2018 has certainly been a hell of a year for music. Here, the Midwest Action staff pulled their favorites from a year characterized by standout creative work to form our Best of 2018 lists. Check out our 16 favorite songs from 2018 below.
“Smoke” by Gia Margaret
The transitions on this song from the piano intro, to sparkling lullaby, to near glitchy drums, is just masterful.
–Dale Price
“Cellophane” by Emily Blue
I can guarantee “Cellophane” will be following me into 2019–I just can’t quit it! It mixes some R&B influences with an overarching electro pop feel. The way the song changes at the chorus has me absolutely hypnotized, and the way the song breaks down at the end has me chanting alongside Blue. It gives me actual chills when I listen to it, and I love it.
–Alyssa Lee
“Caution” by Tiny Moving Parts
Power pop punk at its best. The killer guitar riffs. Singing about the emotional turmoil of falling in love, building to an all out screaming “this is love.” Breaking that high energy just after he sings, “I’ve been waiting for a slight break.” The structure of the song takes you for a ride that I love.
–Tina Mead
“Pavement” by Deeper
For a song titled “Pavement,” it seems much more ethereal and dreamlike than the name implies. Its tone is melancholy, and its guitar melodies are shimmering and catchy. For me, it checks all the boxes.
–Alyssa Lee
Bad Boi by The Curls
Building off the success of last year’s release SUPER UNIT and their incredible performance at Pitchfork Music Festival—The Curls can surely do no wrong this year. That doesn’t mean singer/guitarist Mick Fansler can’t be a bit of “Bad Boi” though. Light your cigarettes outside and don’t be like Mick (but play the hell out of this song.)
–Dan Jarvis
“Endearment” by You Folk
“Endearment” begins abruptly, but the song is such a lush, acoustic soundscape with soft vocals laid that it doesn’t feel harsh–I’m just in their world, and I’m fine with it. It’s a glowing track that’s super catchy and emotive. I get major Minus the Bear vibes from You Folk, and I love Minus the Bear.
–Alyssa Lee
“Bad as Hell” by Friday Pilots Club
“Bad as Hell” introduced me to a band that has been rapidly gaining popularity around the country. These guys are home grown homies that pack a heavy bluesy punch with a hint of that modern alt rock production.
–Neal Zeleznak
“Frostbiter” by Saintseneca
Immediately upon finishing my first listen of “Frostbiter,” I flew back to Spotify and put it on repeat. Caeleigh Featherstone’s vocals are an absolute earworm in this track and compliment Zac Little’s folkiness to perfection.
–Alyssa Lee
“Ripped in Half” by All Kings Fall
These guys are local legends and as talented as it gets! This song oozes the essence and soul of metal! The breakdown is a head banger and as always Mitchell the guitar player tears it up on the solo! Every time I hear this song the devil horns immediately go up in the air!
–Guy Smith
“Blastaa (Let It Go)” by Melo Makes Music
“Blastaa” was the first track I heard from Chicago rapper Melo Makes Music, and it caught my ear. Melo raps over a bass line that’s funky as shit, and I love how his voice gets a little crackle when he yells at the chorus. This song is catchy as hell.
–Alyssa Lee
Fig Leaves by V.V. Lightbody
The minimal instrumentation and brilliant production lends itself to this gorgeous track from V.V. Lightbody’s debut album Bathing Peach. Vivian McConnell opens herself up to the listener through a dreamlike soundscape of guitars, flute, piano, and subtle percussion on what is easily one the album’s standout tracks.
–Dan Jarvis
“True” by Diagonal
I loved this song from the second I heard that crunchy-as-hell bass line. Add in that earworm of a guitar melody and layer upon layer of reverb, and you’ve got an absolute jam.
–Alyssa Lee
Something Teenage by Dream Version
A slight departure from their full-length release Fight Fair—“Something Teenage” is a post-punk tinged single that is upbeat and incredibly dance-able. The noisy but ethereal guitar and bass work call to mind the tone of Joy Division while ’80s pop embellishments catapult this song into a world of its own.
–Dan Jarvis
Ladyface by BrBra Bush
Sitting smack-dab in the middle of one of the best party albums of the summer is this stone cold, lo-fi R&B groove. Pitch-shifted vocals, a rock-steady beat and ’80s synth sounds make up in this steamy love song. Buy your significant other a Domino’s pizza tonight and put this tape in the deck.
–Dan Jarvis
“MN Goddess” by Hot Date
“MN Goddess” is a sparse, beautiful track that draws you in from the very beginning. Singer Nora O’Brien’s vocals sit on top of hypnotic instrumentation in this spacey year-end favorite.
–Alyssa Lee
Feels by Deeper
Chicago’s Deeper have really hit their stride this year with their self-titled album that came out last May via Fire Talk Records. It’s hard to pick just one song from this LP, but “Feels” sums the band up pretty well in an energetic 2-minute post-punk jam.
–Dan Jarvis
Best of 2018
ALBUMS • EPS • SONGS • MUSIC VIDEOS • VINYL RELEASES • CASSETTE RELEASES