It’s no secret that music is a social bonding agent. It has the power to take the most diametrically opposed individuals and unify them through the need to physically or emotionally respond to what they’re hearing. Sometimes, however, our need to connect with others and feel accepted within larger groups can come at the expense of considering our most unique and personal musical tastes. In other words, we can trick ourselves into liking songs based on public opinion regardless of whether those songs are truly reflective of the music we would personally love even more.

A fascinating study reported by Berkeley College of Music provides a clear example of this phenomenon of musical groupthink. The study showed that musical preferences are directly tied to the formation of ingroups, the biases we create towards outgroup members, and even the assessment of threats from other seemingly different populations. The best part: it’s entirely primal. Babies, for instance, will not only dance to music they like, but adjust how they react to music they do or don’t like based on how other people are reacting around them. Humans naturally want to emulate other humans’ responses to the songs they hear, and they’re willing to blunt their personal definition of good music in the process.

What’s the point? Well, first, groupthink is not necessarily a bad thing. Understanding what music is considered popular is a key aspect of learning, empathizing, and feeling accepted within a community. But the second, just as important lesson is that you probably have strange music tastes that you aren’t appropriately feeding. While being a part of one or many groups is important, the eccentric sounds that make your tail wag are core to defining you as a person. If the songs inspiring those emotions are limited in scope, you inherently limit the emotions you allow yourself to experience.

So take a step back, recognize your socially strangest music tastes, and make the conscious decision to amplify them. Explore songs and genres that aren’t normal in your inner circle. Put your weird on blast, and don’t be afraid to share that weirdness with the rest of the world. You’d be shocked at how many people latch onto originality when they aren’t tethered by groupthink.

This playlist contains my favorite songs from the past year ranked in order from 1 to 200. There are plenty of pop songs, but also a number of interesting, strange, and/or unique songs unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. I hope you enjoy some as much as I do. Cheers!

  1. My Golden Years by The Lemon Twigs
  2. Lucifer by A.G. Cook
  3. Bloomed by The Flamboyant Train
  4. redrum by 21 Savage
  5. Zelda by TOLEDO
  6. Arkansas Is Nice by Bailey Bigger
  7. Espresso by Sabrina Carperter
  8. Feeling Not Found by Origami Angel
  9. Against The Grain by Julianna Riolino and Adrian Underhill
  10. In The Night by TSHA
  11. Back to You by Denitia
  12. COPY COLD by Mach-Hommy and Black Thought
  13. Forever by Hovvdy
  14. I Could Drive You Crazy by Sierra Ferrell
  15. push me over by Maren Morris
  16. Football by Youth Lagoon
  17. Southern Star by Leif Vollebekk
  18. Tiny Moves by Bleachers
  19. Right Back to It by Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman
  20. She’s Leaving You by MJ Lenderman
  21. One Last Dance by Baby Rose and BADBADNOTGOOD
  22. n.h.i.e. by 21 Savage and Doja Cat
  23. BIG BOYS CRY TOO by Jo Hill
  24. Dream Police by Mk.gee
  25. Love On The Outside by Wishy
  26. Buttered Up by Sycco
  27. August by Noeline Hofmann
  28. Bang The Bus by Maxo Kream
  29. How Can I Love Her More? by The Lemon Twigs
  30. Come Pick Me Up by John-Robert
  31. Frisco Blues by Lewis OfMan
  32. I Can’t Shake the Stranger Out of You by A. Savage
  33. Would If I Could by ERNEST and Lainey Wilson
  34. One Night/All Night by Justice and Tame Impala
  35. CHOO CHOO by Fizzy Orange
  36. Josh Tillman and the Accidental Dose by Father John Misty
  37. Joker Lips by MJ Lenderman
  38. May Ninth by Khruangbin
  39. Disappearing by Blu DeTiger (feat. Magdalena Bay)
  40. Add Up My Love by Clairo
  41. SATURN DAYZ by BLACKSTARKIDS
  42. Thinking About You by Faye Webster
  43. Mahashmashana by Father John Misty
  44. I’m Better (I’m Bad) by Moses Sumney
  45. Plant the Garden by Melt
  46. Out Of Rhythm by Lean Low and Jaydonclover
  47. Mary Boone by Vampire Weekend
  48. God’s A Different Sword by Folk Bitch Trio
  49. Feel by The Heavy Heavy
  50. Mood Ring by Dehd
  51. Just The Way You Are by Memphis LK
  52. Minor Setback by GUM and Ambrose Kenny-Smith
  53. Aaron by Cassandra Jenkins, Bloomsday, and Babehoven
  54. Scholar’s Mate by Sure Sure and Beachy Keys
  55. Police Scanner by Chanel Beads
  56. Flowers by Real Estate
  57. Hiding by Ben Böhmer and Lykke Li
  58. Thrown Around by James Blake
  59. Never Meant by Iron & Wine
  60. Heaven In Your Arms by Jessie Ware
  61. Picture Of Her by fanclubwallet
  62. Sirena by Niko Rubio (feat. Cuco)
  63. Not Today by Thee Marloes
  64. Kiss Me Again by Pale Waves
  65. tropical lush ice by Georgia Maq
  66. Midnight Cowboyyy by Eye Candy
  67. Noid by Tyler, the Creator
  68. I Said What I Said by The Softies
  69. That’s My Floor by Magdelena Bay
  70. I’m In Love (Subaru) by Sports Team
  71. Perfect Pinterest Garden by Porter Robinson
  72. Bloom by Half Happy
  73. 7 Up by Phoebe Go
  74. Fruit Wine by Origami Angel
  75. S P E Y S I D E by Bon Iver
  76. Rah Tah Tah by Tyler, The Creator
  77. Abigail by Soccer Mommy
  78. Let’s Go (Magalengha) by Ian Asher and GIULIA BE
  79. Hell Is Near by St. Vincent
  80. Lost Ones by Dr. Dog
  81. So Long by Bien et Toi and Paris Texas
  82. Prep-School Gangsters by Vampire Weekend
  83. Three Big Moons by Why Bonnie
  84. All Ur Luv by Wavedash, Madeon, and Toro y Moi
  85. ROCKMAN by Mk.gee
  86. Lying in the Sun by Kook Joey
  87. Bigger In Texas by Megan Thee Stallion
  88. Ella’s From Somewhere Else by Babehoven
  89. Wristwatch by MJ Lenderman
  90. Altar (Hosanna) by Oba Reengy, Limoblaze, and Gaise Baba
  91. Next Time Around by Liam Kazar
  92. AWARDS SEASON by Bon Iver
  93. The Rock by Gabe Goodman
  94. Quezacotl by deadmau5
  95. Neverender by Justice and Tame Impala
  96. Compromised Dirt by The Slaps
  97. The Billy Joel Fan Club by Mo Troper
  98. Body Keeps the Score by Ames
  99. Dollar Bill Bar by Sierra Ferrell
  100. all of me by 21 Savage
  101. Your Love (Where It’s At) by Boy Golden
  102. Always On The Run by The Burkharts
  103. she just wanna see me rn by Max Ayres
  104. Did You Love Somebody by Peach Pit
  105. Epitaph of a Small Winter by The Flamboyant Train
  106. Faded and Golden by Caroline Says
  107. Vintage by Moses Sumney
  108. Gates of Heaven by Horse Jumper of Love
  109. Patterns by Laura Marling
  110. Rabies by Boldy James and Harry Fraud (feat. Benny The Butcher)
  111. Tired Boy by Sunday (1994)
  112. Carefree by Wyatt C. Louis
  113. sick by brand new legs
  114. Foxglove by Haley Heynderickx
  115. A Country Dance by Joanna Sternberg
  116. Docket by Blondshell (feat. Bully)
  117. Light On by Dehd
  118. Fair Bit of Time by Field Guide
  119. Where Blue Light Blooms by Origami Angel
  120. Illusions by Jalen Ngonda
  121. Nomad by Clairo
  122. Too Far by Improvement Movement
  123. Family Garden by Dana and Alden and Melanie Charles
  124. Caroline by Laura Marling
  125. I Know by Thee Marloes
  126. What’s The Rush? by Elizabeth Moen and Squirrel Flower
  127. New Air by Ben Seretan
  128. Girls by TSHA and Rose Gray
  129. And They Called Her California by Ray LaMontagne
  130. fair by dog eyes
  131. From the Beginning of Time by The Flamboyant Train
  132. Look Who’s Back by The Nude Party
  133. Dead Plants by Better Joy
  134. Grateful For by BØRNS
  135. Going to Georgia by Jake Xerxes Fussell
  136. The Right Time by Camille Jansen
  137. When You’re Outside by Ducks Ltd.
  138. Forgive to Forget by Lucy Gaffney
  139. Den by Wes Parker
  140. Saturn by SZA
  141. prada dem by Gunna (feat. Offset)
  142. Neptunne by The Thing
  143. Open by World Brain
  144. The Angel And The Saint by Goldie Boutilier
  145. Spring Into Summer by Lizzy McAlpine
  146. pink dress by Humble the Great
  147. Summer 2000 Baby by TV Girl and George Clanton
  148. 1971 by The Flamboyant Train
  149. When He Comes Around by TOLEDO
  150. Lego Ring by Faye Webster and Lil Yachty
  151. Emerge (For Sarah) by Jerome Blazé
  152. Over by Thee Marloes
  153. Feed My Release by Naima Bock
  154. Another Life by SZA
  155. FromHere by NxWorries, Anderson .Paak, Knxwledge (feat. Snoop Dogg & October London)
  156. the harvest by Youth Lagoon
  157. Happiness Will by The Flamboyant train
  158. Dog by Annabel
  159. lo que dura la canción by MAGNA and Cuco
  160. Anyone In Love by Jalen Ngonda
  161. Love by Barrie
  162. Hide by Honeyglaze
  163. And The Night Has Come by The Flamboyant Train
  164. Like I Say (I runwaway) by Nilüfer Yanya
  165. Sweeter Than by Kokoroko
  166. Got To Be Mine by Vulfmon and Evangeline
  167. Esse Dia by carbeau and mokina
  168. Rewind by Rosali
  169. joy by dog eyes
  170. Alesis by Mk.gee
  171. I Told You So by Briston Maroney
  172. Inaka by Mei Semones
  173. cowboy take me away by Fire Swimmer
  174. Mudroom by Tiny Habits
  175. Should’ve Seen It Coming by Big Warm Bed
  176. Please Tell Me by Lightning Bug
  177. rain by mxmtoon
  178. $10 Cowboy by Charley Crockett
  179. Searching by Donnie & Joe Emerson
  180. Day By Day by Samara Joy
  181. Mourning Dove by Gia Margaret
  182. Found Buy Dilla by Portraits of Tracy (feat. Duckwrth)
  183. Small Change by DON WEST
  184. Manning Fireworks by MJ Lenderman
  185. pale horse by Truman Sinclair
  186. The Portlaoise Queen by Kean Kavanagh
  187. places to be by Fred again.., Anderson .Paak, and CHIKA
  188. Andy by Jake Xerxes Fussell
  189. The Lowrider (Just About Meant To Be) by CVC
  190. Adelaide by Nick Adduci
  191. DNM by Mk.gee
  192. Carsick by youbet
  193. Mouth of a Flower by Haley Heynderickx
  194. MERTHER by Mau P
  195. Somebody Please by Thee Heart Tones
  196. HOMESICK by Jhon Allan
  197. The Summer Ends by Blondshell
  198. Something In The Air by Lauren Mayberry
  199. Late! by Nicholas Cangiano
  200. LOSTWITHOUTMARIA by F3mii