Another year has ended, and that always prompts me to review my musical preferences for the past 12 months. Ever since I was a teenager in the 70s listening to Casey Kasem, I’ve loved making my own lists of top songs. When last.fm came along over a decade ago, I signed up as soon as I found out about it. Now I have the means to know which artists, albums, and tracks I listen to the most. I get a thrill from posting my favorites as top X lists, and enjoy sharing my lists.
The year 2018 was different for me musically. In past years, I’d typically find a number of albums that enraptured me in their entirety. This year few full albums grabbed me in that way. I often ended up listening to playlists of singles more than full albums. Whenever I listened to a full album in 2018, it was often a favorite released in some previous year. That explains why some of the artists, albums, and tracks listed below weren’t all released in 2018.
My Top 10 Most-Listened-To Artists in 2018
10. Rihanna
Rihanna is my most-listened-to artist overall since I started using Last.fm in 2007, so it’s no surprise I continued listening to her music in 2018, though she didn’t have an album release. Her Good Girl Gone Bad album will always elevate my mood.
9. Ella Mai
New to my musical experience in 2018, Ella Mai’s debut studio album contained more than one track that caught my attention: Dangerous, Boo’d Up, Trip, and Naked. These tracks have a kind of beat I love, and her voice is soulful and melodic.
8. Grimes
I first started listening to Grimes in 2013. I’d just discovered her Visions album, and enjoyed it well enough, but it didn’t really hook me. Art Angels came along in 2015, and sank its teeth in me, becoming one of my overall favorite albums. In 2018 I listened to Art Angels occasionally, but what really put Grimes up on this annual list was her release of the single We Appreciate Power. Have you seen the official lyric video for that song? Of course you have, if you’re a Grimes fan. But it’s always fun to watch again!
7. Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey didn’t release a full album in 2018, but in September, a couple of new tracks appeared on Amazon Music Unlimited, the streaming service I use. Mariners Apartment Complex isn’t as catchy a title as Venice Bitch, but it’s the music that counts, and I enjoyed both tracks. Those two songs along with some favorites from previous years helped put Lana Del Rey on my list for 2018.
6. Fefe Dobson
Fefe Dobson caught my attention way back in 2003 with her eponymous debut studio album. Her second album, Sunday Love, wasn’t released on schedule, though it was released digitally some years later. Joy was her third album, released in a timely fashion. I love all three albums, and listen to them on occasion, especially Sunday Love, which is my overall most-listened-to album since I started using Last.fm. So, yeah, I listened to a lot of her older music in 2018. But she did release a new single, Save Me From LA, a sultry tune making me yearn for a fourth full album from one of the most talented yet unappreciated artists of this century.
5. The Ting Tings
I started listening to The Ting Tings in 2009, a year after they released their debut studio album, We Started Nothing. Lots of people know That’s Not My Name, one of the tracks from their debut album. Ten years after their debut release, they released their fourth studio album, The Black Light. When I first heard the title track from the album, I wondered what kind of turn The Ting Tings had taken with their music and whether I’d like it. After the second listen, I was sold.
4. Meg Myers
Meg Myers got my attention in 2014 with her Make a Shadow EP and the track Desire. She kept my attention in 2015 with the release of her debut studio album, Sorry. One of the singles from that album, Lemon Eyes, is an overall favorite track, and I adore the official video for it. In 2018, Meg Myers released her second studio album, Take Me to the Disco, one of the few albums released in 2018 that I enjoy listening to in full.
3. machineheart
My favorite band who has yet to release a full studio album, machineheart is where one of my favorite singers, Stevie Scott, landed after her attempt at a solo career. I loved her solo efforts, but as part of machineheart, she soars. The band complements her voice with its blend of rock, alternate, and orchestral rhythms. Stevie has training in opera, and her voice slides easily into the higher registers. I get chills listening to some of their tracks. The big news? They’re releasing a full studio album! People Change is slated to be released in 2019, and I’m eager to hear it. They’ve already released four tracks from the album, and every one of them is awesome. I can’t rave about this band enough.
2. Grace VanderWaal
There have been other artists who started at a young age. As I type this, Grace VanderWaal isn’t even fifteen years old yet. She’s already released a full studio album, which got some play from me this year. But I absolutely fell in love with the single she dropped in 2018, Clearly. It’s a revamped version of the song I Can See Clearly Now, a favorite song of mine from my youth. I just couldn’t get enough of Grace’s version of it. For several days I had it on repeat.
1. Kimbra
Just in… Kimbra slammed for her New Year’s Eve performance in Australia. Either she had an off day or the audio equipment failed her. Big deal. Her album Primal Heart stole my heart and had my ears throughout 2018.
My Top 10 Most-Listened-To Albums in 2018
10. The Ting Tings – The Black Light
So far, I’ve mostly listened to the first two singles from this 2018 release. I have listened to the other tracks, but I need to give them more attention. This album is sure to get a lot more play from me over the coming year.
9. Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa
Like I said earlier, 2018 didn’t bring me many full albums I enjoyed in their entirety. Dua Lipa’s debut album was one of my fall-backs when I wanted to listen to something other than a bunch of tracks in a playlist.
8. Taylor Swift – reputation
Another 2017 album release I played a lot in 2018.
7. Camila Cabello – Camila
Released in 2018, though like many other people, I’d listened to some of the songs when they were released as singles in 2017. Havana grooves.
6. machineheart – People Change
As mentioned above, this album hasn’t even been released yet. But I’ve played the four pre-released tracks enough to place the album in my top 10 list for 2018.
5. Milck – This is Not the End
Milck has something to say, and she can’t keep quiet. She put her messages to music. I’ve listened and appreciated. I hope I’ve taken her messages to heart. An EP with seven tracks, This is Not the End was released in early 2018.
4. Hey Violet – From the Outside
I like girl bands that rock. The Donnas were one of my favorites. When they stopped playing, I found a band called Cherri Bomb that seemed promising, but I only ever heard one album from them. I didn’t realize until recently that they had made some changes, including changing the name of their band to Hey Violet. The lead singer of Cherri Bomb was great, but isn’t the lead singer for Hey Violet. The new lead singer is great too. Hey Violet is maybe not an all-girl band, but that doesn’t really matter. I’ll keep listening and hoping for more.
3. Ella Mai – Ella Mai
Love Ella Mai’s 2018 self-titled album, and look forward to hearing more from her in the years to come.
2. Meg Myers – Take Me to the Disco
Take Me to the Disco was the album I anticipated the most this year, and it doesn’t disappoint. Looking forward to hearing more from Meg Myers.
1. Kimbra – Primal Heart
Did you guess this would be my #1 album for 2018? It’s loaded with tracks I can really get into.
My Top 10 Most-Listened-To Tracks in 2018
10. Hey Violet – Guys My Age
Read into this whatever you like. The song calls to me and I listen.
9. The Ting Tings – Estranged
The video for this track is my favorite video of 2018. It’s subtle and moody, making great use of light and shadow. And the song rocks, which always helps.
8. Meg Myers – Numb
7. Grimes – We Appreciate Power
6. Ella Mai – Boo’d Up
5. machineheart – Overgrown
4. Fefe Dobson – Save Me From LA
3. Milck – I Don’t Belong to You
2. Kimbra – Top of the World
Everybody Knows and Human by Kimbra were also on the top of my list, but in this post I’m only including one track per artist.
1. Grace VanderWaal – Clearly
Honorable Mentions
Here are a few other tracks from 2018 I enjoyed, in no particular order.
Marian Hill – Subtle Thing
Alice Merton – No Roots
Ariana Grande – No Tears Left to Cry
Mya – G.M.O. (Got My Own)
Meghan Trainor – Let You Be Right
Zedd & Maren Morris & Grey – The Middle
Sigala, Ella Eyre & Meghan Trainor – Just Got Paid
The most groovin’ song of 2018.
Janet Jackson – Made for Now
I’m so glad Janet Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She deserves to be there as much as anyone. No one else does it or ever will do it like Janet Jackson.
Guns N’ Roses – Shadow of Your Love
I hadn’t heard about Shadow of Your Love until I saw it on the music service in 2018. At first I thought maybe the group had gotten back together. Hey, I could hope. But no, this track could have been released long ago, and it was only just released in 2018. But it’s a cool track. Makes me wistful.
And that’s the end of my lists for 2018. Thanks for looking. Here’s to discovering great music in 2019. Really hoping for some killer full albums.