2018 Recap of New Releases
Quiet - The best releases from 2018 that keep the energy low and the decibels suppressed. It’s a mellow set featuring singer songwriters, chillwave, acoustic, and voice-focused releases.
https://open.spotify.com/user/mikengarrett/playlist/6htdUIaYdtFV1jPotWhZ4V?si=tqv14HwFQH2Jh_hCsqzLtA
Heavy - The best releases from 2018 that turn the amps up to 11 from the depths of hell. It’s a brutal set featuring metal, doom, death-focused releases. The louder and heavier, the better.
https://open.spotify.com/user/mikengarrett/playlist/2CWoQTf1nRSCArYhnIghUk?si=6TWH-QhqQ6mqnUBSzbsTgA
Party Music, Complextro to Chillwave - The best releases from 2018 that start by bringing the bass and blowing out the windows, but devolve into chill tracks to close out the night. It’s a set featuring high-energy pop, EDM, house, and robots battling robots releases.
https://open.spotify.com/user/mikengarrett/playlist/2FkT0Ny0PNgNP9TkNmdxy7?si=CgVmZVK6QyqTsMLuvD5Shw
Pop Vocalists - The best releases from 2018 focused on Pop. In looking at some of the strongest vocal-foremost releases, we attempted to carve out an identity for what pop is in 2018. Ignore the radio. Play the releases.
https://open.spotify.com/user/mikengarrett/playlist/2SRLoHw6rW8ZxTjpMsQwFi?si=oiSFDaRIStqiEak7qZNYng
Preach to a Beat - The best releases from 2018 that spit gold. While most of these releases fit solidly in hip hop and rap, we included anyone with a strong message and the beat needed to convey.
https://open.spotify.com/user/mikengarrett/playlist/15fdPqjRGiIXtWiDED09Ai?si=32kp1kDdS7yWJB2gAb_RPA
Listen Closely - The best releases from 2018 that make stop and wonder. These were the releases that made me stop and play the track over and over again to try and reassert my bearings. These releases break the mold and require listens to the full albums, not just these tracks. Eat your greens.
https://open.spotify.com/user/mikengarrett/playlist/2cza5b9PpdC4097QNjT6Q6?si=HfyOZKVVSzazhHdMwWrSyQ
Grit Rock - The best releases from 2018 with full bands playing in the dirt. Some may call this folk or folk rock, but it’s much larger than that. You’ll find releases from grunge to sourthern rock and psychedelica to sleaze.
https://open.spotify.com/user/mikengarrett/playlist/6MCIpzfB32I8Djkt9Eo1eJ?si=nTpgVozjQVGi624iCmx2pA
Grandpas Guitars - The best releases from 2018 with old, acoustic instruments. Most of you know this as Folk, but this playlists goes beyond that encompass any music that’s better played on a back porch. You’ll find releases from new americana to folk and country to swing.
https://open.spotify.com/user/mikengarrett/playlist/4RPtn9aldjR0uZBywfFIFk?si=i-0XNhWcToCrg9XomMGlJg
Power Rock - The best releases from 2018 from rock bands that belong in a stadium. These bands all dress in the same costumes, have pyrotechnics and light shows, and hit every note exactly right every single time. Includes Punk, Rock, Permanent Wave, and a bit of Noise.
https://open.spotify.com/user/mikengarrett/playlist/4Y5b0aTI6TzttkCIpBhdUI?si=uWAw0Wr4R0mEJEX_9Pu2cg
Whatever They Call Indie These Days - The best releases from 2018 known as Indie. That doesn’t do a good job of identifying the music, so let me give it a shot. These are the releases in direct conflict with Pop, but often garner more spins and fan bases than pop musicians. You may be disappointed, but does that really matter?
https://open.spotify.com/user/mikengarrett/playlist/1VxzXHwe7YL90OrxIpvYjn?si=dVP--34uQqSKk2hreuz5KQ
Lowdown House Party - The best releases from 2018 that make you want to get down and boogie with the band. It’s a brassy, bluesy set featuring some of the best big bands and brass-inspired releases. Get funky with it.
https://open.spotify.com/user/mikengarrett/playlist/1iJwG1fLVA0fxwVMg0n3er?si=c0PHzGk0Q6q5xMrm6oGjRQ
Beyond Discover Weekly and Release Radar
Other weekly stuff you can follow
Music That Matters – Podcast from KEXP
Bandcamp Weekly — Show from Bandcamp (Attention: there is no permanent address for the show, you will have to click on "Browse past shows")
Beats 1's Best of the Week — If you want to have a good idea of what is popular right now, this is a good bet. Only on Apple Music.
Spotify's New Music Friday — The mammoth in the room. You probably have heard of it already.