I wanted to write and publish so much more on my blog this year. It gets hard to write when you feel hopeless. For around 6 months in 2018 the glimmers of hope I had been fixed on were fading into oblivion and I found myself more lost than ever. I would try and write about things I loved or ideas I thought would help people but felt I had to erase my work. The lens of hopelessness is skewed. It is ugly and distorted. Most of all it is not the truth. My hope was built on sinking sand, but what remained is worth more than gold. The sun still rises, hope gets restored, my Redeemer lives. 2018 is a year of great contrast and it is hard to know how I will perceive it 10 years from now. I have always been grateful to soundtrack my life with music both current and past, it helps me remember where I was, how I felt, and what the situation was. It reminds me that there is so much to rejoice over, and that while most of the world is garbage what is precious and good outweighs the bad. My son was born and I’m back in ministry, there is no time to pay attention to past hurt and disappointment. Like you should listen to good music and not anything that is played on the radio. Here is what meant so much to me in the year 2018.
- Shame– Songs Of Praise
I read something about this band at a record store when my wife and I were in England last year and made a note to check them out. They released their album in January and I bought it knowing nothing about how they sounded. It gives me hope for the future that music like this is being made. I have heard they are awesome live; I am really hoping they come through Denver in 2019.
- Culture Abuse– Bay Dream
One of the only shows I made it out to this year had Culture Abuse opening, and they did not disappoint. Easily the happiest and most positive sounding thing I listened to this year. I was hoping it would be rougher punk sound, but it came around for me that they made a summery pop record. My daughter choreographed a dance to ‘Bee Kind To the Bugs,’ which was a super redeeming part of my summer.
- Nothing– Dance On The Blacktop
My least favorite album cover of the year couldn’t ruin this spectacular noise exhibition. Lots of buried treasure here, repeat listens helped me find new favorites with every listen. Simultaneously pretty and ugly, both pop and shoegaze, accessible and unappealing.
- Iceage– Beyondless
Iceage only make great albums. I already knew this, but was still pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Beyondless. I think it was actually less experimental and easier to digest than their last project, paying off with easily enjoyable songs.
- Czarface & MF DOOM– Czarface Meets Metal Face
I love MF DOOM, so I gave this album a chance after seeing that it existed. It was my introduction to Czarface, who I now love. It had everything I like in hip-hop: cartoon references, Nintendo sounds and clever wordplay. I’m super excited about the Czarface & Ghostface Killah album coming this year.
- Beach House– 7
I was bummed because I didn’t have the funds to buy this when it came out, so I had to wait a couple of months to get a copy. I missed the hype but it didn’t tarnish it for me. It feels like a dream you only partially remember but fully enjoy.
- Turnstile– Time & Space
Okay, it is a straight ahead hardcore record that could have fit in to the scene 15 years ago. It’s not super creative and breaks no new ground. Why did I enjoy it so much? I love hardcore and appreciated someone making music that was neither a nostalgia act nor progressing past the genre. Just a crazy group of guys making hard music. Plus, the concert was nuts, YouTube them for a reference.
- Parquet Courts– Wide Awake!
When a band that has made 2 of your favorite records of the last few years plays on ‘Ellen’, you aren’t sure what to think. Were they being ironic or sincere? Then you remember their entire sound and persona is totally ironic, like working with Danger Mouse and refusing to have a Facebook page. Whatever, these guys put out another great record and I’ll keep listening as long as they keep making interesting music. It doesn’t hold a candle to previous albums ‘Light Up Gold’ or ‘Human Performance’, but they can’t top themselves every time.
- Father John Misty– God’s Favorite Customer
I always enjoy J Tillman’s lyrics, but I’m getting a bit tired. He’s like a philosophy student that you enjoy talking to, but he gets smugger with every conversation and you just want to smack him. He’s still clever and the musical arrangements are lush. I loved that the songs were briefer than his previous album, it makes it easier to digest. I hope he takes a few years off so I can find him fascinating again.
- Deafheaven– Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
Another slab of black metal shoegaze from the mighty Deafheaven. It would be higher on the list but it suffers the same problem I had with Parquet Courts: it wasn’t as good as their previous work. I can’t think of many other metal bands that I have loved that I can still get into, but these guys are still fascinating.
Honorable Mentions
Janelle Monáe– Dirty Computer
Other than a couple of great songs, this was the biggest disappointment of the year. Janelle Monáe used to be so exciting and weird, now she is a pandering spokesperson for the idiocy the world shoves down reasons throat. Unfortunate.
Cold Cave– You & Me & Infinity EP
This was incredibly enjoyable, but I didn’t include it in my top 10 because it was only 4 songs long. I was super disappointed I missed them when they came to Denver, I have heard they put on a great show.
thebearplane 
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