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The Thin Air’s Top 100 Irish Tracks of 2018 (#50-1)

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Christ on a rickety sleigh, was this tough. But truth be told – it’s rarely easy. As we scramble to bang heads and attempt to assimilate, order and re-order the absolute deluge of excellence that has met our ears over the previous twelve months, it’s instantly clear that there will be some notable omissions. It’s equal parts unavoidable and unfortunate, but more significantly, it’s glowing testament to what we’re dealing with in every pocket of this island.

Of course, we can’t – nor wish to – conclusively say this is “the best year for Irish music in recent memory” (the last three, in particular, have well and truly delivered). What we can say is that, combined, these tracks represent something that no end-of-year list will likely ever come close capturing: the importance of the music communities that breed, support and propel Irish musicians – be they Cork bedroom producers, Belfast indie rock upstarts, fast-rising Dublin rappers or Derry songsmiths – toward the world-stage.

Here’s part two of our two-part – #50 to #1 – of our Top 100 countdown for 2018. If you get the chance, endeavor to spend some time with these songs. Work your way down the listen and give each their due. Collectively, this is the sound of an island whose artists are going above and beyond to excavating incredible new territory and push forward into 2019 with a collective, genre-spanning, unrelentingly inspired head of steam.

Go here for #100-51.

50. Melts – Skyward

49. Maija Sofia – Flowers

48. Super Silly – Here

47. Ghostking Is Dead – Tokyo

46. Mob Wife – Warm Water

45. Jafaris – Found My Feet

44. Squarehead – Always On

43. Galants – In Vain

42. Conor Mason – Follow

41. Our Krypton Son – Falling In Love Is A Suicide Mission

40. Documenta – Jack Morbus

39. JYellowL – Me n Me Too (Freestyle)

38. Sleep Thieves – Aching Bones

37. Slouch – Petty Sounds

36. Blue Whale – Shortbread Fingers

35. The Sunshine Factory – Negative Light

34. Robyn G Shiels – An Offering As Such

33. Elaine Malone – You

32. Bouts – Face Up

31. Kitt Philippa – Human

30. Tuath – I’m Sorry, Young Man

29. Paddy Hanna – Toulouse The Kisser

28. Postcard Versions – Sunday Morning With Nate

27. Dott – Like A Girl (feat. Sadie Dupuis)

26. Pillow Queens – Gay Girls

25. Myles Manley – i’m in love w/ myself

24. Villagers – A Trick of the Light

23. The Altered Hours – Over The Void

22. Arvo Party – 4s & 7s

21. The Cyclist – Lucille

20. Doubt – Return

19. Girlfriend – Spitkissing

18. Silverbacks – Dunkirk

17. Dowry – In É

16. Syn – Coy

15. Brigid Mae Power – I’m Grateful

14. Tension – On Call

13. Just Mustard – Pigs

12. Robocobra Quartet – Bar 37 Will Shock You

11. Hilary Woods – Inhaler


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10. Rejjie Snow – Charlie Brown

9. O Emperor – Make It Rain

8. Hot Cops – Decay

7. PowPig – Birds of Paradise

6. Loah – Keep Your Heart [feat. God Knows, Bantum, Ben Bix, Dunny]

5. Junior Brother – The Back of Her

4. DJ Nervou$ x Post Punk Podge – Never Coming Home

3. Fears – h_always

2. Kojaque – White Noise

1. Vicky Langan – The Palms

is the editor of The Thin Air. Talk to him about Philip Glass and/or follow him on Twitter @brianconey.