Real talk, y’all: I’ve never been more proud of Atlanta as I’ve been this year. Granted, I’ve only documented two years of this city’s music for Immersive, so feel free to take my word with a grain of salt. But seriously! Already the former closet-space-sized 529 feels like a distant memory, with all the times I’ve drifted to the larger stage since April. You should see the piles of cassettes by my stereo; and if you’ve seen me out and about you’ve probably already seen my badge-studded purse. I still catch myself moping to the back sometimes, but in eight of ten shows the hometown teams keep me glued to the front. Everyone’s honing their chops, trying new combos, testing out unfamiliar environs, and jumping on the most implausible bills. It’s wild, it’s exciting, and I’m doing the best I can to soak it all in.

That said, these 50 songs culled together by our staff mean different things to each of us. Ostensibly, they’re the best singles and album cuts from a year of strong contenders. Reigning champs like Eureka California, ABRA, Omni and 10th Letter reclaim their winning streak, and fresh faces like Chick Wallace, the Threats, Blammo, and Flamingo Shadow join the circle. Many of these featured artists also penned whole albums worthy of your attention, but in the end, the songs on this list are the ones that grabbed our ears first, or stuck the longest in our heads, or spoke the most important truths.

For me, in particular, about 20 of the items on this list also represent those magic nights when I felt so proud to be a part of this city. Like when Karaoke and Neighbor Lady first swept me off my feet. Or the multiple times I’ve moshed in a crowd with Jay Americana. Or several weeks in a row when I’ve seen Haint dumbfound audiences with her crazy skills. Chances are, if you’re a regular reader, this list will dredge up some beautiful moments for you, too; and if you haven’t witnessed any of these acts yet, here’s a good (though not exhaustive) list of what to listen out for. – Lee Adcock

Abby Gogo

“Poor and Money”

For fans who thought they might never get to hear a studio version of Abby Gogo’s set-closing thunderblast “Poor and Money,” the resulting single is every bit worth the wait. Boiling over with tension and the feverish intensity of the band’s heavy psych guitars, the track successfully melds the trio’s two primary means of attack—textured shoegaze and exploratory rock—to examine the ugly side of the human condition. – Guillermo Castro

A Perfect Whatever by Abby Gogo

ABRA

“B.R.A.T.”

Truth be told, I’ll take whatever ABRA I can get, but it certainly helps that “B.R.A.T,” the artist’s sole release in 2018, is a total jam reminiscent of her luminous debut album, Rose. Still waiting on that new LP, though. – Russell Rockwell

Anticipation

“Salary Men”

The best Anticipation songs bounce between tension and exuberance, and this hypnotic cut is nothing if not bouncy. The elastic melody diffuses through the mechanical structure of the track before discarding itself, leaving the sparse backbeat to fade into erasure. – RR

Anticipation/Voice of Saturn by Anticipation

Big Jesus

“Nothing Like I Thought”



It feels a little disingenuous to declare “Nothing Like I Thought” the finest single Big Jesus have composed to date (it’s damn close), but it does arrive with the added benefit of distilling the band down to their essence. With its one-two combo of mammoth riffs and atmospheric hooks, the track is both pulverizing and texturally lush. It’s a rare trick that even seasoned bands struggle with, but one that Big Jesus seem to pull off with startling regularity. – GC

Not a Dreamer by Big Jesus

Bitter

“Water”

Bitter are no strangers to delivering taut, emotional songs, and “Water” ranks among the group’s most gripping efforts. Vocalist Maritza Núñez delivers a powerhouse meditation on heartbreak and personal resolve while the band lurks just below the surface, serving up a complex stew of convulsive alt-rock. – GC

Water- Single Release by Bitter