2023 Music Favorites
Every year I like to round up my favorite songs of the year. It is always fun to reflect and remember why I love these songs so much. I believe this is the most eclectic year yet. I have fallen deeper in love with the old hymns and there is a quite a bit of bluegrass. There are also two instrumental songs on the list, which I don’t believe has ever happened before. Here is a YouTube playlist that has all of the songs.
1. Iris Dement-Higher Ground What a great song to start off a new year.
3. Rescue the Perishing “Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save”
5. Iris Dement- Cherry Orchard Iris had a new album out this year. This was my favorite of the album. I love the piano playing.
7. Emmylou Harris- Gone This song came up on Pandora. I have had it on repeat. Emmylou is still the GOAT.
9. Andrew Marlin- Salter Path/Throes of Night I don’t know why I like this, but I do. I believe this is the first instrumental song to make a favorites list.
11. The King’s Heralds- Hallelujah What a Savior I had never heard this song before this version (that I remember). “Ruined sinners to reclaim, hallelujah what a Savior”
13. Kate Wolf-Emma Rose This is a great story song. How long?
15. Joe Mullins and The Radio Ramblers- Living Left To Do We have heard this several times live. Beautiful.
17. Pop Staples- Friendship I believe that I heard this years ago before a concert. The Nora Jones version came up on my YouTube, but I looked it up and remembered this version.
19. Bronwyn Keith-Hynes-Can’t Live Without Love Bronwyn is the fiddle player for Molly Tuttle. I had been following her on Instagram and she released this song and I really like it. Great players on it too.
21. Hannah Read- Silverphae Another instrumental song. I love this whole album. So pretty.
23. The Marshall Family- I Just Want To Thank You, Lord This was the perfect song for Thanksgiving.
2. Kate Wolf-Like a River I really took a liking to Kate Wolf at the beginning of the year. This is one of her few more upbeat numbers.
4. Paul Williams and Cliff Waldron-What the Lord Has Done In Me I was listening through this album and it was all sacred traditional bluegrass songs. I then came to this song and immediately it sounded different. This is a newer song, with a bluegrass twist.
6. The King’s Heralds-Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door I heard this song at a confirmation mass I was filming. I looked it up and found this awesome version. The harmonies are so good. This was my first introduction to the King’s Heralds and I am obsessed.
8. Joe Mullins and The Radio Ramblers- Go Spread The Gospel What a great message. They have been playing in Somerset yearly and it is a treat.
10. The King’s Heralds- All Hail The Power of Jesus Name Love the organ to kick it off at the beginning. Mom and me play this at church.
12. The King’s Heralds- Deep River Can you tell I like the King’s Heralds?
14. First Aid Kit-Everybody’s Got to Learn Aunt E. and me went to see First Aid Kit in Nashville this year. It was fantastic. This was a new release. Kimmi and I do our balance exercises to this song.
16. The Marshall Family-Things I Used To Do Driving banjo. “The Lord’s got His eyes on me.”
18. The Marshall Family- Exactly What I Need This song shows the need to let go of our will and submit to the Lord’s. I feel like this is not a popular message, especially the examples they give. The guitar solo is also awesome.
20. Lindsey Lou-On Your Side This is the only Lindsey Lou song I think I know. I heard her on WMOT’s stream from Americanafest this year. Harmony and mandolin on point.
22. Dori Freeman- Do You Recall I have been a Dori Freeman fan for a good while. This is off her new album.