Albums of 2018

I spent a lot of time with music in 2018 to help escape a lot of harsh realities and enjoyed discovering so many new artists. From Sleep to Mutual Benefit, CupCakKe to Low, Leon Bridges to Grouper, there was a lot to unpack. Major releases from Kanye, the Carters, and Drake felt mediocre at best and the return of Solange and Rihanna never came to fruition. (Here's to 2019!) Neil Young dropped TWO excellent archive releases, the Beatles reissued the White Album, and a lost John Coltrane album saw the light of day. Indie Rock was rejuvenated by the likes of Snail Mail, Hop Along, Soccer Mommy, and Camp Cope while Kacey Musgraves and Lucy Dacus gave Country a new look. In all, I listened to over 100 new releases this year and these were my favorites:

Songs of 2018

2018 was a great year for discovering new music. There weren't stellar releases from big name superstars, as was the case in the past few years, so it really felt like a great year to uncover so many rising sensations. I had a really hard time narrowing down my favorite songs this year and could've easily made this list stretch beyond 100 songs, but these were the ones that kept playing in my head.

The Raconteurs - "Sunday Driver" / "Now That You're Gone"

The Raconteurs are back! The supergroup have shared their first new material in over a decade and are set to release a new album in 2019.

American Football - Silhouettes

American Football have announced a new record. The follow-up to 2016's second self-titled reunion record is once again called American Football and it's out March 26 via Polyvinyl.

J Mascis played Rough Trade

The legendary frontman of Dinosaur Jr., Mr. J Mascis, released a new solo record this year and came to Brooklyn's Rough Trade for an intimate acoustic performance to support his latest efforts.

Deerhunter - "Element"

Deerhunter recently announced a new album titled Why Hasn't Everything Happened Already? After sharing the lead single, the band have offered up another track from the album due out in January.

Thom Yorke played Kings Theatre

Thom Yorke's soundtrack to this year's Suspiria remake is his best solo work in over a decade and on his first tour in five years, he embraces his electronic mindset.

Iceage played Music Hall of Williamsburg

Iceage are wrapping up another stellar year with two more shows in Brooklyn to support their latest record, Beyondless.

Swervedriver - "Drone Lover"

Shoegaze masters Swervedriver have announced a follow-up to 2015's I Wasn't Born to Lose. The record is called Future Ruins and it arrives on January 25 via Dangerbird.

Jack White played Kings Theatre

For roughly two decades, Jack White has been the rising figure of what it means to be a true, bonafide rock star and over two nights at Brooklyn's Kings Theatre, it was clear why he's earned the right to be called the savior of rock and roll.

Westerman - "Albatross"

Over the course of various singles earlier in the year and now with the release of his great EP Ark, Westerman is a rising sensation set for greatness.

Panda Bear - "Dolphin"

Panda Bear has announced a new record due in early 2019. The follow-up to 2015's excellent Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper is titled Buoys and it's out in February via Domino.

boygenius played Brooklyn Steel

Musical super groups often have a bad rap due to overpowering brilliance that results in projects blown entirely out of proportion. Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus are ready to bust that thought right out the door and at their second show ever, they put any unbelievers to shame.

Deerhunter - "Death in Midsummer"

Deerhunter have announced a new album. Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? is the follow-up to 2015's Fading Frontier and it's out January 18 via 4AD.

The Good, The Bad, & The Queen - "Merrie Land"

Back in 2007, Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Simon Tung, and Tony Allen released a criminally underrated record called The Good, The Bad, & The Queen. Now, over a decade later, the group has finally announced a follow-up. Merrie Land is out November 26.

Nine Inch Nails and The Jesus and Mary Chain played Kings Theatre

For what must've been the most intense show to ever grace the Kings Theatre stage, Nine Inch Nails and The Jesus and Mary Chain brought the Cold and Black and Infinite tour to Brooklyn for night three of four New York City shows.

Spiritualized played Kings Theatre

The latest record from Spiritualized, this year's incredible And Nothing Hurt, could be the band's last. With only two U.S. stops on the current tour, Thursday night's show at Kings Theatre was nothing short of inspiring and one of the best performances of the year.

The Glands - "Electricity"

The Glands have announced a long-awaited third record. Double Coda is the band's first album in eighteen years and will be issued along with a career-spanning box set.

Leon Bridges played Radio City

Leon Bridges wrapped up his Good Thing Tour at New York's iconic Radio City Music Hall on Saturday night and help affirm his status as a rising pop sensation.

Nothing played Warsaw

Nothing are on tour in support of this year's great Dance on the Blacktop and hit Brooklyn's Warsaw with a great bill of bands for a night of shoegaze joy.

Blitzen Trapper played Furr at Music Hall of Williamsburg

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their excellent album Furr, Blitzen Trapper are touring the country and playing the record from start to finish.

The National played Forest Hills Stadium

The National brought their first ever mini-festival, There's No Leaving New York, to Queen's Forest Hills Stadium for a solid weekend of top talent and thrills.

Big Ups played Market Hotel

Big Ups played a hometown show at Brooklyn's Market Hotel in support of this year's awesome Two Parts Together.

Robyn - "Honey"

Finally, Robyn has shared the title single from her long-awaited new record, Honey, out October 26.

TV on the Radio played Dear Science at the Knockdown Center

TV on the Radio dropped by the Knockdown Center in Queens to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of their landmark album Dear Science for a special one-off performance of the record played from beginning to end.

J Mascis - "Everything She Said"

J Mascis has announced a new solo record. Elastic Days is out November 9 via Sub Pop.

Kurt Vile - "Bassackwards"

Kurt Vile has announced his first solo record in three years. Bottle It In, the follow up to b'lieve im goin down is out October 12 via Matador.

The Beths - "Little Death"

The Beths have shared a video for "Little Death" off their debut record, Future Me Hates Me, which came out this past August via Carpark Records.

Thom Yorke - "Suspiria"

Thom Yorke has shared the first taste of his upcoming soundtrack to the remake of the horror cult-classic Suspiria.

Drake and Migos played Barclays

Drake and Migos are in the midst of seven nights in NYC split between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Boris and Sannhet played le Poisson Rouge

Friday night was a stacked double bill featuring local greats Sannhet opening for the legendary trio of Boris at Manhattan's Le Poisson Rouge.

Beach House played Kings Theatre

Beach House brought their current tour to Brooklyn in support of their latest, and perhaps greatest, record, 7.

Pedro the Lion played Music Hall of Williamsburg

The classic indie band of the late nineties and early aughts came to Brooklyn and brought with them a plethora of hits to win over fans.

The Music of My Life

Yesterday, I shared my favorite albums from every year of my life. Today, I go a bit more in depth on the records and songs that shaped my musical taste and changed my life for the better all in five year increments.

30 for 30: A Record for Every Year of Life

Today, I turn 30 and this month, my blog turns 12. To celebrate, I've listed out my favorite albums from every year of my life. I hope you find something cool.

Beyoncé and Jay Z played MetLife Stadium

Torrential downpour and lightning delayed the start of the reigning king and queen’s On The Run II, but when they finally took the stage, they asserted their dominance and almighty power.

My Bloody Valentine played Hammerstein Ballroom

On their final stop of their North American tour, My Bloody Valentine turned it up to 11 at Hammerstein Ballroom and reaffirmed their rank as one of the ultimate bands of a generation.

Television played Elsewhere

New York legends Television brought the hits to a packed house in Bushwick for a Tuesday night of proto-punk passion.

Courtney Barnett and Julien Baker played Prospect Park

On a grim and wet Wednesday evening, Courtney Barnett headlined a soggy Prospect Park in support of her latest record, Tell Me How You Really Feel.

Deafheaven played Brooklyn Steel

Deafheaven's latest record, Ordinary Corrupt Human Love, is their most divisive and expansive yet and at the Brooklyn stop of their latest tour, they let everything become a fully realized dream.

Animal Collective played Sung Tongs at Town Hall

Animal Collective brought their Sung Tongs tour to New York’s historic Town Hall and relived a sound they’ve since shed.

Radiohead played Madison Square Garden

Radiohead week is in full swing here in New York City as the band is set to play four sold-out shows at the iconic Madison Square Garden.

2018.5

As we end the first half of the year and fully embrace summer, I share my annual list of my favorite releases from the first half of 2018.

Julie Byrne played National Sawdust

Stadiums & Shrines celebrated the release of their compilation album Dreams, out via Cascine, by hosting a party at National Sawdust featuring a headlining set by Julie Byrne.

Broken Social Scene played SummerStage

In honor of Canada Day, Broken Social Scene descended upon New York's Central Park for a fantastic free show under a scorching summer blaze.

Slowdive played House of Vans

Slowdive came to Brooklyn's House of Vans as part of the venue's free summer series and the band's first east coast visit of 2018.

Kamasi Washington - The Choice EP

Last week, Kamasi Washington dropped his excellent new album Heaven and Earth. Along with the double-album, he has also surprised released a new EP titled The Choice.

Arroyo Seco 2018

In recent years, smaller festivals have been popping up over the summer across the country to compete with destination mega-players like Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza. Arroyo Seco in California is one such event that draws mainly on nostalgia in lieu of rising sensations. Fittingly, I went with my dad for the ultimate father-son rock experience.

Grizzly Bear and Spoon played Prospect Park

Grizzly Bear and Spoon brought their fantastic co-headlining tour to Brooklyn's Prospect Park as part of the annual BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival that has now taken place at the bandshell for over forty years.

Deafheaven - "Canary Yellow"

Following the epic "Honeycomb," Deafheaven have shared the second single from their upcoming record Ordinary Corrupt Human Love out July 13 via ANTI-.