health and mental health in love and relationships in your storytelling something that you naturally gravitated towards? How do you make sure that you maintain a healthy balance between creative endeavors and self-care?
KINGS ELLIOT: It's what I've personally mostly struggled with for a lot of my life, so it was natural for me to process that trauma in the songs I write. Making these songs automatically improves my self-care but I'm definitely still working on a balanced and healthy self-preservation..
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: I’ve read that you grew up watching Disney films and that they heavily influence your music. What are some of your favorites or biggest influences?
KINGS ELLIOT: 'Dumbo' is my favourite Disney movie. 'Baby mine' playing in the scene of dumbo's mum cradling dumbo through the metal bars has me in absolute pieces every time. The song is so gorgeous and so sad, and since it was made in the 40s it has that beautiful feel from that era which I love so much. I started listening to more songs from that era and realised quickly that the 40s and 50s are my favourite years of music and it's now where I draw most of my inspiration from
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What has it been like touring with such an established act like Imagine Dragons?
KINGS ELLIOT: It was absolutely mind-blowing. They are out of this world performers, the show is insane and to make it even better they are all so kind and welcoming. I had no idea I would be accepted with such open arms and honestly being given the opportunity to sing in stadium with one of the biggest bands in the world is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life and I don't expect it to be topped by anything else!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What fictional character do you think would most identify with the Kings Elliot soundscape and aesthetic?
KINGS ELLIOT: Definitely Dumbo!! He is an outcast, he feels alienated from everyone else and the one person that loved him the most gets taken away from him. He needs some soothing songs and a world to escape to. Makes me cry thinking of it.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: If you were to put one of your lyrics onto a message in a bottle, what lyric would you choose and why?
KINGS ELLIOT: 'When I'm breaking apart I won't call it a weakness I'll stumble and fall I don't care if they see it.' - everyone who's struggling and feels ashamed of how their mind works needs to hear that.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What’s one album you could listen to over and over and from start to finish?
KINGS ELLIOT: Banks - Goddess
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: To end, What’s next on the horizon for you, Kings Elliot?
KINGS ELLIOT: More tours and more music! Once I'm back home from the European tour I am on right now I will lock myself in the studio and I can't wait for that!! I also have something really cool coming out in the next few weeks that I can't announce yet but it's a huge bucket list moment for me!!
Follow Kings Elliot:
Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Website
Stream Kings Elliot -“Bored Of The Circus”
PHOEBE BRIDGERS CAPTIVATES CLOSING OUT HER TWO NIGHT GREEK THEATER STINT ON A HIGH
Singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers, who sold out both nights at The Greek Theater, even brought along a few special guests. Which included her label signing, Charlie Hickey and guitarist Blake Mills among others.
Indie Folk phenom Phoebe Bridgers closed out the final night of her two sold-out headlining shows last Friday to much acclaim. Bridgers, riding high from Grammy nominations and critical acclaim from her second album “Punisher”. The singer-songwriter brought the “Reunion” tour to L.A. to the delight of fans. Playing through a well fleshed out set of Folk-Pop soundscapes in seventeen songs. She also had a surprise opener in store. None other than The 1975 frontman Matty Healy. He came out to do a intimate acoustic set in support of Phoebe. The best part was their duet. Their voices on that song blended quite exquisitely.
As much as the crowd and I were surprised to see Matty Healy as the opener that night. I might’ve been the only one caught off guard by Phoebe and her band walking out to “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas. I later discovered she was referencing a memory from High School. When she made and gave a mixtape to a high school crush. Somehow this song choice just made sense, it was very “Phoebe”. They somehow easily segued into “Motion Sickness”. A track that lyrically is full of anger and sadness among so much else. “Motion Sickness” was also one of the few tracks she performed from her debut record “Stranger in the Alps”. Most of the setlist included songs from her Emo meets Folk-Pop second act, “Punisher”. Songs like the beautifully quirky “Moon Song” or the pensive “Garden Song” rang out like soft lullabies. While the menacing “Punisher” cut through the silence. Bridgers ended on with the amusing sarcasm of her Bo Burnham encore cover of “That Funny Feeling”. Simply letting the music speak for itself that night with exception of a few well placed quips throughout her set. Phoebe led her orchestral leaning band of skulls (still sporting those infamous glow in dark skull onesies I mentioned earlier) in quite the autumnal rallying cry in the canyons. A true storyteller at heart her songs are not party jams (no, “Kyoto” doesn’t count but it’s still a bop”). Yet, the crowd stayed on their feet the entire time enjoying the overall atmosphere. An audience that that was truly happy to sing along to Phoebe that night and to have the hometown bestie back. You can check out my full photo gallery from the show below. To stream “Punisher” go here.
Processed with VSCO with f2 preset
Processed with VSCO with b1 preset