2018 was a beast of a year for music; I don’t recall a recent year when I enjoyed more new music. I am a listmaker and I do a “favorites” list at the end of every year, but I put it on Facebook where only people I’m connected with can read it.
I’m on a big “music media is driven by publicists and small bands don’t have access” kick lately, though, and as a result I think that – even though some of the records I heard and loved this year probably reached my ears due to those very same publicists – it’s worth listing my faves in a place where people can actually read them. So:
1) The Ex • 27 PASSPORTS (The Ex)
2) John Coltrane • BOTH DIRECTIONS AT ONCE: THE LOST ALBUM (Impulse!)
3) Deaf Wish • LITHIUM ZION (Sub Pop)
4) E • NEGATIVE WORK (Thrill Jockey)
5) Mourn • SORPRESA FAMILIA (Captured Tracks)
6) Stove • STOVE’S FAVORITE FRIEND (Exploding In Sound)
7) Obnox • BANG MESSIAH (Smog Veil)
8) Träden • TRÄDEN (Subliminal Sounds)
9. The Love-Birds • IN THE LOVER’S CORNER (Trouble In Mind)
10. Bodega • ENDLESS SCROLL (What’s Your Rupture?)
11. Sons Of Kemet • YOUR QUEEN IS A REPTILE (Verve)
12. Nap Eyes • I’M BAD NOW (Paradise of Bachelors)
13. Bad Sports • CONSTANT STIMULATION (Dirtnap)
14. Connections • FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Trouble In Mind)
15. Savak • BEG YOUR PARDON (Ernest Jenning Record Co.)
16. Big Bliss • AT MIDDLE DISTANCE (Exit Stencil)
17. Beak> • >>> (Temporary Residence)
18. Thee Oh Sees • SMOTE REVERSER (Castle Face)
19. Mythic Sunship • ANOTHER SHAPE OF PSYCHEDELIC MUSIC (El Paraiso)
20. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks • SPARKLE HARD (Matador)
21. Wussy • WHAT HEAVEN IS LIKE (Shake-It)
22. Roy Montgomery • SUFFUSE (Grapefruit)
23. Kamasi Washington • HEAVEN AND EARTH (Young Turks)
24. Sunwatchers • II (Trouble In Mind)
25. Borzoi • A PRAYER FOR WAR (12XU)
26. Brother JT • TORNADO JUICE (Thrill Jockey)
27. Wand • PERFUME (Drag City)
28. Tangents • NEW BODIES (Temporary Residence)
29. St. Lenox • TEN FABLES OF YOUNG AMBITION AND PASSIONATE LOVE (Anyway)
30. Tropical Fuck Storm • A LAUGHING DEATH IN MEAT SPACE (Joyful Noise)
Honorable Mentions: Azalia Snail, Eric Bachman, Charnel Ground, Ethers, Exmaid, Eyelids, FACS, Flasher, Kal Marks, The Marked Men, Messthetics, Olden Yolk, Pram, Salad Boys, Shame, Spider Bags, Superchunk, Uncontrollable Urge, Kurt Vile, The Woolen Men, Yo La Tengo
TOP SINGLES AND EPs:
1. Dag/Thigh Master • SPLIT 7” (Bruit Direct)
2. Resounding No • GROSS DOMINANCE (State Champion)
3. A Deer A Horse • “Double Wide” (A Deer A Horse)
4. Protomartyr • CONSOLATION E.P. (Domino)
5. Kerbivore • “Choice Words”/”A Moment’s Notice” (Kerbivore)
6. Drahla • “Twelve Divisions Of The Day” (Captured Tracks)
7. Honey Radar • “Frogman + 2” (Honey Radar)
8. Glued • INSIDES (Sooper)
9. Cicada Radio • CATCH & RELEASE (Killing Horse)
10. Mineral • “Aurora” (Mineral Deposits)