Music I liked in 2018
My kids ask me a lot of questions that have nothing to do with music: “Have you seen my shoes?” “Do I have to eat that for dinner?” “How does the sun work?”
Not a lot of interest in my favorite albums. It’s really just a lot of Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons and The Greatest Showman soundtrack on any given day, honestly.
Which I am fine with. I don't expect to stay up up-to-date on all the music. And I play what I like - new stuff and the timeless hits - for them in the hopes that it will shape their future musical tastes. Time will tell.
BUT: I don't ever want to find myself bragging about not knowing any of the artists on end-of-year lists - for music, movies, books, TV and the rest.
I want to always at least attempt to make time to listen to and seek out new things. (Says the guy who listed The Beatles’ White Album below). Hope you did this year, too.
Listed in no particular order. Happy New Year!
Albums:
Stephen Malkmus - Sparkle Hard
Stephen Malkmus been with me in one band, solo project or something since his Pavement heyday and I’m all in. Not a perfect album (Pavement’s Terror Twilight is my favorite one to revisit) but still great to get new stuff from him.
Kurt Vile - Bottle it in
Love, love loved his previous solo album “B’lieve I’m Goin’ Down” and his duo album with Courtney Barnett was fine. This was an easy favorite of the year for me.
Tom Petty - An American Treasure
Great compilation, rarities and live tracks. Check out the “Keep a Little Soul” outtake. Really wish I’d made a bigger effort to see him in concert.
Interpol - Marauder
I mean, “Turn on the Bright Lights” rules, and this is like its twin. And I love that Interpol is still making new music this great.
Bonny Doon - Longwave
If you like driving at night to music that makes you feel feelings, have I got one for you.
Sloan - 12
Probably my favorite album of the year. “The Day Will Be Mine” - and the rest of the album rocks.
Wye Oak - The Louder I Call The Faster it Runs
I learned the band’s name references a 460-year-old tree this year. And I’ve enjoyed their stuff since I discovered “Civilian” a few years ago.
Yo La Tengo - There’s a Riot Going On
I’ve worked with headphones on to this band since forever ago.
Superchunk - What a Time to Be Alive
Played best loud.
The Breeders - All Nerve
Original lineup reunited for this one - first time together since 1993, and it rocks.
The Beths - Future Me Hates Me
I heard about this group on NPR, which says plenty about how I discover new music. I especially like the track “Little Death” for the catchy guitars, but the whole album is great.
Ty Segall - Fudge Sandwich
A fun cover album of John Lennon, Grateful Dead, War and other oh-that-song songs through Segall’s fuzzy, crazy guitar work. He also released “Freedom’s Goblin” this year, which has some great tracks (like “Every 1’s a Winner”) and worth checking out.
Jeff Tweedy - WARM
The internet says this is his actual first solo album, which I don’t believe. Still great.
Beatles - White Album (reissue)
Little things in this remaster make me smile: That you can really hear Ringo’s drums, the clarity of the background vocals on “Dear Prudence” - also getting the Esher Demos is cool, too. Already looking forward to the inevitable remaster of Abbey Road.
Bob Dylan - More Blood, More Tracks
I generally stay away from Dylan’s intimidating and seemingly infinite supply of bootlegs and outtakes. But I loved this one since “Blood on the Tracks” is one of my favorite albums of his.