My 60 Favorite Songs of 2018
Enjoy these tunes (and, shhh, download them here as a zip file if you want.) Also tell me which ones you like!
In My View - Young Fathers : Scottish/African band with a distinct sound that resonates
so sad so sexy - Lykke Li : Who knew these four words go so well together?
Uproar - Lil Wayne & Swizz Beatz : Favorite use of a sample this year - it’s always in my head.
Little Death - The Beths : I melt every time her voice lilts on the title phrase.
Uh Huh - Jade Bird : She deserves to be a thing. If you prefer your music a little less angry, check out “Love Has All Been Done Before” and “Lottery.”
In a River - Rostam : A blend of sounds that probably shouldn’t go together but work anyway.
Immaterial - SOPHIE : If I’m being honest, I could do without the warped interlude, but I’m too busy to banging out to the rest of it to not blast this at a party.
Hercules - Tokyo Police Club : Catchiest track on a solid album
Back To You - Selena Gomez : I know I shouldn’t compare her to Justin Bieber, but like her ex, DAMN, she’s making some smart pop music now that she’s teaming with the right people.
High Horse - Kacey Musgraves : If this progressive country queen doesn’t take Album of the Year at the Grammys, we’ve all been robbed.
This Time Around - Jessica Pratt : Total ethereal mood music - what IS that voice?
Nothing Breaks Like a Heart - Mark Ronson & Miley Cyrus : And may all your country songs be pop-ified by Sir Ronson.
Youngblood - 5 Seconds of Summer : I would have figured this was One Direction, but they’re not a thing anymore apparently. But yeah I’ll download your boy band song if I find myself tapping my feet to it in the car on multiple occasions.
Always Remember Us This Way - Lady Gaga : Not totally sold on Bradley Cooper’s, uh, shallow singing, but this was the song that made me think, yup, Gaga’s a star in the context of A Star Is Born.
High Five - Sigrid : The title is what this Norweigan deserves for writing this.
Be Careful - Cardi B : "I Like It” topped the charts, but this is the one I’m still humming.
Fuego - Eleni Foureira : You always get at least one Eurovision lolliPOP hit from me on these lists, and this is runner-up remains the real winner in my book.
High Hopes - Panic! At The Disco : It took me a while to give in, but it’s infectious.
Nina Cried Power - Hozier & Mavis Staples : Power is right - what a combo.
Get Away - George Ezra : Hard to single out one track from this upbeat album.
Make Me Feel - Janelle Monáe : She’s always killing it with fun hits.
Fast Slow Disco - St. Vincent : Rumor has it that Taylor Swift recommended that St. Vincent speed up one of her 2017 tracks and turn it into a pop hit. I think it works!
Semicircle Song - The Go! Team : I’ve never stopped loving this band. I don’t like spoken word in songs (or astrology for that matter,) and they still have me jamming to this one.
My My My! - Troye Sivan : After reading an article about how pop is so queer supported while there’s an absence of queer male stars, I gave this track another listen and felt it.
Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts) - The Smashing Pumpkins : I like a Smashing Pumpkins song in 2018, oh my.
Chun-Li - Nicki Minaj: Don’t tell her I put Cardi’s song ahead of her.
cherubim - serpentwithfeet : If you’re looking for something completely different this year, serpentwithfeet is your guy.
utopia - Lykke Li : Nearly as perfect as the title suggests.
Trap Digits - Creek Boyz : Trap IN UNISON.
On the Low - Tove Styrke : Standout from a solid pop album.
You Worry Me - Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats : Bluesy toe-tapper.
Young - Sun June : If the YouTube view count is any indication, she’s still a secret - spread the word.
APESHIT - THE CARTERS : Beyoncé is really stepping up her rap game.
When I’m With Him - Empress Of : LA Latina repping hard.
Mystery of Love - Sufjan Stevens : Sufjan! Call Me By Your Name!
Sincerity Is Scary - The 1975 : Verges on cheesy, but I’m owning it.
How Simple - Hop Along : Hop along until the end - it finishes strong.
Heart Beats Loud - Keegan DeWitt & Kiersey Clemons : This track is half the reason to watch the indie movie of the same name.
Miracle - CHVRCHES : Another great addition to an awesome discography.
I Want You - MØ : Best known for collaborations, she has some good solo work, too.
Trip - Ella Mai : Her follow up to Boo’d Up is even better!
You’re Not Wrong - Wet : And this song isn’t either.
Powerglide - Rae Sremmurd, Swae Lee, Slim Jxmmi & Juicy J : These kids aren’t going anywhere - whew.
Come For Me - Sunflower Bean : Pleasantly aggressive.
Nearer My God - Foxing : Certainly meditative if not religious.
What I Need - Hayley Kiyoko & Kehlani : Get at Hayley’s whole album: hella fun pop.
Thanks 4 Nothing - Nilüfer Yanya : An unmistakable voice crying out.
AZ - Now, Now : Kudos to anyone who thinks of Arizona fondly.
Psycho - Post Malone & Ty Dolla $ign : He was everywhere this year and damn if the hook didn’t get on a continuous loop in my head.
Something Strange - Vicetone & Haley Reinhart : Forever a Rein-heart
Mine - Bazzi : It’s a hit.
I Wish I Missed My Ex - Mahalia : Light-hearted and cool.
Rose In Harlem - Teyana Taylor : Throwing down ache along an unforgettable sample.
Heart to Break - Kim Petras : Saccharine as fuck.
Slow Burn - Kacey Musgraves : True to the title, an intelligently reserved first track to a great album.
Talia - King Princess : Hard to narrow it down to a single track by her.
In Us I Believe - Clean Bandit & ALMA : Soulful dance track.
Comeback Kid - Sharon Van Etten : Still doing her thing all these years later.
Silly Sam - Tierra Whack : Okay, but for real you have to check out this rapper’s album, Whack World, which consists of 15 one-minute tracks. It’s pure art, baby. Naturally, my favorite min is the track about board games.
Bad Bad News - Leon Bridges : Who knew this soulful guy had some funk in him?
snowghoul
annaxmalina
vaporwave
andulkaphoto
blakekathryn
yousharknotpass
