âdonât get your hopes up too highâ: An Exhaustively Curated 2018 Playlist
So, since time immemorial I have been putting together year-end playlists and for a long time they were pretty sloppy affairs overall. Â Last year, I decided to make up some kind of formula for putting these playlists together. Â Basically what it comes down to is, from every new album I listen to, released in the given year, I pick one song. Â No repeating artists because that gets to be too much (although featured acts arenât subject to this rule). Â When deciding what releases are going to get my attention, aside from my own personal tastes (skews toward alt. rock and punk a lot of the time) and releases from longtime favorites (this year we saw releases from Metric, and Animal Collective, as well as a long-awaited A Perfect Circle album, and even a Spotify single from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs), I try to get give more of my time to queer artists (and this year there were TONS of queer acts releasing great music--Adult Mom, Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers, Janelle Monae, Snail Mail, SOPHIE, etc. etc. etc. hallelujah). Â I also try to make an effort broaden my musical worldview by making time for artists that operate within genres I donât always naturally gravitate towards. Â This was a great year to get back into hip-hop (Rico Nasty, Cardi B, Tierra Whack, Black Panther OST) after not really vibing with some of the directions it has taken in the past ten or so years. Â I have also tried to include a track by every band I saw in 2018, providing they actually released something in 2018 and it is available on Spotify (strong apologies to Partner, Bully, Shellshagg, Kimya Dawson, Rozwell Kid, Los Campesinos, the incomparable Liz Phair, and the legendary Fleetwood Mac--yâall didnât release anything this year). Â I give myself until the end of January of the following year to finalize my expansive, year-end playlist, and here we are. Â This years playlist is over 15 hours long--almost long enough to put on while youâre doing all that laundry you've been putting off. Â I hope you enjoy.
The 1975 -Â âLove it if We Made itâ, from A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
Ab-Soul -Â âBloody Watersâ [ft. Anderson .Paak], from _Black Panther _OST Adult Mom -Â âDrive Me Homeâ, from Soft Spots
Amanda Palmer - âMr. Weinstein Will See You Nowâ [ft. Jasmine Power], from âMr. Weinstein Will See You Nowâ single
Amen Dunes -Â âMiki Doraâ, from Freedom
American Pleasure Club -Â âNew Years Eveâ, from A Whole Fucking Lifetime of This
Animal Collective -Â âJake & Meâ, from Tangerine Reef
Anna Burch -Â âQuit the Curseâ, from Quit the Curse
Anna Calvi - âDonât Beat the Girl Out of My Boyâ, from Hunter
Antarctigo Vespucci -Â âNot Yoursâ, from Love in the Time of E-Mail
Arctic Monkeys - âFour Out of Fiveâ, from Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino Ariana Grande - âNo Tears Left to Cryâ, from Sweetener
Ava Luna - âCenterlineâ, from Moon 2
The Bascinets - âJangle Beeâ, from 378 Vol. 1 EP
Bat Fangs - âBad Astrologyâ, from Bad Astrology
Beach House -Â âLast Rideâ, from 7
Bear Hands - âBack Seat Driverâ, from âBack Seat Driverâ single
Bettye LaVette -Â âWhat Was it You Wantedâ [ft. Trombone Shorty], [Bob Dylan cover], from Things Have Changed
Big Freedia - âKaraokeâ [ft. Lizzo], from 3rd Ward Bounce
Billie Eilish - âWhen the Partyâs Overâ, from âWhen the Partyâs Overâ single
Black Belt Eagle Scout - âSoft Studâ, from Mother of My Children
Bleachers - âAlfieâs Song (Not So Typical Love Song)â, from Love, Simon OST
Blood Orange - âCharcoal Babyâ, from Negro Swan
Bob Dylan - âHeâs Funny That Wayâ [Gene Austin cover], from Universal Love: Wedding Songs Reimagined
Booji Boys - âLocked (Barely Open)â, from Unknown Pleathers EP
Boygenius - âBite the Handâ, from Boygenius EP
Brandi Carlile - âEvery Time I Hear That Songâ, from By the Way, I Forgive You
The Breeders - âWalking With a Killerâ, from All NerveÂ
Bristletongue - âThistle Among Rosesâ, from Femme Florale EP Brockhampton - âThug Lifeâ, from Iridescence
Camp Cope -Â âThe Openerâ, from How to Socialise & Make Friends
Cardi BÂ -Â âRingâ [ft. Kehlani], from Invasion of Privacy
Caroline Rose - âBikiniâ, from Loner
Caroline Says - âCool Jerkâ, from No Fool Like an Old Fool
The Carters - âApeshitâ, from Everything is Love
Cat Power - âWandererâ, from Wanderer
Celine Dion - âAshesâ, from Deadpool 2 OST
Chai -Â âFriedâ, from Pink
Chance the Rapper - âMy Own Thingâ [ft. Big Purp], from âMy Own Thingâ single
Childish Gambino - âThis is Americaâ, from âThis is Americaâ single
Christine & the Queens - âGirlfriendâ [ft. Dâm-Funk], from Chris
Chvrches - âGet Outâ, from Love is Dead
Closer - âThis Yearâ, from All This Will Be
Cloud Nothings - âSo Right, So Cleanâ, from Last Building Burning
Company of Thieves - âWindowâ, from Better Together EP
Comrade Question - âNever Changeâ, from Four Seasons Con
Connections - âLow, Low, Lowâ, from Foreign Affairs
Control Top - âType Aâ, from âType Aâ single
Courtney Barnett - âCharityâ, from Tell Me How You Really Feel
Cupcakke - âTotalâ, from Ephorize
Damn the Witch Siren - âI Donât Want to Say Iâm Sorryâ, from Red Magic
Daphne & Celeste - âYou & I Aloneâ, from Daphne & Celeste Save the World
Dashboard Confessional - âWe Fightâ, from Crooked Shadows
David Byrne - âEverybodyâs Coming to My Houseâ, from American Utopia
Death Cab For Cutie - âGold Rushâ, from Thank You For Today
The Decemberists - âIâll Be Your Girlâ, from Iâll Be Your Girlâ
A Delicate Motor - âDo For Selfâ, from Fellover My Own
didi -Â âHaruâ, from Like Memory Foam
Dilly Dally - âBad Biologyâ, from Heaven
Dirty Projectors - âI Found it in Uâ, from Lamp Lit Prose
Django Django - âBeam Me Up, from Marble Skies
Downtown Boys - âFotos y Recuerdosâ [Selena cover], from âFotos y Recuerdosâ single
Drake - âIn My Feelingsâ, from Scorpion
Dream Wife - âSpend the Nightâ, from Dream Wife
DRAMÂ -Â âWWYD?â, from Thatâs a Girlâs Name EP
Drinks -Â âPink Or Dieâ, from Hippo Lite
El Perro Del Mar -Â âWe Are Historyâ, from We Are History EP
EMA -Â âDark Shadowsâ, from Outtakes From Exile EP
Empath - âThe Eyeâ, from Liberating Guilt & Fear EP
Empress Of - âLove For Meâ, from Us
Ezra Furman - "Suck the Blood From My Wound", from Transangelic Exodus
Father John Misty - "Disappointing Diamonds Are the Rarest of Them All", from God's Favorite Customer
Fatoumata Diawara - "Nterini", from Fenfo (Something to Say)
Fields & Planes - "Alice", from Press
First Aid Kit - "It's a Shame", from Ruins
Fischerspooner - "Discreet", from SirÂ
Flasher - "Business Unusual", from Constant Image
Florence & the Machine - "Hunger", from High As Hope
Frank Ocean - "Moon River" [Audrey Hepburn cover], from "Moon River" single
Franz Ferdinand - "The Academy Award", from Always Ascending
The Frights - "Over It", from Hypochondriac
Fucked Up - "Tell Me What You See", from Dose Your Dreams
Gabby's World - "Winter, Withdraw", from Beast On Beast
Gerard Way - "Baby You're a Haunted House", from "Baby You're a Haunted House" single
Gia Margaret - "Smoke", from There's Always Glimmer
Girlpool - "Picturesong", from "Picturesong" single
The Go! Team - "The Answer's No--Now What's the Question?", from Semicircle
Goodbye Honolulu - "Lorry Can't Love", from More Honey
Goat Girl - "The Man With No Heart Or Brain", from Goat Girl
Greta Van Fleet - "When the Curtain Falls", from Anthem of the Peaceful Army
Gymshorts - "Ding Dong Ditch", from Knock Knock
H.E.R. - "Lord is Coming", from I Used to Know Her: Part Two EP
harunemuri **- "sekaiwotorikaeshiteokure", from harutosyura
Hatchie - "Sure", from Sugar & Spice EP
Hinds - "To the Morning Light", from I Don't Run
The HIRS Collective - "Not For You" [Moor Mother remix], from Friends, Lovers, Favorites
Hop Along - "Not Abel", from Bark Your Head Off, Dog
Hovvdy - "Late", from Cranberry
Hozier - "Nina Cried Power" [ft. Mavis Staples], from Nina Cried Power EP
Iceage - "Take it All", from BeyondlessÂ
Idles - "Smaritans", from Joy As an Act of Rebellion
Illuminati Hotties - "The Rules", from Kiss Yr Frenemies
Interpol - "If You Really Love Nothing", from Marauder
The Interrupters - "Gave You Everything", from Fight the Good Fight
Iron & Wine - "Milkweed", from Weed Garden EP
Jack White - "Over & Over & Over", from Boarding House Reach
Janelle Monae - "Pynk" [ft. Grimes], from Dirty Computer
Japanese Breakfast - "Dreams" [The Cranberries cover], from Spotify Singles
Jay Rock - "Redemption" [ft. SZA], from Redemption
Jeff Rosenstock - "Let Them Win", from POST-
Jenn Champion - "O.M.G. (I'm All Over It)", from Single Rider
Jenny Hval - "Spells", from The Long Sleep EP
Jorja Smith - "I Am", from Black Panther OST
Joyce Manor - "Fighting Kangaroo", from Million Dollars to Kill Me
Juice WRLD - "Lucid Dreams", from Goodbye & Good Riddance
Julia Holter - "Turn the Light On", from Aviary
Juliana Hatfield - "A Little More Love" [Olivia Newton-John cover], from Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John
 Jupiter & Okwess - "Ekombe", from Kin Sonic
Kacey Musgraves - "Space Cowboy", from Golden Hour
Karen O - "YO! MY SAINT" [ft. Michael Kiwanuka], from "YO! MY SAINT" single
Kendrick Lamar - "All the Stars" [ft SZA], from Black Panther OST
Kero Kero Bonito - "Time Today", from Time 'n' Place
Kesha - "I Need a Woman to Love" [Janis Joplin cover], from Universal Love: Wedding Songs ReimaginedÂ
Khalid - "Love Lies" [ft. Normani], from Love, Simon OST
King Princess - "Pussy is God", from "Pussy is God" single
Kimbra - "Right Direction", from Primal Heart
Kississippi **- "Adrift", from Sunset Blush
Krimewatch - "The Big Picture", from Krimewatch
Kurt Vile - "Check Baby", from Bottle it In
Lala Lala - "I Get Cut", from The Lamb
Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers - "Reality Bites", from Bought to Rot
Laura Stevenson - "Maker of Things", from "The Mystic & the Master" single
Lauren Ruth Ward - "Well, Hell", from Well, Hell
Leikeli47Â - "Top Down", from Acrylic
Leon Bridges - "Bet Ain't Worth the Hand", from Good ThingÂ
Loma - "Relay Runner", from Loma
Long Neck - "Elizabeth", from Will This Do?
Lord Huron - "Wait By the River", from Vide Noir
Low - "Rome (Always in the Dark)", from Double NegativeÂ
Lowpines - "Parasite", from In Silver Halides
Lucius - "Woman", from Nudes
Lucy Dacus - "Timefighter", from Historian
Lykke Li - âJaguars in the Airâ, from So Sad, So Sexy
The Men - "Come to Me", from Drift
Meshell Ndegeocello - "Smooth Operator" [Sade cover], from Ventriloquism
Metric - "Dressed to Suppress", from Art of Doubt
MGMTÂ - "One Thing Left to Try", from Little Dark Age
Middle Kids - "Edge of Town", from Lost Friends
Mister Moon - "Plastic", from Codes EP
Mitski - "Nobody", from Be the Cowboy
Mountain Man - "AGT", from Magic Ship
Mourn - "Candle Man", from Sorpresa Familia
Muncie Girls - "Jeremy", from Fixed Ideals
Mungbean - "Wednesday", from "Wednesday/Aimed at You" single
Natalie Prass - "The Fire", from The Future & The Past
Neko Case - "Gumball Blue", from Hell-On
Night Flowers - "Head On", from Wild Notion
Noble Vices - "Wheelhouses", from "Wheelhouses" single
Noname - âWith You", from Room 25
Nothing - "Us/We/Are", from Dance On the Blacktop
Now, Now - "Window", from Saved
Ohmme - "Icon", from Parts
The Ophelias - "Lover's Creep", from Almost
Ought - "Disgraced in America", from Room Inside the World
Ovlov - "Stick", from TRU
Palm - "Swimmer", from Rock Island
Parquet Courts - "Normalisation", from Wide Awake!
Peach Kelli Pop - "Parasomnia", from Gentle Leader
Peggy Gou - "It Makes You Forget (Itgehane)" [edit], from "It Makes You Forget (Itgehane)" single
A Perfect Circle - "So Long & Thanks For All the Fish", from Eat the Elephant
Petal - "Stardust", from Magic Gone
Phoebe Bridgers - "Friday I'm in Love" [The Cure cover], from Spotify Singles
Pinky Pinky - "Robber", from Hot TearsÂ
Poppy - "Play Destroy" [ft. Grimes], from Am I a Girl?
Preoccupations - "Espionage", from New Material
Princess Chelsea - "I Love My Boyfriend", from The Loneliest Girl
Protomartyr - "Wheel of Fortune" [ft. Kelley Deal], from Consolation EP
Q-Tip and Demi Lovato - "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" [Elton John cover], from Revamp
Radattack - "Rock & Roll Party Queen", from "Rock & Roll Party Queen" single
Rainbow Kitten Surprise - "Hide", from How to: Friend, Love, Freefall
Remember Sports - "Making it Right", from Slow Buzz
Rico Nasty - "Oreo", from Nasty
Robert Delong - "Favorite Color is Blue" [ft. K-Flay], from See You in the Future EP
Robyn - "Missing U", from Honey
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - "Exclusive Grave", from Hope Downs
Ron Gallo - "Really Nice Guys", from Really Nice Guys EP
Rosalia - "Di Mi Nombre", from El Mal Querer
Saintseneca -Â â Good Hand", from Pillar of Na
Say Lou Lou - "All Love to Me", from Immortelle
Screaming Females - "Deeply", from All at Once
Shame - "Concrete", from Songs of Praise
Shannon & the Clams - "The Boy", from Onion
Shannon Shaw - "Golden Frames", from Shannon in Nashville
Shilpa Ray - "Shoot This Dying Horse", from Nihilism
The Sidekicks - "Twin's Twist", from Happiness Hours
SiRÂ - "Summer in November", from November
Skating Polly - "Free Will at Ease", from The Make it All Show
Sleep - "Marijuanaut's Theme", from The Sciences
Slothrust - "For Robin", from The Pact
Smashing Pumpkins - "Silver Sometimes (Ghosts)", from Shiny & Oh So Bright, Vol. 1: No Past, No Future, No Sun
Snail Mail - "Pristine", from Lush
Snarls - "Lonely", from Snarls EP
SOB X RBE - "Paramedic!", from Black Panther OST
Soccer Mommy - "Cool", from Clean
SOPHIEÂ - "Immaterial", from Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides
Souther - "Enough", from Blume EP
Spiritualized - "On the Sunshine", from And Nothing Hurt
SSIONÂ - "1980-99" [ft. Patty Schemel and Sky Ferreira], from O
St. Vincent - "Los Ageless" [piano version], from Mass Education
Stef Chura - "Degrees", from "Degrees/Sour Honey" single
Sunflower Bean - "Burn It", from Twentytwo in Blue
Superchunk - "Erasure" [ft. Stephin Merritt and Waxahatchee], from What a Time to Be AliveÂ
Superorganism - "Night Time", from Superorganism
Swearin' - "Big Change", from Fall Into the Sun
Tanya Tagaq - "Run to the Hills" [ft. Damian Abraham] [Iron Maiden cover], from "Run to the Hills" single
Tanlines - "Row, Row, Row Your Boat", from Presents EP
Teenage Wrist - "Dweeb", from Chrome Neon Jesus
They Might Be Giants - "Let's Get This Over With", from I Like Fun
Third Eye Blind - "In the Fade" [Queens of the Stone Age cover], from Thanks For Everything EP
Thumpers - "Tenor", from Life All In EP
Tierra Whack - "Fuck Off", from Whack World
Titus Andronicus - "Above the Bodega (Local Business)", from A Productive Cough
Tom Misch - "Isn't She Lovely" [Stevie Wonder cover], from Geography
Tomberlin - "You Are Here", from At Weddings
Toto - "Hash Pipe" [Weezer cover], from "Hash Pipe" single
Tracyanne & Danny - "It Can't Be Love Unless it Hurts", from Tracyanne & DannyÂ
TTÂ - "Take One", from LoveLaws
tune-yards - "Colonizer", from i can feel you creep into my private life
Turtlenecked - "Knocked Down By Another Ghost", from High Scores of the Heart
TV Girl - "King of Echo Park", from Death of a Party Girl
Twin Shadow - "Saturdays" [ft. Haim], from Caer
U.S. Girls - "Rage of Plastics", from In a Poem Unlimited
Ultra Beauty - "Pegasuss", from Ultra Beauty EP
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - "Hunnybee", from Sex & Food
Vacation - "Action Road", from Mouth Sounds #2699
The Vaccines - "Surfing in the Sky", from Combat Sports
Valerie June - "Mad About the Girl", from Universal Love: Wedding Songs Reimagined
Waxahatchee - "Takes So Much", from Great Thunder EP
Weaves - "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)", from "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" single
The Weeknd - "Wasted Times", from My Dear Melancholy EP
Weezer - "Africa" [Toto cover], from "Africa" single
Westerman  - "Albatross", from Ark EP
Wished Bone - "Ohio", from Cellar Belly
The Wombats - "Dip You in Honey", from Beautiful People Will Ruin Your LifeÂ
Wussy - "Cake", from What Heaven is Like
Wye Oak - "I Know It's Real", from The Louder I Call the Faster it Runs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Thirteen" [Big Star cover], from Spotify Singles
Young Fathers - "Fee Fi", from Cocoa Sugar
Young Guv - "Ain't Fallin' in Luv Again", from 2 Sad 2 Funk
Yowler - "WTFK", from Black Dog in My Path
Yungblud - "I Love You, Will You Marry Me", from 21st Century Liability
https://open.spotify.com/user/barfwalker/playlist/7mCLnG6CZG1yB4q8uhzcys?si=Ip-Lka-0TOWCWRLMXGZ26w