Songs of 2018 Part 2: 50-21
Yes, it's Christmas Day, and instead of enjoying a Christmas ham with the family, I'm posting a bunch of song write-ups on the internet. Here is the first bit of my top 50 songs of the year, with a bit of commentary on why I enjoy each one. Tomorrow around the same time I'll post my top twenty songs of the year. Who will take home the rampy?
50) Arrivée à Destination - Millimetrik feat. Les Deuxluxes (Old Westronica)
Weird one to start with; I enjoy a bit of old west desperado type music especially when set to a progressive electronica beat and mixed well. It surprised me that this cracked the top 50 though.
49) Not Warriors - Waterparks (Pop Punk)
This was less of a surprise; a song of the week winner with a very infectious pop melody over good dynamic punk.
48) My Beautiful Boy - Phosphorescent (Indie Folk)
One of four Phosphorescent songs to crack the top 50 (obviously the lowest) this is a very sweet folk tune that I've started to sing to Dylan or at least get in my head a lot around Dylan.
47) Apollo - St Paul & the Broken Bones (Soul Funk)
Another song of the week winner, this is just a great bit of blue-eyed soul that has a big party vibe to it.
46) Sure - Hatchie (Pop)
I love this song mainly because it sounds like it's a pop song from the 90s, which is undeniably when music hit its peak (well, when Amber released "This is Your Night" specifically). Nothing overly complex, just good melody and production.
45) Here's Looking at you Kid - Brett Dennen (Retro Rock)
Love a bit of oldskool retro rock, and Brett Dennen has really delivered a lot of it this year across two EPs. This is the best of his songs.
44) Run It Away - Nik Freitas (Indie Pop Rock)
Another song of the week winner that was a bit of a surprise as it was only a substitute pick (i.e. I originally rejected the idea of listening to the album, but picked it because Jez and I had crossover picks so subbed this one in to get the overall album quota up). Just well-produced and well-written pop rock, this, with a thoughtful instrumentation to it.
43) Bridge City Rose - Kyle Craft (Glam Rock)
Surprisingly this is the only Kyle Craft song to crack the top 50, but it is also the best track from his excellent album. More flamboyant folk-infused rock from the master of the same.
42) Paler Still - Precog (Dark Wave)
One of two PreCog songs to crack the top 50, I mainly love the inflections and tone of Jason Thomas' voice here driven by the darker undertones of the synthwave underneath.
41) I Have Arrived - Murder by Death (Country Rock)
I'm a bit mixed on Adam Turla's vocals for Murder by Death - he seems like a grizzled country musician and it doesn't always sit right with me. But this song is dynamic fun with a big brass influence so it's grown on me a lot.
40) Milk & Coffee - NoMBe (RnB)
NoMBe was very much this year's answer to So Much Light (maker of my #4 song of 2017) - curious and inventive RnB with a good driving beat. This was his best track.
39) Marble Skies - Django Django (Synthpop)
From very early in the year, this great driving synthpop piece took out runner-up song of the week and has been a mainstay on my playlists since.
38) Lake Erie - Wild Pink (Indie Folk)
The first of a few Wild Pink songs on the top 50, this very introspective country folk tune is heavy on the pedal-steel guitar (which all country music, and all music, should feature in some way) and just delivers some beautiful tunes.
37) The Boy - Shannon and the Clams (Retro Rock)
More exciting retro rock, this one invokes a very 50s rockabilly vibe which I think is ultimately just something I really go for. This is a great example of it.
36) Dance Until You Drop - Funke and the Two Tone Baby (Electrofunk)
There will be more to come from this strange one-man band. This is a fun bit of funk with great looping and guitar work.
35) Come On Get Up - The Hip Abduction (Reggae Pop)
I've dubbed The Hip Abduction "the best band in the world" after Jez picked their 2016 album as a throwback this year - technically we could have listened to it as part of the 2016 music project but it passed us by. In short, when we listened to it I decided that, had it not passed us by, it very well could have won my album of the year. This new track from them delivers the same upbeat feel-good vibes that I loved on that album with a good reggae influence to the beat. I sincerely hope this is a teaser for an upcoming album - in which case, look out 2019.
34) Look Left - The Damned (Glam Punk)
A bit of a surprise song of the week when this was released, this progressive glam punk track from washed-up has-beens The Damned cracks the top 50 largely on the strength of its excellent organ-heavy solo section which is superb.
33) Nica Libres at Dusk - Ben Howard (Indie Singer-Songwriter)
This song, like the previous entry from the Damned, makes it onto the top 50 due to one element which is the expansive unidentified string sequence that rounds out the chorus as it's completely beautiful. It's otherwise a little bit mumbly and soft at times but when it builds, it's magic.
32) Yolk in the Fur - Wild Pink (Indie Folk)
More quite simply beautiful folk music from Wild Pink, this one continues the progressive run of optimistic Americana vibes that transitions directly from the end of "Lake Erie" (see #38, above) and takes the album in a lighter and interesting direction.
31) Super Moon - Greg Laswell (Indie Singer-Songwriter)
Greg Laswell was one of many artists we discovered in the 2016 music project who actually performed better with their 2018 effort. This gorgeous bit of songwriting has his trademark mumbly cynicism but has an excellent build to it as well.
30) Transgender Biscuits - Fantastic Negrito (Contemporary Blues)
You'll be hearing more about Fantastic Negrito when it comes to my albums write-up. This one took out song of the week when the album was released, a really fascinating and unconventional bit of angry social commentary set to a strange but fascinating blues backing.
29) inconsist - Ólafur Arnalds (Neoclassical)
I love background working music generally, particularly when it has a good structure and a motif to it. This bit of sort of neoclassical-electronica fusion combines some dreamy ambient piano with a shuffling triphop beat and liberal string swells. It's also got enough composition behind it to avoid feeling repetitive despite just building on the same themes as per a typical electronica piece.
28) The Death of Me - Meg Myers (Indie Pop)
The first mention of Meg Myers as well; this album had to play second fiddle to Wild Pink's "Yolk in the Fur" due to being released on the same day, but this album really blew me away with Myers' plaintive noirish vocals over a blend of pop and quite driving rock tunes. This is one of the poppier and more catchy tracks. There'll be more to come from her.
27) Bigger - St Lucia (Indie Pop)
Interestingly, this track originally won runner-up song of the week only, second to Greg Laswell's "Super Moon" so it's apparently overtaken the latter since. This is just a big (one might even say 'bigger') good-hearted pop track with a huge dynamic sound to it. I can see why I sort of rebelled against it at first because it so obviously ticks all my boxes, with its dynamic keyboard-based instrumentation and big woodwind-esque interjections and lively melody, but it just kept obviously ticking my boxes (and tickling my boxers) until it became a more preferred track.
26) The Duffler - Fantastic Negrito (Contemporary Blues)
This track from the same excellent album as "Transgender Biscuits" has done the same thing, overtaking the latter in my final estimation after settling for runner-up song of the week originally. I feel like this song is more immediately accessible as a bit of driving blues, so even though the two tracks are very close in my high estimation, this one pipped it in the end just due to immediate likeability but exactly the same level of intrigue and innovation in the music.
25) New Birth in New England - Phosphorescent (Pop Folk)
Ah, feels like a while since we heard from Phosphorescent at the beginning of the top 50 countdown. This is quite different from "My Beautiful Boy" in just being upbeat, perky kind of folk-infused pop that just delivers a lot of fun vibes in the midst of a very serious, introspective album. You'll obviously be hearing about the album in my top albums writeup.
24) Beatnik Trip - Gin Wigmore (Blues Rock)
This track falls just outside the top 20 but hits the heights it does on the strength of Gin Wigmore's powerful, slightly Joplin-esque unhinged vocal style, and the fact that there's just some very cool blues vibes infused into this driving pop rock song.
23) Jewels Drossed in the Runoff - Wild Pink (Indie Folk)
Ah, more Wild Pink, and curiously the three songs making the top 50 are counting down in the same order as they appear on the album - "Lake Erie" followed by "Yolk in the Fur" then a 1-minute interlude before this bit of expansive synthfolk that delivers more really uplifting and thoughtful harmonies.
22) Swing Balboa (Down on Riverside) - The Manhattan Transfer (Electroswing)
A silly, fun track to nearly round out my first proper set of write-ups. This is a very entertaining song, driven by some precise and expert dynamic vocal harmonies and a curious fusion of electronica beats and oldskool swing vibes.
21) Bardo - GoGo Penguin (Jazz)
Just missing out on my top twenty is my highlight song from one of my favourite albums of the year (more to come on that) from Manchester-based jazz trio GoGo Penguin. While the album doesn't deliver obvious highlight songs, this one stands above the pack just because of its clever repeated riff foundation, but as with the rest of the album, the ultimate highlight is the superb dynamism of the three guys delivering swirling, complex piano, bass and drumwork.
50) Arrivée à Destination - Millimetrik feat. Les Deuxluxes (Old Westronica)
Weird one to start with; I enjoy a bit of old west desperado type music especially when set to a progressive electronica beat and mixed well. It surprised me that this cracked the top 50 though.
49) Not Warriors - Waterparks (Pop Punk)
This was less of a surprise; a song of the week winner with a very infectious pop melody over good dynamic punk.
48) My Beautiful Boy - Phosphorescent (Indie Folk)
One of four Phosphorescent songs to crack the top 50 (obviously the lowest) this is a very sweet folk tune that I've started to sing to Dylan or at least get in my head a lot around Dylan.
47) Apollo - St Paul & the Broken Bones (Soul Funk)
Another song of the week winner, this is just a great bit of blue-eyed soul that has a big party vibe to it.
46) Sure - Hatchie (Pop)
I love this song mainly because it sounds like it's a pop song from the 90s, which is undeniably when music hit its peak (well, when Amber released "This is Your Night" specifically). Nothing overly complex, just good melody and production.
45) Here's Looking at you Kid - Brett Dennen (Retro Rock)
Love a bit of oldskool retro rock, and Brett Dennen has really delivered a lot of it this year across two EPs. This is the best of his songs.
44) Run It Away - Nik Freitas (Indie Pop Rock)
Another song of the week winner that was a bit of a surprise as it was only a substitute pick (i.e. I originally rejected the idea of listening to the album, but picked it because Jez and I had crossover picks so subbed this one in to get the overall album quota up). Just well-produced and well-written pop rock, this, with a thoughtful instrumentation to it.
43) Bridge City Rose - Kyle Craft (Glam Rock)
Surprisingly this is the only Kyle Craft song to crack the top 50, but it is also the best track from his excellent album. More flamboyant folk-infused rock from the master of the same.
42) Paler Still - Precog (Dark Wave)
One of two PreCog songs to crack the top 50, I mainly love the inflections and tone of Jason Thomas' voice here driven by the darker undertones of the synthwave underneath.
41) I Have Arrived - Murder by Death (Country Rock)
I'm a bit mixed on Adam Turla's vocals for Murder by Death - he seems like a grizzled country musician and it doesn't always sit right with me. But this song is dynamic fun with a big brass influence so it's grown on me a lot.
40) Milk & Coffee - NoMBe (RnB)
NoMBe was very much this year's answer to So Much Light (maker of my #4 song of 2017) - curious and inventive RnB with a good driving beat. This was his best track.
39) Marble Skies - Django Django (Synthpop)
From very early in the year, this great driving synthpop piece took out runner-up song of the week and has been a mainstay on my playlists since.
38) Lake Erie - Wild Pink (Indie Folk)
The first of a few Wild Pink songs on the top 50, this very introspective country folk tune is heavy on the pedal-steel guitar (which all country music, and all music, should feature in some way) and just delivers some beautiful tunes.
37) The Boy - Shannon and the Clams (Retro Rock)
More exciting retro rock, this one invokes a very 50s rockabilly vibe which I think is ultimately just something I really go for. This is a great example of it.
36) Dance Until You Drop - Funke and the Two Tone Baby (Electrofunk)
There will be more to come from this strange one-man band. This is a fun bit of funk with great looping and guitar work.
35) Come On Get Up - The Hip Abduction (Reggae Pop)
I've dubbed The Hip Abduction "the best band in the world" after Jez picked their 2016 album as a throwback this year - technically we could have listened to it as part of the 2016 music project but it passed us by. In short, when we listened to it I decided that, had it not passed us by, it very well could have won my album of the year. This new track from them delivers the same upbeat feel-good vibes that I loved on that album with a good reggae influence to the beat. I sincerely hope this is a teaser for an upcoming album - in which case, look out 2019.
34) Look Left - The Damned (Glam Punk)
A bit of a surprise song of the week when this was released, this progressive glam punk track from washed-up has-beens The Damned cracks the top 50 largely on the strength of its excellent organ-heavy solo section which is superb.
33) Nica Libres at Dusk - Ben Howard (Indie Singer-Songwriter)
This song, like the previous entry from the Damned, makes it onto the top 50 due to one element which is the expansive unidentified string sequence that rounds out the chorus as it's completely beautiful. It's otherwise a little bit mumbly and soft at times but when it builds, it's magic.
32) Yolk in the Fur - Wild Pink (Indie Folk)
More quite simply beautiful folk music from Wild Pink, this one continues the progressive run of optimistic Americana vibes that transitions directly from the end of "Lake Erie" (see #38, above) and takes the album in a lighter and interesting direction.
31) Super Moon - Greg Laswell (Indie Singer-Songwriter)
Greg Laswell was one of many artists we discovered in the 2016 music project who actually performed better with their 2018 effort. This gorgeous bit of songwriting has his trademark mumbly cynicism but has an excellent build to it as well.
30) Transgender Biscuits - Fantastic Negrito (Contemporary Blues)
You'll be hearing more about Fantastic Negrito when it comes to my albums write-up. This one took out song of the week when the album was released, a really fascinating and unconventional bit of angry social commentary set to a strange but fascinating blues backing.
29) inconsist - Ólafur Arnalds (Neoclassical)
I love background working music generally, particularly when it has a good structure and a motif to it. This bit of sort of neoclassical-electronica fusion combines some dreamy ambient piano with a shuffling triphop beat and liberal string swells. It's also got enough composition behind it to avoid feeling repetitive despite just building on the same themes as per a typical electronica piece.
28) The Death of Me - Meg Myers (Indie Pop)
The first mention of Meg Myers as well; this album had to play second fiddle to Wild Pink's "Yolk in the Fur" due to being released on the same day, but this album really blew me away with Myers' plaintive noirish vocals over a blend of pop and quite driving rock tunes. This is one of the poppier and more catchy tracks. There'll be more to come from her.
27) Bigger - St Lucia (Indie Pop)
Interestingly, this track originally won runner-up song of the week only, second to Greg Laswell's "Super Moon" so it's apparently overtaken the latter since. This is just a big (one might even say 'bigger') good-hearted pop track with a huge dynamic sound to it. I can see why I sort of rebelled against it at first because it so obviously ticks all my boxes, with its dynamic keyboard-based instrumentation and big woodwind-esque interjections and lively melody, but it just kept obviously ticking my boxes (and tickling my boxers) until it became a more preferred track.
26) The Duffler - Fantastic Negrito (Contemporary Blues)
This track from the same excellent album as "Transgender Biscuits" has done the same thing, overtaking the latter in my final estimation after settling for runner-up song of the week originally. I feel like this song is more immediately accessible as a bit of driving blues, so even though the two tracks are very close in my high estimation, this one pipped it in the end just due to immediate likeability but exactly the same level of intrigue and innovation in the music.
25) New Birth in New England - Phosphorescent (Pop Folk)
Ah, feels like a while since we heard from Phosphorescent at the beginning of the top 50 countdown. This is quite different from "My Beautiful Boy" in just being upbeat, perky kind of folk-infused pop that just delivers a lot of fun vibes in the midst of a very serious, introspective album. You'll obviously be hearing about the album in my top albums writeup.
24) Beatnik Trip - Gin Wigmore (Blues Rock)
This track falls just outside the top 20 but hits the heights it does on the strength of Gin Wigmore's powerful, slightly Joplin-esque unhinged vocal style, and the fact that there's just some very cool blues vibes infused into this driving pop rock song.
23) Jewels Drossed in the Runoff - Wild Pink (Indie Folk)
Ah, more Wild Pink, and curiously the three songs making the top 50 are counting down in the same order as they appear on the album - "Lake Erie" followed by "Yolk in the Fur" then a 1-minute interlude before this bit of expansive synthfolk that delivers more really uplifting and thoughtful harmonies.
22) Swing Balboa (Down on Riverside) - The Manhattan Transfer (Electroswing)
A silly, fun track to nearly round out my first proper set of write-ups. This is a very entertaining song, driven by some precise and expert dynamic vocal harmonies and a curious fusion of electronica beats and oldskool swing vibes.
21) Bardo - GoGo Penguin (Jazz)
Just missing out on my top twenty is my highlight song from one of my favourite albums of the year (more to come on that) from Manchester-based jazz trio GoGo Penguin. While the album doesn't deliver obvious highlight songs, this one stands above the pack just because of its clever repeated riff foundation, but as with the rest of the album, the ultimate highlight is the superb dynamism of the three guys delivering swirling, complex piano, bass and drumwork.
posted by Sean's Beard at 7:24 PM
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