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60. KATSEYE “M.I.A.”
*sigh*
I want so much more for these girls because they have way better ingredients than the songs they’re given will let them display. That said, this is a banger. It doesn’t need six people, and I can actually picture Rihanna on it twelve years ago, but still a banger.
59. Megan Moroney “6 Months Later”
The liberal country girls have nominated Megan Moroney as the replacement for Carrie MAGAwood, and while she doesn’t have the same vocal chops, she does have a much better pen.
58. Genia “Give” feat. Monaleo
When Genia was little, she watched Purple Rain on repeat and decided this is what she wanted to do with her life. While I don’t really see any Prince in her music, I do see the it factor. She blew up on TikTok, but her R&B sensibilities don’t seem watered down by the clock app.
57. The Criticals “Mother of Style”
These two dudes from Nashville have solidified a five-piece lineup after rotating cast changes the past few years and they’re finally building buzz. They both say they like “the” names for bands and their music has that same influence of The Strokes, The Stills, The Bravery, etc.
56. Audrey Hobert “Don’t go back to his ass”
Aubrey Hobert is so funny. She was a staff writer on a Nickelodeon show after co-writing some of her best friend Gracie Adams’s songs on her breakout project. Now she’s taking her own shot at stardom.
55. Michaela Jaé “Green Lights”
Michaela Jaé has found a sound that works! After a few false starts when Pose ended, her first full album release was the right mixture of pop, dance, and R&B. And I do feel deliverrrrrrrrrt.
54. Reneé Rapp “Sometimes”
Unlike Michaela Jae, Renee Reneé still doesn’t seem to have found a sound that works perfectly everytime. Her last album is a little Alanis, a little Christina, a little Ariana, a little Hayley but I still don’t know what makes any of her music identifiably Reneé Rapp. At least she can sing and this is a beautiful little ballad from that album.
53. Infinite Coles “Sweetface Killah”
Family Drama!!! Ghostface Killah is homophobic. So having his queer child drag him for two minutes straight over a dance beat is excellent karma.
52. MINNIE “Cherry Sky”
(G)I-dle isn’t even one of my mid-tier K-Pop girl groups, so I was not checking for Minnie’s first solo release at all. Shame on me, because it’s so smooth. This is such a good late night Pacific Coast Highway song.
51. Mumford & Sons “Rubber Band Man” feat. Hozier
Why did Stomp Clap Hey Ho music fall out of favor? It’s all still so good. Mumford & Sons teaming up with Hozier is like the Avengers of hemp shoes and natural deodorant.
50. Olivia Dean “Nice to Each Other”
Olivia Dean is so nice to listen to. She gives me timeless dinner party music for any crowd, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s hard needle to thread and she’s sewing perfectly.
49. FKA twigs “Girl Feels Good”
“Girl Feels Good” really feels like a B-side to anything from Madonna’s Ray of Light in the best way.
48. Halle “braveface”
Poor Halle Bailey. That garbage ass baby daddy of hers has really done a number on her career, public image, and self-esteem. She should be one of the biggest stars in the industry after The Little Mermaid, but….a tale as old as time…some ain’t-shit-man was in the way.
47. ADÉLA “SexOnTheBeat”
The “bad girl” from PopStar Academy has a major label record deal and her first tour under her belt. She’ll be opening for Demi Lovato next and seeing her last year in a venue of about 400 people in the East Village really felt like witnessing the birth of the next great pop star.
46. Raiche “Girls A Gun”
This year I learned Raiche had a baby and I also learned Raiche had a baby with Teddy Swims. Of all the musical pairings currently making the rounds, that one makes the most sense. Usually I’m here for Raiche doing a late-night ballad, but she surprised me this year with a good Sunday Afternoon bop.
45. Dylan Gossett “Sweet Lady”
Dylan Gossett graduated from Texas A&M and went to work doing logistics at the racetrack. In his spare time, he was uploading covers to TikTok and then he got discovered by a record label. It’s a story we hear over and over now, so everyone take note: go ahead and upload those ditties to the clock app and see what happens.
44. Tyla “CHANEL”
I did not know what Tyla was saying on this chorus for about two months, but it doesn’t really matter. I don’t know how long she can ride this same sound until it wears out, but I haven’t gotten bored of it yet, so I’m excited about her sophomore album this year.
43. 9Million “Shine On”
Another 90s VH1 throwback vibe, 9Million was such a fun discovery this year! Based in Toronto, these kids released their first album last year, and even though they still haven’t cracked 15K followers on IG, the Reddit/Internet buzz is steadily building and they’re opening for Ethel Cain this year.
42. Zara Larsson “Midnight Sun”
I’m here for the Zarannaisance! This is Zara’s third career peak and she’s barely in her 30s, but the people have started calling her Vanilla Beyonce so maybe she’ll be able to stick around after this one. Her whole album was a big, splashy, gay, dancefloor treat and I encourage you all to do some drugs and listen to it.
41. Biffy Clyro “Two People In Love”
I love when a band randomly throws a song in 5/4 somewhere onto their album. That hiccup in the meter is so fresh!
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