2023 AOTY: Singles With No Albums

The second installment in my 2023 AOTY series, covering singles released in 2023 that came with no album attached, either one-off, standalone songs, or songs that presage an album release next year.

Dec 13, 2023

For those of you that tuned into my first AOTY entry, where I shared my process for tracking music throughout the year, you’ll know that songs that grab me through the course of the year make it onto one of the three Spotify playlists I use to keep track of new music. Single tracks make their way onto my 2023 Singles waiting for albums playlist. If those tracks then appear on albums released later in the year they get pulled out of the singles playlist and a track from the album goes into the 2023 Music playlist (assuming the album is deemed worthy after several listens) ready for further evaluation over the course of the year.

By the end of the year I’m left with a playlist of singles that are either completely standalone, one-off releases or lead singles (or one in a series of singles) released in advance of a new album (a 2024 album in this case, given that we’re already in December). I’m ending 2023 with 16 songs on the playlist, all of which resonate deeply with me. Ten of these, as of this writing, appear to be standalone singles as I haven’t been able to find any news relating to an upcoming album in 2024. Four songs have albums coming in the first quarter of next year. And for the remaining two songs, albums have been announced for 2024 but no firm release date exists.

Without further ado, let’s get to the music! I hope some of these hit the right spot for you, please drop your thoughts in the comments.

Lady Blackbird - Woman

Released 27-Jan-2023

Incoming Album: nothing announced

Lady Blackbird’s debut album Black Acid Soul was one of my favorites of 2021, ranking as my #3 AOTY so when I first heard this song in January, I was very excited as I thought it heralded a full-length release in the not-too-distant future. Alas, nothing has materialized to date and my sleuthing hasn’t provided anything concrete about what’s coming next and when. Until then, I’ll enjoy this single along with July’s Baby I Just Don’t, and her contribution (a cover of Grace Jones’ Slave To The Rhythm ) to Trevor Horn’s recent, and rather bland IMO, Echoes - Ancient & Modern compilation.

Beck - Thinking About You

Released 10-Feb-2023

Incoming Album: nothing announced

I’ve been a fan of Beck since 1994’s Mellow Gold (realizing that’s almost 30 years behind me makes me feel old!) and while I’ve found his catalog to be a little hit and miss for my tastes, particularly more recently, I always look forward to what’s coming next from him. His two standout albums for me are 2002’s Sea Change (one of my desert island discs for sure) and 2014’s Morning Phase. February’s Thinking About You is very much in the “Sad Beck” vein reflected by those two albums and I’m hoping it brings forth another album within that oeuvre. Nothing’s been announced on that front, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Thundercat, Tame Impala - No More Lies

Released 25-Apr-2023

Incoming Album: nothing announced

In 2020 Thundercat’s most recent full-length release It Is What It Is was an honorable mention on my AOTY list with Tame Impala’s The Slow Rush just missing out on my top 50 that year. I don’t believe there are any plans for a full album collaboration between these two (it would be magically delicious!), but it does seem like there may be a new Thundercat release next year as a worldwide tour has been announced for 2024.

H.E.R. - The Journey

Released 18-May-2023

Incoming Album: nothing announced

I haven’t heard any of H.E.R.’s music outside of her collaboration with Skip Marley (grandson of Bob and Rita) on Slow Down from Marley’s 2020 album Higher Place (a great album, highly recommended), but she’s been releasing critically acclaimed and award-winning (including 5 Grammies, an Academy Award, and an Emmy) music since 2016. This ballad, with its incredible soaring vocals and themes of fighting and overcoming adversity, really resonated with me and buoyed my spirits in what has been a year with some tough stretches from an emotional and mental health perspective. Beyond vague talk of a new album coming, I haven’t found anything concrete.

Future Islands - Deep In The Night

Released 15-Aug-2023

Incoming Album: People Who Aren’t There Anymore (26-Jan-24)

Although I was a little late to the Future Islands party, they’ve made regular appearances on my AOTY list over the years with 2014’s Singles coming it #11, 2017’s The Far Field at #21, and 2020’s As Long As You Are ranking #30. I’m excited for the new album coming in January 2024, just six short weeks from now.

Picture Parlour - Norwegian Wood

Released 24-Jul-2023

Incoming Album: nothing announced

Although there’s a fantastic collection of music on this playlist (if I do say so myself!), this track is by far my favorite; I just can’t get enough of it. When Katherine Parlour snarls “I thought I’d screech in the face of death, but I went into liquidation like my businesses” and follows it up with

“It hurts to show
but it’s not easy knowing what I know
When I’m down, I’m so down
If I expressed myself, well you wouldn’t stick around me”

that just hits me hard. There doesn’t appear to be an album on the horizon, but color me excited for the day when one’s announced!

In researching the band a little more, I discovered that they’ve attracted some (seemingly manufactured and unfounded) controversy, with accusations of them being “industry plants” or “nepo babies”. The topic was discussed by Steph Marziano in a Line of Best Fit article, which shines a light on the real driver of these claims (you shouldn’t be surprised) and hopefully puts that theory to bed (although I wouldn’t count on it):

It's important to highlight the similarities between bands who have recently been called "industry plants". First it was Wet Leg, then The Last Dinner Party, and now Picture Parlour. Marziano is quick to call it what it is: misogyny. Picture Parlour have been open in interviews about having a team behind them, despite people being convinced that they must have some kind of privilege in order to be at the point they are.
"Truthfully, nobody says this about successful male bands. It's bullshit. Whether it's meant to or not, it is misogynistic, and it's a shame that people aren't seeing that... It happens to women-fronted bands and LGBTQ communities".

Chelsea Wolfe - Dusk

Released 20-Sep-2023

Incoming Album: She Reached Out to She Reaches Out to She (9-Feb-24)

I first became aware of Chelsea Wolfe’s work in 2013 when her third album Pain Is Beauty made its way onto my AOTY list at #13. Two years later she hit #11 with Hiss Spun and made the top 20 again in 2019 with Birth of Violence. I’m very excited to hear her seventh solo effort, She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She, set for release on Loma Vista Recordings in February.

Lust For Youth - Blue Suzuki

Released 6-Oct-2023

Incoming Album: nothing announced

Lust For Youth, the Swedish/Danish synth pop duo has featured on my AOTY list with 2 of their last three albums, 2014’s International which came in at #7 and 2016’s Compassion which ranked #37 that year. After five albums with Sacred Bones Records this latest single is on Posh Isolation, appearing on the label’s October 2023 compilation I Am Here Now, When Will You Be Here Again? Not sure whether this represents a label change though, because they’re still listed on the Artists page on Sacred Bones’ website. I haven’t seen or heard anything about a new album, but hopefully we’ll see one soon.

NewDad - Angel

Released 13-Sep-2023

Incoming Album: Madra (26-Jan-24)

I kinda feel like I’ve been sleeping on NewDay, a four-piece hailing from Galway, Ireland, as they’ve had a fairly steady release of singles and a couple EPs since 2020. I decided years ago that the bar for an EP making my AOTY list in any given year was so high that it just made sense for me to skip listening to and keeping track of EPs. Given how much amazing new music is out there in any given year I felt I needed to tighten my focus a little. But now I feel like I’m missing out on too much good music and too many new artists, so I’m reconsidering that position. Next year will likely see the introduction of list of top EPs for the year. Really looking forward to NewDay’s debut full-length, Madra, which drops on January 26!

Holly Macve - Beauty Queen

Released 27-Sep-2023

Incoming Album: new album expected in 2024

When I type the name “Holly Macve” into Google, one of the top suggestions that pops up is “Holly Macve Lana Del Rey”. I initially assumed that it was because Beauty Queen, her latest single, is so reminiscent of Del Rey’s work. Turns out she released a single in October featuring Del Rey and also appeared on the ticket of Del Rey’s July 2023 concert at Hyde Park. So while they’re musically similar (my opinion, albeit based on one single), there are clearly other connections between the two that warrant that particular search string on Google.

The SXSW website describes her (probably from her agent) thusly:

“A heavenly voice couched in spellbinding western noir ballads, with a devastating emotional delivery, Holly Macve explores a dreamlike, pictorial world within her songwriting; English Rose meets Mulholland Drive Lynchian glamour. With vocal notes of Chris Isaak and Patsy Cline and a unique skill of writing timeless melodies, Macve evokes a warmth and transcendence comparable to a black and white film from the 1950’s.”

The praise is, perhaps, a tad overwrought for me but nonetheless seems to capture the feel of her music and, certainly leaves me intrigued, wanting for more. This song was my first introduction, and I’m looking forward to going back to enjoy her first two albums, 2017’s Golden Eagle and 2021’s Not The Girl. A new album is expected in 2024.

Hurray For The Riff Raff - Alibi

Released 9-Nov-2023

Incoming Album: The Past Is Still Alive (23-Feb-24)

It’s begun to feel like my most used phrase of the year is “I was a little late to the party on . . . insert artist here”. It can feel frustrating to be introduced to an artist at a point that already feels so deep into their career. With some artists, as I explore their earlier catalog, I think back to what was going on in my life at the time and how well that album would’ve decorated my life and soundtracked the ups and downs, a musical soft place to land. But there’s also a joy and an excitement that comes with discovering a new musical seam to mine. The reality is that in the vast and ever-expanding musical universe, I’m gonna miss out on artists more often than not. I need to accept that and enjoy the ability to savor “new to me” music as and when it appears.

Speaking of that late to the party phrase, my first introduction to Hurray For The Riff Raff was 2017’s The Navigator which was my #2 ranked album that year. This was her sixth studio album and, sadly, I’ve yet to fully explore her back catalog (back to the too much music, too little time theme), but this album remains one of my favorites from the last decade. Leonie Cooper’s review in NME reflects my thoughts on this powerhouse album:

“Fronted by the majestic Alynda Segarra, theirs is a music that is as diverse and compelling as America itself. Drawing upon everything from the 1930s dust bowl balladry of Woody Guthrie to the seamless soul of the Motown and Stax labels as well as Louisiana jazz and blues, Alynda’s own Puerto Rican heritage, the folksy 1960s stylings of The Band and Springsteen-worthy heartland rock gutsiness, it’s a heady sonic gumbo.Raised in the Bronx, New York but honing her craft in New Orleans, where she formed the band while busking on the city’s streets, it isn’t just Alynda’s strident vocal that’s powerful – it’s what she’s saying with it. A concept album about a street kid being forced out of her home in the face of gentrification and social cleansing, it is of course a reaction to the current political climate in the United States.”

While 2022’s Life on Earth didn’t really capture my heart, I’m very excited to hear what she brings forth in The Past Is Still Alive, which is scheduled for a February release.

Oisin Leech - October Sun

Released 17-Oct-2023

Incoming Album: nothing announced

Oisin Leech is one half of the Irish duo The Lost Brothers, yet another band of which I know nothing (note: initial research on their catalog is very promising). In October Leech released his first solo single and accompanying video. His website refers to it as a “stand alone single” so I’m not sure whether an album is coming although my guess is not. I’ve added The Lost Brothers to my list of artists that I need to delve into a little further.

Nightbus - Way Past Three

Released 14-Feb-2023

Incoming Album: nothing announced

The debut single from the Manchester-based Nightbus, who have since released two more singles, Mirrors in March and Exposed to Some Light in October, both of which are also fantastic. It sounds like an EP is in the works and I’m hopeful an album will follow. Definitely an artist to keep an eye on!

Wolfgang Valbrun - Love Yourself

Released 1-Apr-2022

Incoming Album: Flawed By Design (TBD, 2024)

For much of his musical career Wolfgang Valbrun has been the lead singer of Ephemerals, an avant-garde UK soul and jazz band with a handful of EPs and albums to their credit. Valbrun has now released three solo singles this year including this track, which feels like an instant classic to me. He recently signed to Jalapeno Records and an album has been announced for release in 2024.

The Jesus and Mary Chain - jamcod

Released 29-Nov-2023

Incoming Album: Glasgow Eyes (8-Mar-24)

In my hazy recollection Psychocandy, The Jesus and Mary Chain’s 1985 debut album, which I came to in 1987 via the Some Kind of Wonderful soundtrack (one of the best ever!), felt life changing. I remember countless hours spent lying on my bed, full of teenage angst, brain addled with alcohol and/or weed, having otherworldly experiences as this fuzzy, beautiful, noisy but poppy music boomed out of my Cerwin Vega speakers. But like a wad of Bazooka gum, the sweetness didn’t last long for me before I was on to something different (in that era it would’ve been The Smiths, The Cult, and The Cure before pivoting into Sisters of Mercy, The Mission, Killing Joke). To be clear, it was my musical tastes changing and not a reflection on the album, which I do still enjoy, albeit infrequently. I completely lost touch with them musically and I’m not sure I’ve listened to much of their catalog beyond 1987’s Darklands and 1992’s Honey’s Dead.

Given my complete lack of attention to the band, I was surprised to come across their most recent single jamcod, which dropped a couple weeks ago. I certainly enjoy the track and am looking forward to seeing what the new album brings come March.

Midland - Wichita Lineman

Released 17-Nov-2023

Incoming Album: nothing announced

This wonderful cover of the Glen Campbell classic, originally recorded in 1968, was released by Midland on November 17. My sum knowledge of Midland until now has been a vague awareness that there’s a band of that name. This cover has apparently been a staple of their live shows for some time. I’m grateful they released it as it’s highly unlikely I’d ever find myself at one of their shows and wouldn’t have heard it otherwise.

What’s your favorite song on this list? Any new discoveries that stood out for you? Any 2024 albums that you’re particularly looking forward to? What standalone or pre-album singles did you love this year?

Please leave a comment below, I’d love to hear your thoughts!!

Joy in the Journey

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