CARTER'S TOP 50 songs OF 2018
The Pusha-T/Drake beef. Weezer's comeback by meme. Kanye's dragon energy with the President. Grimes x Elon Musk. No matter the story, 2018 has been a hell of a year. These are my
50 favorite songs that I'll remember the year by.
50
Weezer
"Africa"
Weezer is back (sort of). It may be a cover, but this update of the Toto classic is both faithful to the original and "Weezer" enough to stand apart.
49
Vince Staples
"FUN!"
A slick, straightforward bop, "FUN!" has Vince at his most effective. It's a quick hitter that stings you just enough to leave a mark.
48
Low
"Always Trying To Work It Out"
Airy, spacey, and lush with ambience, "Always Trying to Work It Out" has Low finding a common ground between their signature noise rock and standard pop sensibilities with a strong hook.
47
Parquet Courts
"Tenderness"
A tentative but ultimately hopeful piano rock song, "Tenderness" reminds us that no matter how rough the world around you may get, we can all continue hoping for a better tomorrow.
46
Pusha-T
"If You Know You Know"
Built around a great Kanye West-chosen sample, "If You Know You Know" has Push rapping about being a graduate of the drug trade and still being better than you. He probably is.
45
MGMT
"She Works Out Too Much"
Singing about your significant other hitting the gym too much sounds silly, and it is. But when MGMT adds a great chorus and bouncy synthesizers to such lyrics, it becomes addictively catchy.
44
Kids See Ghosts
"Feel The Love"
Fleeting Kid Cudi. Pinpoint Pusha-T. Off the walls Kanye. Booming, aggressive drums. A unique beast in both genre and composition, it's a blazing start to one of the year's best albums.
43
John Maus
"Outer Space"
Building off a pulsing lo-fi synth beat, "Outer Space" quickly shows it has lyrics and a rhythm as wide open as space itself. Throw in a retro guitar solo and you've got hypnagogic perfection.
42
Cardi B
"I Like It (ft. J Balvin
and Bad Bunny)"
The undeniable song of the summer, and for very good reason. Cardi B's vocal flex is on point, and you can easily vibe with the two Spanish guests no matter the language they sing in.
41
Twin Shadow
"Saturdays (ft. HAIM)"
Working with his usual influences, Twin Shadow turns in an excellent, 1980's tinged pop song. The twitching guitar and new wave synths are complimented with an always welcome appearance by HAIM.
40
Spiritualized
"The Morning After"
"The Morning After" eschews the rest of And Nothing Hurt by being a fast paced, full steam ahead space rocker. Contrasting the rhythm are lyrics about never waiting too late to reach out to loved ones. It's disparate elements like these coming together help make Spiritualized so great.
39
Red Velvet
"Hit That Drum"
One of the most exciting k-pop groups out there, Red Velvet keep it fresh by spicing up their production. "Hit That Drum" features samba-style drums alongside a high energy bass line, resulting in RV's best track of the year.
38
Paul McCartney
"I Don't Know"
60+ years into his legendary career, Paul can still churn out a piano driven rock song like no one else. The lovely intro transitions into a song with lyrics tinged with uncertainty. He's old and probably wise, but Paul still has much to learn like the rest of us.
37
Janelle Monáe
"Make Me Feel"
I intensely hate mouth noises, the sound "Make Me Feel" is based around, but even that dislike can't deter me from loving this funky ode to pure sexual love. It's groovy, passionate, and bound to make you feel a little something.
36
Idles
"Colossus"
The animosity emanating from the opener to Joy as an Act of Resistance is palpable. "Colossus" builds slowly like a Swans song, pummeling forward by adding layer after layer of instrument. It all culminates in a breakneck blast of powerful punk music.
35
cupcakKe
"Quiz"
CupcakKe's usual raunch is put aside on this absolute evisceration of a rap song. Her lyrical wit is used to tear her opponent down bit by bit, and her seething anger on the track really sells the validity of the fire she spits.
34
Confidence Man
"C.O.O.L. Party"
Simple and effective, Confidence Man both create a crazy party to attend and lampoon party culture. The spoken word vocals are focused on one thing: the party. The groovy rhythm and chorus will have you wishing you were a cool party girl in a cool party world too.
33
Kero Kero Bonito
"Only Acting"
KKB mix disparate genres as well as any musician there is. "Only Acting" combines their pop sensibilities with fuzzy guitar riffs straight from Weezer's Blue Album. The result is a wild garage rock jam with some truly stunning experimental moments.
32
Death Grips
"Black Paint"
On "Black Paint", Death Grips come close to matching their greatest outputs on The Money Store. MC Ride's trademark cryptic lyrics and screaming vocals are backed by a guitar riff that'll stick with you long after the track ends.
31
Low
"Fly"
The cryptic lyrics, light production and a slow burning rhythm can't help but evoke a strange beauty. It's a sound
Low has mastered on their latest album, and "Fly" is the best example.
30
Arctic Monkeys
"Four Out of Five"
The song structure is unusual, the lyrics are out there even for Arctic Monkeys, and Alex Turner's delivery is a little off-kilter as well. All these eccentricities can describe the album as a whole, and this song does the best job of weaving them together into a highly memorable track.
29
Let's Eat Grandma
"It's Not Just Me"
Let's Eat Grandma come closest to the Top 40 glory they dance around on
"It's Not Just Me". The light, poppy synthesizers, captivating hooks and emotional lyrics about mutual love prove these UK teenagers can compete with the heavy hitters of pop.
28
Beach House
"Dive"
Beach House's typical dreamy, strung out guitars and synths are abruptly halted in the middle of this standout from 7. The song transitions into a blistering guitar driven number, but the pitch shift can't interrupt LeGrande's continued poetic lyricism. It's a wonder Beach House can continue to push boundaries this far into their career.
27
Snail Mail
"Pristine"
Unlike so many other indie rock acts, Snail Mail is refreshingly earnest. The classic combo of guitars, drums and lyrics about heartbreak make "Pristine" classic and contemporary. It's a mature take on a timeless topic, one Snail Mail nails with graceful excellence.
26
Kim Petras
"Heart to Break"
"Heart to Break" might feature sounds and lyrics typical of Top 40 songs, but this single stands out with one of the most spirited performances of any pop song this year. Rarely will you hear a pop song with a chorus this dramatic, and Kim sells it alongside some genuinely fun production.
25
Kids See Ghosts
"Reborn"
Kid Cudi has come full circle, and he invites you to come on a spiritual awakening on "Reborn". The light-as-air production backs Cudi's message of moving forward, making for a journey that's as relaxing as it is enlightening. Kanye's lyrics about his own mental health issues are a testament to how these two artists turn their personal problems into artistic statements.
24
cupcakKe
"Cartoons"
There isn't a more talented up and coming rapper than cupcakKe. Look no further than this track to find raps about your favorite Saturday morning cartoons turned into an absolute evisceration of her doubters. It's big, it's boisterous, and it's awesome.
23
Kero Kero Bonito
"Dear Future Self"
A dive into the joy and pain of nostalgia by way of KKB. An lovely rhythm punctuated by light synthesizers gives way to an emotional string driven finale. It's a moment on Time 'n' Place that really cements the band as a forward thinking act in the realm of indie music.
22
MGMT
"TSLAMP"
A critical delve into the modern obsession with technology, the song's title is short for Time Spent Looking At My Phone. That's a mouthful, but thanks to MGMT's skill at creating catchy beats with thoughtful lyrics, it turns that mouthful into a memorable track.
21
Mitski
"Geyser"
Featuring one of the most meteoric climaxes of the year, "Geyser" is Mitski's best qualities wrapped into one excellent indie rock song. By building slowly into a bold finish, the song truly feels like a geyser welling up to explode.
20
Idles
"Danny Nedelko"
Working with their always brazen political themes, Idles give us an anthem about immigration. Sure, Idles is a punk band so on the surface they are brash, but these opinions aren't force fed down your throat. It's simply how Idles feel, and by surrounding the song with catchy guitars and drums and passionate delivery, you've got a recipe for an excellent punk banger.
19
Gorillaz
"Humility (ft. George Benson)"
Featuring the smoothest, joyous guitar licks of the year, "Humility" hides dark lyrics behind an addictive synthpop beat. Damon Albarn shines when he mixes the light and dark, always making you question what you're hearing while you're jamming out.
18
Kali Uchis
"After the Storm
(ft. Tyler, the Creator)"
Kali Uchis glides through her music as smooth as a summer breeze. On "After the Storm", she combines old school rhythms with new school production, sounding retro and futuristic together. Tyler, the Creator adds a self-referential feature to the most forward thinking pop song of the year.
17
Kacey Musgraves
"High Horse"
An electric combo of country and pop, with great hooks and crystal clear delivery by Kacey. "You're classic in the wrong way" is probably the sickest burn of the year. She's certainly set a high standard for others to follow in the realm of country pop.
16
The 1975
"Love It If We Made It"
There isn't a song that is more 2018 than "Love It If We Made It". It constantly references events or issues of the current year, be it tweets, news stories, deaths, etc. By being so intertwined with the year of focus, it risks becoming instantly dated the moment you finish listening. But the song prevails, thanks to killer production and an ultimate message of positivity. No matter your thoughts on the goings on of the world, we all wish it to end well. Matty Healy's impassioned performance overcomes the horrible events that go on around us, and it's a reminder to keep that sense of positivity in your life.
15
Travis Scott
"SICKO MODE"
Comparing anything to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" is a tough task, but if anything could be close to consideration this year, it has to be "SICKO MODE". It's the main attraction to Travis' theme park, giving us forward thinking trap rap by way of psychedelic beats, grandeur lyrics, and the best flow on the album. It's an all encompassing vision of the state of trap in 2018, and man is it a thrill to hear.
14
Janelle Monáe
"Screwed (ft. Zoë Kravitz)"
This is Janelle's joyous ode to having sex at the end times. Featuring the grooviest guitar out there, the lyrics are as sharp and funny as the hooks are infectious. Elements of disco and neo-soul punctuate this highlight, and much like other politically charged songs this year, it reminds you to enjoy yourself in the face of doomsday.
13
Grimes
"We Appreciate Power
(ft. Hana)"
If this is what the future sounds like when sexbots take over the world, then Lord please let it happen soon. Full of aggressive drums, simmering guitars and lyrics concerning technology and revolution, "We Appreciate Power" is a gem, and hopefully indicative of where Grimes takes her sound next.
12
Young Thug
"High (ft. Elton John)"
Thugger takes a classic sample and transforms it into his own beautiful rendition. "High" has Thugger's falsetto vocals complement Elton John's backing voice in a way no other artist can. It's a wonder we can say trap and Elton John in the same sentence, let alone have it work in such an amazing way. Trap world take notice!
11
Confidence Man
"Don't You Know I'm In a Band"
The ultimate example of fun dance music, Confidence Man revels in their simplicity. Based around a simple but ridiculously catchy rhythm and lyrics making fun of pompous band members, you'll forget all your worries and want to find the nearest dance floor ASAP.
10
Ariana Grande
"no tears left to cry"
In 2018, Ariana Grande announced herself as one of the premiere voices in pop music. "no tears left to cry" is the immaculate moment on her latest album, an incredible song with powerful lead vocals, and rhythmic beat and self-assertive lyrics. Grande's position at the top of the pop world has been both meteoric and well deserved. Songs like this are the reason why.
9
Spiritualized
"The Prize"
The most beautiful moment on an album full of beautiful moments, "The Prize" builds as well as any Spiritualized song ever has. The lullaby-like melody grows and grows until it culminates into a finale of symphonic harmony. The lyrics are concerned with the uncertainty of life and love, but thanks to the harmonious rhythm, it powers through to a new, brighter tomorrow.
8
Charli XCX
"1999 (ft. Troye Sivan)"
Who doesn't want to return to their youth? Charli and Troye return you theirs, and they smartly harness a 90's house beat to back their croons about MTV and CD's. The song revels in the bliss of youth, and the beat is highly energetic as if to capture the hyper activeness of being a kid. This duo is having a ton of fun, and you can't help but have some fun too.
7
Parquet Courts
"Almost Had to Start a Fight/
In and Out of Patience"
Parquet Courts makes you want to have a dance party in the face of doom. This track features two separate movements intertwined by an excellent transition midway through the song. Each part features punchy guitar rhythms and dynamic lead vocals that are fed up with the world. They may be pissed as hell, but Parquet Courts continue to jam in these trying times, and you will too!
6
Kero Kero Bonito
"Make Believe"
Getting swallowed by the struggles of adult life is easy, so KKB is here to remind us to relax and daydream a little. "Make Believe" is their immaculate combination of synthpop and garage rock, a beautiful melody complimented by Sarah Bonito's pillowy soft vocals. In an album filled with nostalgia and melancholy, KKB suggest that no matter the difficulty of life, you're dreams are always there to comfort you.
5
cupcakKe
"Crayons"
The ultimate anthem for the LGBT community. Featuring fun horns and a sick flow from cupcakKe, the song reminds you that "love is love who give a fuck?". It's a song that doesn't preach to you how you should think. Instead, it simply encourages you to be yourself, no matter how society may look upon you. The message is clearly sent, and it allows the song to be both a meaningful statement and an absolute banger.
4
Kids See Ghosts
"Freeee (Ghost Town Pt. 2)"
This track seems like something the duo of Kanye and Kid Cudi have been building to for a long time. There is so much going on here, and every single second works. Massive drums and synths back the bellows from Kanye and Cudi, who announce their healthy mental state with power and gusto. It's like they're yelling into the void with how their crys of "freee" tail off, not caring who hears them. The two are happy to have moved on from their internal issues and'll have you screaming along with them.
3
Let's Eat Grandma
"Donnie Darko"
An eleven minute synthpop odyssey and an all encompassing picture on the confusion of being an adolescent. It's got everything from strung out guitars, hand clapping, sinister synths, and lyrics paralleling psychosis akin to the title character in the movie the song is named after. Slowly but surely, the song builds it's sound until it explodes into a guitar driven masterstroke of a climax, and the lyrics continue to focus on parents and self-destructive phases. It's big, bold and just the type of song the synthpop world needs to take notice of.
2
Beach House
"Drunk in LA"
An epic song even by Beach House's high standards. Victoria LeGrande's vocals have never been so magnificent, creating a hazy world in a dive bar. Commenting on nostalgia, childhood, and acceptance of growing old, the lyrics are smooth but captivating, grabbing your attention and never letting go. The dream pop rhythm grows but never overwhelms, with a beautiful combo of Alex Scally's guitar work and moody synthesizers. It's poetic, as any good Beach House song is, and "Drunk in LA" stands as the defining moment of their newest album.
1
Kanye West
"Ghost Town"
"Ghost Town" is the emotional peak to one of the wildest personal years in music history. Kanye's mastery for producing beats has him stringing together excellent samples and scintillating distorted guitars. It sounds old school and new school at the same time. While the song can be perceived as being about loving someone else, it becomes immaculate the moment you realize it's also about the pain of loving yourself. Kid Cudi hits almost every high note, but his voice crack fits with the struggle of self love. Kanye lays his feelings everywhere, delivering the best pure singing he's ever done. At the climax, Cudi's spot gives way to newcomer 070 Shake, who delivers the
feature of the year. Her performance is titanic, a stunning achievement for such an unknown. It's the defining moment to a track only Kanye could come up with, and it's my defining song of 2018.
The Full List
1. Kanye West - "Ghost Town"
2. Beach House - "Drunk in LA"
3. Let's Eat Grandma - "Donnie Darko"
4. Kids See Ghosts - "Freeee (Ghost Town Pt. 2)"
5. cupcakKe - "Crayons"
6. Kero Kero Bonito - "Make Believe"
7. Parquet Courts - "Almost Had to Start a Fight/In and Out of Patience"
8. Charli XCX - "1999 (ft. Troye Sivan)"
9. Spiritualized - "The Prize"
10. Ariana Grande - "no tears left to cry"
11. Confidence Man - "Don't You Know I'm in a Band"
12. Young Thug - "High (ft. Elton John)"
13. Grimes - "We Appreciate Power (ft. HANA)"
14. Janelle Monáe - "Screwed (ft. Zoe Kravitz)"
15. Travis Scott - "SICKO MODE"
16. The 1975 - "Love It If We Made It"
17. Kacey Musgraves - "High Horse"
18. Kali Uchis - "After the Storm (ft. Tyler, the Creator)"
19. Gorillaz - "Humility (ft. George Benson)"
20. Idles - "Danny Nedelko"
21. Mitski - "Geyser"
22. MGMT - "TSLAMP"
23. Kero Kero Bonito - "Dear Future Self"
24. cupcakKe - "Cartoons"
25. Kids See Ghosts - "Reborn"
26. Kim Petras - "Heart to Break"
27. Snail Mail - "Pristine"
28. Beach House - "Dive"
29. Let's Eat Grandma - "It's Not Just Me"
30. Arctic Monkeys - "Four Out of Five"
31. Low - "Fly"
32. Death Grips - "Black Paint"
33. Kero Kero Bonito - "Only Acting"
34. Confidence Man - "C.O.O.L. Party"
35. cupcakKe - "Quiz"
36. Idles - "Colossus"
37. Janelle Monáe - "Make Me Feel"
38. Paul McCartney - "I Don't Know"
39. Red Velvet - "Hit That Drum"
40. Spiritualized - "The Morning After"
41. Twin Shadow - "Saturdays (ft. HAIM)"
42. Cardi B - "I Like It (ft. J Balvin & Bad Bunny)"
43. John Maus - "Outer Space"
44. Kids See Ghosts - "Feel the Love"
45. MGMT - "She Works Out Too Much"
46. Pusha-T - "If You Know You Know"
47. Parquet Courts - "Tenderness"
48. Low - "Always Trying to Work It Out"
49. Vince Staples - "FUN!"
50. Weezer - "Africa"