Best 20 Alternative Music Songs of 2018
2018 was another great year for alternative music. I compiled all the best new singles as they were released during the year in this Spotify playlist.
This post you are reading pulls from that list but narrows down the field to the best 20 alternative music songs released in 2018.
Voice your opinion in the comments section at the end of the best. What is your top 20 list?
1. Ghost “Dance Macabre”
Ghost played it safe with first single “Rats” off this years stellar Prequel album. “Rats” was the more Ghost-y song but second single “Dance Macabre” is the hit. Ghost was already becoming a genre-crossing juggernaut and this song is like rocket fuel for their popularity. Definitely check out their older stuff though, its fantastic.
2. The Interrupters “She’s Kerosene”
The Interrupters are helping make ska music cool again. Well, I argue its always been cool but technically it hasn’t really been that cool since 1998 or so. I’ve been following the band for a few years now and when I heard this song drop as the lead single I knew it was going to be a huge hit. So proud of this band who have worked their way up the organic way.
3. Foster the People “Sit Next To Me”
Its one of their poppier songs but still has a place here in the alternative genre discussion. This song was everywhere. Happy to see Foster and the boys with another hit. They are a great band.
4. Florence and the Machine “Hunger”
I was very disappointed in the album but “Hunger” should absolutely be considered one of the 10 best FATM songs ever.
5. Metric “Dark Saturday”
A strong comeback single for the band. This song has everything working, a memorable baseline, huge riffs, Emily Hains’s quintessential poetic lyrics, a catchy chorus, and atmospheric keyboards that the band is known to feature. This song leads off their new album Art Of Doubt which made my Top 10 Best Albums of the 2018 list.
6. Jack White “Over and Over and Over”
Vintage Jack White here. Its everything you want in a Jack White song. And its amazing live so hop on Youtube and take a look.
7. CHVRCHES “Miracle”
CHVRCHES had a monster year with lots of touring and several tracks off their latest album, Love Is Dead. “Miracle” is the perfect alternative electro-pop hit.
8. Muse “Something Human”
Muse dropped this song several months before the album came out in an interestingly timed marketing plan to promote the new album. This song has the huge arena-rock ready chorus that you get with Muse quite often. Great rock song and one of the best songs of the year indeed.
9. Twenty One Pilots “Jumpsuit”
Depending on who you asked, “Jumpsuit” was either beloved or shrugged at. It might not be the second coming of “Stressed Out” but its a great song. Allow it to be.
10. Blossoms “There’s A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls)”
Hailing from Manchester, England this band of only 5 years of age broke the doors open with this one and the rest of the album is quite good as well. If you like Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, synthesizers and anything good out of the 80s, you will probably dig this band.
11. The War On Drugs “In Chains”
12. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats “Shockwave City”
13. SWMRS “Berkeley’s On Fire”
14. The Living End “Drop the Needle”
15. The Fratellis “Starcrossed Losers”
16. Kurt Vile “Loading Zones”
17. Courtney Barnett “Nameless, Faceless”
18. DREAMERS “All Washed Out”
19. The Vaccines “Nightclub”
20. Editors “Magazine”
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