Year-end lists are tricky. In a local music scene as rich, active and diverse as Tampa Bay’s there are always local releases that’ll fly under CL’s radar. Like the rest of the country, 2018 saw plenty of great hip-hop (hello Louis Junior, DEA & Saint) move to the forefront of the pack, but there was plenty of pop (Ella Jet), metal (Horsewhip) and experimental or outside of the box sounds (His Hem, Clang!, Nude Tayne) that caught our attention.
Tried and true scene favorites experienced spurts of creativity (Billy Summer’s Luxury Mane and Hotel Life projects), and the young folks continued to impress, too (Poster, Jordan Esker, Sun Signs).
Some artists from 2017’s best-of list showed up again (Hello Joyce, FayRoy, Elizabeth Baker), and the jazz scene showed out, too (James Suggs).
These are some of of the Bay area artists whose albums moved us in 2018. Scroll through a list here, or click through below to read more and listen to the records.
Visit Spotify to check out a mixtape featuring samples of it all, and check out our slideshow of pics of all the artists.
Carrollhood: Carrollhood/Underoath: Erase Me
Jordan Esker & the Hundred Percent: Fail To Learn
The Jackettes: The Jackettes Live the Endless Bummer
James Suggs: You’re Gonna Hear From Me
Louis Junior: Nothing More, Nothing Greater
John Nowicki: The Holy Terror (And Other Diversions)
Soapbox Soliloquy and Sonic Graffiti Ghost A-Go-Go split
Sun Signs: Dopeless Hope Fiend
