I just * had * to do it!
Here’s a SoundCloud playlist of most of my favorite songs from 2018.
I had to make some tough cuts to keep it at only 50-strong, and I’m sure I’ve forgotten plenty of sonic gems that have sparkled during this past year…
The tunes are arranged in a specific order so that the playlist flows in sound and meaning, with the first 10 tracks in the aggressive, frustrated to exhilarating rock and punk vein, the ensuing 15 numbers in the transporting and absorbing post-punk, shoegaze, and soundscape mold, the following 9 of the catchy, rhythmic synth- and electro-pop ilk, the next 11 or so going for a bittersweet to heart-rending poignant vibe, and the last handful grasping at hope and optimism.
Hope you enjoy – and HAPPY NEW YEAR Big Takeover (online, magazine, and radio) visitors, readers, listeners, and lovers!!
Jen Dan
Big Takeover Premieres/News Editor
UPDATE: …and of course much music that caught my ear, and eye, this past year wasn’t available on SoundCloud, including:
Audio:
Audio:
Audio:
And my (eclectic, as always) BEST VIDEOS list:
Best (fun and informative) Environmental Rights (Save The Honeybees) Video:
Best Video about Beer (not that I’m a fan of it… LOL – I wish they did a video on candy!):
Best (and so sweet) age-positive video:
One of the Best lyrically relevant videos that captures the current U.S. socio-political zeitgeist:
Best live performance (in front of no audience – LOL!) – band:
Best live performance – singer:
Best fan-made (all brief reenactment clips of classic ’80s movies) video (that the band edited):
Best sexy, cheeky, NSFW video:
And Best Super-group of 2018: Beauty in Chaos
The collaborative music venture of renowned guitarist Michael Ciravolo, which features a star-studded, jam-packed array of talent including his wife Tish Ciravolo (founder of Daisy Rock guitars), Wayne Hussey (The Mission), Simon Gallup (The Cure), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Al Jourgensen (Ministry), Pete Parada (The Offspring), dUg Pinnick (Kings X), ICE-T (Body Count), Michael Aston (Gene Loves Jezebel), Michael Anthony (Van Halen), Dirk Doucette (Gene Loves Jezebel), Ashton Nyte (The Awakening), Pando (A Flock of Seagulls), Evi Vine (Evi Vine), Betsy Martin (Caterwaul, Purr Machine), Marc Danzeisen (The Riverdogs), Kevin Kipnis (Purr Machine, Kommunity FK), Rudy Matchinga (Red Scare), and Johnny Indovina (Human Drama).
Lastly, Best Super-group of 2018 who say they’re, ahem, not a super-group (but they are a super group!): Piroshka, which features Miki Berenyi (Lush), Moose (Moose), Mick Conroy (Modern English), and Justin Welch (Elastica)
