50 Songs I Liked in 2018

On December 29th, I'll be starting off my end of the year lists with my 20 favorite albums of 2018.  But there's so much great music out there that my album post will only cover a very tiny portion of the stuff that's worth listening to.  So this list is an additional rundown, one that highlights songs from albums that won't be appearing on the top 20 list in a few days.  I made a minor change this year and am now allowing songs from my five honorable mention albums to appear on this list as well.  So if you see something on here from an album you love, who knows, maybe that album is ranked somewhere between 21 and 25 for me!  Even this doesn't fully cover the quality that the year had to offer, but it's a good representation of what I generally liked this year.

Amine - "CANTU"

Amine's OnePointFive album seemed to fly under the radar compared to the reception that Good For You got last year.  It mostly sounds like its title would suggest: a transition album before whatever he drops next.  But you're missing out if you haven't heard the "CANTU," a song so slippery it feels like a leg sweep in audio form.

Arctic Monkeys - "Star Treatment"

Despite Arcitc Monkeys being one of my favorite bands earlier in my life, I put off listening to Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino until last week.  That was a huge mistake, because I ended up absolutely loving it.  The best song is the intro, a six minute slither that features some of Alex Turner's best lines coming in dizzying succession.

Ariana Grande - "Everytime"

Ariana Grande became the biggest pop star in the country this year, and when she's making hooks like the one on "Everytime," it's easy to understand how that happened.

Armand Hammer - "No Days Off"

That beat.  I could listen to that beat forever.  Paraffin, this year's album from Armand Hammer (the rap duo consisting of billy woods and ELUCID) is full of barren, minimal beats, but the one that appears in the first half of this song is the absolute best.

Bat Fangs - "Boy of Summer"

This Bat Fangs record came out so early in the year that many have forgotten it, but one listen to the riff-heavy "Boy of Summer" will refresh people's memories about how fun they are.

Belle and Sebastian - "Everything is Now (Part Two)"

"Everything is Now (Part Two)" is one of the many great songs on Belle and Sebastian's How to Solve Our Human Problems EP collection.  It gets alot of mileage out of riding that muzak-style keyboard line and Stuart Murdoch's laconic delivery.

Car Seat Headrest - "Bodys"

Will Toledo's re-imagining of the Twin Fantasy album from his Bandcamp days wasn't as good as Teens of Denial, in my opinion, but the seven minute "Bodys" hits his previous high points.  It's a total blast.

Charly Bliss - "The Way You Wear Your Head (Nada Surf Cover)"

Charly Bliss made my favorite album of last year and while we wait for them to follow it up, they recorded a rendition of "The Way You Wear Your Head" for a Nada Surf covers album.  They take a simple approach with it, applying their style to the song without any structural or melodic changes, but it's effective nonetheless.

CHVRCHES - "Graffiti"

Chvrches third record was one of the year's biggest disappointments, an album full of clunky and generic mainstream pop.  The solid opener, "Graffiti," makes the album feel like even more of a bummer, because it shows that the band can go broad without fully flattening their sound.

Cloud Nothings - "Leave Him Now"

Cloud Nothings made a return back to a more aggressive sound with Last Burning Building, as exhibited on the pummeling "Leave Him Now."

Deafheaven - "Honeycomb"

I'm no metal guy, but even I can recognize that Deafheaven is a special band.  Listen to the beautiful, brain-melting section that starts around the four minute mark and you'll be able to recognize it too.

The Decemberists - "Tripping Along"

The Decemberists went in a synthy direction with their latest album, but the best moments were where they stripped things back, as they did on "Tripping Along," a soft, verbose song that recalls the band's golden years.

Dirty Projectors - "Zombie Conqueror (ft. Empress Of)"

"Zombie Conqueror" also feels like a back to basics song for Dirty Projectors.  When you hear Dave Longstreth wailing over that meaty guitar riff in the chorus, everything feels right in the world again.

The Dodos - "SW3"

The Dodos always get so much out of their simple guitar-and-drums setup.  "SW3" sounds so full, like a whole army of instruments are coming through both channels.

Drake - "Summer Games"

The second disc is the lesser of the two Scorpion sides, but it also includes "Summer Games," the jam of all jams.

Earl Sweatshirt - "December 24"

"December 24" features the most straight-forward rapping from the increasingly insular Earl Sweatshirt on Some Rap Songs, and it's the mode he operates best in.

Empath - "The Eye"

It feels like Empath have the potential to become a huge deal in a few years' time.  The way they mix experimental music, noise, and garage rock is so bracing and exciting.  "The Eye," from their EP Liberarting Guilt and Fear, is a perfect introduction to the band, as it features all of those styles battling it out in under three minutes.

Fucked Up - "Joy Stops Time"

Everyone's favorite Canadian hardcore band approaches nirvana with this seven-minute album closer.

G Herbo - "Everything (Remix) [ft. Chance the Rapper and Lil Uzi Vert]"

I hope G Herbo never finds the beat if it allows him to make songs that slap this hard.

gobbinjr - "november 163"

Gobbinjr's album ocala wick is full of weird little pocket symphonies like this.  "November 163" shows that sometimes brilliance came come right from the bedroom.

Hatchie - "Sure"

Hatchie's Sugar & Spice EP is everything nice wrapped in one: a little bit of Cocteau Twins, Mazzy Star, The Sundays, and The Cranberries thrown in the pot and mixed around for gauzy, jangle pop deliciousness.  "Sure" is one of those dreamy numbers, but the rest of the EP is just as great.

Hinds - "The Club"

Every time I hear a song like "The Club," I'm reminded of how much I love Hinds' brand of unkempt, catchy garage rock and that I should give them more time than I do.

IAN SWEET - "Bug Museum"

IAN SWEET continue to be the best band at making songs that make you feel a little melancholy and queasy at the same time.  I love the way Jillian Medford basically sighs the line, "I didn't believe in dying, until I met you."

illuminati hotties - "(You're Better) Than Ever"

Yes, illuminati hotties is a bad name but what a clever, catchy song this is.

J.I.D - "151 Rum"

"Who is this guy????" --Me when I first heard J.I.D rap.

Janelle Monae - "Make Me Feel"

Janelle Monae has proven herself to be the heir apparent of Prince, who even gave his blessing by playing the synth line on this delightfully funky song before he passed.


Jorja Smith - "Teenage Fantasy"

I didn't get a chance to listen to much of the rest of Jorja Smith's debut album, but I really liked "Teenage Fantasy," one of its singles.

Kali Uchis - "Your Teeth in My Neck"

Kali Uchis' Isolation is probably one of my biggest regrets of not spending more time with, because alot of people I know ride hard for this album.  Plus, I liked everything I heard, but especially the jazzy, upbeat "Your Teeth in My Neck."

Kanye West - "Ghost Town"

No artist had a more frustrating 2018 than Kanye West, who not only relinquished any personal goodwill he might have had with his Trump supporting heel turn, but he also released his least impressive solo album of his whole career in Ye.  But even still, there are moments of transcendence on the record, like when that zonked out Mike Dean guitar kicks in and 070 Shake takes the mic on "Ghost Town."


Kero Kero Bonito - "Visiting Hours"

In the Pitchfork review of Time 'n' Place, the writer said the album didn't have any memorable melodies.  Clearly they didn't listen to "Visiting Hours," which has been etched into my brain ever since I heard it.

Kurt Vile - "Check Baby"

I never used to understand the appeal of Kurt Vile.  There usually was on a song or two of his from each new album that I'd enjoy when I heard them (mostly the shorter, more immediate songs) but whenever I listened to his longer, wandering tunes I found them to be boring stoner music.  The key is to find a way in that will unlock the rest of his music.  "Check Baby" was that for me.  It has alot of the qualities that bugged me about Vile's previous music -- it's long and repeats itself alot -- but if you really focus on that gorgeous guitar tone, it all starts to click.  I can't believe it either, but I'm a Kurt Vile guy now.

Let's Eat Grandma - "Cool & Collected"

Many people point to "Donnie Darko" as the highlight of Let's Eat Grandma's breakthrough I'm All Ears, but to me it's "Cool & Collected," the other song where they stretch out and take flight.  Over the nine minute track, the young duo display an impressive sense of patience, slowly building the sound until it erupts in the second half.

Milo - "sanssouci palace (4 years later)"

As a Milo listener, you have to sift through alot of wordy philosophizing that needs ample Google searching to understand.  But then there are times when he just locks in and raps his pants off, as he does on "sanssouci palace (4 years later)."

Mitski - "Me and My Husband"

Mitski broadened things out on Be the Cowboy, playing around with a few different styles.  I particularly liked the piano-driven lounge song feel of "Me and My Husband."

Miya Folick - "Stop Talking"

This is such a bulletproof pop song that it should be played on Top 40 radio.

Neko Case - "Last Lion of Albion"

Neko Case is a victim of being too consistent, which is the only explanation for why people didn't discuss her album Hell-On more.

Noname - "Self"

Noname's knotty, spoken word flow can take a while to adjust to, but on "Self" it sounds like pure magic.

Nostrum Grocers - "Thermometer"

Nostrum Grocers were the peanut butter and chocolate of rap in 2018, and ELUCID's baritone fusillade of rhymes melded perfectly with Milo's heady musings on "Thermometer."

Ought - "Desire"

Ought albums always have one song that stands head and shoulders above the rest.  More Than Any Other Day had "Habit," Sun Coming Down had "Beautiful Blue Sky," and Room Inside the World has "Desire."

Ovlov - "Baby Alligator"

The hyper-fuzzy guitar sound on this song reminds me of the first Yuck album, which is one of my favorite rock records of the decade.  So of course I was going to love this.

Pinegrove - "Angelina"

Pinegrove's very complicated return makes their music tricky to talk about, even more so because Skylight is a great album.

Robyn - "Beach2k20"

"This cute place on the beach / They do really nice food / I mean, it's right on the beach / Come through, it'll be cool."  I'm obsessed with these lines that constantly repeat on "Beack2k20."  The way Robyn says "they do really nice food" instead of "they make really nice food" or "they have really nice food," the way she emphasizes that the place is right on the beach, the way it sounds like a one-sided phone conversation.  I don't know why, but it's hypnotizing.

Run the Jewels - "Let's Go (The Royal We)"

The best thing about the insane, nonsensical Venom movie is that if you sit through enough of the credits, you'll hear this terrific RTJ song.  Bring on Run the Jewlels 4.

SOPHIE - "Faceshopping"

More like facemelting.

Tierra Whack - "Hungry Hippo"

Tierra Whack keeps each song at exactly one minute on Whack World, which can sometimes lead to songs cutting off right when they feel like they're getting good.  But more often there's a song like "Hungry Hippo," which is a perfect piece of hooky brevity.

Tracyanne & Danny - "2006"

Camera Obscura is my all-time favorite band, and the death of keyboardist Carey Lander a few years ago means they're probably done for good, but lead singer Tracyanne Campbell's record with Danny Coughlan of Crybaby makes that grief a little less painful.  It's not hard to imagine the gorgeous, simmering "2006" appearing on a Camera Obscura album.

The Voidz - "Leave It in My Dreams"

Behold the power of Julian Casablancas.  Even when he's trolling, as he often seems to be on The Voidz's outre freakout Virtue, he can't help but makes killer jams.

Waxahatchee - "Slow You Down"

Waxahatchee held us over in the off season between albums with the Great Thunder EP, re-recordings of songs that she made in her project of the same name with Keith Spencer.  The new versions sound beautiful, especially "Slow You Down," which evokes that feeling of a distant but pleasant memory.

worlds greatest dad - "Better Off Dead"

Get Well Soon, the debut record from emo band worlds greatest dad, is better in small doses.  And in isolation, I particularly love "Better Off Dead," with its crunchy guitars and monster chorus.

Young Thug - "Audemar"

Young Thug had been on such a hot streak over the last few years that despite putting out a very solid album and EP, 2018 was a relatively cool year for him.  Still, he gave us songs like "Audemar," which showed that there's a wild genius still hidden somewhere within him.


If you want to listen to all of these songs in one place, they can be found in the Spotify playist below.