The focus has been on continually adding new and local music to The X each week. So it is a revelation when attention is given to the lists for top albums and songs for 2023. The X's commitment to local music shines through with nine out of the top thirty songs from local artists, 12/30 from Illinois!
Top 25 Most X-cellent Albums of 2023:
#1 - The After School Special - Follow the North Star (local)
afterschool217.com |
| #2 - Rhodes and Battles Trio - Love Is Free (local) Community Voices interview 
|
| #3 - Bed Bedford - Valley of Stars (local) Community Voices interview 
Ben Bedford
/
benbedford.com |
#4 - The Smashing Pumpkins - ATUM (IL)
smashingpumpkins.com |
#5 - Foo Fighters - But Here We Are
foofighters.com |
#6 - Bad Omens - The Death of Peace of Mind
badomensofficial.com |
#7 - Fall Out Boy - So Much (for) Stardust (IL)
falloutboy.com |
#8 - boygenius - The Record
xboygeniusx.com |
| #9 - The Lovelorn - Witch House (local) Community Voices interview 
thelovelornofficial.com |
#10 - Lana Del Rey - Did You Know that There Is a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd?
lanadelrey.com |
#11 - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Weathervanes
jasonisbell.com |
#12 - Looming - Anybody's Baby (local)
|
| #13 - Wolf Crick Boys - All Quiet on the Western Front (local) Community Voices interview 
wolfcrickboys.com |
#14 - Dave Matthews Band - Walk Around the Moon
davematthewsband.com |
| #15 - Well City - After the Storm (local) Community Voices interview 
wellcitymusic.com |
#16 - Shinedown - Planet Zero
Shinedown.com |
#17 - Paramore - This Is Why
paramore.net |
#18 - Hozier - Unreal Unearth
hozier.com |
#19 - Charley Crockett - The Man from Waco
charleycrockett.com |
#20 - Josh Ritter - Spectral Lines
joshritter.com |
#21 - Various Artists - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
marvel.com |
#22 - Metallica - 72 Seasons
metallica.com |
#23 - Linkin Park - Meteora
linkinpark.com |
#24 - Margo Price - Strays (IL)
margoprice.net |
#25 - Devon Gilfillian - Love You Anyway
devongilfillian.com/ |
The To 30 Most X-cellent Songs of 2023:
| #1 - Looming - Pocket Change (local) |
| #2 - The Hangovers - Stuck (local) |
| #3 - Bad Omens - Just Pretend |
| #4 - Lana Del Rey - Say Yes to Heaven |
| #5 - Shakey Graves - Ready or Not (feat. Sierra Ferrell) |
| #6 - Dave Matthews Band - Madman's Eyes |
| #7 - Josh Ritter - For Your Soul |
| #8 - Linkin Park - Lost |
| #9 - Devon Gilfillian - All I Really Wanna Do |
| #10 - Crash Planet - Lose Your Grip, Take a Sip (local) |
| #11 - Pierce the Veil - Emergency Contact |
| #14 - Blink-182 - One More Time |
| #13 - Wayward Motel - Brand New Sunflower Heater (local) |
| #12 - Fall Out Boy - Love from the Other Side (IL) |
| #15 - Crash Planet - Tokyo to Thailand (local) |
| #16 - The After School Special - Better to Feel (local) |
| #17 - Scarlet's Darling - The Peter Bojangle Blues (local) |
| #18 - Beach Weather - Sex, Drugs, etc. |
| #19 - Astrofix - Hell or High Water (local) |
| #20 - The Smashing Pumpkins - Spellbinding (IL) |
| #21 - boygenius - Not Strong Enough |
| #22 - Mammoth WVH - Another Celebration at the End of the World |
| #23 - Charley Crockett - Trinity River |
| #24 - Noah Kahan - Dial Drunk |
| #25 - White Reaper - Pages |
| #26 - Foo Fighters - Rescued |
| #27 - Louise Post - Killer (IL) |
| #28 - The Lone Bellow - Honey |
| #29 - Jenny Lewis Psychos |
| #30 - Local Drags - Heard About It (local) |
*Local artists bolded.
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