Perfect Attendance
You Did It to Yourself
A time bomb seems to tick under Saline. Oh no, the seasoned college rock crew from Athens won’t split ways any time soon (at least, we hope not!). But step far enough into their first full length You Did It to Yourself, and you’re bound to set off an explosion. As Hale Johnson holds down the fort with the tightest drums in town, the rest of the band plows into nuclear, launching Anna Staddon’s swirling poetry far above the roaring melee. Even the dreamier cuts on the album snarl with malign intentions, as if no bliss could escape Saline’s cynical gaze over the mundane. – LA
Beats in Space
Midnight Marker
With the Technicolor geometry of Midnight Marker, JD Walsh has finally found a groove for Shy Layers in Atlanta. Two years ago, the graphic artist shifted here from New York, not long after Humburg’s Growing Bin aired his acclaimed debut. This year’s follow-up folds Atlanta into the idyllic bustle, as hired voices from Craigslist shine alongside Walsh’s nimble guitar and unironic vocoder. Live, Midnight Marker has also adapted well to this city’s multi-faceted scene; this year, Walsh wowed a seated audience with sound and vision at his studio release show, and spurred kinetic energy into a packed crowd at 529. – LA
Read our interview with JD Walsh.
Self-released
Hologram
Along with Breathers and Mighty, TAYLOR ALXNDR bears the distinction of appearing on all three of our year-end lists, an impressive mark which speaks to the breadth of their creative talent and vision. Hologram takes on a wide assortment of styles and sounds—everything from buoyant synthpop and hip-hop to icy electronica and club music—and weaves into a highly infectious commentary on communication and identity in the social media age. – GC
2MR
That Which is Not Said
What can I really say about this record that hasn’t already been said? Not only is it my top pick for Atlanta in 2018, this album holds up against any of the dark synthpop records to come out in recent years. Matt Weiner’s ability to focus disparate influences into something wide-ranging but concise is only exceeded by his ability to weave densely personal lyrics into highly danceable tracks. – RR
Read our interview with Matt Weiner.
Anchovy Tapes
South of the Equator
Removed from its cultural and political underpinnings, South of the Equator remains an enthralling record full of wiry guitars and taut rhythms that build to ecstatic catharsis. But coupled with José Joaquín Izaguirre’s astute observations on his heritage and the putrid state of American politics, the record becomes something else entirely: A deeply affecting, oftentimes thrilling document that vividly dissects what it means to be a young Latinx individual in 2018. – GC
Read our feature on Yukons.