Top 50 Songs Of 2018
Here are my Top 50 Songs of 2018! Naturally, I went with the tracks I couldn’t escape this year. Enjoy.
PS – If you’re looking for my top songs out of Austin, that’s happening over at my show, 101X Homegrown. Part 1 aired over the weekend, and Part 2 will roll out this Sunday.
50) Karen O & Danger Mouse – Lux Prima
This song just oozes cool. Can’t wait to hear more from Karen O & Danger Mouse in 2019.
49) Speedy Ortiz – Lucky 88
The best track off of Speedy Ortiz’s Twerp Verse.
48) The Hold Steady – The Stove And The Toaster
The Hold Steady pushed out quite a few singles in 2018. This is my favorite. Reminds me of their prime years.
47) The Ophelias – Fog
This is an infectious slice of art pop from from The Ophelias.
46) Smash Mouth – Something Soon (Car Seat Headrest Cover)
Here’s a surprisingly great cover from Smash Mouth. They should consider doing more takes on current tunes. *Link because it isn’t on Spotify.
45) Courtney Barnett – Need A Little Time
I saw Courtney Barnett a couple of times this year, and this track (off her latest LP, Tell Me How You Really Feel) was a highlight every time.
44) Strange Ranger – New Hair
Strange Ranger with a song that would have surely been a hit on 90s rock radio.
43) Ty Segall – I’m A Man (Spence Davis Group Cover)
Boy oh boy does Ty Segall rip on this cover. Impossible to listen to it without the volume turned way up.
42) Chastity – Suffer
Like the Strange Ranger track up above, this one from Chastity would have been such a huge hit in the 90s.
41) Superchunk – Bad Choices
My favorite track off of Superchunk’s stellar What A Time To Be Alive.
40) Maps & Atlases – Ringing Bell
A bouncy pop gem from Maps & Atlases. It was nice to see them return to action this year.
39) Steady Holiday – Nobody’s Watching
Steady Holiday with one of the year’s most charming pop tunes.
38) Leon Bridges – Bad Bad News
By far my favorite track off of Leon Bridges’ Good Thing. Always makes me want to get up and move.
37) Interpol – The Rover
I didn’t at all connect with Interpol’s Marauder, but this one track from it did manage to really hit for me. Love the driving energy.
36) Slothrust – Peach
“But damn you’ve got the sharpest teeth / And I am soft as a peach”. This lyric always gets me. Thanks, Slothrust.
35) Cloud Nothings – Leave Him Now
Cloud Nothings with the heat here.
34) FIDLAR – Are You High?
FIDLAR really excel at placing dark content in a fun, anthemic package. *Link because it isn’t on Spotify.
33) Lala Lala – Destroyer
“You are the reason my heart broke behind my back”. Lala Lala with one of my favorite lines of 2018.
32) Conor Oberst – No One Changes
I never really hear anyone talk about Conor Oberst anymore, but the guy is still cranking out great tracks.
31) Black Belt Eagle Scout – Soft Stud
So moody, so good. Side note, the nerd in me really like the name Black Belt Eagle Scout.
30) Car Seat Headrest – My Boy (Twin Fantasy)
I’ll always love the way this Car Seat Headrest song just steadily swells.
29) Remember Sports – Pull Through
An anthemic slow burner from Remember Sports.
28) Frankie Cosmos – Being Alive
Such a scatterbrained track from Frankie Cosmos, but it’s too catchy to not love.
27) Broken Social Scene – Old Dead Young
For whatever reason this gem was left off of Broken Social Scene’s Hug Of Thunder. What a silly move, as it’s fantastic.
26) Parquet Courts – Wide Awake
This is such a goofy song from Parquet Courts. I really dig it though.
25) Antarctigo Vespucci – Freakin’ U Out
If you haven’t listened to Antarctigo Vespucci’s Love In The Time Of Email, you should. It’s made up of infectious tracks like this one.
24) Hinds – New For You
Hinds always sound like they’re having the most fun, even when spouting lyrics like “I just want to know it’s over.”
23) Death Cab For Cutie – Gold Rush
One of the more interesting tracks that Death Cab For Cutie have put out in a long time.
22) Bruno Bavota – The Night Of
I’ve had stretches where I’ve just left this engrossing little number on repeat. Very excited to check out Bruno Bavota’s Re_Cordis in 2019.
21) Soccer Mommy – Your Dog
Soccer Mommy is not fucking around on this track, and I like that.
20) We Were Promised Jetpacks – Hanging In
I’ve listened to this song a zillion times, and I’m always surprised at the way it just glides. Never figured We Were Promised Jetpacks had this kind of groove in them.
19) MGMT – Little Dark Age
A weird but awesome song off a weird but awesome album. MGMT sneakily had a fantastic 2018 via Little Dark Age.
18) Rubblebucket – Fruity
I sure do adore the way this delectable pop song moves. Rubblebucket are underrated.
17) Childish Gambino – This Is America
Such a creative, relevant track from Childish Gambino.
16) Ought – Disgraced In America
Ought’s Tim Darcy sounds like he should be dictating a game of Monoply, but damn does this band write great songs.
15) Mitski – Nobody
Mitski cuts deep on this ear-pleaser.
14) Fucked Up – Normal People
Fierce but catchy stuff from Fucked Up. Also, I just love how big this track is.
13) Jeff Rosenstock – USA
In my opinion, this is the most politically poignant track of 2018. Nicely done, Jeff Rosenstock.
12) Weakened Friends – Blue Again
Fidgety but fantastic is the best way to describe this song from Weakened Friends.
11) Phosphorescent – New Birth In New England
This Phosphorescent song always instantly puts me in a good mood.
10) Caroline Rose – Soul No. 5
I don’t even know how many times I’ve joyously sung-a-long to this track. Caroline Rose is a gem.
09) Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Middle America
“May you be shitfaced the day you die.” Amen to that, Stephen Malkmus.
08) Protomartyr – Wheel Of Fortune
Such a thunderous effort from Protomartyr. “I decide who lives and who dies!” has been my favorite lyric to yell in 2018.
07) Hop Along – How Simple
“Don’t worry, we will both find out, just not together.” Hop Along with the cold hard truth here.
06) Rosalia – Pienso En Tu Mira
Holy hell do I love Rosalia’s sound on this track. It’s so different than anything else I came across this year.
05) Screaming Females – I’ll Make You Sorry
I listened to this song heavily throughout nearly all of 2018 and I’m still not close to being tired of it. Screaming Females should be so much bigger than they are.
04) The Beths – Happy Unhappy
The Beths with the year’s best indie pop tune.
03) Iceage – Catch It
This Iceage track never fails to make me want to see a sweaty rock show in a rundown club somewhere.
02) Kacey Musgraves – High Horse
Come on now. You know this Kacey Musgraves song is just about perfect.
01) Snail Mail – Pristine
I’m not sure I came across anything in 2018 that felt more sincere than this track from Snail Mail. This seemed like a good enough reason to slot it in the top spot on my list. Well, that and the fact that it often got stuck in my head.
