Top 50 Best Songs Of 2018
I am so pleased and excited to be publishing this list to you all, my 50 favourite songs of the year. This is quite a long post so I want to jump into it as quickly as possible but firstly the criteria: Each song has to have been released in some capacity (as in an album, EP or single) between December 2017 and the end of November 2018 to be eligible and that's it. You can check out my honourable mentions here and my Deezer account for the longlist of every song I've loved this year http://www.deezer.com/playlist/5204322924.
Without further a do, let's get into the list...
50
Hard Piano | Pusha T
This has an undeniable beat, one of the most tasteful I've ever heard in rap music. On top of this, Pusha T's flow is impeccable and his lyrics en pointe with Rick Ross's verse hitting just as hard. Kanye may have had a hit and miss year but his production here is at its best and most intense.
49
Ava | Let's Eat Grandma
On an album full of synthpop epics and experimental endeavors we get this gorgeous, heartbreaking ballad of friendship and broken bonds. The piano melody is appropriately simple and helps drive the meaning home whilst perfectly accompanying the vocals and lyrics that lead the song. This is a moment of raw beauty.
48
Major System Error | Marmozets
Prepare for some of the best true rock music you will have heard because this song truly dominates. The guitars burn with scorching aggression and the vocals and lyrics drive the song into a place of angry, grungey fun whilst the methodical drums keep plodding on and support the song all the way. An absolute tune from Marmozets, easily the best off of their latest album.
47
My Eternal | Johnny Marr
Not a name you'd expect as Johnny Marr, at 55, delivers an incredibly potent throwback to 80s rock with some shredding guitars, harsh swirling synths and a fantastic melody. If anyone tells you rock is dead kindly point them towards this list as we've only just begun and already we've had two phenomenal rock tunes.
46
in my mind | Austenyo
Discovering Austenyo was like discovering a new food - curious and exciting and eventually very pleasing. His music is a brilliant blend of R&B, hip-hop and indie pop, his strange but stunning half-improv lyrics supported by catchy minimalistic beats and gentle synthesizers. This song is easily my favourite from him and I'm excited to see where he takes his music in the future.
45
last words | Isaac Gracie
Isaac makes some of the most conscious indie-folk with excellent lyrics and huge choruses to give him a well-rounded and accessible feel whist retaining his deeper and more personal lyrics and views. In my opinion this is the pinnacle of his music so far and the highlight of his self-titled album. The instrumentation sounds organic and natural but also grand and important and Isaac's voice is rich, deep and perfect for this genre of music. Perhaps one day people will see sense and Isaac Gracie will be the new face of indie-folk, replacing Mumford & Sons (at least I hope so).
44
6 Letters | Daktyl, Aquilo
I'm a big fan of dream pop duo Aquilo and when I saw they'd collaborated with an obscure electronic producer I knew I had to hear it. This song has some quirky and interesting production and percussion that work great with the synthlines to optimise this fun alternative jam.
43
Last Ride | Beach House
The power behind a great build is anticipation and on this song Beach House draw you in instantly with a gorgeous piano melody and quiet, buzzing synth undertone that is just intriguing. It sounds like it is going somewhere but it isn't until about two minutes in that the instrumentation starts to build and then drops away again, leaving you excited but also frustrated. To fully appreciate this song you have to hear the whole of it, every second of the slow and building instrumental until finally Alex's guitar picks up and delivers a powerful and still subdued but grandiose apex until, all too quickly, it falls away into nothing. This song is a tantalising journey and well worth the long build.
42
TSLAMP | MGMT
A jazzy inspiration to a beautiful, syncopated synthpop tune? This is my kind of jam. The rhythms and beat are just fantastic and the lyrics typically aware and idiosyncratic, just as you'd expect from MGMT. This song is a perfect millenial tune and a treasure and highlight from one of the best bands of this age.
41
Another Light | Henry Green
I have always been a sucker for sweet, dreamy, wispy alternative pop and Henry Green has been a recent obsession of mine, an artist to deliver one of the best night-time albums of the year. This is my favourite song from him, its beat and vibe so perfectly chilled and catchy with some simple but undeniably appropriate lyircs. I can't deny this jem a place on this list.
40
Catch it | IceAge
This has been a great comeback year for IceAge and this song has stuck with me throughout as an example of phenomenal indie rock as a single and just an excellent song. Wait for the riff and climax before rating this song because it provides so much more than you might initially think.
39
Tape | Parcels
I adore Parcels' debut album with all its disco and funk influences on indie and electropop and there was a lot to choose from but this grew to become the best for me. The choruses are more than enjoyable before the song transitions into an awesome instrumental that sets it apart from all the great competition from other amazing songs on the album.
38
Dressed To Suppress | Metric
This is one of the best and most balanced songs of the year, using its time to deliver some epic riffing indie rock and roll but also to show off some fragile and tender moments too. Just the concept and contrasts of this song are enough to grab my attention with loud and quiet, bright and mellow, light and dark all used to emphasise each section of the song and provide the best overall experience of music you could hope for. This is close to perfect.
37
Dancing For The Answers | Nick Mulvey
This right here is how folk music can evolve into something new and fresh. Nick Mulvey takes a song from his mediocre release last year and restructures it into a sort of pathway that takes you on a long journey from a point of typical folk to a sort of electro, alternative, folk masterpiece with some of the greatest and most spectacular music I've heard all year.
36
Out Of My Head | CHVRCHES, Wednesday Campanella
A collaboration between Chvrches and an alternative J-pop group? Why didn't I see this coming? This is so underrated and yet so easily the best thing Chvrches have released all year with some explosive synths and even elements of rock fuelling this fiery song. Lauren's vocals are at their best and most alive here and the verses in Japanese really help drive this song. This is one of the most engaging and fun listens of the year and just the perfect direction for Chvrches to move to.
35
Mag11 P82 | Venetian Snares x Daniel Lanois
This strange collaboration provided us with a boring, underproduced album and a dissatisfaction with what these two artists made together. This song was the greatest exception. The electronic instrumental here is so fresh, so unique and so complex and unpredictable. This is an excellent example of experimental music with some of the craziest beats and production I've ever heard. If you aren't into electronic music this is probably not something to change your mind but it is impossible to deny how impressive this song is.
34
Move | Pretty Vicious
Raw, punk energy and huge hooks. Pretty Vicious have had a hard time as an up and coming artist, being thrown around by the industry since their beginning but it seems finally that they're in a stable place with Big Machine records and as they prepare to release their debut album they continue to impress with this, their poppiest but also best single to date. Also, the bridge in this song is pure gold.
33
I Don't Want U Back | BØRNS
Indie pop has not exactly been consistent in the 2010s and neither have the artists in the genre but there have always been great highs in the genre and this is one of them. The bass, the snares, the vocals, the flow.. The song is a tune.
32
Mr. Tillman | Father John Misty
From pretentious social commentary to deep and personal introspection, Father John Misty has been the most interesting singer songwriter of the last few years. This song is brief and to the point yet also confusing and funny, a great example of what he's capable of as an artist. The music video is a perfect accompaniment and if you enjoy the song I highly recommend watching it.
31
BAGDAD | RosalÃa
The young Spanish artist bringing flamenco music back into the mainstream delivers one of the best pop songs of the year. The production here is at its best and her vocals are excellent, providing a song that achieves everything it needs to. It has become lodged solidly in my mind at this point, a part of me even if I can't understand the lyrics. This is what latin pop should be.
30
Over and Over and Over | Jack White
Jack White's solo music is not for everyone but for me he is making irresistible experimental rock that bests any of the rock in the mainstream. Imagine Dragons are not the future of rock, Jack White is. The more artists that hop on this sound the better because the world needs rock to make a comeback. The riff is fantastic and the variety of different music elements incorporated in this all add up just a brilliant tune.
29
In My Dreams | Kali Uchis
Without Kali Uchis I don't think I'd enjoy R&B music. Seriously, she is the best thing about the genre and the brilliant thing about her is that she isn't defined by the genre. Her music crosses many styles and themes but her iconic voice always tethers it back to her own. What I'm trying to say is that she owns everything she does and this is my favourite song by her.
28
Cityfade | Against All Logic
Nicholas Jaar makes real house music in a modern way on his latest album and, under the moniker Against All Logic, easily some of the best music of the year. A standout song on a standout album, "Cityfade" is one of the best rhythmically based experimental songs I have ever heard and demonstrates Nicholas' prowess as a composer and musician in the best possible ways. The production on this song is dark, thrilling and enticing and the vibe eerie and definitely very city-based.
27
We Appreciate Power | Grimes, HANA
A step forward into the bombastic, chaotic future is what this song is and that's exactly why I love it so much. It might be only a few weeks old but it was something that grabbed me so forcefully from the first listen, something I knew I couldn't tire of. The blend of metal, synthpop, indie and electronic is just a phenomenal, wild experience and one of the most intense listens of the year.
26
Violence | Parquet Courts
Brutal political and social truths have been unleashed with this song and all the poweful commentary and imagery is wrapped up in a hard hitting post-punk indie rock epic, an impressive extravaganza. Everyone has been throwing so much praise at Idles but for me Parquet Courts have released the better album and this is the centrepiece of that album.
25
Nobody Cares | Superorganism
How could you get to be more socially aware in a song? Well, Superorganism know how as they have in this song all about recent generations and the internet and information age and everything scarey, real and pointless about it. This global collective have here a song with flawlessly imperfect and weird production and instrumentation that builds into what has to be their best song and a staple of indie pop music .
24
Washing Machine Heart | Mitski
Take a step back, out of the real world and enter this synthpop whirlpool of personal emotional confusion and enjoy yourself despite all inner turmoil and torment. That's how I would describe this song in a sentence and I'm going to leave it at that. Enjoy.
23
Make Believe | Kero Kero Bonito
This alternative outfit have become another recent favourite of mine and this has been the standout on their amazing new album "Time 'n' Place". It's classic indie pop mixed with the most delicate and intricate touch and flares that KKB always provide. I adore the instrumental here and could probably listen to this song all day.
22
Love It If We Made It | The 1975
This song is the epitome of politically and socially relevant music in 2018. The instrumental is simple, just enough to compliment the bold statements that are the lyrics of this song. Matty doesn't really take a side to anything but stands and presents the information and opinions and actions of others to make you think about what's going on. This song forces thinking and it's something we need in 2018. Its importance is vital.
21
Lying Again | Blossoms
This is my favourite song on Blossoms's new album for a few reasons. Firstly, it is the most psychedelic, it's driven by a strong guitar riff, the chorus is catchy, the verses are impactful, the warbling synths spice up the production and finally the outro is amazing. It may not be the most complex or deep but it is thoroughly enjoyable and that's what ultimately matters.
20
Bad Machine | Boston Manor
This song is a dark, heavy jam, an absolute banger. It's filled with hooks and the chorus is so infectiously catchy and powerful especially alongside the raging guitars and drums with their night time tones and yet bright precision. It is surprising slow paced for something that hits this hard but as proven by their amazing new album, Boston Manor make a tune at any tempo.
19
Supercut | Lorde, Run the Jewels
The version of the song that makes this list is the EI-P remix and that's not to say the original wasn't fantastic it's just that Run the Jewels make it their own and improve everything about the song with their own incredible verses, some of their best flows and lyrics, and utilising the original song to best enhance their presence on the song; plus, they add an amazing bass to it. The beat is great, intense and dark and it was very nearly my favourite rap song of the year. More on that later..
18
We're Where We Were | The Voidz
Julian Casablancas + The Voidz deliver perhaps their most experimental song yet, combining harsh post-punk with a complex, tremendous beat. There is just an amazing section in the middle of the song where this beat does some crazy stuff (you have to hear it to understand) and I mean who can resist the shouted lyrics and themes. The guitars go fast and hard on this song and absolutely bellow alongside the vocals and aforementioned incredible beat. Don't miss out.
17
Into The Nightmare | Black Honey
Pop and grunge mix in a Garbage-esque, Wolf Alice-like way with what I say is Black Honey's best and most enjoyable song. In the review of their album I went on about just now great the single "Midnight" was and I stand by everything I said it's just that "Into The Nightmare" is better, more real and much more fun if that's even possible.
16
Rose Garden | Rae Morris
Rae Morris is easily my favourite pop artist because she incorporates interesting experimental features always to compliment and enhance her songs, setting her above everyone else in pop music. This is the pinnacle of her work and something I have consistently played over and over and over since the album was released back in February. At this point in the list these are songs I love in their entirely, and this is no exception. One more thing - the outro is perfect.
15
Waves | Yonaka
This is a band that's grown on hugely since seeing them open for The Amazons back in February. This is a band I can't get out of my head and this song is my favourite by them. "Waves" is the perfect blend of indie rock, pop and electropop; a danceable roar of emotion and passion that Theresa and the band deliver through massive vocals and fast-paced, huge instrumentation.
14
Thin | Aquilo
Imagine a fire in the distance at night, whilst you're picturing that think of dream pop music and what would happen if a song in that genre incorporated a drop. That is "Thin" by Aquilo and this is just an incredible tune. Its verses are loose and passionate but at the same time subdued instrumentally and that builds to a sort of synth and percussive "drop" that leads its way into a skittery second verse and then another drop, this time bigger and almost dancy. Then there is a sort of post-chorus outro that is insanely catchy... I mean, I just love it.
13
Drunk In L.A. | Beach House
This is an introspective jam, a moment of personal expression that leaps out and grabs me with the lavish instrumentation. The synthesizers buzz away, the guitars screech and the beat sort of slashes away whilst Victoria's vocals lead the song and demonstrate a more open side of Beach House that is, at least for them, an explosive of colour and emotion even coming from a bleak state of mind. This is one of their most depressing and most upbeat songs, a combination that surprises me at how different it is to almost all of their discography. This song is an outburst of truth and confessions all so bold and intimate for such a shy band, it's heart-wrenching to hear this band write something so personal and passionate.
12
Dopamine | Steve Angello, Barns Courtney
I was very surprised to see these two artists collaborate on a track but it works so well, in my opinion the very best song either artist has released. Barns brings raw emotion and power to a slow and meaningful ballad whilst Steve Angello's electronic instrumentals are dark, full of tension and suspense. Something about the contrast between wistful, quiet verses and the loud, retro synth and percussion lead chorus is magnificent to behold and an amazing listen.
11
Illusions | Sundara Karma
Wow. I did not quite expect Sundara Karma to return with this! A piano-lead, psychedelic and art rock piece with beautiful little details and flourishes that add up to an amazing single and all around great song. I love Oscar's vocals, I love the bass, I love the synths and I love the long instrumental that calls back to one of their oldest songs, "Indigo Puff". "Illusions" is a great show of what's to come on their upcoming second album that I am hotly anticipating. Good job Sundara.
10
Pink Lemonade | James Bay
We kick off the Top 10 with my favourite riff of the year. James bay gives us a flamboyant, catchy guitar-driven pop-rock jam with some of the most energetic instrumentation I've heard in a while, especially in such a slow and sludgey year. The rhythms are fantastic and his vocals are compelling and very, very enjoyable, especially in the bombastic outro. It's a massive shame the album was such a disappointing let-down.
9
Outgrown | George Fitzgerald, Bonobo
This is a song that grew on me slowly and definitely surprised me. It is a slow, instrumental, electronic song with some bright synths and excellent rhythmic sections courtesy of the amazing Bonobo. This song is a fantastic example of beat-driven, beautiful, complex electronic music that amazes me with every listen at just how lush the music sounds. From the drippy piano solo to the intense, stuttering pre-chorus and then just the immense finale this is a tune that impresses me greatly with gorgeous elements that all fit together in a perfect, flawless way.
8
Feel The Love Go | Franz Ferdinand
Dance-punk and spiky, jazzy indie rock. That's what Franz Ferdinand deliver on this incredible tune, a strange but pleasant change up for a band that have been doing the same sort of thing for far too long. This song takes them in a late 70s, early 80s direction that definitely provides some spice that adds an immense amount of fun to their slightly tired indie rock sound. With a fantastic beat and a cool saxophone solo as well as one of their catchiest ever songs, this band proves they have more to offer and the ability to write and release one of my absolute favourite songs of 2018. This track is phenomenal, bursting with a life and colour that they've not tapped into for a good many years. I commend this band on such an amazing effort.
7
The Lows Will Keep You High Enough | Klangstof
This is a truly underrated song from one of my favourite, most underrated bands and on this song they craft an immaculate electronic soundscape that rises above their usual dark and quirky indie rock. The production here is literally perfect, every second of the song offering a great sound and every section bringing something slightly different and more interesting to the table. I love the build ups and downs here, all the changes between the different parts of the song and the beautiful atmosphere it creates, also the mechanical/organic blend of music it offers with such impeccable instrumentation and simple but meaningful lyrics. Then finally we get the hidden section at the end, an electronic beat segment worthy of a 10/10 I mean who can resist that beat? I can't deny this song a place on this list and I hope more people discover this talented young band because they are the future.
6
Trouble In Paradise | Girl Talk, Erick The Architect
This is my favourite rap song of the year because of just how catchy the lyrics are and just how amazing the beat is. I don't know quite how to explain it but everything just fits together so well to deliver this ultra-catchy, amazing song. The bass is steady and persistent, the beat snappy and sharp, the lyrical flow extraordinary and fun. It is the perfect rap song for me, something that mentions society and is opinionated but also hard to completely dissect and understand. I can't write tonnes upon tonnes about it but I thoroughly enjoy it and listen to it all the time because it's just such a bop.
5
All Wordz Are Made Up | The Voidz
This beat is undeniable. The Voidz don't just provide one of the most danceable and fun songs, but also something with edge and awareness as it mentions mental struggles in the lyrics, displaying a sort of train of thought from Julian. In this song it is more Julian complimenting the beat that anything else as it shuffles along with the aid of excellent synthesizers making all sorts of sounds in addition to the amazing percussion. I mean the beat is infectious and something I want to hear all of the time, over and over. I have needed this song in my life since first hearing it, it's that sticky. I may have just exceeded the number of times I've ever used "beat" in one paragraph but I think that's okay.
4
Breadwinner | Everything Everything
This band is like the go-to art rock act around and I think it was a real shame that so many people missed out on this phenomenal tune this year. Apart from having a truly impressive, shifty and at times cascading bassline it offers excellent drumming and rhythm as well as fun guitars and some interesting percussive sounds and well placed claps and en pointe production. Best of all are the lyrics, an off-the-wall crazy range of brilliant sounding phrases that if you look deeper have some really deep meaning past their curious, catchy vocal delivery. "Breadwinner" is a truly amazing song that I can recommend to anyone just because it is so unique and interesting.
3
Lemon Glow | Beach House
Beach House take their usual beautiful nighttime sound and up the pace and intensity with an astoundingly good synth line, this thing is gorgeous alongside some of their most tense production to date that really emphasises all the flares and assets of this song. When the beat kicks in each time it drives the song forward, seemingly honing in all the best parts of this band's discography and blending it into one stupendous beat and the lyrics (oh the lyrics!) are definitely sensual and enticing, a truly wonderful display of feeling and description that for a Beach House fan is absolutely great to hear. Some of the phrases here are almost as flavoursome as the guitar flourishes, Alex Scally providing his typical touch to the song with a distorted, creaky backdrop of sound that alongside the production creates a vast and mysterious atmosphere. This might be Beach House's best song to date and seven albums in that's an impressive feat.
2
Forever & Ever More | Nothing but Thieves
I'll tell you what came without a warning and that's this song by Nothing but Thieves. That and the epic riff that just blasts you with a sense of awe and wonder at this, the band's must instrumentally complex and tense song yet. The detail in each and every part of the song is astounding, producing a sound that is always intriguing and yet never full or overblown. This is one of the band's most convincingly harder rock songs with off-the-chart levels of drive. It showcases everything that is excellent about Nothing but Thieves, especially Conor's vocals which are at their very best throughout the song. In the verses he is half rapping but retaining the beautiful melody he's always capable of and proving just now great a vocalist he is. The chorus is immense and irresistibly catchy with the guitar work excelling as it always does. The lyrics on this are dark, about a vampirical love and relationship that's turned toxic and twisted. It's an interesting concept and something that could lead on from their earlier song "Hostage". Overall this is the finest work the band has released and so nearly the song of the year...
1
One Thing Left To Try | MGMT
MGMT have not been the most consistent band but they have a lot of extremely good material they've put out over the years and their latest album "Little Dark Age" is arguably their best, with the eponymous song being one of the favourite songs of last year and now this making it to the top of my list for 2018. "One Thing Left To Try" is great for several reasons, the first being the sound of the song. It sonically harkens back to New Wave and synthpop with grand synthesizers leading the song and an amazing synth bass and drums. What really makes this song excell is the detail and complexity of each of the elements of the song, for instance the syncopated drum beat that shifts, morphs and changes up lots, especially near the end of the song. The synths too are not just a simple lead and bass but many layers of intricate different sounds that together at different times do their own individual thing to contribute towards the whole track. I love the pseudo-cheesy lyrics and vocals that hide a meaning and deepness behind energetic and exciting melodies, how big the refrain is and how towards the end of the song they become gradually lost amongst the building layers of instrumentation and rhythms. Finally, I adore the production choices to build everything up to such a clustered, full climax and then drop off the loads of instruments for the chilled outro and almost broken soundscape. This is my favourite song of 2018, thanks so much for reading! Check out my other Year-End lists on this blog and have a great Christmas, my Top Albums is coming soon.
Top 50 Songs Of 2018 Playlist On Deezer
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