Top 11 Singles of 2018

Courtney Marie Andrews – "May Your Kindness Remain"

Finn – "Sometimes The Going Gets A Little Tough
If you feel down at all, I promise this song is guaranteed to make you feel better.

Jim James – "No Secrets"

Kanye West – "I Thought About Killing You"
2018 was an intense year for Kanye, and this song is a wallop of pure unfiltered West.

Rostam – "Don't Let It Get To You (Reprise)"
This song feels like attending a ballet. Rostam choreographs the instrumentation in such a soothing way, and reassures us that we'll all be okay.

Rostam – "Wood"
Rostam unofficially released Wood on Tumblr in 2012. I never thought it'd see an official release but it was always one of my favorite tracks to exist and I proselytized to anyone who'd listen, so I was elated to see it recieve an official release on this record. Batmanglij's production weaves the thick varying strands of instrumentation into a fisherman's sweater. It's lofty and carries you into another world.

Sharon Van Etten – "Comeback Kid"
2018's "I'm Getting Over a Breakup and Here's the Perfect Song to Belt in Traffic".

Stella Donnelly – "Boys Will Be Boys"
A real punch to the gut.

Ty Segall – "Alta"
A love song to his Ty's hometown.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – "Hunnybee"

Your Smith – "Bad Habit"

Top Eight Albums of 2018

Jim James – Uniform Distortion

Jim James lived in my music knowledge periphery for six years before I fell for him. Ruminating in the background at parties and my favorite third wave coffee shops, this year the roots breached the surface, and my love for James really blossomed. I admire his ability to write a track about social media feeds in a way that makes them feel timeless: "Scroll back in time through your account / Watch your face grow younger as real time runs out / Throw back Thursday to the way that it was / When we were young, when we were young".

Khruangbin – Con Todo El Mundo

The record we didn't know we needed, but desperately did.

Low – Double Negative

Listening to Double Negative in its entirety will wash away your sins.

Rostam – Half-Light

Sure Sure – Sure Sure

Ty Segall – Freedom's Goblin

2018 was the year of background musicians coming to the forefront for me. That artist you always hear in the background and think, "This is rad," but never take the time to dig in. Then when you finally do, you see that you've been missing out on some SERIOUSLY great jams.

Valley Queen – Supergiant

Your Smith – Bad Habit EP

Top 11 Shows of 2018

Bedouine @ First Avenue

Judas Priest @ Armory
I've never seen a performer ride on stage and then perform atop of a Harley Davison motorcycle, certainly the most elaborate pyrotechnics I've ever seen in a show too.

Khruangbin @ Turf Club

Lizzo @ Palace Theatre

Low @ Fitzgerald Theater

Portugal. The Man @ Palace Theatre

Rostam @ Fine Line

Robert Plant @ Orpheum Theatre

Sure Sure @ 7th St Entry
The First Ave birthday show deal (entry for 2 plus a bottle of champagne) is unparalleled — the feeling of holding an entire bottle of champagne in the crowd of your favorite band is fantastic.

Sweet J.A.P. @ Turf Club

Ty Segall @ Turf