Radio X’s Best Songs Of 2018
16 December 2018, 19:00 | Updated: 18 December 2018, 14:30
From Arctic Monkeys to The Vaccines and Gerry Cinnamon to Florence + The Machine, here is Radio X’s choice of the best songs to be released in 2018.
2018’s best tunes saw the return of Ian Brown, Richard Ashcroft and Florence + The Machine, while box fresh music came from some fantastic new artists, including Jade Bird, Sam Fender, Gang Of Youths, Gerry Cinnamon and more. Radio X takes a trip back over 2018 for the best songs of the year.
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AJR feat Rivers Cuomo - Sober Up
The Weezer frontman teams up with this American trio of brothers with memorable results.
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Arctic Monkeys - Four Out Of Five
One of the highlights of the Tranquility Base album: Alex Turner mixes glamour, space travel and online reviews.
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Richard Ashcroft - Surprised By The Joy
The former Verve frontman released his fifth solo album and proved he’s as essential as ever.
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James Bay - Pink Lemonade
After the huge success of Chaos And The Calm, Bay’s second album Electric Light proved that he’s got a long and successful career ahead of him.
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Jade Bird - Love Has All Been Done Before
Thrilling new British singer-songwriter - 2019 will be her year.
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Blossoms - How Long Will This Last?
Stockport’s finest build on their excellent debut with their second outing… and add another chapter to their “Back To The Future” series of videos…
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Ian Brown - First World Problems
He’s back! Seems like the Stone Roses reunion is done and dusted, so King Monkey is back with some zeitgeist loving solo material.
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CHVRCHES - Graffiti
Glittering electro-pop from the Glaswegian trio.
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Gerry Cinnamon - Sometimes
Straight out of Glasgow without following the traditional media route, Gerry is an honest, straightforward and hugely popular new artist.
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Circa Waves - Movies
The Liverpool band ready their third album for 2019 and this teaser is perfect indie pop.
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The Coral - Reaching Out For A Friend
James Skelly’s Scouse folk rock is as addictive as ever.
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Courteeners - Not Nineteen Forever (Re: Wired)
How do you make a classic even better? Strip it back to the essentials, that's how.
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Editors - Cold
Anthemic dark rock from Tom Smith and co, from their sixth album, Violence.
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Sam Fender - That Sound
North Shields has given us a brilliant new singer-songwriter - the BRITs Critics Choice Award is already his.
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Florence And The Machine – Hunger
Rousing, emotional and inspirational: one of Florence Welch’s most powerful songs.
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Gang Of Youths - Let Me Down Easy
Australia’s best kept secret is no secret any more.
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Tom Grennan - Found What I’ve Been Looking For
The most distinctive voice of 2018 - Grennan’s rough and bluesy sound has made him one of the finest discoveries of the year.
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Isaac Gracie - Show Me Love
Delicate, moving, passionate - and what a voice.
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Hozier - Nina Cried Power
Remarkable song about the legacy of protest - featuring the powerful vocals of soul legend and activist Mavis Staples.
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Miles Kane - Cry On My Guitar
Another unforgettable tune from the singer - and check out the video where he gets beaten up by wrestler Finn Balor. Don’t worry fans, they’re terrific friends in real life.
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Elle King - Shame
Instant bluesy classic from the Californian singer.
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The Kooks - Four Leaf Clover
Another big return for 2018 was Brighton’s Kooks, who delivered an impeccable hit in Four Leaf Clover.
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lovelytheband - Broken
Superb American indie pop - one of the earworms of the year.
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Manic Street Preachers – International Blue
The Welsh trio prove their mettle 30 years into their career with this anthemic track.
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Johnny Marr - Hi, Hello
The former Smiths man has a way with a winning melody - as this wistful track proves.
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Alice Merton - No Roots
Big, big tune from this singer-songwriter who was born in Germany and raised in Canada.
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Mumford And Sons - Guiding Light
Three years on from Wilder Mind, Marcus Mumford and his band of merrie men are back to doing what they do best.
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Muse - Pressure
Matt Bellamy and the lads have gone all 80s in the video, but don’t worry - the music is as epic as ever.
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Pale Waves - One More Time
Infectious indie pop at its finest.
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Snow Patrol - Empress
Gary Lightbody proves he can still tug at our heartstrings.
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Sundara Karma - One Last Night On This Earth
Epic art rock from this Reading quartet.
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Superorganism - Something For Your M.I.N.D.
Experimental collective who are bringing back cut-and-paste hits.
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Ten Tonnes - Better Than Me
Young Ethan Barnett brings a BIG sound to 2018.
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The Vaccines - All My Friends Are Falling In Love
Absolute indie banger from the always reliable Justin Young and comrades.
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Weezer - Africa
US geek rock legends take on a classic piece of 80s balladry.
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The Wombats - Turn
Taken from their LP Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life, Wombats have returned bolder than ever.
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Yonaka – Creature
Head-rattling rock ’n’ roll from this powerful Brighton band.