2018 sees the return of several favorite and familiar artists: Elvis Costello, the Decemberists, Editors, Neko Case, Richard Thompson, and Metric.

FIRST APPEARANCES the Beths, Sally Dige, Lucious, First Aid Kit, and Brandy Zdan bring their unique rock-and-roll takes to our 31 list. Brandi Carlisle, who should have showed up here years ago, makes her entrance with a steely-eyed rocker that lays out who the future belongs to.

SECOND TIMERS Nicole Atkins is back along with Florence + the Machine – both notching up a another appearance on our annual list. Both offerings bring magic and mystery to the everyday. The Ting Tings also return after a long absence with one of their best songs ever.

COUNTRY / BLUEGRASS The legendary Robbie Folks is back this year with Jerry Lee Lewis’s more amazing sister Linda Gail – and the duo are unstoppably brilliant. Rosanne Cash joins the party with a bittersweet recollection of days gone past.

HIP HOP / FUNK we’ve got Boots Riley’s genius band the Coup, whom are sadly no longer performing (that’s a concert miss). Australia’s Avantdale Bowling Club delivers some powerful punches with a very complex, genre-defying musical fist. The ever-awesome Chromeo return with their electrifying 80s funk beat.

JAZZ Arguably Avantdale Bowling Club fits the jazz bill but big shout out to Bowie-collaborator Donnie McCaslin. We originally discovered him via Bowie’s final album, Blackstar, but McCaslin’s unique style pulled us in even without the Thin White Duke.

UN-GENRED Perennial oddball Laurie Anderson joins forces with Kronos Quartet to wistfully recount the flood that destroyed her basement and decades of performance archives. Folktronic Argentinian Juana Molina blends so many sounds together you’d think it wouldn’t work – but it does. Finally, Beninese singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo covers the Talking Heads so brilliantly even David Byrne might approve. Given he’s on this playlist, too, that’s probably for the best.

Oh, and Paul McCartney‘s on here. You might have heard of him. Sir Paul’s alongside other living legends like Marianne Faithful and proto-punks the Damned. I suppose Robbie Williams thinks he belongs here and, even if he doesn’t, I have no desire to tangle with him. Just ask Jimmy Page.

Enjoy!