{"id":1458663,"date":"2018-12-26T13:47:23","date_gmt":"2018-12-26T18:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fnpsites.net\/playlist\/?p=1458663"},"modified":"2018-12-26T13:47:23","modified_gmt":"2018-12-26T18:47:23","slug":"2018-the-year-in-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fnpsites.net\/playlist\/2018\/12\/26\/2018-the-year-in-music\/","title":{"rendered":"2018: The Year In Music"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7_WBm7eEYnk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Year number eight, year number eight. For nearly a decade now, I\u2019ve provided my favorite music of the last 12 months around this time (because you care \u2026 right \u2026 right?!). The rules are simple: I pick my 10 favorite local songs, why? Because we only review albums every other week. So, in case you\u2019re counting, there are far more songs from which to choose than there are full-length albums.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s one other caveat: The local songs are picked from the crop of records I reviewed in 2018. That might mean, then, that some of the albums were actually released in 2017, but we didn\u2019t review them until 2018. Hey: With an every-other-week clip, sometimes, it takes a minute or three to get around to some releases \u2014 especially when the submissions get backed up, which they always do.<\/p>\n<p>Per tradition, I should also note that this is the time of year I share one of the meanest emails I received in response to a review I wrote. Behold my personal favorite paragraph:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&#8217;m not sure of your qualifications to write on anything concerning music, and quite honestly it doesn&#8217;t matter as a review is just a matter of opinion. Even so, I feel if you are going to share your opinion with the masses, you should do so intelligently and with knowledge of that which you speak. You sir have done neither with this review.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rad, dude!<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, despite Josh Morningstar\u2019s weirdly angry fans (even though I said I liked the record, you still murdered me!), let\u2019s get to my favorite music of 2018.<\/p>\n<h5>LOCAL SONGS<\/h5>\n<p><strong>1. Flo Petite &#8211; AND<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>My favorite song of the year, as is per usually the case, comes from my favorite EP of the year, Flo Petite\u2019s \u201cSoft Wrinkled Feelings.\u201d There\u2019s a very specific feeling music can give you when you come across something that moves you in an unexpected way, and that feeling is the feeling that keeps us music nerds coming back to the art we hold so dear. Flo Petite provided me with one of those rare moments this year the second I pressed play on her four-song set, and for that, she deserves much more than just the No. 1 slot on a silly list.<\/p>\n<p>With \u201cAND,\u201d she cemented her ability to craft perfectly catchy tiny pop songs that hold as much weight in air as they do in wit. Not only is this track musically cute, but it allows the singer to play off a mysterious vibe that ultimately becomes her signature by the time these two minutes and four seconds conclude. Maybe it\u2019s the acoustic guitar plucking. Maybe it\u2019s the xylophone. Maybe it\u2019s the lo-fi production. Maybe it\u2019s the longing in her voice as she begs a nameless lady to tell her how to live again. Or maybe it\u2019s all those things combining for an aesthetic that\u2019s entirely her own. Which, of course, is the true victory here: Staying honest to who you are in a world where originality is only offered at a premium that seems to grow by the Insta Story. Flo Petite managed to cut through the noise to create something transcendent for the local scene. Album No. 2 can\u2019t come soon enough.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Karen Jonas &#8211; Dance With Me<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI dare you to move like you\u2019ve never been wrong\/I dare you \u2026 I dare you to dance through it all.\u201d And that right there, ladies and gentlemen, is the most moving moment in 2018 local music. Any year with a new Karen Jonas record is a good year, anyway, but with this song, she upped her game to a polished, anthemic height that she had previously never reached. Listen as her voice trembles to open the song, listen to it crescendo throughout the bridge and then listen as it gracefully takes a bow with 10 seconds left. The structure isn\u2019t anything special &#8211; a slow pop-waltz that simmers with an epic Nashville organ paving the road ahead &#8211; but, as it typically goes, Jonas can take the most basic musical tropes and make them as magical as anything you\u2019ve ever heard. Doing this for nearly a decade now, I can\u2019t think of a local artist who has consistently made my head swirl the way she has with her art. Here, she makes dancing through a landmine sound like the most glorious way to go out.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aAMsHb2Wk60?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Gin Rickys &#8211; Town That Swings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Channeling the ghost of Squirrel Nut Zippers, The Gin Rickys embody their name with this swing-tastic 1950s night club ditty that inspires visions of women with fur and men in tuxedoes. With the help of a hot piano and the sultry voice of Ariana Harbin, this song recalls a time when getting on the dance floor meant something a little more respectable than a sea of twerkers, and if you have a pulse, this is the exact type of tune that should get your butt out of its seat anyway. As an added bonus, check the call-and-response chorus that adds an extra tablespoon of fun to an already delicious recipe.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/txHdhElzHPM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Mr. Husband &#8211; A Night Like Today<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In what ended up being somewhat of a precursor to Kenneth Husband\u2019s stripped down \u201cOcean Pines\u201d that came out later in the year, this, the final track on Mr. Husband\u2019s excellent \u201cSilvertone,\u201d deserves a lot of accolades not only for its expected lush harmonies and tender vocals, but also for its spoken-word body. I mean, it takes guts to offer up some spoken word verses in 2018, and not only does Kenny Tompkins pull it off with lovable flair, but it also adds an impressive level of sincerity to the production. As he told me in 2017, while the moniker may be intended for laughs, the music is no joke at all. And considering how this song can bring me to tears, you can\u2019t argue with him.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ckEqQPKo1UU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>5. The Dirty Middle &#8211; The Ballad Of Ensign Jimmy<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Dirty Middle have to be one of the most underrated bands in Frederick. What they have going on is actually pretty darn cool, when you look around only to find little more than a sea of dudes playing angsty power rock (hehe), it should make you appreciate this bluesy quartet even more. Led by Adrienne Smith, this was the grooviest song on their self-titled debut EP, and it all but transports you back to the days when Stax Records was still putting out records that topped the charts and Southern Soul was far more than a niche novelty. Plus, those whoa whoa\u2019s that punctuate the end of each chorus are such a neat throwback, you can\u2019t help but swoon at this shot of retro rock.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0tc8jlSVfwA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>6. Crooked Hills &#8211; Nightmare Synonyms<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s just so powerful \u2014 and it comes from an album that is the musical equivalent of an old-school Mountain Dew commercial: extreme, in your face, unapologetic and brimming with energy. As lead singer Brett Putz explosively approaches a dealer who has \u201cbeen giving me the wrong drugs\/when all I need is love,\u201d it sums up what makes Crooked Hills so great, which has almost everything to do with the dichotomy between their message and presentation. Dirty heavy Appalachian hill music, indeed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>7. Santa Librada &#8211; Something To Say<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Oh, the defiance! From one of the best albums you probably didn\u2019t hear in 2018 (shame on you!) comes punk rock at its finest, in both execution and spirit. Singer Rahne Alexander doesn\u2019t care that you don\u2019t care and that voice bleeds contempt in all the most irresistible ways. Be sure to stick around for the brilliant rants she offers throughout, piquing with this tremendous assertion: \u201cGuess what? You don\u2019t have to have a hot take on every little thing. You can actually just sit and take in information.\u201d Preach.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/s-rM4ky6aik?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>8. J Berd &#8211; Moonwalker<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We didn\u2019t get many hip-hop records sent our way this year, but this, off J Berd\u2019s \u201cOvertime\u201d (which, it should be noted, dons fantastic cover art), was a definite highlight in the year of local music. Backed by a slow, moody groove, the textures give space to allow Berd\u2019s most impressive accomplishment \u2014 his commitment to avoiding curse words throughout the record \u2014 to step to the forefront in a more thoughtful way. The cherry on top is the hook, which doubles as almost a spot-on homage to Eminem, high-pitched voice and all. \u201cI hold court like I was subpoenaed to attend,\u201d he offers at one point. Thank God he made it.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/joGZc4cu7Ek?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>9. Jeff Cosgrove &#8211; High, Low<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If Jeff Cosgrove is involved with album, you should be listening. And better yet, if Jeff Cosgrove is involved with an album \u2014 and you happen to like jazz music \u2014 you damn well better be listening. \u201cHigh, Low,\u201d off his excellent \u201cHunters &amp; Scavengers\u201d with Scott Robinson and Ken Filiano, swings more than most anything else he\u2019s done in recent memory and yet it continues to reach toward the abstract in ways only Cosgrove can. Robinson\u2019s saxophone scats in wondrous ways while Filiano\u2019s bass sprints forward at a pace impossible to ignore. The drummer, meanwhile, holds nothing back as he explores every inch of his kit. When it comes to original jazz in this area, you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a mind as interesting as Cosgrove\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/chPfL0lOxIo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>10. Ethan Larsh &#8211; I Miss Cocaine<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Bringing his blend of Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman and Ben Folds together in ways only he can, Ethan Larsh sure knows how to craft a piano-driven ballad with more than its share of winks and nods to both the profound and the absurd. With \u201cI Miss Cocaine,\u201d perhaps the most charming song on his solid LP \u201cEthan Larsh Breaks Hearts,\u201d he whimsically proclaims, \u201cI miss cocaine, and how it effects my brain \u2026 I\u2019ll say it again.\u201d It\u2019s equal parts charming, revelatory and fearless \u2014 all the things needed to make a great pop songwriter. And Larsh, for all he offers here, is on his way.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FeMYhqe0Ee8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5>NATIONAL ALBUMS<\/h5>\n<p><strong>1. Janelle Monae &#8211; Dirty Computer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s hard to argue against \u201cDirty Computer\u201d being Janelle Monae\u2019s best work to date. Until this set, she was content to label herself an android while crafting (admittedly) out-of-this-world music. Naturally, then, what makes \u201cComputer\u201d so compelling is that for the first time, she has kinda\/sorta shed the robotic persona in favor of something more sincere, or in her words, more personal.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s most visible on the intergalactically funky \u201cMake Me Feel\u201d when she chides a questioner by asserting \u201cyou got the answers to my confessions\u201d right before a Prince-ified guitar brightens the room. \u201cDjango Jane\u201d is then much less colorful yet undeniably more raw, leaving the world to beg for that hip-hop-only album we so desperately need Monae to one day unleash. And then \u201cAmericans\u201d brings the rocket ship back to earth with defiance, confidence and optimism as she confides, \u201cLove me, baby. Love me for who I am.\u201d These 14 tracks cement the reality that it\u2019s impossible not to.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Chvrches &#8211; Love Is Dead<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You know that band that you once fell in love with, but you knew that eventually, they would disappoint you? You love the first record, but the expectations for the second record are low \u2026 and then that second record somehow out-performs the first. But there\u2019s no way the third album could measure up, right? But then it does \u2026 and then it becomes your favorite in the artist\u2019s cannon.<\/p>\n<p>Chvrches is that band for me and in my eyes, \u201cLove Is Dead\u201d might just be the most underrated, overlooked album of the year. Singer Lauren Mayberry is as mad as ever in songs like the piercingly hopeless opener \u201cGraffiti\u201d or the disappointed \u201cNever Say Die.\u201d Even Matt Berninger stops by for a devastating collaboration in \u201cMy Enemy,\u201d the group\u2019s best ballad to date. It\u2019s a set of reflection, regret, doubt, anger and not nearly enough hope to make sure things will be OK. It\u2019s also the most addicting that Chvrches has ever been.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Ambrose Akinmusire &#8211; Origami Harvest<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sure, I\u2019m an Ambrose Akinmsire mark \u2014 just look back to 2014\u2019s No. 1 album on this list if you don\u2019t believe me \u2014 but this is a truly transcendental record, not just for jazz music, but within popular culture today. For the first time, there are moments here when the trumpeter opts for groove over concept and he\u2019s never sounded better. Check the opening jaw-dropping statement, \u201cA Blooming Bloodfruit In A Hoodie,\u201d for a giant leap from artist to activist. Dude still knows how to get beautiful, though, as \u201cThe Lingering Velocity Of The Dead\u2019s Ambitions\u201d churns through a cavalcade of emotions, bending from angelic strings to aggressive drums on a dime. It\u2019s the best EP of the year, no matter the genre, and it\u2019s not even close.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Sarah Blasko &#8211; Depth Of Field<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ohhhhhhhhh, this is just so dark. In fact, it\u2019s the Australian singer\u2019s darkest moment to date. From the brooding misery of \u201cA Shot,\u201d to the unexpected groove-pop of \u201cNever Let Me Go,\u201d to the Gabriel-esque ballad that is \u201cSavour It,\u201d Blasko cements her ability to transform from indie pop to the NPR side of goth effortlessly throughout this, her sixth full-length record. You could see it coming on 2015\u2019s pretty good \u201cEternal Return,\u201d but \u201cDepth Of Field\u201d takes those ominous textures and matures them in ways that can only be described as tremendous. It\u2019s hard to reinvent yourself in such a fickle music world, but these 10 songs are proof positive that it can be done \u2014 and done successfully.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. Paul Simon &#8211; In The Blue Light<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You probably won\u2019t find this on many other year-end lists, but hey \u2026 I\u2019m a Paul Simon fan boy. And while you can argue that the idea for his final studio collection \u2014 a reinterpretation of some of his older songs \u2014 was a bit of a cop-out, you can\u2019t argue that a goodbye record from Paul Simon shouldn\u2019t be duly noted. The highlight is \u201cCan\u2019t Run But,\u201d a dramatically orchestral take on \u201cThe Rhythm Of The Saints\u201d song that has never sounded more inspired. He played it on his farewell tour this year \u2014 a tour I caught up with in Philadelphia. It was my favorite show of 2018, a fitting goodbye for one of pop music\u2019s most celebrated geniuses. With its imagination and perspective, \u201cIn The Blue Light\u201d doubles as the same.<\/p>\n<h5>NATIONAL SONGS<\/h5>\n<p><strong>1. Childish Gambino &#8211; This Is America<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sometimes predictability is actually the best way to go, and while it\u2019s hard to imagine this song not being No. 1 on most Best Song lists in 2018, that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not where it rightfully belongs. Coupled with an explosive video that caught the attention and imagination of what felt like the entire Internet for at least 48 hours, this earned its title as The Most Representative Song Of The Times, right down to the \u201cDon\u2019t catch you slippin\u2019 up\u201d refrain that takes on different auras with each utterance. The most profound words are never the ones that try to be, and with Gambino\u2019s drawl echoing in and out of a stone-cold delivery, the gunshot sounds prove be just as lyrical as anything you hear come out of an actual person\u2019s mouth. It\u2019s hard to write protest songs in an era of pop culture that was founded on eye-rolls, but with \u201cThis Is America,\u201d Childish Gambino proves that cultural demonstrations aren\u2019t just limited to the streets anymore.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Chvrches &#8211; Get Out<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If there\u2019s one thing the Scottish trio knows how to utilize, it sure is some electronic hand claps, and \u201cGet Out,\u201d the lead single off the group\u2019s third (and best) record, \u201cLove Is Dead,\u201d has the band using them with more vigor than ever before. Even so, it\u2019s the synth line that will sink its hooks into your conscience before that chorus forces you to the ocean floor for good. The best part? Check the bridge, when the proceedings get to drum overload, both live and electronic, the results proving to be beautiful chaos. Plus, hey: If you can\u2019t see that \u201cYou are a kaleidescope\u201d is the new \u201cAre we human or are we dancer\u201d then you need to turn in your glow sticks yesterday.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Ambrose Akinmusire &#8211; A Blooming Bloodfruit In A Hoodie<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverything\u2019s everything\/Understand most songs\/Are just phrases and sentences\/Every last song is a long sigh\/A breath in the middle of one single run-on sentence\/Every last bar I meant it\/Run it back\/Hear it again\/That\u2019s everything\/We are the universe\/Learning to love itself.\u201d You wouldn\u2019t quite expect a run like that from a \u201cjazz\u201d record, yet as those words emanate, Akinmusire\u2019s trumpet scats like the perfect backing vocal over a groove that\u2019s as powerful as it is bright. If nothing else, 2018 was a hell of a year for music that made statements. And if you aren\u2019t listening, you aren\u2019t learning.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Janelle Monae &#8211; Make Me Feel<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In an album filled with standout songs, \u201cMake Me Feel\u201d is like the biggest diamond in a billion-dollar mine. Most of that is because of the funky-fresh beat that anchors the vibe, Monae doing her best to honor Prince by offering up something that you would like to think The Purple One would have dreamed up himself if he was still roaming the halls of Paisley Park (which makes sense: Monae has said that he helped create some of the sounds heard here before he passed). It\u2019s the best song the 1980s never heard, and while it bleeds sex appeal and provocation, it also calls back to a time when pop music was much more interesting. Monae, in all her glory, reminds us here that to her, being interesting is only the beginning.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. Camila Cabello &#8211; Never Be The Same<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There is always one song a year that reminds me why I enjoy making it a point to listen to pop radio every now and then, and in 2018, \u201cNever Be The Same\u201d fit the bill perfectly. The verses, moody and suggestive, give way to that falsetto-laden pre-chorus before a hook that will knock you out, stand over you and smile as your body lay motionless. Oh, and, of course, it was made to fill stadiums. Cabello\u2019s story has always been one that should inspire us to bet on ourselves a little bit more than we often do; this song, however, cements the reality that somewhere within us all, there\u2019s a jackpot to be found.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Year number eight, year number eight. For nearly a decade now, I\u2019ve provided my favorite music of the last 12 months around this time (because you care \u2026 right \u2026&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1458664,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1458663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fnpsites.net\/playlist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1458663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fnpsites.net\/playlist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fnpsites.net\/playlist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fnpsites.net\/playlist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fnpsites.net\/playlist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1458663"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fnpsites.net\/playlist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1458663\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fnpsites.net\/playlist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1458664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fnpsites.net\/playlist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1458663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fnpsites.net\/playlist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1458663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fnpsites.net\/playlist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1458663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}