My 25 Favorite Songs of 2018

Matthew Roberson | @mroberson22

An important thing to note is that these are my 25 favorite songs of the year, not the songs I think are the 25 best of the year. This ensures that I cannot be wrong. Why yes, this is in fact a genius tactic.

25. “everytime” – Ariana Grande

“thank u, next” is undoubtedly her 2018 smash, and an entry point for a lot of people into the Ariana Grande experience. “god is a woman” and “breathin” have the top 100 status, “blazin” has the Pharrell production, and “borderline” has the Missy Elliott feature, but nothing from Ariana Grande’s star-making sweetener stuck in my ear quite like “You get high and call on the regular / I get weak and fall like a teenager / Why, oh why does God keep bringing me back to you?”

24. “Why Didn’t You Stop Me?” – Mitski

Mitski will undoubtedly get a bunch of love on end-of-the-year lists for Be the Cowboy, one of many astounding sad girl albums to come out of 2018. Amid the slower, cry-it-out songs on the album there is “Why Didn’t You Stop Me?”, a mildly chaotic, upbeat song to briefly spell her overwhelming melancholy. Every second of this song is fun, from the masterful guitar to the trippy beat to the hooky instrumental break.

While the lyrics are sparse—just 71 words to be exact—they still delve into the issues of self-worth and dependency that stab you in the heart and remind you that this is a Mitski joint.

23. “Where Did I Go?” – Jorja Smith

Jorja Smith expertly combined piano and thumping bass to generate a breezy R&B song. Her voice pours out like syrup and makes me wonder what I, a person who has never met her, did to hurt poor Jorja.

22. “Anxious” – Holy Ghost!

I had never heard of Holy Ghost! until this year, when their earworm “Anxious” slithered out of my car stereo. “Anxious” is a bright, spacey song that sounds just as much 1988 as 2018, in the best possible way. While indisputably a dance song, it sounds equally good when cleaning the house or driving as it does on a dancefloor.  

21. “High” – Young Thug (ft. Elton John)

Find someone who loves you like Elton John loves Young Thug.

Thugger’s soaring remix of “Rocket Man”—which Elton John called cool and good—almost works too well. If you ever find yourself needing to describe drugs to someone who’s never taken them, just press play on “High” and have them stare at this photo.

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Look who popped by for cup of tea? So happy to meet Young Thug today in Atlanta. Love his work and his new album "I'm Up" @thuggerthugger1 #ss3

A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn) on Mar 23, 2016 at 12:51pm PDT

20. “Tension (Interlude)” – BØRNS

Yes, one of my favorite songs of the year is an interlude. Yes, it’s by a long-haired white dude from Michigan, deploying a very anti-Michigan tropical vibe, who looks like Jack White cosplaying as a magician. And yes, I’m also aware of the very serious sexual misconduct allegations against BØRNS, who has denied them.

I feel comfortable saying that I both love this song, and, if these allegations are true, that BØRNS is a massive piece of garbage who should absolutely face consequences for his actions.

19. “Millidelphia” – Meek Mill

One of the hallmarks of good rap music is the ability to transport you to a world you can’t relate to at all. I have never been to jail, got out, and “dropped fire on them”. I have never made it rain on ‘em or poured champagne on ‘em. I have certainly never bought a Rolls Royce just to set that shit on fire. But I wholeheartedly adore this song.

After being released from prison in April, Meek Mill re-announced his presence with authority by dropping “Millidelphia”, the musical equivalent of 14 espresso shots injected straight to your veins. The Swizz Beats production and Meek’s supremely loud vocal style create a sound that necessitates big speakers and reckless behavior.

I am shocked I haven’t crashed my car to this song yet.

18. “M.A.H.” – U.S. Girls

Meghan Remy, the sole individual behind U.S. Girls, is mad as hell (M.A.H.) and going to let you know about it in a very beautiful, sing-songy manner. The song is fantastic on its own, and only heightened by one of the coolest videos of this cursed year.

Not until I sat down and actually looked at the lyrics did I realize this song is a diss track aimed at Barack Obama. I guess the funkiness distracted me from obvious shots such as, “You took me for an eight year ride though you were never by my side” and “You were first in line to use those bugs up high / The coward’s weapon of choice / But you got that winner’s smile / And you know how to leave ‘em moist”.

Regardless of your political feelings, “M.A.H.” is an objectively enjoyable listen and a beautiful showcase of Meghan Remy’s charismatic talent.

17. “The Club” – Hinds

Hinds, four twentysomething women from Madrid armed with electric guitars and a lot of attitude, put the indie rock scene on notice with “The Club”. Vocalist/guitarist Carlotta Cosials said it came from dark nights out in Madrid’s nightlife, while a friend of hers described the song as “more Hinds than Hinds themselves”.

To me, Hinds sounds like if The Strokes were a little angrier and recorded all of their stuff in a garage. They rule.

16. “Give a Little” – Maggie Rogers

To call Maggie Rogers’ rise meteoric might me doing a disservice to actual meteors. In just over two years, Rogers went from NYU student wowing Pharrell to musical guest on SNL with a highly-anticipated major label debut set for January 2019. Those two years obviously brought about the biggest changes to Rogers’ young life, and in turn led to some exceptional music.

“Give a Little”, one of the singles from the upcoming release, utilizes a sunny, infectious beat while being careful not to draw attention from Rogers’ best instrument: her voice. In Rogers’ own words, the song is about empathy. Inspired by the national school walk out for gun control, “Give a Little” was the last song the 24-year-old wrote for her big Capitol Records album. As her handwritten note asks, “What if we got the chance to re-introduce ourselves? What if somebody listened?”

Well, as of this writing, over 1.7 million people have listened to the song by way of its official music video, allowing Maggie Rogers to re-introduce herself as a badass, bona fide star.

15. “OKRA” – Tyler, the Creator

Somewhere in between releasing 2017’s spectacular Flower Boy and making music for the new Grinch movie, Tyler, the Creator recorded “OKRA”, a raucous two and a half minutes in which Tyler tries to holla at Timothée Chalamet, compares himself to Ron Artest, and proudly asserts that his 27-year-old skin is now acne-free. Would you expect anything less?

14. “Full Control” – Snail Mail

More on Lindsey Jordan and Snail Mail later, but if you haven’t listened to Lush—hailed as a top-five album of the year by everyone from Pitchfork to CNN’s Chris Cillizza—I suggest you remedy that right now.

13. “Love It If We Made It” – The 1975

From “Thank you Kanye, very cool!” to “Poison me, daddy” there are a million memorable one-liners to choose from here. I’ll go with “Modernity has failed us”.

“Love It If We Made It” has been hailed, appropriately, as the “We Didn’t Start the Fire” of the digital age. While I’m not sure if junior high English classes will have to dissect it the way I had to with Billy Joel’s rambling hit, I do know that no song this year captured America’s cultural angst quite like this 1975 anthem.

12. “Too Many Colors” – Twin Shadow

“Am I in love or just obsessed? I didn't stop this gorgeous mess” is, as the kids say, a big mood.

Twin Shadow, who is like if Lenny Kravitz grew up on ‘80s emo pop, has made a name for himself in the past for his fashion interests and for collaborations with HAIM. But with the 2018 album Caer, particularly “Too Many Colors”, he showed that he’s pretty good on his own too. 

11. “What’s the Use?” – Mac Miller

For me, the highlight of Mac Miller’s album Swimming comes on the third track, a groovy jam with the bass line of the year, courtesy of Thundercat. “What’s the Use?” credits Snoop Dogg as a writer* and is the highlight of an album that earned Miller a posthumous Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album.

* The album boasts an eclectic list of collaborators, including John Mayer, Flying Lotus, Steve Lacy, and decorated composer Jon Brion, who scored the movies Punch Drunk Love, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Lady Bird.

Following the rapper-producer’s September death, Miller’s chorus on “What’s the Use?” takes on a whole new meaning, as he sings freely about the addiction issues that plagued him.

You can love it, you can leave it

They say you're nothing without it

Don't let them keep you down

What if I don't need it?

There's something about it

That just freaks me out

I just want another minute with it, fuck a little

What's the use?

Swimming represents Miller’s best artistic project, and an astounding departure from the snap back-wearing frat rapper who regularly earned jabs from rap purists. With this album, especially “What’s the Use?”, Mac Miller proved that he possessed a fuller musical range than many gave him credit for, and it is truly tragic that we won’t get to see him continue the journey.

10. “Help Your Self” – Courtney Barnett

Those who have been paying attention to the Australian singer-songwriter already knew that Courtney Barnett had serious guitar chops. In case there was any doubt, though, Barnett unleashed “Help Your Self”, the eighth track from her 2018 album Tell Me How You Really Feel, which really doesn’t have any weak spots.

“Help Your Self” has elements of blues and ‘70s Southern rock, but Barnett puts her stamp on it with her signature songwriting and howling strings. A therapeutic chorus spews self-help (“You got a lot on your plate / Don't let it go to waste / Humble but hungry / Need validation”) before ending with a reminder to not let the bigness of the world swallow you.

But about that guitar. Prior to capping off the song with a repeat of the chorus—almost as if she’s trying to hit a minimum word count—Barnett indulges us with 45 seconds of pure shred. The instrumental break straddles the line perfectly between scintillating and overbearing, like the chocolate to her backing drums’ peanut butter. The result is a tasty snack that puts you on instant notice of Courtney Barnett’s skills.

9. “Soul No. 5” – Caroline Rose

Caroline Rose has soul. At least, as much soul as a 28-year-old white woman from Long Island with an Olivia Newton John headband can have. She declares so up and down her balls-to-the-wall “Soul No. 5”, a headbanging mix of galloping drums and crashing guitars.

According to Rose herself, the version that made the album is the fifth iteration of the track (hence the title), and became the upbeat, smiley song it is now after her co-producer told her to “take the piss out of it”. Good advice, that.

8. “Don’t Get Chipped” – Vince Staples

No one can turn violent, dark subject matter into a banger quite like Vince Staples.

A haunting Kenny Beats instrumental starts with a searing high-frequency wail, floats its way through Vince’s trademark braggadocio, and balloons into Jay Rock’s chorus. The Long Beach icon really finds the pocket in the second verse, bookended by a commentary on fame’s loneliness and a rags-to-riches flex.

“Don’t Get Chipped” is the encapsulation of Vince Staples’ discography. It is short, straight to the point, and equal parts hilarious and heavy while, most importantly, going very, very hard.

7. “Sincerity is Scary” – The 1975

I am a sucker for horns, an unabashed 1975 fan, and deathly afraid of sincerity. This song, the fourth single from the superb A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships, is basically tailor-made for my interests. The 2018 Britpop manifesto begins with an all-too-relatable refrain for those of us living our lives on the internet.

“And irony is okay, I suppose culture is to blame,” Matty Healy croons. “You try and mask your pain in the most postmodern way. You lack substance when you say something like ‘Oh what a shame’.”

“Sincerity is Scary” is the feel-good halftime performance on an album chocked-full of bleakness and introspection. It nuzzles its way into your brain with the opening notes, and reels you in with a classic pop-music chorus that sounds like it’s made of sugar.

Also, please enjoy the way Healy says “pissed off” in the final stanza.

6. “Plug Walk” – Rich the Kid

Sometimes the beauty of music is in its simplicity, as is the case with “Plug Walk”. The song tucks in right under three minutes, talks about selling drugs, and has a so-bad-it’s-good simile (on the wave like a du-rag). Oh, and the beat slaps. In other words, it’s a quintessential rap song.

Come for TheLabCook production, stay for the way Rich the Kid says “oooh”.

5. “Heat Wave” – Snail Mail

When I was 19, I was stumbling through my sophomore year of college, figuring out how to live outside my parents’ house or a dorm room for the first time in my life. This meant a lot of failed attempts at dating and multiple questionable decisions per day*, while simultaneously thinking I had it all figured out.

* Y’all ever wrapped fettucine alfredo in a tortilla and panini pressed it?

When Lindsey Jordan of Snail Mail released her debut studio album Lush, just eight days shy of her 19^th birthday, she was showered with comparisons to Liz Phair, Sonic Youth, and Fiona Apple, as well as an “indie rock prodigy” label from Rolling Stone. Her juvenile side sometimes comes out in conversation, like when she casually pours a glass of Red Bull before an interview or shares her strong opinion on Gritty, but Jordan possesses the songwriting and guitar skills of someone far beyond her years.

The highlight of the song comes in its outro, when the music briefly lowers and Jordan sings “I’m not into sometimes” before launching into one more power lick to drive the song home like a slap shot.

4. “Everybody Wants to be Famous” – Superorganism

One of the most hypnotic songs of the year, “Everybody Wants to be Famous” espouses a desire for fame with an unenthusiastic delivery fitting for 2018. Yes, maybe the world is too small for me, but do I really want my face on every screen?

Superorganism dives into these feelings across three minutes of looping, stretching sounds that build to a swelling chorus. The song, to be sure, is “weird” as far as traditional music is concerned. Much like hip-hop boy band BROCKHAMPTON, several of Superorganism’s members met via online chatrooms. The band is a mixed-gendered, multi-talented group from Australia, England, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.

They sound kind of like if the Talking Heads were extremely online, which is a compliment.

3. “Programs” – Mac Miller

Before unveiling the jazzy, often-downbeat Swimming, the late Mac Miller sneakily issued “Programs” to remind everyone that he can still rap his ass off. The heavy use of strings was nice foreshadowing for Swimming, with “Programs” serving as a delicious, light appetizer before the heavier full-course meal. Both were excellent.

Rest in peace, Mac.

2. “Bubblin’” – Anderson .Paak

This song is exactly as happy and, well, bubbly, as a song about spending money, eating French fries, and banging out at the Marriott should be. Add a bombastic drum pattern and a beat full of strings, and Anderson .Paak has the best instant mood-improver of the year, and one of its best songs, period.

“Bubblin’” begins with a frantic five seconds that sound straight out of an adventure movie, and later mixes in an Al Pacino sample to really drive home the cinematic thriller vibe. The elevating moment of this song, though, is the dance-inducing beat drop at the top, signifying right out the gate that .Paak had done it again. Even on my thousandth time dancing to it across my living room, everything about “Bubblin’” works, and is also a nice reminder that .Paak can RAP rap.      

By choosing not to include it on his lackluster album Oxnard, the Dr. Dre protégé ensured that “Bubblin’” would forever live as a singular page in his catalog, perhaps knowing that nothing he ever makes will sound like, or top it, ever again.

1. “Your Dog” – Soccer Mommy

Sophie Allison, better known as Soccer Mommy, makes a gigantic statement with her undeniable rock-pop anthem “Your Dog” off the stupendous album Clean.

The Nashville-based singer-songwriter is truly a child of the 2000s, citing Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift as influences. Do not be fooled though, Soccer Mommy is much less pop than Swift and a little more traditionally rock than Lavigne, putting her right in the sweet spot for catchy, vengeful bops. 

This track grabs you by the throat from the opening line and holds your attention with biting lyrics about women's agency. Allison explained the origin of the lyrics, saying, “The song comes from a feeling of being paralyzed in a relationship to the point where you feel like you are a pawn in someone else’s world. The song and the video are meant to show someone breaking away and taking action.”

While the lyrics drilled themselves into my brain and ultimately made this my favorite song of the year (and a Hall of Fame shower singalong tune), the snarling guitar riffs are also sure to stick in your head, as “Your Dog” is impossible to avoid after hearing for the first time.