The Hex - Richard Swift

SXSW - within 24 hours: The Revolution. Blood Orange. Brandi Carlile. St Vincent. Paul McCartney. Face melting music fandom in full effect.

Joni Mitchell getting a lot of love while she’s still alive to hear it though she might not give enough of a fuck to be tuned in to any place from where that love is broadcast.

Richard Ayoade - always, but this year he triggered one of the biggest whoa breathe I can’t stop laughing fits I’ve had in a long time. Needed. Appreciated. Smart, Understated. 

ME TOO SWING LEFT EMILYS LIST SISTER DISTRICT JOLT TEXAS BROWN ISSUES FOR FREEDOMS vote counters, vote re-counters, vote supporters, those who ran, those who worked, those who raised money for those doing the good work, it's now or never and folks are digging in overdue underappreciated. THANK YOU

"Liberated" DeJ Loaf, Leon Bridges - instadance catchy backed up with need to be reminded of or hear it out loud lyric briefs "real love, less friends” I’ll listen to it again and again.  

"Manos" 25th anniversary reissue - reconnecting to old work and finding context for current and future endeavors.

CONTRE-TEMPS by Flavien Berger  

Accounts of Nick Cave solo shows - Hearing how Nick Cave navigated audiences, questions, fan love, music, pacing, sets via reports from those who attended was somehow even better than being in attendance.   

Frankie Cosmos  

Zottie Dottie (Australia), Heads Together (UK), Crisis Text Line (US) - Thank you to those expanding vocabulary and holding space around mental and emotional health. Brave, attentive, nuanced work. 

Marc Ribot - Songs Of Resistance 1942 - 2018

Ty Segall & Freedom Band "Freedom's Goblin"  

Suzanne Ciani - A Life in Waves documentary    

Emahoy Tsegué-Mariam Guèbru - Mississippi Records - This isn't a 2018 album, but a friend played it over and over this year. I'd walk into his and his boyfriend's house and this would be on the turntable, always sounded perfect, regardless of time of day, light, volume, activity...