Well everybody, we did it. In two short weeks, 2018 will be over and we will all have somehow survived yet another 365 days on this earth. Now instead of using this space to talk about how shitty of a year it has been (because trust us, we could certainly sound off right now) we’d instead like to use this opportunity to shine a light on some of the finest things to come out of 2018 – you know, like best album, best song, best movie, etc.
Like we’ve done in years past, instead of pretending to be the hip tastemakers and trendy influences like other websites, we’ve completely turned our year-end best-of list over to the artists we cover on a daily basis – because let’s face it, their opinions are the ones we really care about, right?
Right.
So to check out what bands like Memphis May Fire, Fit For A King, 3oh!3, As It Is, Sylar and more have all been obsessing over for this past year, be sure to see below. We hope you love the final list as much as we do and we wish you all the most relaxing and positive holiday season.
Enjoy!
Best Album of 2018:
Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire: Dan + Shay - Dan + Shay
Ryan Kirby of Fit For A King: RITUALS - Deaf Havana
Nat Motte of 3oh!3: Chrome Neon Jesus - Teenage Wrist
Ira George of Movements: Technology - Don Broco
Cody Quistad of Wage War: Dan + Shay -
Dan + Shay
Jay Forrest and Josh Brigham of Hopesfall: Honey - Robyn
Ben Langford-Biss of As It Is: Thank You for Today - Death Cab for Cutie
Jayden Panesso of Sylar: Beerbongs and Bentleys - Post Malone
Tyler Riley of Gideon: If I Know Me - Morgan Wallen
Adrian Estrella of Assuming We Survive: Technology - Don Broco
Palisades: Prequelle - Ghost
Matt Gravolin of Hellions: Stranger in the Alps - Phoebe Bridgers
Calling All Captains’ Nick Malychuk & Luc Gauthier: Proper Dose - The Story So Far
Tyler Levenson of Afterlife: Welcome To The Neighbourhood - Boston Manor
Camm Knopp of Never Loved: Time & Space - Turnstile + Proper Dose - The Story So Far (it’s a tie sorry)
Patrick Hamilton of Vanish: Come Over When You’re Sober pt.2 - Lil Peep
Vagrants: When The End Began - Silent Planet
Household: Nearer my God - Foxing
Daniel Nelson of LIMBS: Bad Witch by Nine Inch Nails is the best album of the year in my opinion. I am heavily into Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ work and I just love that they went for a totally different sound and vibe with Bad Witch compared to all the NIN records prior. They blend modern jazz with industrial, chaotic synthscapes and it’s absolutely wild.
Best Song of 2018:
Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire: "Better Now" by Post Malone
Ryan Kirby of Fit For A King: “Hereafter” by Architects
Nat Motte of 3oh!3: "Swallow" by Teenage Wrist
Ira George of Movements: “4Ever” by Clairo
Cody Quistad of Wage War: “Tequila” by Dan + Shay
Jay Forrest and Josh Brigham of Hopesfall: “Middle America” by Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks
Ben Langford-Biss of As It Is: “It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You)” by The 1975
Jayden Panesso of Sylar: “SAD!” by XXXTentaction
Tyler Riley of Gideon: “Slow Burn” by Kacey Musgraves
Adrian Estrella of Assuming We Survive: “Better Now” by Post Malone
Palisades: “Mantra” by Bring Me The Horizon
Matt Gravolin of Hellions: “Please Don’t Die” by Father John Misty
Calling All Captains’ Nick Malychuk & Luc Gauthier: “Bodybag” by LIL LOTUS feat. Coldhart
Tyler Levenson of Afterlife: “Mo Bamba” by Sheck Wes
Camm Knopp of Never Loved: “High Hopes” by Panic! At The Disco (big mood)
Patrick Hamilton of Vanish: “Lavender Bones” by Stand Atlantic
Vagrants: “Doomsday” by Architects
Household: “Keeping Up” by Microwave
Daniel Nelson of LIMBS: “On My Teeth” by Underoath. I don’t care what anyone says, they wrote a phenomenal record and knew they would get flak for it. They deserve all the recognition they have been getting because they have been working hard since the beginning. It was so sick to see them get a Grammy nomination too. That was essentially a big middle finger to all of their nay-sayers, whether they win or not.
Best Music Video of 2018:
Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire: “This Is America” by Childish Gambino
Ryan Kirby of Fit For A King: “Hereafter” by Architects
Nat Motte of 3oh!3: "New Light" by John Mayer
Ira George of Movements: “Say Something” by Justin Timberlake ft. Chris Stapleton
Cody Quistad of Wage War:
“Hereafter” by Architects
Jay Forrest and Josh Brigham of Hopesfall: “Dark Speed” by Failure
Ben Langford-Biss of As It Is: “Sincerity is Scary” by The 1975
Jayden Panesso of Sylar: “SICKO MODE” by Travis Scott
Tyler Riley of Gideon: “Aeon” by Crystal Lake
Adrian Estrella of Assuming We Survive: “This Is America” by Childish Gambino
Palisades: “SICKO MODE” by Travis Scott
Matt Gravolin of Hellions: “Sincerity is Scary” by The 1975
Calling All Captains’ Nick Malychuk & Luc Gauthier: “This Is America” by Childish Gambino
Tyler Levenson of Afterlife: “SICKO MODE” by Travis Scott
Camm Knopp of Never Loved: “New Light” by John Mayer
Patrick Hamilton of Vanish: “God Is A Woman” by Ariana Grande
Vagrants: “Rose Quartz/Fulton Street I” by La Dispute
Household: “thank u, next” by Ariana Grande
Daniel Nelson of LIMBS: Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” has gotta be THE best music video of this year. I have nothing but respect for Donald Glover and the way he presented controversial, political topics through all of the blunt, straight-forward imagery throughout that video. He’s never put out anything I haven’t enjoyed front to back.
Most Underrated Album of 2018:
Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire: Are You Even There At All? - Brent Walsh
Ryan Kirby of Fit For A King: Gray States EP - The Material
Nat Motte of 3oh!3: Graffiti U - Keith Urban
Ira George of Movements: Man of The Woods - Justin Timberlake
Cody Quistad of Wage War: Seasons - Sylar
Jay Forrest and Josh Brigham of Hopesfall: Holy Hell - Architects
Ben Langford-Biss of As It Is: Be More Kind - Frank Turner
Jayden Panesso of Sylar: Kids – The Midnight
Tyler Riley of Gideon: Hatred Softly Spoken - Chamber
Adrian Estrella of Assuming We Survive: In Our Wake - Atreyu
Palisades: Come Hell - Dead Crown
Matt Gravolin of Hellions: Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino - Arctic Monkeys
Calling All Captains’ Nick Malychuk & Luc Gauthier: Blue In The Dark - Bearings
Tyler Levenson of Afterlife: When The End Began - Silent Planet
Camm Knopp of Never Loved: Some Rap Songs - Earl Sweatshirt
Patrick Hamilton of Vanish: Taco - Bilmuri
Vagrants: Palms - Thrice
Household: Pierre - Pierre [ed note: We have no idea if it’s this or this. Guess you’ll have to decide!]
Daniel Nelson of LIMBS: Vince Staples’ FM Radio is very underrated in my opinion. I haven’t seen much about it at all since it dropped and it’s a sick follow up to Big Fish Theory.
Best Movie of 2018:
Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire: Bohemian Rhapsody
Ryan Kirby of Fit For A King: Upgrade
Nat Motte of 3oh!3: Isle Of Dogs
Ira George of Movements: Annihilation
Cody Quistad of Wage War:
Incredibles 2
Jay Forrest and Josh Brigham of Hopesfall: Avengers: Infinity Wars
Ben Langford-Biss of As It Is: A Star Is Born
Jayden Panesso of Sylar: Avengers: Infinity War
Tyler Riley of Gideon: Ready Player One
Adrian Estrella of Assuming We Survive: Bohemian Rhapsody
Palisades: BlacKkKlansman
Matt Gravolin of Hellions: Hereditary
Calling All Captains’ Nick Malychuk & Luc Gauthier: Avengers: Infinity War
Tyler Levenson of Afterlife: Avengers: Infinity War
Camm Knopp of Never Loved: Deadpool 2
Patrick Hamilton of Vanish: The Ritual
Vagrants: Avengers: Infinity War
Household: BlacKkKlansman
Daniel Nelson of LIMBS: Hereditary, hands down. Best story, best character development, best everything. Acting, special effects. EVERYTHING. I don’t wanna give away too much because I want whoever is reading this to watch it for themselves.
Most Binge-Worthy Show of 2018:
Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire: Riverdale
Ryan Kirby of Fit For A King: Ozark
Nat Motte of 3oh!3: Bodyguard
Ira George of Movements: The Final Table
Cody Quistad of Wage War: Nashville
Jay Forrest and Josh Brigham of Hopesfall: Haunting of Hill House
Ben Langford-Biss of As It Is: The Innocent Man
Jayden Panesso of Sylar: Ozark (Season 2), My Hero Academia
Tyler Riley of Gideon: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Adrian Estrella of Assuming We Survive: Vikings
Palisades: Haunting of Hill House
Matt Gravolin of Hellions: Ozark (Season 2)
Calling All Captains’ Nick Malychuk & Luc Gauthier: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Tyler Levenson of Afterlife: Bodyguard
Camm Knopp of Never Loved: The Office... duh
Patrick Hamilton of Vanish: Haunting of Hill House
Vagrants: The Office
Household: Better Call Saul
Daniel Nelson of LIMBS: If you haven’t seen Wild, Wild Country on Netflix yet, you need to. My girlfriend and I binged through that show with a quickness. What a crazy time it would have been to be alive and living in Wasco County, Oregon when all of that was going down.
Favorite Internet Moment of 2018 (Viral Video, GIF, Meme, etc.):
Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire: Super Bowl selfie kid
Ryan Kirby of Fit For A King: Thanos memes
Nat Motte of 3oh!3: This Post Malone / 21 Savage / Nickelback mashup video
Ira George of Movements: The Real Bros Of Simi Valley
Cody Quistad of Wage War:
Moth memes got me pretty good for a while.
Jay Forrest and Josh Brigham of Hopesfall: This.
Ben Langford-Biss of As It Is: The rise and fall of Mason Ramsey
Jayden Panesso of Sylar: “Weird flex, but okay”
Tyler Riley of Gideon: Mason Ramsey
Adrian Estrella of Assuming We Survive: Don Broco Warped Tour workout video
Palisades: Pikachu shocked face
Matt Gravolin of Hellions: “Weird flex, but okay”
Calling All Captains’ Nick Malychuk & Luc Gauthier: Squished face Lil Xan/moth memes
Tyler Levenson of Afterlife: Any and all Casey Frey videos
Camm Knopp of Never Loved: Spongebob memes are great
Patrick Hamilton of Vanish: The bird Spongebob meme
Vagrants: Surprised Pikachu
Daniel Nelson of LIMBS: I try not to get too caught up with all of that but the moth memes were pretty great.
Thing(s) You Wish You Had Done in 2018 But Didn’t:
Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire: Exercise lol
Ryan Kirby of Fit For A King: Go to the gym more.
Nat Motte of 3oh!3: Feeling pretty good about 2018, honestly. I voted and did my civic duty, paid my taxes, toured the country twice, worked hard, treated the people close to me with love and respect and tried to do that with everyone I came across!
Ira George of Movements: Eat healthier
Cody Quistad of Wage War:
Made a million dollars.
Jay Forrest and Josh Brigham of Hopesfall: Watch our favorite teams win the Super Bowl. A collectively impossible feat.
Ben Langford-Biss of As It Is: Have more rest.
Jayden Panesso of Sylar: Wish I stuck to my workout plan like I originally intended to.
Tyler Riley of Gideon: Go to Brazil
Adrian Estrella of Assuming We Survive: Worked out more, learned how to play the clarinet.
Palisades: Cook at home more.
Matt Gravolin of Hellions: Procrastinated less
Calling All Captains’ Nick Malychuk & Luc Gauthier: Tour the United States of America
Tyler Levenson of Afterlife: I have no regrets! 2018 was an incredible year for me.
Camm Knopp of Never Loved: Tour more.
Vagrants: Travel outside of the USA
Household: Hang out with friends and family more
Daniel Nelson of LIMBS: Tour with Deftones. Hopefully Chino will read this and maybe consider taking LIMBS out next year?
Bonus Question: 2019 New Year’s Resolution:
Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire: Perform in New Zealand
Ryan Kirby of Fit For A King: Play in South America!
Nat Motte of 3oh!3: To yet again, not make any resolutions!
Ira George of Movements: Eat healthier
Cody Quistad of Wage War:
Be more healthy: physically and mentally. Write the best songs I’ve ever written.
Jay Forrest and Josh Brigham of Hopesfall: Be hardcore.
Ben Langford-Biss of As It Is: Have even less rest.
Jayden Panesso of Sylar: Play in new continents with Sylar, learn more about engineering music on my own.
Tyler Riley of Gideon: Put out our best album yet
Adrian Estrella of Assuming We Survive: Workout more, give back to the community and better myself
Palisades: Make more music for 2019
Matt Gravolin of Hellions: Procrastinated less
Calling All Captains’ Nick Malychuk & Luc Gauthier: Play 150 Shows
Tyler Levenson of Afterlife: Travel to more of the world, see everything I possibly can.
Camm Knopp of Never Loved: Bust more butt get more bread
Vagrants: TOUR outside of the USA
Household: Write music and hang out with friends and family ;)
Daniel Nelson of LIMBS: To release a record of my own. I have been heavily into synths and music recording and production in general. I’m gonna try to delve more into that world next year and hopefully have something to show for it.
