Some songs were chosen because of their relevance and cultural significance.
Some songs were chosen because of their potent lyricism and/or story-telling.
Some songs were chosen because of their ingenious production and instrumentation.
But many were chosen because they had all of those things.
I'm going to breeze through most of these—but once I get to the Top 10, I'll expound a bit on my choices.
I've created a Spotify playlist featuring all of the songs on this list. Feel free to follow it and give them a listen!
Without further ado, here are my Top 50 Songs of 2018:
50. Hookworms - Negative Space
Album: Microshift
Genre: Psychedelic Indie Rock
49. Hop Along- How Simple
Album: Bark Your Head Off, Dog
Genre: Indie Folk Rock
48. Jon Hopkins - Emerald Rush
Album: Singularity
Genre: Electronic
47. Drake - Nice For What
Album: Scorpion
Genre: Hip Hop
46. Buddy - The Blue (feat. Snoop Dogg)
Album: Harlan & Alondra
Genre: Hip Hop
45. Twenty One Pilots - Morph
Album: Trench
Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie Pop, Hip Hop
44. Kacey Musgraves - High Horse
Album: Golden Hour
Genre: Country, Pop
43. ROSALÍA - MALDICIÓN (Cap.10: Cordura)
Album: El Mal Querer
Genre: Flamenco Pop
42. MGMT - Me and Michael
Album: Little Dark Age
Genre: Indie Rock, Synth-Pop
41. Denzel Curry - SIRENS | Z1RENZ [FEAT. J.I.D | J.1.D]
Album: TA13OO
Genre: Hip Hop
40. Death Cab for Cutie - Your Hurricane
Album: Thank You For Today
Genre: Alternative Rock
39. Kero Kero Bonito - Swimming
Album: Time 'n' Place
Genre: Twee Pop
38. DJ Koze - Pick Up
Album: Knock Knock
Genre: Electronic
37. Parquet Courts - Violence
Album: Wide Awake!
Genre: Indie Rock, Art Punk
36. Kali Uchis - Miami (feat. BIA)
Album: Isolation
Genre: Neo-Soul, Contemporary R&B
35. Chance the Rapper - The Man Who Has Everything
Standalone Single
Genre: Hip Hop
34. Julia Holter - I Shall Love 2
Album: Aviary
Genre: Art Pop
33. Aphex Twin - T69 Collapse
EP: Collapse EP
Genre: IDM
32. The 1975 - I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)
Album: A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
Genre: Synth Pop, Pop Rock
31. Against All Logic - Now U Got Me Hooked
Album: 2012 - 2017
Genre: Deep House
30. J Cole - 1985 - Intro to "The Fall Off"
Album: KOD
Genre: Hip Hop
29. ScHoolboy Q, 2 Chainz, & Saudi - X
Album: Black Panther The Album
Genre: Hip Hop
28. Kamasi Washington - Fists of Fury
Album: Heaven & Earth
Genre: Jazz
27. Daughters - Guest House
Album: You Won't Get What You Want
Genre: Noise Rock
26. BROCKHAMPTON - J'OUVERT
Album: iridescence
Genre: Hip Hop
25. JID - Off Da Zoinkeys
Album: DiCaprio 2
Genre: Hip Hop
24. Spiritualized - A Perfect Miracle
Album: And Nothing Hurt
Genre: Neo-Psychedelia
23. Noname - Don't Forget About Me
Album: Room 25
Genre: Hip Hop
22. Low - Always Trying to Work It Out
Album: Double Negative
Genre: Indie Rock, Noise Pop
21. Travis Scott - STOP TRYING TO BE GOD (feat. James Blake, Kid Cudi & Stevie Wonder)
Album: Astroworld
Genre: Trap, Hip Hop
20. Mac Miller - Self Care
Album: Swimming
Genre: Hip Hop
19. Beach House - Drunk in LA
Album: 7
Genre: Dream Pop, Indie Rock
18. Earl Sweatshirt - Playing Possum / Peanut
Album: Some Rap Songs
Genre: Hip Hop
Note: Yes, I broke the rules here. Both of these songs are incredibly moving, and they complement each other so well; I couldn't help but merge them so they both made the list.
17. Pinegrove - Portal
Album: Skylight
Genre: Indie Folk Rock
16. Tracyanne & Danny - It Can't Be Love Unless It Hurts
Album: Tracyanne & Danny
Genre: Alternative / Pop Rock
15. The 1975 - I Couldn't Be More In Love
Album: A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
Genre: Synth Pop, Pop Rock
14. Low - Rome (Always in the Dark)
Album: Double Negative
Genre: Indie Rock, Noise Pop
13. Saba - LIFE
Album: CARE FOR ME
Genre: Hip Hop
12. MGMT - She Works Out Too Much
Album: Little Dark Age
Genre: Indie Rock, Synth-Pop
11. Anderson .Paak - Cheers
Album: Oxnard
Genre: Neo-Soul, Jazz Rap
10. Pinegrove - Darkness
Album: Skylight
Genre: Indie Folk Rock
With gorgeous melodies, potent lyricism, and superb dynamic contrast, Skylight is one of the most breathtaking records of 2018. "Darkness" is the pinnacle of that entire album, and it showcases all three of those qualities extremely well.
9. Kero Kero Bonito - Dear Future Self
Album: Time 'n' Place
Genre: Twee Pop
This song is both vibrant and wistful. It's all about coming to grips with the fact that life is finite, and our days on earth are numbered. When we're young, we don't really give that much thought. As we grow older, that changes. I found this to be one of the most poignant tracks of the year.
8. Mac Miller - 2009
Album: Swimming
Genre: Hip Hop
"2009" is a reflective and meditative song. It takes the listener on a journey. In 2009, Mac wasn't sure how his life would pan out. After he broke into the mainstream in 2010, his life changed forever. Throughout this track, Mac talks about the things he's learned through his experiences and describes the peace he finally feels. The bright piano and warm strings come together perfectly to create a graceful and melancholy tone. While the context of Mac's recent death makes the song immensely heart-rending, it's ultimately hopeful and optimistic.
7. SOPHIE - Faceshopping
Album: OIL OF EVERY PEARLE'S UN-INSIDES
Genre: Art Pop, Electronic
In this track, SOPHIE artistically explores the effects that marketing/commercialism have on self-image—but as intriguing as that is, that's not all this song has to offer. "Faceshopping" also has some of the most jaw-dropping, immaculate sound design I've ever heard. The bridge is an excellent touch, and the vocal performances are fantastic throughout. This song is absolutely otherworldly.
6. Pusha T - If You Know You Know
Album: DAYTONA
Genre: Hip Hop
Not only does this track showcase Pusha T's witty lyricism and impeccable delivery, it also showcases Kanye West's phenomenal production skills. In my opinion, this is easily one of the funnest and catchiest hip hop tracks of all time.
5. KIDS SEE GHOSTS - Cudi Montage
Album: KIDS SEE GHOSTS
Genre: Neo-Psychedelic Rap
On the finale of their collaborative album, "KIDS SEE GHOSTS," Kanye West and Kid Cudi come together to tackle a handful of difficult issues—gun violence, depression, anxiety, and suicide. Not only do they encourage those struggling with these things to "stay strong," they also emphasize the importance of turning to God during those dark and difficult times. Throughout the latter half on the song, Kanye repeatedly pleads, "Lord, shine your light on me and save me please." The track brings a tear to my eye; it's gorgeous, heartfelt, and hopeful.
4. Kanye West - Ghost Town (feat. 070 Shake, John Legend & Kid Cudi)
Album: ye
Genre: Hip Hop
I find this to be one of the most beautiful songs Kanye West has ever released. It just feels so anthemic. While Kanye continues to struggle with things like mental health and public scrutiny, he has ultimately become numb to the pain those things once caused. He finally feels free, and this song instills that same sense of liberation into the listener. 070 Shake's two-minute outro feels optimistic, yet utterly chilling. Even though Kanye no longer feels pain, his hand is still "on the stove," so to speak. The struggles he faces have not completely dissolved. While I'm happy that he feels free, I will continue to pray for Kanye during this difficult time.
3. Childish Gambino - This Is America
Standalone Single
Genre: Hip Hop
"This Is America" is a powerful sociopolitical commentary on the current state of black life in America. While some argue the song isn't as powerful without the music video, I beg to differ. Glover accomplishes so much with so little in this track. The lyrics are only a fraction of what he uses to get his points across. As an annotation on Genius Lyrics puts it, ["This Is America"] contrasts popular culture’s perception of black experience and its often brutal reality by juxtaposing happy, carefree choruses and dark, aggressive verses."
2. Saba - PROM / KING
Album: CARE FOR ME
Genre: Hip Hop
As I stated in my CARE FOR ME review, "PROM / KING" is by far my favorite story-telling track in hip hop since Kendrick Lamar's "u." The song comprehensively chronicles Saba's relationship with his cousin Walter, who was tragically stabbed and killed in February 2017. Saba's lyrical and technical ability are front and center on this track. The emotion he conveys is infectious. The song is stunning, and it's sure to tug on your heart strings.
1. The 1975 - Love It If We Made It
Album: A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
Genre: Synth Pop, Pop Rock
As many of you know, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships was my favorite album of 2018, and "Love It If We Made It" was my favorite track. As I wrote in my review, "['Love It If We Made It'] is a sociopolitical pop anthem that calls attention to how profoundly perverted and bizarre our society has become." Healy presents his thoughts in such a simple yet penetrative way. His message is so timely and relevant. In addition, the track's instrumentation and vocal performance are first-rate. This is a top-tier track, and it's undoubtedly my favorite of 2018.
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