I’m pretty excited to be sharing this album w/ you all. I recently discovered The Twilight Sad on Apple Music. It Won/T Be Like This All The Time is their 5th album & it is a very intense & powerful record. Never heard of them? Please don’t be afraid to check them out. The Cure’s Robert Smith thoroughly enjoys them & even invited them to join their recent world tour. Quality tunes~~~
I’ve never been a serious fan of Toro y Moi. I have friends who love Chaz Bear, the mastermind behind the music, but I could never really get into him. Outer Peace is a nice album which maintains his funky yet electro-current self. I could not fully love the album, especially with some of the tracks toward the end that kinda venture off into a style which I do not think he is fully comfortable in. He was great to see live & I do hope I get to see him again if he is ever in a lineup of a nearby music festival.
Also, ABRA is on this album!
The Drums released a single earlier this month titled “Body Chemistry.” The single is the first to be dropped from their upcoming album Brutalism which is set to release in April.
“Body Chemistry” continues that momentum we experienced in Abysmal Thoughts & I would add that it revisits Portamento in an underground fashion. I actually first heard this song while I was in Guatemala. I was pretty upset that their show in April @ Marty’s On Newport sold out within a couple of days. I even had a presale code! Fortunately, I snagged some tix for the recently-announced show in LA over the summer. Maybe I’ll see you there?
I’m honestly a little surprised that Robyn’s 2018 album has made it to my list of BEST ALBUMS OF 2018 but Robyn has definitely earned it! Honey has some awesome pop hits & is surrounded by sweet and addicting sounds. Don’t sleep on Robyn!!!!
Very nice to see Joyce Manor still at it & their 2018 album Million Dollars to Kill Me has earned them a spot on my list of BEST ALBUMS OF 2018. It may not be on everyone else’s list but I definitely appreciate Barry & the gang in their latest piece. I’m also lucky to have seen them perform a couple of times while I release some of that leftover teenage angst.
Fun fact: Basement played Joyce Manor’s “Falling in Love” right before they performed @ Strummer’s in Fresno.
2018 was a busy year for SOB X RBE & they are entering 2019 with fresh tracks featuring other prominent rappers. GANGIN & GANGIN II were true to the hyphy nature of the Vallejo, California group. GANGIN was especially boppin with several amazing tracks like Carpoolin’, Anti Social, & No Discussion. It was also a pleasure to see them live during their very successful year in which they also appeared on the Black Panther soundtrack. All respect to the fellow Bay Area natives.
Boy Pablo is the definition of chill. Their 2018 EP has earned a spot on this list because they put together a project with several signature tracks. They are simply a fun band to sing along with & dance to. At only 21 minutes long, Soy Pablo gives you so many emotions to experience. They WILL be around in 2019 & I am here for it.
The Internet is a beautiful musical group who has definitely earned to be on this list this year. Hive Mind is full of smooth music. It starts off strong & is nice to listen to all around. So happy to have discovered them a while back & totally looking forward to what their creativity can spur up next.
Beach House is one of the power players in the Indie scene & they certainly did not disappoint with 7. Listening to Beach House is a yogic experience & they will always be there to help guide your real world experiences. 7 is no exception to their wonderful catalog of sweet music & I cannot wait to hear them reach new heights & transcend beyond vvvvvvvvvv
Quality work & originality is what you get when Blood Orange is summoned into your ears. Negro Swan is such a beautiful album to listen to with so many chill tracks. I believe Blood Orange has the power to bring people together with their creative sounds. Negro Swan is on this list of BEST ALBUMS OF 2018 because it is a wonderful piece to listen to alone & it can also be bopped with others. It’s also just a great fxcking album.
I actually neglected Virtue for quite some time until a friend of mine urged me to take a listen to the album. Instantly I dug deep into Julian Casablanca’s world of dissent and jams. They are also quite a wonder to see live as I saw them at 2018 Beach Goth. This album is definitely one that most people might not pick up right away but it is full of pure musical discovery. Virtue earns the #3 spot on my list because of its chillness & variety within the void it lies in.
MGMT had a head start as a contender for top record of 2018. MGMT’s gloomy yet colorful creativity was magnificently portrayed in LDA & that is why it has earned the #2 spot. This album will be a classical treasure of indie weirdness & psychedelics throughout this little dark age~~~~
P.S. The level of wickedness that is felt when watching them live is out of this nebulA
Earlier in 2018, I was fairly certain that LDA by MGMT would win album of the year. It seems that Mitski is the only powerful force in the universe that is capable of stopping this reality. Mitski’s BTC generates an unmatchable energy throughout its list of marvelous songs & that is why it has deserved the #1 spot on the list of BEST ALBUMS OF 2018. This album is very pure & I am so proud of Mitski & all of her accomplishments. Sadly, I was not able to see her live this year due to Tropicalia being on the same weekend. I am also currently working on a Mitski/BTC fan zine with a dear friend so be on the lookout for that≈≈≈≈≈≈
Thank you to those who have been following my site. Creating this list was a nice chance to look back at 2018’s array of quality tunes. To another year of good musique!
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
https://www.npr.org/2018/12/04/673291531/wu-tang-clan-tiny-desk-concert
What more can I say? Check out the 20 minute resurrection of one of the greatest Hip-Hop groups of all time.
I only really use Spotify when I’m on my computer. Sounds about right~
Top genres: Indie, Rock, Dance/Electronic, Pop, Punk
check yours out here: https://spotifywrapped.com
Oh Karen O how you just play with my heart… Her latest with Danger Mouse is one somber ride. Her previous, latest single “Yo! My Saint” had me shook and she does it again w “Lux Prima.” The single is the first to be released from her upcoming album with Danger Mouse set to be out on December 12th. Very nice and smooth song. Thinking it will be part of my descent toward the Winter Solstice~~~
I checked this album out out of pure curiosity and I have come to really dig Robyn in her latest album. I can’t really speak much on Robyn since I’ve never really listened to the Swedish star’s catalog…but this sh– is very pop and it makes you want to montage to it. I think I’m gonna play it before my next job interview.
Update (12/6/18): Robyn’s Honey was voted the 7th best album of 2018 by NPR! https://www.npr.org/2018/12/04/671242319/the-50-best-albums-of-2018-page-5
It is a difficult decision to put Pinegrove on Tunes & Oats but I will share a few words about their latest project. If you don’t know what I’m talking about then you can see for yourself here. It was a difficult time and a moment of confusion for many Pinegrove fans. Skylight is an interesting piece which does not shift away from their emo-countryish type of music. The group continues to deliver gloomy tunes and philosophical, honest confessions. What do you think about this all? Are you digging Skylight as much as I am?
& here is Pinegrove on NPR’s tiny desk!
Boy Pablo continues to deliver sweet music. Nicolás Pablo Rivera Muñoz maintains his ability to steer indie rock in the right direction. In Soy Pablo, the Norwegian artist of Chilean parents gives his listeners the same style and chill vibes that he has been known give off. Hopefully they are as great live. I will put out an update in early November!
Update (11/7): Saw them @ Tropicalia 2018! They were sick. Boy Pablo left the crowd discombobulated.
Tunes & Oats 