When a year ends, I always look forward to reflecting back on all the music that passed through my ear drums. The music that was born in 2018 reflected the mood of our current social and emotional situation in this world. Full of anxiety, fear, angst and downright anger. Within this tumultuous spin of turmoil there were beautiful glimmers of hope and warmth. Despite the rollercoaster of what this year was, the following soundtrack will hopefully be a nice guide to all the amazing sonic high points.<\/p>\n
Starting with over 5000 new tracks, editing them down to my 101 was not an easy task. Going through the arduous process made me appreciate all the gems that came through and I hope you enjoy the journey and get exposed to some new bands.<\/p>\n
OK, enough blah blah<\/p>\n
The list<\/p>\n
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10. Screaming Females –\u00a0All at Once<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 9. U.S. Girls –\u00a0In a Poem Limited<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 8. Half Waif –\u00a0Lavender<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 7. Noname –\u00a0Room 25<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 6. Sleep –\u00a0The Sciences<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 5. Camp Cope –\u00a0How to Socialize & Make Friends<\/span><\/strong> 4. Snail Mail –\u00a0Lush<\/span><\/strong> 3. JPEGMAFIA –\u00a0Veteran<\/span><\/strong> 2. Parquet Courts –\u00a0Wide Awake!<\/span><\/strong> 1. Daughters –\u00a0You Won\u2019t Get What You Want<\/span><\/strong> _______________________________________________________________<\/p>\n 10. \u201cFuture Me Hates Me\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>–\u00a0The Beths<\/span><\/p>\n 9. \u201cKillshot\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0Emimem<\/span><\/p>\n 8. \u201cJetty\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0Tycho<\/span><\/p>\n 7. \u201cDead Eyes\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>–\u00a0Dusted<\/span><\/p>\n 6. \u201cProm Queen\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0Beach Bunny<\/span><\/p>\n 5. \u201cLeveler\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0Half Waif<\/span><\/p>\n 4. \u201cBaby Love\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0Nil\u00fcfer Yanya<\/span><\/p>\n 3. \u201cPalindrome\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0Azure Ray<\/span><\/p>\n 2. \u201cIn Camera\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0Yumi Zouma<\/span><\/p>\n 1. \u201cINNOCENCE\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0Health, Youth Code<\/span><\/p>\n Listen to the rest of the top 101 songs here on Spotify There was so much great music this year, its almost impossible to fit it all onto an arbitrarily numbered list. Best Band Name Awards: Thanks for tuning in Noname\u00a0 1\/5-6 @ Brooklyn Steel Happy New Year !!! As always, thanks for listening<\/p>\n
\nHard to not include a band from Australia on any top list. This punk trio from Melbourne doesn\u2019t pull any punches on this lyrically charged album with songs full of resilience. Themes of inequality, loss and growth come through with emotional and shrieking vocals. Reminds me of early Rainer Maria in all the best ways.<\/p>\n
\nA strong solo album by Lindsey Jordan. Moody, emotional and introspective lyrics over heartfelt guitars. Her deadpan delivery of earnest lyrics are carried along with instrumental flourishes and jangling chords. This guitar driven dream pop album was a gem.<\/p>\n
\nWas very excited when the underground and experimental rapper and producer from Baltimore dropped this full length. It is a clusterfuck of mastery production full of weird, crazy, aggressive sounds. The frenetic album is one of the most creative and unique rap glitch hop albums of the year.<\/p>\n
\nThis somewhat schizophrenic album was on a heavy repeat all year. Elements of post punk and art punk weave throughout the album. The lyrics and instrumentation are powerful and engaging. This album is far more polished but the band hasn\u2019t lost their edge and if anything they are flexing their musical and emotional range.<\/p>\n
\nWith their first album in 8 years, Daughters come back with a frightening tour de force of\u00a0avant-garde noise rock.\u00a0The production on this is incredible, highlighting the shrill guitars, violent dissonance and barking vocals. The songs are longer than in previous releases which allows the listener to fall into the abyss on these songs. My emotions were swirling when this album finished and needed to take a mental pause before I played it all over again. This album is pure dread and it\u2019s absolutely amazing. One of the most intense and powerful releases I have heard in a long time.<\/p>\nMy Top Songs of 2018<\/h1>\n
\nBest songs of 2018<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nHere\u2019s another playlist of all the amazing tunes I also absolutely loved
\nMore from 2018<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\nShred Flinstone<\/strong>
\nMenace Beach<\/strong>
\nNaked Giants<\/strong>
\nNap Eyes<\/strong>
\nAnimal Electricity<\/strong>
\nComa Pony<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nIf you like the bands or hopefully introduced to new sounds, go and support them!
\nBuy their music, merch, or better yet, see them live!
\nhere is a sampling of upcoming shows from bands featured on the list.<\/p>\n
\nPalehoud\u00a0– 1\/17 @ Brooklyn Steel
\nAzure Ray\u00a0– 1\/19 @ Bell House
\nHEALTH\u00a0– 1\/23 @ Elsewhere
\nLala Lala\u00a0– 1\/26 @ Rough Trade
\nBodega\u00a0– 1\/31 @ Rough Trade
\nCup\u00a0– 2\/1 @ Alphaville
\nNil\u00fcfer Yanya\u00a0–\u00a02\/9 @ Beacon Theater
\nNaked Giants\u00a0– 2\/\/13 @ Rough Trade
\nAdrianne Lenker\u00a0– 2\/14 @ Luke Temple
\nCherry Glazer\u00a0– 2\/16 Bowery Ballroom
\nAnderson .Paak\u00a0– 2\/22 @ Hammerstein
\nKamasi Washington\u00a0– 2\/23 @ Apollo
\nJulia Holter\u00a0– 2\/22 @ Warsaw
\nThe Beths\u00a0– 3\/01 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
\nViagra Boys\u00a0– 3\/12 @ Elsewhere
\nDaughters\u00a0– 3\/13 @ Warsaw
\nDilly Dally\u00a0– 3\/21 @ MHOW
\nNumb.er\u00a0– 3\/23 @ Baby\u2019s All Right
\nLet\u2019s Eat Grandma\u00a0– 4\/5 @ Elsewhere
\nBlack Belt Eagle Scout\u00a0– 4\/24 @ Bowery Ballroom
\nHEALTH\u00a0– 4\/25 @ Elsewhere<\/p>\n
\nand so exited for what 2019 has to come<\/p>\n