The Pier Staff Picks For The Best of 2023

2023 produced some absolutely incredible rock-reggae music. Our team narrowed down some of the best releases of the year and compiled them into their own staff recap. We covered everything from best albums, best singles, music video, and tour of the year.

What do you think was the best release of 2023?

Adoo from Space Kamp (Writer/Podcast Host for Rebel Hippies)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

  1. Buju Banton – Born for Greatness
  2. Stephen Marley – Old Soul
  3. The Elovaters – Endless Summer
  4. Alborosie – Destiny
  5. Dirty Heads – Midnight Control

Notes: (1, 2 and 3 switch day to day!)

TOP 5 SINGLES

  1. Stephen Marley – Old Soul
  2. Buju Banton – Born for Greatness
  3. The Elovaters – Roll up
  4. Slum Beach Posse – Wild trip
  5. F.Y.A.H – Freedom Fighter

 

Kelly Graham (Writer)

 

Top 5 Albums of 2023

  1. The Elovaters – Endless Summer
  2. Denm x Landon McNamara – Slum Beach Posse Vol. 1
  3. Nathan Aurora ft various artists – Pop Punk Goes Reggae
  4. Dirty Heads – Midnight Control Deluxe
  5. Pepper – Makai

Top 10 songs of 2023

  1. SOJA ft Hirie – “Nothing Lasts Forever”
  2. Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, Stick Figure – “Got Me on the Run”
  3. Denm/Landon McNamara ft Jesse James – “20 after 4”
  4. Hirie ft Inna Vision- “I’m High”
  5. Algorhythm – “Lost Cause”
  6. Dirty Heads – “John Linen”
  7. The Elovaters – “Keep My Head Up”
  8. Little Stranger ft Jarv & Damn Skippy – “Cool Kids”
  9. Pepper – “Get Me Ready”
  10. The Expendables ft Bret Bollinger – “Do Me”

Single of the Year

  • Algorhythm – “Good Life”

Best Show of 2023

  • Slightly Stoopid Double on the Rocks – Red Rocks – ft Slightly Stoopid, SOJA, Iya Terra, Denm, The Movement, The Elovaters, Andy Frasco

Festival of the Year

  • Closer to the Sun

New Artist of the Year

  • Algorhythm

Best Tour of the Year

  • Stick Figure ft Pepper & The Elovaters


The Reggae Plug (Writer/Reviewer/ Live Photographer)

Top 5 Albums

  1. Endless Summer, The Elovaters
  2. Butter, Kash’d Out
  3. Shellshock – Ballyhoo!
  4. Slum Beach Posse Vol. 1, DENM
  5. Daytrippin, Iration

 

Suzanne Sanchez (Writer)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

  1. Dirty Heads – Midnight Control
  2. DENM x Landon McNamara – Slum Beach Posse
  3. Iration – Daytrippin
  4. Kash’d Out – Butter
  5. The Elovaters – Endless Summer

Single of the Year 

  • TJ O’Neill  (Stick Figure) “Railroad Shelter”

Video of the Year

  • Dirty Heads “Rescue Me”

Best Tour of 2023

  • Stick Figure x Pepper x  The Elovaters

 

Stefanie Sanchez (Writer)

Top 10 Singles

  1. Stephen Marley -“Old Soul”
  2. Dirty Heads -” Island Glow”
  3. Matisyahu- “Ripples”
  4. Sublime w /Rome -” Tangerine Skies”
  5. SlightlyStoopid w.StickFigure &Pepper – ” Got me on the Run”
  6. DENM x Landon McNamara – “Wild Trip”
  7. Stick Figure- ” Paradise”
  8. Collie Buddz – ” Take It Easy”
  9. Surfer Girl feat. Jared Watson of Dirty Heads- ” Set in Stone”
  10. Nathan Aurora & Stick Figure on “Pop Punk Goes Reggae”- “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”