Bad Copy

How in the actual fuck can a year feel so short yet so long at the same time? It felt like 2018 whizzed right by, but when I was compiling my list of the best albums of the year, I basically had to look up almost every single one to double check they did in fact come out this year. There was a lot of “No fucking way that came out this year” and “Shit man, I forgot about that album.”

I present to you my favorite albums of 2018. These are in an order. Does the order matter? Yes. Music is a competition after all. Why else would they have the battle of the bands? Some of these probably should be higher, like The Creeps. But I haven’t bought the album yet, so I’m judging it based off that one time I listened to it on Bandcamp. I need to get join the 21^st century and get a fucking premium streaming service. This is ridiculous.

These didn’t make that sweet sweet Top 10 cut, but they are still pretty good albums you should probably listen to:

25. Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers – Bought to Rot (Bloodshot Records)
24. Hospital Job – Haze Like Me (Rad Girlfriend Records)
23. Turnspit – Desired Paths (Dodgeball Records)
22. Canadian Rifle – Peaceful Death (Dead Broke Rekerds)
21. Swingin’ Utters – Peace and Love (Fat Wreck Chords)
20. The Drowns – View from the Bottom (Live From The Rock Room)
19. Tracy Soto – Tracy Soto (Self-Released)
18. Horror Squad – Death Posi (Black Cats Record Klub)
17. Alkaline Trio – Is This Thing Cursed? (Epitaph Records)
16. The Creeps – Beneath the Pines (It’s Alive Records)
15. Matt Caskitt and the Breaks – All Good Things Come to an End (Self-Released)
14. Hey, Chels – Hey Chels (Self-Released)
13. Lucero – Among the Ghosts (Liberty and Lament)
12. Dollar Signs – This Will Haunt Me (A-F Records)
11. Night Birds – Roll Credits (Fat Wreck Chords)

Drum roll. Here are THE TOP 10 ALBUMS I DIDN’T HATE IN 2018!

10. Brendan Kelly and the Wandering Birds – Keep Walkin’ Pal (Red Scare Industries)

This shit is weird. Real weird, but it’s peak Brendan Kelly. Instant “classics” like “Shitty Margarita” and “Huggz” are marred by the fact this album has “I’m The Man” on it, which is still stupidly catchy in its own right. I hate how much I love this stupid fucking album.

9. Direct Hit! – Crown of Nothing (Fat Wreck Chords)

I was surprised when Direct Hit! announced they had a new album coming out. I swear it was just yesterday that they released Wasted Mind, but a quick Google search says that was in fucking 2016. My internal clock is fucked.

8. Regan Ashton – And All the People You Always Have With You (La Escalera Records)

Problem Daughter is dope. Regan is in Problem Daughter. Regan put out a dope country album. Scum bag country for scum bag people. You can buy this on vinyl finally.

7. Melted – Thin Skin (Stardumb Records & others)

I don’t see a lot of people talk about Melted and that’s not good. I saw these guys play at Out of the Park pizza in Anaheim and they fucking ruled. And this is a solid fucking record. They’re like a Southern California Meat Wave. Also, go listen to Meat Wave while you’re at it.

6. The Brokedowns – Sick of Space (Red Scare Industries)

Kendra asked me before I came to Chicago once if I liked The Brokedowns. I said I didn’t know much about them. Turns out I had all their music already downloaded on my iPod and I was a single question away from absolutely loving them. This record is a Brokedowns record, and if you are in the know like I am now, it fucking rules.

5. The Shell Corporation – Fucked (La Escalera Records)

“Shell Corp managed to land in that sweet spot once again, being just familiarly different, and bringing their biting sharp criticism of the world with them just when we need it the most.”

4. Amigo the Devil – Everything is Fine (Regime Music Group)

Two country albums in one year? Crazy. While Regan makes scumbag country, this album leans more towards what can only be described as Death Metal Country. If you like dark and spooky lyrics with acoustic guitars and sometimes banjo, you’ll be into Amigo the Devil.

3. Red City Radio – SkyTigers (Red Scare Industries)

“It’s dark and broody, with a Super Shredder guitar solo. Even the whispered ‘It’s coming’ didn’t make me roll my eyes out of my fucking skull. That’s how much I love this fucking song [In the Shadows].”

2. Squarecrow – Before the Sun Catches Us All (La Escalera Records & Swamp Cabbage Records)

“Before the Sun Catches Us All: Four Daniel Riverolls out of four since I didn’t mention him once in this entire review. Sorry buddy, good job drumming.”

1. Cursive – Vitriola (15 Passenger)

Holy Shit, what fucking year is it? If you asked me a year ago if my favorite album would be one from Cursive, I would have thought you were fucking insane. I fancy myself a Cursive fan. But honestly, I have never seen them play until this year, and really the only album I like is 2003’s The Ugly Organ. Happy Hollow was mostly fine. But goddamn did I not like I Am Gemini or Mama, I’m Swollen. And don’t even get me started on that turd Domestica or whatever the couple albums before that were. But like a lot of bands that are past their prime (Thrice), I’m willing to give whatever they put out at least a chance. I guess I only like Cursive when they have a person playing cello. Whatever. This album is real good.

And fuck you, that Drug Church album sucked.