2018: my year in lists

It's been a weird year in all kinds of ways and music has not always been there for me as a constant the way it has in the past. Nevertheless we made it through, and here are my highlights of the year - music, but other stuff too.

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC - TOP 30

1. IDLES - Joy as an Act of Resistance

IDLES have been the winners of 2018; a band I fully discovered at Primavera Sound this year and then managed to see live two more times over the course of the year. Joy as an Act of Resistance has it all: the best title of the year - a motto, really - the massive guitars, the catchy riffs, the punchy lyrics, and the social and political activism that comes from a place of struggle and is backed by concrete actions done by wonderful people. While music is never apolitical, it often ends up being more of a commentary on the negatives than anything else; Joy, on the other hand, sounds more like a call to arms that finds its goal in unity, in positive resistance through the celebration of what it means to be human and welcoming and caring for others - this "other" being the key to the message as my friend Simone pointed out: Joy - as exemplified in Danny Nedelko - looks outwards rather than inwards, because change lies in the hands of the many.

2. Mitski - Be the Cowboy

Mitski really is a voice of her own, and Be the Cowboy is a masterful exploration of herself and her songwriting ability through the voices of the characters she manipulates to embody the range of emotions that constitute Be the Cowboy. Mitski has always been a talent with few boundaries, but with this album she takes full control of the whole space, exploring and playing with genres, modes, stories and – again – characters.

3. Low – Double Negative

 A stunning record that finds melody in the darkest places, elegance and meaning and sparks of brightness in destruction. An album to watch the end of the world to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Snail Mail – Lush

Snail Mail’s debut is one of those records that will hit you with an even balance of familiarity and innovation, like meeting someone for the first time but getting that warm feeling of warmth and security you get from a friend. Lindsey Jordan’s songwriting is bright, clever and delightful.

5. Lucy Dacus – Historian

Historian, just like Lucy Dacus’ songwriting, grew on me with time. It’s one of those albums (and songwriters) that you will listen to with pleasure, then keep coming back to without even realising, they just beg to be replayed, slowly creeping into your head. An equally powerful and elegant record.

6. Deafheaven – Ordinary Corrupt Human Love

We’ve all loved Sunbather, but Deafheaven’s fourth album is another stunner that grows with every listen, thanks to its incredible songwriting and insane production and attention to detail. A pleasure to savour despite its hard shell. 

7. Ought – Room Inside the World

It was tough for Ought to top the incredible Sun Coming Down, so Room Inside the World moves into art-rock territory instead: the result is more subdued but equally elegant, stylish and clever in Ought’s special way.

8. Car Seat Headrest – Twin Fantasy

If this hadn’t been a rewritten/rerecorded album it would’ve probably been higher in the list, but I still needed to include this stunning record in this list – first, because it’s Will Toledo’s songwriting at its peak, but more importantly because the story arc that had made Twin Fantasy (Mirror to Mirror) an iconic album finally comes to a close in (Face to Face), with all the emotional baggage that seven years bring along.

9. Boygenius – Boygenius

Another grower from some of the best songwriters (and singers, because we need those harmonies) of our generation. Each song is a stunner, and each voice is unique but becomes even stronger when together. 

10. Daughters – You Won’t Get What You Want

One of the darkest, eeriest records of the year: desperate, suffocating, incredibly powerful.  

11) Hop Along – Bark Your Head Off, Dog

12) Cloud Nothings – Last Building Burning

13) Ezra Furman – Transangelic Exodus

14) The Breeders – All Nerve

15) Jeff Rosenstock – POST-

16) Half Waif – Lavender

17) Parquet Courts – Wide Awake!

18) Beach House – 7

19) Jeff Tweedy – WARM

20) Soccer Mommy – Clean

21) Devon Welsh – Dream Songs

22) Birds in Row – We Already Lost the World

23) Oneohtrix Point Never – Age of

24) SOPHIE – Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides

25) Twin Shadow – Caer

26) Rose Mercie – Rose Mercie

27) Skating Polly – The Make It All Show

28) Pinegrove – Skylight

29) We Were Promised Jetpacks – The More I Sleep, the Less I Dream

30) Mastersystem – Dance Music

Honourable mentions and/or stuff that didn’t get enough listens to make the list:

Fucked Up – Dose Your Dreams
Father John Misty – God’s Favorite Customer

Amen Dunes – Freedom

Adrianne Lenker - abysskiss

Iceage – Beyondless

Spiritualized – And Nothing Hurt

Shame – Songs of Praise

The Good the Bad and the Queen – Merrie Land

Pool Kids – Music to Practice Safe Sex to

Protomartyr – Consolation EP

Earl Sweatshirt – Some Rap Songs

Julia Holter – Aviary

Mothers – PINK

Yowler – Black Dog in My Path

Foxing – Dealer

Flasher – Constant Image

ITALIAN MUSIC

I’ve listened to very little Italian music this year, unfortunately. Here’s a top 3, but I have a lot to catch up on:

1. Generic Animal – Generic Animal 

2. Any Other – Two, Geography 

3. Riviera – Contrasto

Honourable mentions:
Motta – Vivere o Morire

One Glass Eye – Sea You

BEST SONGS

1)    IDLES – Danny Nedelko

2)    Lucy Dacus – Night Shift

3)    Snail Mail – Pristine

4)    Mitski – Geyser

5)    Mitski – Nobody

6)    Low – Rome (Always in the Dark)

7)    Deafheaven – Canary Yellow

8)    Boygenius – Salt in the Wound

9)    The Breeders – All Nerve

10) Hop Along – Prior Things

Honourable mention: Rose Mercie – Les Glycines (thank you Dylan Baldi!!)

And of course here are my 2018 picks, curated throughout the entire year:

BEST LIVE SHOWS

The Smashing Pumpkins - Wembley Arena, London

Nick Cave - Primavera Sound, Barcelona

Los Campesinos! tenth anniversary show - O2 Forum Kentish Town, London

Bjork - Primavera Sound, Barcelona

Spiritualized with full orchestra - Primavera Sound, Barcelona
Godspeed You! Black Emperor & Monumental - Barbican, London 

Slowdive - Primavera Sound, Barcelona

IDLES - Concorde 2, Brighton

Mitski - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Grizzly Bear - Primavera Sound, Barcelona

Deerhunter - Primavera Sound, Barcelona

 

MORE

Best thing I’ve watched this year was, by far, Hannah Gadsby’s Netflix special Nanette.

Honourable mentions: Isle of Dogs and BlacKKKlansman

Funniest thing of the year: Mr Bubz. Please help.

Disappointing album of the year: Arctic Monkeys. I haven’t been able to listen to it again since my boyfriend said that they sound like this. [Also help]

Honourable mentions: Titus Andronicus, Courtney Barnett and Pianos Become the Teeth L Also Kanye I guess but I’ve pretty much lost interest in anything he does.

Albums I look forward to in 2019!
The Twilight Sad!!

American Football!!

Mineral!!

HAPPY 2019!