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.

1. AJR feat Rivers Cuomo - Sober Up

   The Weezer frontman teams up with this American trio of brothers with memorable results.

   

   AJR - Sober Up (feat. Rivers Cuomo) [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

2. Arctic Monkeys - Four Out Of Five

   One of the highlights of the Tranquility Base album: Alex Turner mixes glamour, space travel and online reviews.

   

   Arctic Monkeys - Four Out Of Five (Official Video)

3. Richard Ashcroft - Surprised By The Joy

   The former Verve frontman released his fifth solo album and proved he’s as essential as ever.

   

   Richard Ashcroft - Surprised by the Joy (Official Video)

4. 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.

   

   James Bay - Pink Lemonade

5. Jade Bird - Love Has All Been Done Before

   Thrilling new British singer-songwriter - 2019 will be her year.

   

   Jade Bird - Love Has All Been Done Before

6. 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…

   

   Blossoms - How Long Will This Last?

7. 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.

   

   Ian Brown - First World Problems

8. CHVRCHES - Graffiti

   Glittering electro-pop from the Glaswegian trio.

   

   CHVRCHES - Graffiti

9. Gerry Cinnamon - Sometimes

   Straight out of Glasgow without following the traditional media route, Gerry is an honest, straightforward and hugely popular new artist.

   

   GERRY CINNAMON - SOMETIMES - TRNSMT

10. Circa Waves - Movies

    The Liverpool band ready their third album for 2019 and this teaser is perfect indie pop.

    

    Circa Waves - Movies (Official lyric video)

11. The Coral - Reaching Out For A Friend

    James Skelly’s Scouse folk rock is as addictive as ever.

12. Courteeners - Not Nineteen Forever (Re: Wired)

    How do you make a classic even better? Strip it back to the essentials, that's how.

13. Editors - Cold

    Anthemic dark rock from Tom Smith and co, from their sixth album, Violence.

    

    Editors - Cold (Official Video)

14. Sam Fender - That Sound

    North Shields has given us a brilliant new singer-songwriter - the BRITs Critics Choice Award is already his.

    

    Sam Fender - That Sound (Official Video)

15. Florence And The Machine – Hunger

    Rousing, emotional and inspirational: one of Florence Welch’s most powerful songs.

    

    Florence + The Machine - Hunger

16. Gang Of Youths - Let Me Down Easy

    Australia’s best kept secret is no secret any more.

    

    Gang of Youths - Let Me Down Easy (Audio)

17. 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.

18. Isaac Gracie - Show Me Love

    Delicate, moving, passionate - and what a voice.

    

    isaac gracie - show me love

19. Hozier - Nina Cried Power

    Remarkable song about the legacy of protest - featuring the powerful vocals of soul legend and activist Mavis Staples.

    

    Hozier - Nina Cried Power ft. Mavis Staples

20. 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.

    

    Miles Kane - Cry On My Guitar

21. Elle King - Shame

    Instant bluesy classic from the Californian singer.

    

    Elle King - Shame (Official Video)

22. The Kooks - Four Leaf Clover

    Another big return for 2018 was Brighton’s Kooks, who delivered an impeccable hit in Four Leaf Clover.

    

    The Kooks - Four Leaf Clover

23. lovelytheband - Broken

    Superb American indie pop - one of the earworms of the year.

    

    lovelytheband - broken (official video)

24. Manic Street Preachers – International Blue

    The Welsh trio prove their mettle 30 years into their career with this anthemic track.

25. Johnny Marr - Hi, Hello

    The former Smiths man has a way with a winning melody - as this wistful track proves.

    

    Johnny Marr - Hi Hello - Official Music Video [HD]

26. Alice Merton - No Roots

    Big, big tune from this singer-songwriter who was born in Germany and raised in Canada.

    

    Alice Merton - No Roots

27. 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.

    

    Mumford & Sons - Guiding Light

28. 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.

    

    MUSE - Pressure [Official Music Video]

29. Pale Waves - One More Time

    Infectious indie pop at its finest.

    

    Pale Waves - One More Time

30. Snow Patrol - Empress

    Gary Lightbody proves he can still tug at our heartstrings.

    

    Snow Patrol - Empress (Band Version)

31. Sundara Karma - One Last Night On This Earth

    Epic art rock from this Reading quartet.

    

    Sundara Karma - One Last Night On This Earth (Official Video)

32. Superorganism - Something For Your M.I.N.D.

    Experimental collective who are bringing back cut-and-paste hits.

    

    Superorganism - Something For Your M.I.N.D. (Official Video)

33. Ten Tonnes - Better Than Me

    Young Ethan Barnett brings a BIG sound to 2018.

    

    Ten Tonnes - Better Than Me I Official Video

34. The Vaccines - All My Friends Are Falling In Love

    Absolute indie banger from the always reliable Justin Young and comrades.

    

    The Vaccines - All My Friends Are Falling In Love (Lyric Video)

35. Weezer - Africa

    US geek rock legends take on a classic piece of 80s balladry.

    

    Weezer - Africa (starring Weird Al Yankovic)

36. The Wombats - Turn

    Taken from their LP Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life, Wombats have returned bolder than ever.

    

    The Wombats - Turn (Official Video)

37. Yonaka – Creature

    Head-rattling rock ’n’ roll from this powerful Brighton band.

    

    YONAKA - Creature [Official Audio]