While Q101 remains the greatest source in the world for discovering new music, we only have so many hours in the day and occasionally some songs fall through the cracks. If your Spotify Wrapped results have you down, or you’re in desperate need of something new to listen to as we close out the final weeks of the year, these are 11 great songs that you may have missed this year. -Case the Producer
The Beaches – Blame Brett
The Beaches played at 1:15 on the opening day of Lollapalooza. 1:15. They were the first band to grace the Bud Light stage, which played host to the likes of Carly Rae Jepsen (my girl), The 1975, and Maggie Rogers throughout the weekend. Seemingly as they were on stage, “Blame Brett” began to blow up. If I may be forward for just a second, this song is annoying in all the right ways. Truly, that is a huge compliment. I could not get this song out of my head for an entire month after hearing it for the first time. The Canadian quartet exploded in popularity to “Blame Brett” this year. I can’t wait to see what’s next for them.
Bully – Days Move Slow
A few days ago, I was talking to a friend about how much I liked Bully’s fourth studio album, Lucky For You. Unfamiliar with the record, I told them Bully, Alicia Bognanno’s excellent indie rock band, sounds like “Sheryl Crow’s moody niece”. Of course, anyone who knows me knows how much I love Sheryl Crow, so I simply could not give a band a bigger compliment than being similar to Crow in any way. The standout track from Lucky For You is “Days Move Slow”, an indie rock belter that sounds like it washed ashore after being stowed away and recorded in 1996. It’s dirty, it’s catchy, and it’s everything right about indie rock.
Bully will be opening for Grouplove on March 16 at The Riv.
Citizen – When I Let You Down
I’m waiting on the day that Citizen is one of the most decorated rock bands in the world. I don’t even get Citizen all the time. A number of their hits have missed me entirely. That being said, having seen this band a number of times now, including twice in 2023, there is no denying the ardent fanbase that follows this band and has for over a decade now. A band known for always changing up their sound, this year they stepped up their game by stripping back their approach, abandoning the throat-bursting emo screams or dance-punk drum beats that have won them fans all over the world. “When I Let You Down”, a standout single on Calling the Dogs, is the band’s finest work to date. A catchy, infectious bark-and-response that could be played around the campfire or in an arena, Citizen have yet again proven that they are one of the most exciting bands in alt rock.
DRAIN – Evil Finds Light
Instinctually, I want to preface this with saying that DRAIN is “not for everyone”. But, they do seem to be good enough for Post Malone, a sold out crowd at the Metro, and a stage-invading crowd at Riot Fest, so maybe the gnarly vocals and heavy riffs of Sammy Ciaramitaro are more inviting than even I realize. Bottom line, DRAIN is one of the heaviest bands going today, but they are also one of the most fun bands going today. They radiate positive energy and good vibes, despite playing unforgiving thrash that sonically would have them linked up with Metallica and Slayer. On their Epitaph Records debut, DRAIN unearthed LIVING PROOF. Clocking in at 10 songs in 25 minutes, it’s one of the most relentless and engaging listens of the entire year. They shine their brightest on “Evil Finds Light”, an essential cut from 2023.
Check out their interview with me from earlier this year to learn more about why they might be banned from Riot Fest, how their first record deal was constructed at the merch table, and so much more.
The Front Bottoms – Outlook
Here’s the thing about The Front Bottoms: they are unabashedly my favorite band of all-time. I think they are brilliant. They will never get the credit they deserve for being some of the finest songwriters of the 21st century. THAT BEING SAID, 2023’s You Are Who You Hang Out With was not my favorite effort from the band. Much of the album is maligned by an aggressive autotune effect that drowns out the usually-charming voice of frontman Brian Sella. A confusing move, to say the least. What makes it worse is that the album’s lead single, “Outlook”, contained no such autotune and also happens to be one of the finest songs this band has ever recorded. If I could’ve slid any song into rotation at Q101 this year, “Outlook” would’ve been my pick.
LURK – Honey Hive
Chicago’s own LURK are destined for big things. The DEVO-meets-Ramones punks have spent the last few years making big noise in small rooms, and one can only hope that by this time next year, they’re making that same noise in front of more people. They’ve set those wheels in motion with the help of tracks like “Honey Hive”, an ode to the often defeating nature of the music industry. Sounding like a long-lost Pixies cut, they have once again proven that they are Chicago’s finest rock band.
Oh yes, I also talked to them this year about the wonders of Ozzfest, the struggles of being a touring band, and how their unique sound came to be.
Militarie Gun – Do It Faster
Last year when writing this very article, I wrote in regards to Militarie Gun and their song “Pressure Cooker”, “As far as I’m concerned, Militarie Gun currently holds the heavyweight championship around their waist when it comes to being the most exciting band in the world.”
I am happy to inform you that since then, they’ve only gotten better. LA’s finest melodic hardcore act is in the midst of a three-year run akin to Muhammad Ali in his prime. Each MG track on their first full-length, Life Under the Gun, hits hard like a heavyweight punch. If you catch them on their upcoming headlining tour, you will one day be able to brag about seeing them in a room that small.
Momma – Bang Bang
Also making their return to this list after an appearance last year, LA’s Momma have yet again brought forth a banger…this time by way of “Bang Bang”. The standalone single comes after a huge year, last year, with 2022’s Household Name. Light-hearted, warm, and a wry sense of humor, Momma continues to live up to the hype after being named one of Rolling Stone’s 2020 “Artist You Need to Know”.
Movements – I Hope You Choke!
Movements have become a confounding success story. After years of grinding away in underground emo and punk-adjacent scenes, the band stumbled into success thanks to TikTok taking ahold of the gut-wrenching “Daylily“, years after its release. Since then, the band has ridden a wave of momentum that includes a stellar set at Riot Fest 2022 and a sold-out show at Concord Music Hall fresh off the heels of 2023’s RUCKUS! “I Hope You Choke!” continues their trend of excellent shout-at-the-stars tracks that have made them one of the most buzzworthy bands in alternative.
Ratboys – Morning Zoo
Another Chicago band, I’ve long-championed Ratboys as one of this city’s finest exports. This year, they struck gold with The Window, a brilliant and beautiful record that Paste Magazine named the 5th best album of 2023. Frontwoman Julia Steiner’s voice cuts like a siren throughout The Window‘s 11 emotional and introspective songs. The highlight on one of the year’s best albums is “Morning Zoo”, which Steiner described as, “[an expression in] frustration and confusion that comes along with hanging out at a personal crossroads, where every day feels the same and the same big questions keep nagging at you from the back of your head.”
Ratboys come back home on December 22nd for a headlining show at Thalia Hall. Tickets are available here.
Spiritual Cramp – Better Off This Way
I would not describe myself as cool. Most things I like are not cool. Spiritual Cramp, however, are cool. They look cool, the music they make sounds cool, and they continue to churn out cool music videos. They are simply very, very cool. After years of churning out stellar EP’s, the Bay Area punks released a self-titled record this year, their first full-length. “Better Off This Way” is an explosive two-minute belter and another glimpse into the paranoid mind of eclectic frontman Michael Bingham.
They’ll join Militarie Gun at the Bottom Lounge on February 23.
For more insight into exciting, emerging artists, you can check out my litany of interviews with bands such as Beach Fossils, Code Orange, and High Vis on Q101’s YouTube channel.
