As with my 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Year in Review features, this article looks back on a year of music with a summary of the highlights. This is my attempt to (subjectively) share my favorites of the year, from live shows to new songs and albums. You can also check out my Top 100 Concert Photos of 2018 in that separate article.
Obviously, the lists that follow below are a reflection of my personal, subjective tastes, so all are truly about the kind of music that most moves and inspires me. I have a pretty broad taste in music, but I think what I like the most is reflected by my choices. I’m sure I missed some awesome new music completely (I always do and find it right after publishing this feature). 2018 was a challenging year for me on a few fronts, and Shelley (Mrs. Rock Subculture) and I spent some time in Italy again as well, so it was a more modest concert schedule. Unfortunately, I was unable to shoot my all-time favorite band, Depeche Mode, two years running due to illness, so I was pretty bummed about that, and there were a few other shows I would have loved to have seen as well but did not make it due to conflicts. But I found myself enjoying what I did see that much more as a result. So much great music to experience in 2018!
Top 5 Concerts of 2018
These are my five favorite concerts I attended in 2018…
1) Florence + the Machine (Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey’s | Stateline, Nevada | August 9th, 2018)
[CONCERT OF THE YEAR]
2018 was an incredible year and certainly “less is more” applied as I was more selective in the shows I turned out for… so picking a #1 show of the year would seem to be a challenge. But it wasn’t. Holy shit, this show… Florence is unlike any music artist I’ve ever experienced. And I’ve had “top” Florence shows in the past that I thought could never be bested. But this was more like a religious experience. With Florence coming down from the stage in a massive crowd and having this electric connection with her fans was something I’d never seen before… easy choice for top concert of 2018. Words cannot describe. Here’s some video evidence: YouTube Link
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2) Simple Minds (Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort | Reno, Nevada | October 20th, 2018)
This was a rare tour for this classic band. As much as I love Simple Minds and their music, this was my first time seeing them live. Shelley and I had the benefit of being front row at my favorite venue (and Shelley even got a spin from Jim Kerr while dancing). This was one of those rare shows where I have such a connection with the songs and music that I had that rush of adrenaline come over me. This is one I will never forget, and keep at the forefront of my mind as I revisit those songs of my youth.
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3) Adam Ant (Silver Legacy Casino | Reno, Nevada | August 4th, 2018)
This was my show of the year when I saw it. Though I went to fewer shows in 2018, the competition for the Top Five was fierce. This would have been #1 in any other year. Adam Ant and his bandmates put on THE BEST show, and there were some really special emotional moments on stage that I found touching. Love this man. A real pioneer in music.
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4) K.Flay (The Fillmore | San Francisco, California | January 17, 2018)
I somehow didn’t “discover” K.Flay until 2017, and now I am the biggest fan. Love her music. This was my first time seeing her live, and she still exceeded every expectation. Really looking forward to what comes next for her. Such a gifted artist.
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5) Thievery Corporation (Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort | Reno, Nevada | September 4th, 2018)
I went into this show familiar with just a handful of their songs, and came away a lifelong fan. This show was unlike any I’d ever seen before. So many artists on stage, coming and going, all brilliant… I love Thievery Corporation. Can’t wait to see them again. This one also had the best concert lighting and sound of the year. Perfect show.
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Top 5 Albums of 2018
As with lists from the past couple of years, I’ve stripped my Top 10 Albums list down to become a Top 5 Albums list. There are more than five albums I “like”, but I was easily able to pare it down to five that I love. As in recent years, favorite artists have released new albums that just didn’t connect with me. It’s all subjective, but I can’t pretend to love something that I’m not into. Honestly, in the past four or five years some of my favorite artists have released albums that I can’t even get through once. 2018 is again no exception. So what I share below are albums that I fully LOVE and EMBRACE and have listened to over and over… the best of the best.
1) Meg Myers – Take Me to the Disco
[ALBUM OF THE YEAR]
I first became aware of Meg Myers back in 2013, opening from one of my favorite bands, Pixies, at El Rey Theatre. I was so blown away by her opening song on that set, “Adelaide”, that I ended up naming it my #1 song of 2013. Which says a lot, since it was an artist who was totally new to me, and at that point she hadn’t even put out an album. I really loved her first album, Sorry, and put it in my Top 10 list of 2015. I’ve seen her perform live quite a few times over the years (though sadly missed her in 2018) and she is a real powerhouse of emotion on stage.
So this year she put out her sophomore album, Take Me to the Disco, and it’s amazing how much she has progressed as an artist in just a few years. She has stayed true to her visceral style while putting together a true album with both cohesive style and theme but built upon a selection of songs that are quite different from each other. It’s a bit of a journey into darkness, but with some pop trappings bent in an alternative fashion. Excellent production all around.
And of all of the albums that I’ve enjoyed in 2018, this is the one I keep coming back to, playing end to end and enjoying each and every song. All of the songs are fantastic. My top album of 2018.
2) Metric – Art of Doubt
I’m a relative newcomer to Metric, having been listening to them for less than a decade and they’ve been a thing for twice that time. I’m a huge fan of 2009’s Fantasies and 2012’s Synthetica. What has followed in recent years hasn’t engaged me as much as those two albums. Until now. For me, I’d say their latest – Art of Doubt – is their best overall album to date. I can’t tell you how much this work took me be surprise. It’s like my fantasy Metric album. They’ve really fused all of the best elements from their past works into a new sound and style that showcases their powers in an album that has blown me away. Honestly, all week I’ve been going back and forth with the order of my top three albums, and if today struck me a little differently this could easily have been in the top spot. I really, really love this album and every song on it. It’s fantastic. It really makes me want to see them live – it’s been way too long for me. If you have any interest in Metric and haven’t yet checked out this album, it is really a must.
3) The Ting Tings – The Black Light
Sometimes I feel like The Ting Tings are specifically making music for me. I love everything they’ve put out. They keep changing what they are doing, sometimes drastically, but it always speaks to me. 2012’s Sounds from Nowheresville might even be my favorite album of the decade. Which is funny because I’ve heard that even Katie and Jules aren’t that big a fan of that album. So this year they put out The Black Light, which I love so much it’s nearly a three-way tie for the #1 spot. I really went back and forth. I LOVE this album – it’s fantastic. It’s different from what came before, but it really works for them and it’s so authentically Ting Tings… Short but sweet, and I will definitely continue to play this masterpiece.
4) Thievery Corporation – Treasures from the Temple
Thievery Corporation was never really on my radar until 2018. I’d heard and enjoyed some songs here and there over the years, but never really delved into their catalog. Then I saw them live. Oh my God, how I’ve been missing out. Fucking loved that show so, so much. And the music. They played a lot from this year’s Treasures from the Temple, and it’s really a masterpiece. So much unique music collected into one package. It’s like a journey around the world. And has such a killer vibe. Love these guys. Love this album. I’ve listened to it so much. When we were driving around Tuscany back in the fall, this album was on constant rotation, so now it’s my traveling abroad soundtrack. If, like me, you haven’t paid much attention to Thievery Corporation, now is the time. I can’t believe someone could listen to this album and not fall in love. It speaks to me on such a primal level.
5) MØ – Forever Neverland
I first came into contact with MØ and her music in 2014, and was fortunate enough to catch her at a Popscene show in San Francisco that year. She’s been a very prolific young artist, but somehow it’s always been songs beaming with originality. She has become a real force in music, and I love that she’s not only prolific, but highly collaborative, which I think has helped to keep her work very fresh.
Neverland is overall my favorite work from her – in fact, so much so that it caught me a bit off guard. There are so many gems to be found in this album. For sure my favorite is the track that is not actually on the album – the version of “Blur” with Foster the People. Though a close runner-up is “Red Wine (feat. Empress of)”. Fantastic.
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Top 20 Songs and Favorite 75 Songs of 2018
These are my 75 favorite songs of 2018 – either released on an album that came out during 2018 or released as a single in 2018.
The first twenty are my Top 20 favorites, in order (#1 being best), 21-75 are simply listed alphabetically by song title. My only self-imposed restrictions is limiting any one artist to one song in the Top 20. But honestly, I’ve never had so much trouble putting my Top 20 in any kind of order. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a strong Top 20 prior to 2018… LOVE all of these songs so much… which is why this is the first year I’m doing a Top 20 Songs instead of the usual Top 10 Songs. I just couldn’t get it down to a Top 10.
1. “Hurricanes” by Dido
[SONG OF THE YEAR]
So this was out of left field… a new Dido song? Announcement of a new album and full world tour??? What??????
I didn’t really get into Dido fully until I watched her Live at Brixton Academy DVD in 2005. Somehow, Dido live is so much different than Dido recorded in studio. Yes, the studio recordings are beautiful and really showcase her unearthly voice and vocals, but in my opinion, it is Dido with that band performing live that is something unlike anything I’ve ever seen and heard before. You would laugh if I told you how many times I’ve played that DVD… it’s been like my “go to” background noise when multitasking or working at the computer for the past decade. “Isobel” is like my anthem. If I could go back in time and see any live show that’s already taken place – all across rock and roll history – this is the show I’d go back to experience live.
Anyway… I’ve never seen Dido live in concert… so I can’t tell you how excited I am about this new album and tour. I’ve actually bought tickets for her shows all over the west coast, because I’m working on a project and I’m not exactly sure where I’ll be, so I just need to make sure I make it to at least one of them.
In any event, the song… I love this song. It’s like pure Dido, distilled down to her core. If this is a sign of what is to come, 2019 is going to be a brilliant year for music.
Runner-Up: “Friends”
2. “Blur (feat. Foster the People)” by MØ
This is probably (and unexpectedly) my most played song of 2018. Love this song. If I didn’t have such an attachment to Dido’s work, this would have easily been #1. And this is coming from someone who is more of a casual fan of MØ and Foster the People. The song is that amazing. I love the contrasting styles and sounds this alternate version from the album version brought with Mark Foster. I am incapable of tiring of this song… I’ve played it over and over ever since I first heard it. And it gets better each time.
Runner-Up: “Red Wine (feat. Empress Of)”
3. “Dark Saturday” by Metric
This is such a hot album, but this is the one I play over and over the most. When I first heard this, I felt like I was in for a ride and I was right… leading out Metric’s best album to date.
Runner-Up: every other track on the album practically…
4. “Take Me to the Disco” by Meg Myers
I love every song on this album, so day to day my favorite changes. This one kind of reminds me a bit of Michael Andrews’ version of “Mad World” by Tears for Fears from the Donnie Darko soundtrack, so it wins. Today, anyway.
Runner-Up: “Numb”
5. “Blacklight” by The Ting Tings
I had a difficult time picked a favorite from this album, so went with the title track. All of the songs on this album are amazing, but so different a “favorite” I guess depends on my mood at the time. If you are just digging into this one though, this is the best place to start.
Runner-Up: “Earthquake”
6. “Favorite Color is Blue (feat. K.Flay)” by Robert DeLong
I’ll be honest, I only found this song via a search for new K.Flay music… I wasn’t familiar with the work of Robert DeLong before this… But wow, what a song! For sure one of my most-played songs of 2018. Very talented artist – I recommend checking out all his work. I’m following going forward.
7. “Hunger” by Florence + the Machine
Florence + the Machine turned out my #1 concert of the year, and I really do love their new album. This is my favorite.
Runner-Up: “100 Years”
8. “Surrender” by The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
I’m a huge fan of The Asteroids Galaxy Tour. I named Bring Us Together my favorite album of 2014, and they put on one of my favorite live shows that year too. So it’s been a long wait for their follow-up album. I was hoping that it would happen in 2018, but we did get two new songs, and “Surrender” is my favorite of the two. Beautiful, otherworldly song. Please, give us more in 2019.
Runner-Up: “Apollo”
9. “We Appreciate Power (feat. HANA)” by Grimes
I didn’t really discover Grimes until the release of 2015’s Art Angels, then I went back and really loved going through her back catalog. With the release of this powerful song, I’m hoping for a full album in 2019. Love this song.
10. “Voyage Libre (feat. LouLou Ghelichkhani)” by Thievery Corporation
The songs on Thievery Corporation’s Treasures from the Temple are all soooo good, but so different, that it was very difficult to pick one as a favorite. This one has such a killer, unrelenting but playful beat, and I think the French vocals of LouLou Ghelichkhani won me over.
Runner-Up: “History (feat. Mr. Lif & Sitali)”
11. “Run the Road” by Santigold
I became a fan of Santigold back in 2012 with the release of her second album, Master of My Make-Believe. With the release of this year’s “dancehall-inspired mixtape I Don’t Want: The Gold Fire Sessions”, “Run the Road” is my favorite, and actually sounds like it could have come off her sophomore album, while at the same time showing an evolution of her work.
12. “Peach” by Broods
I became a huge fan of Broods with their debut album, though I did not quite connect with 2016’s Conscious. But I love this song – super poppy, nice changes, beautiful vocals. Really looking forward to 2019’s Don’t Feed the Pop Monster.
13. “E-Lo (feat. Jozzy)” by Los Unidades & Pharrell Williams
For sure my favorite “non-Coldplay” Coldplay song, from the Global Citizen EP. Probably my favorite Coldplay song in many years.
Runner-Up: “Voodoo (feat. Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, Danny Ocean & David Guetta)” by Stargate & Los Unidades
14. “Miracle” by CHVRCHES
Sometimes CHVRCHES music totally connects with me; sometimes not. When it does, it’s super powerful. This is maybe my favorite track to date.
15. “Thought Contagion” by Muse
Another brilliant hit from Muse, designed to shake the roof down at a stadium near you. My favorite kind of Muse song.
16. “Fridaycity” by Sharam Jey & Little Boots
I’ve always loved much of what Little Boots has put out – solo or via collaboration – and this is one of her best tracks in years. Perfect blending of electronic sounds and vocals.
17. “Sweetest Thing” by Smoke Season
I covered Smoke Season opening for Berlin many years ago, and have followed them ever since. They put out great music. This is far and away my favorite from them in 2018. Super catchy song with excellent vocals.
18. “Walk Through the Fire” by BEGINNERS
I saw BEGINNERS in concert years ago and have been amazed at the quality music they put out every year. Pretty much everything they put out is awesome. This was my favorite track from them in 2018.
19. “Hi Hello” by Johnny Marr
My all time favorite guitarist seems to always keep busy, but I have to say this is my favorite song from him in years. Fantastic song! Love this one! Makes me nostalgic but it’s fresh and new. More. Please.
20. “Science Fiction” by Tom Bailey
So pleased to see so much new music from Tom Bailey! And it’s all really great. The title track off his new album is my favorite. It’s like stepping into a Thompson Twins time machine.
The Top 20 |
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| #1 | Hurricanes | Dido | Still on My Mind |
| #2 | Blur (feat. Foster the People) | MØ | Blur (feat. Foster the People) – Single |
| #3 | Dark Saturday | Metric | Art of Doubt |
| #4 | Take Me to the Disco | Meg Myers | Take Me to the Disco |
| #5 | Blacklight | The Ting Tings | The Black Light |
| #6 | Favorite Color Is Blue (feat. K.Flay) | Robert DeLong | Favorite Color Is Blue (feat. K.Flay) – Single |
| #7 | Hunger | Florence + The Machine | High As Hope |
| #8 | Surrender | The Asteroids Galaxy Tour | Surrender – Single |
| #9 | We Appreciate Power (feat. HANA) | Grimes | We Appreciate Power (feat. HANA) – Single |
| #10 | Voyage Libre (feat. LouLou Ghelichkhani) | Thievery Corporation | Treasures from the Temple |
| #11 | Run the Road | Santigold | I Don’t Want: The Gold Fire Sessions |
| #12 | Peach | Broods | Don’t Feed the Pop Monster |
| #13 | E-Lo (feat. Jozzy) | Los Unidades & Pharrell Williams | Global Citizen – EP 1 |
| #14 | Miracle | CHVRCHES | Love Is Dead |
| #15 | Thought Contagion | Muse | Simulation Theory (Super Deluxe) |
| #16 | Fridaycity | Sharam Jey & Little Boots | Fridaycity – Single |
| #17 | Sweetest Thing | Smoke Season | Sweetest Thing – Single |
| #18 | Walk Through the Fire | BEGINNERS | Walk Through the Fire – Single |
| #19 | Hi Hello | Johnny Marr | Call The Comet |
| #20 | Science Fiction | Tom Bailey | Science Fiction |
Songs 21-75 (listed in alphabetical order) |
|||
| 100 Years | Florence + The Machine | High As Hope | |
| A & E | The Ting Tings | The Black Light | |
| Again and Again | Tatiana Hazel | Again and Again – Single | |
| Anxiety | TRACE | Anxiety – Single | |
| Apollo | The Asteroids Galaxy Tour | Apollo – Single | |
| Art of Doubt | Metric | Art of Doubt | |
| Broken | lovelytheband | Finding It Hard to Smile | |
| Charcoal Baby | Blood Orange | Negro Swan | |
| Creature Kind | Kito & Broods | Haani – EP | |
| Dangerous Game (feat. Beginners) | Klergy | Dangerous Game (feat. Beginners) – Single | |
| Die Happy | Metric | Art of Doubt | |
| Done | Meg Myers | Take Me to the Disco | |
| Dressed to Suppress | Metric | Art of Doubt | |
| Earthquake | The Ting Tings | The Black Light | |
| Estranged | The Ting Tings | The Black Light | |
| Everything Goes (Wow) | Broods | Don’t Feed the Pop Monster | |
| Eyes a Mess | Broods | Eyes a Mess – Single | |
| Fine & Dandy | The Ting Tings | The Black Light | |
| For You My Love (feat. Beginners) | Bunt | For You My Love (feat. Beginners) – Single | |
| Friends | Dido | Still on My Mind | |
| Funeral | Meg Myers | Take Me to the Disco | |
| Good Grief | The Ting Tings | The Black Light | |
| History (feat. Mr. Lif & Sitali) | Thievery Corporation | Treasures from the Temple | |
| How Can You Stand There? | The English Beat | Here We Go Love | |
| I Want You | MØ | Forever Neverland | |
| I’m Not Sorry | Meg Myers | Take Me to the Disco | |
| Jealous Sea | Meg Myers | Take Me to the Disco | |
| Joy Ride (feat. Sitali & Mr. Lif) | Thievery Corporation | Treasures from the Temple | |
| La Force de Melodie (feat. LouLou Ghelichkhani) | Thievery Corporation | Treasures from the Temple | |
| Little Black Death | Meg Myers | Take Me to the Disco | |
| Love You Back | Metric | Art of Doubt | |
| Mercy (feat. What So Not & Two Feet) | MØ | Forever Neverland | |
| Miss You Everytime | JonPaul Wallace | Miss You Everytime – Single | |
| Natural | Imagine Dragons | Origins (Deluxe) | |
| Now or Never Now | Metric | Art of Doubt | |
| Numb | Meg Myers | Take Me to the Disco | |
| Patricia | Florence + The Machine | High As Hope | |
| Red Wine (feat. Empress Of) | MØ | Forever Neverland | |
| Risk | Metric | Art of Doubt | |
| Road Block (feat. Racquel Jones) [Thievery Remix] | Thievery Corporation | Treasures from the Temple | |
| San San Rock | Thievery Corporation | Treasures from the Temple | |
| Secrets | Kitten | Secrets – Single | |
| Single Forever | Rocky Wallace | Love Like Destruction | |
| Some People | Meg Myers | Take Me to the Disco | |
| Such a Remarkable Day | Charlotte Gainsbourg | Such a Remarkable Day – Single | |
| Sun in Our Eyes | MØ & Diplo | Forever Neverland | |
| Tear Me to Pieces | Meg Myers | Take Me to the Disco | |
| The Big Unknown | Sade | The Big Unknown – Single | |
| The Death of Me | Meg Myers | Take Me to the Disco | |
| Tourniquet | Meg Myers | Take Me to the Disco | |
| Voodoo (feat. Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, Danny Ocean & David Guetta) | Stargate & Los Unidades | Global Citizen – EP 1 | |
| Walk Between Worlds | Simple Minds | Walk Between Worlds | |
| Water Under the Bridge (feat. Natalia Clavier) | Thievery Corporation | Treasures from the Temple | |
| Word for This | The Ting Tings | The Black Light | |
| Worst Nites | Foster the People | Worst Nites – Single |
Full Rock Subculture Journal 2018 Concert Review Listing
Wednesday, January 17th
K.Flay with Sir Sly
The Fillmore in San Francisco, California
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Tuesday, March 13th
Roger Daltrey with Band Members of The Who
Bob Hope Theatre in Stockton, California
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Saturday, March 17th
Wolf Alice
Ace of Spades in Sacramento, California
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Wednesday, April 11th
Portugal. The Man
Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Saturday, May 12th
9th Annual Notes & Words featuring Dave Grohl
Fox Theater in Oakland, California
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Sunday, July 1st
Little Big Town
Ironstone Amphitheatre at Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys, California
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Tuesday, July 3rd
Counting Crows with Live
Ironstone Amphitheatre at Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys, California
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Tuesday, July 10th
Michael McDonald
Crest Theatre in Sacramento, California
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Sunday, July 29th
Foreigner with Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening & Queensrÿche
Ironstone Amphitheatre at Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys, California
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Saturday, August 4th
Adam Ant: The Anthems Tour
Silver Legacy Casino in Reno, Nevada
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Thursday, August 9th
Florence + the Machine
Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey’s in Stateline, Nevada
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Sunday, August 12th
Ziggy Marley: Rebellion Rises 2018 Tour
The Center For The Arts in Grass Valley, California
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Friday, August 31st
Stone Temple Pilots, The Cult and Bush
Ironstone Amphitheatre at Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys, California
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Sunday, September 2nd
Rewind Fest / Lost 80’s Live 2018: A Flock of Seagulls, Starship feat. Mickey Thomas, Wang Chung, Missing Persons, Animotion, Men Without Hats, Bow Wow Wow, Farrington & Mann the Original When In Rome UK
Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Tuesday, September 4th
Thievery Corporation
Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Tuesday, October 2nd
Garbage
Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Saturday, October 20th
Simple Minds: Walk Between Worlds Tour
Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada
– Click Here for Full Concert Review + Photography
Jason DeBord
(916) 813-1797
jason@rocksubculture.com