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The 60 Best Songs of 2018

The year in song reflected the state of the world around us. Here are the 60 songs that spoke to us this year.

                                      
Music
    
        Sziget Festival Days 6 and 7: Shawn Mendes Charms, Arctic Monkeys Make the Rain Go Away
    
Ana Yorke

        16 Aug 2018
    
Music
    
        Mad Cool Festival Day 2: The Arctic Monkeys and a Massive Shame
    
Ana Yorke

        14 Jul 2018
    
Music
    
        Arctic Monkeys Make a Brilliant Shift of Their Sound on 'Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino'
    
Richard Driver

        18 May 2018

Recent

Music

The Last Shadow Puppets: Everything You've Come to Expect

Simultaneously fresher yet less exciting and memorable than its predecessor, Everything You've Come to Expect captures almost everything that makes the Last Shadow Puppets stand out.

Music

Mini Mansions: The Great Pretenders

Melodic, dark, contemporary music with delightful twists and turns, Mini Mansions's The Great Pretenders offers fans a bit of psychedelic swirl amalgamated with sensible, fairly sophisticated, fun pop rock.

Music

Counterbalance: Arctic Monkeys' 'AM'

This week's Counterbalance got some interstellar-gator skin boots and a helter skelter 'round her little finger and I ride it endlessly. Take a dip in the Arctic Monkeys' daydreams with their latest release.

Music

Drowners: Drowners

Drowners are not quite "New Generation" nor "The Wild Ones" more "Lazy" or "Trash".

Music

Arctic Monkeys - "One For the Road" (video) + Tour Dates

Arctic Monkeys have come a long way since their neo-Britpop "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" days. Who'd have thought they'd ever have a video featuring tractors of all things...

Music

Arctic Monkeys' Predictable Renovation

With the release of Arctic Monkeys’ fifth album, AM, we can now definitely confirm that they are a brand new band. What happened to those teenagers that represented youth and were once the voice of a generation? Have they changed that much since then?

Music

Arctic Monkeys - "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High" (video)

The last two Arctic Monkeys singles have exposed an all-too-human chink in leadman Alex Turner’s leather-clad armor: the dude has a serious weakness for drunk/stoned dialing.

Music

Arctic Monkeys - "Do I Wanna Know?" (video)

Boyish and clean-shaven, Arctic Monkeys may not have the look of a stoner-rock act, but they’re getting better and better at sounding like one.

Music

The Wombats: iTunes Festival London 2011

How many souvenirs does it take to create a junk drawer?

Jedd Beaudoin

Music

Waxing Nostalgic: The Mantras of the Music Geek

Four music geeks reunite to reminisce over their college days in the late '80s. Bold mantras about what's wrong with today's music ensue.

Music

Arctic Monkeys: Suck It and See

The nods to their own past are always brief and measured; this album was crafted by a band moving inescapably forward.

Reviews

Arctic Monkeys: 13 April 2010 - Tulsa, OK

Thus, this sealed the deal in terms of a very disappointing performance. Let’s hope it was just one bad show and nothing more.

Music

Arctic Monkeys: 6.Dec.2009 - Chicago

Photos by Jon Gitchoff

Jon Gitchoff

Reviews

Arctic Monkeys: 3 August 2009 - New York

There’s a difference between being “fan friendly” and “for the fans”, and this was definitely a show that was for the fans.

Music

Arctic Monkeys: Humbug

Humbug is a dark, ambitious album that sounds as comfortable in the coffee lounge as in the mosh pit.

Music

Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare

Although lacking the pop of their debut, these UK indie rockers continue to evolve, turning out a strong batch of thorny songs on their sophomore album.

Reviews

'Step It Up and Go' Gives North Carolina Music Its Dues

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The year in song reflected the state of the world around us. Here are the 60 songs that spoke to us this year.

Simultaneously fresher yet less exciting and memorable than its predecessor, Everything You've Come to Expect captures almost everything that makes the Last Shadow Puppets stand out.

Melodic, dark, contemporary music with delightful twists and turns, Mini Mansions's The Great Pretenders offers fans a bit of psychedelic swirl amalgamated with sensible, fairly sophisticated, fun pop rock.

This week's Counterbalance got some interstellar-gator skin boots and a helter skelter 'round her little finger and I ride it endlessly. Take a dip in the Arctic Monkeys' daydreams with their latest release.

Drowners are not quite "New Generation" nor "The Wild Ones" more "Lazy" or "Trash".

Arctic Monkeys have come a long way since their neo-Britpop "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" days. Who'd have thought they'd ever have a video featuring tractors of all things...

From dynamic post-punk to brawny stoner-rock to jangly California pop to moonlit glam, Arctic Monkeys' five albums have displayed impressive range. It’s the main reason why they occupy the enviable spot they do in the music world.

With the release of Arctic Monkeys’ fifth album, AM, we can now definitely confirm that they are a brand new band. What happened to those teenagers that represented youth and were once the voice of a generation? Have they changed that much since then?

The last two Arctic Monkeys singles have exposed an all-too-human chink in leadman Alex Turner’s leather-clad armor: the dude has a serious weakness for drunk/stoned dialing.

Boyish and clean-shaven, Arctic Monkeys may not have the look of a stoner-rock act, but they’re getting better and better at sounding like one.

How many souvenirs does it take to create a junk drawer?

Four music geeks reunite to reminisce over their college days in the late '80s. Bold mantras about what's wrong with today's music ensue.

The nods to their own past are always brief and measured; this album was crafted by a band moving inescapably forward.

Thus, this sealed the deal in terms of a very disappointing performance. Let’s hope it was just one bad show and nothing more.

Photos by Jon Gitchoff

There’s a difference between being “fan friendly” and “for the fans”, and this was definitely a show that was for the fans.

Humbug is a dark, ambitious album that sounds as comfortable in the coffee lounge as in the mosh pit.

Although lacking the pop of their debut, these UK indie rockers continue to evolve, turning out a strong batch of thorny songs on their sophomore album.

Chosen by the people, a young quartet with a frontman touched by greatness deliver a sometimes fine, sometimes fantastic, always fun debut with feeling. Pass it on...