The year went so fast-Favorite records of 2018
It’s hard to believe that 2018 is almost over and that Christmas is upon us. For me this past year was filled with many great albums that made this chaotic year bearable, So here are my favorite albums of 2018 |
| 1 |  | Beach House
7
Their best album since Teen Dream and Bloom. 7 is full of their signature sound augmented by more subtle variations to their music along with more shimmering melodies.
Favorite songs: Drunk in LA, Dive, Lemon Glow & Woo |
| 2 |  | Lucy Dacus
Historian
Strong second album by this songwriter who really ups her game. Historian is an album that manages to be both rough but also tender.
Favorite songs: Night Shift, Addictions, Pillar of Truth & Historian |
| 3 |  | Superchunk
What a Time to Be Alive
Going back to their punk roots for this one. This is another solid album by these indie rock veterans full of catchy riffs and great choruses.
Favorite songs: Erasure, Reagan Youth & Break the Glass |
| 4 |  | Natalie Prass
The Future and the Past
It’s slightly different than her debut but it slowly grew on me.
Favorite songs: Sisters & Nothing to Say |
| 5 |  | Django Django
Marble Skies
Nice progressive indie pop from one of my favorite U.K. bands
Favorite songs; Surface to Air, Marble Skies & Champagne |
| 6 |  | Hater (SWE)
Siesta
If I were to rate my favorites by genre this would be in my top ten for a C86/indie pop album.
Favorite songs: It’s so Easy, Cut me loose & Closer |
| 7 |  | Wye Oak
The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs
Fifth album by this Baltimore duo is another strong selection of songs full of gorgeous vocals and dreamy synths.
Favorite songs: It Was Not Natural, Lifer & the title track |
| 8 |  | Spiritualized
And Nothing Hurt
If this is truly the last album that Jason Pierce plans on putting out than he definitely went out on a high note.
Favorite songs: A Perfect Miracle, Sail On Through |
| 9 |  | Iceage
Beyondless
On this album the Danish post punk band show some maturity without losing any of their power
Favorite song: Painkiller |
| 10 |  | Julia Holter
Aviary
Going back in an experimental direction Julia Holter gives us an album that is a challenging but rewarding listen.
Favorite songs: I Shall Love 2. Underneath The Moon |
| 11 |  | Parquet Courts
Wide Awake
This band has yet to release a record that has ever disappointed me.
Favorite songs: Total Football, Wide Awake & Freebird 2 |
| 12 |  | Father John Misty
God's Favorite Customer
The quick follow up to last year’s Pure Comedy is another fine album in FJM impressive run of albums. As on his previous albums Josh Tillman’s lyrics and storytelling abilities are on full display.
Favorite songs: Mr. Tillman & God’s Favorite Customer |
| 13 |  | The Beths
Future Me Hates Me
Excellent indie pop with jangly guitars and great melodies.
Favorite songs: Uptown Girl & Future Me Hates Me |
| 14 |  | Say Sue Me
Where We Were Together
Who would have thought that the best indie pop album of the year would be from So Korea. There is not one wasted moment on this album.
Favorite songs: But I Like You, Here, Old Town & Ours |
| 15 |  | Mitski
Be the Cowboy
Mitski's follow up to her critically acclaimed Puberty 2 album doesn't disappoint at all. Everything about this album is great from her lyrics to her heart wrenching vocals.
Favorite songs: Geyser, Nobody, Me & My Husband & Washing Machine Heart. |
| 16 |  | Marissa Nadler
For My Crimes
Marissa gives us another album of hauntingly beautiful folk songs. Each track is full of so much feeling and emotion.
Favorite songs: For My Crimes, Interlocking & I Can’t Listen to Gene Clark Anymore |
| 17 |  | First Aid Kit
Ruins
Another strong album by these Swedish sisters. This album has it all with stirring harmonies and lush production.
Favorite songs: Rebel Heart, Fireworks & It’s a Shame |
| 18 |  | Cloud Nothings
Last Building Burning
The last album by this group was a little bit more subdued than their two previous releases. With this one they go back to doing another album of blistering punk anthems.
Favorite songs: Leave Him Now, On an Edge & Dissolution |
| 19 |  | Fucked Up
Dose Your Dreams
Another intense double album from these Toronto punks. On this second concept album they try a variety of different styles than their usual raging hardcore.
Favorite songs: Raise Your Voice Joyce, Normal People & Dose Your Dreams |
| 20 |  | Okkervil River
In The Rainbow Rain
Will Sheff returns with another strong set of songs full of emotional depth.
Favorite songs: Famous Tracheotomies, Family Song & Don’t Move Back to LA |
| 21 |  | Cat Power
Wanderer
On her newest album since 2012 Chan Marshall returns to her more folkier sound. As usual her voice is a delight to hear. It’s so nice to have her back.
Favorite songs: Women, You Get & Wanderer |
| 22 |  | Shame (UK)
Songs of Praise
This is one of the best punk albums that I’ve heard from the UK in a long time. This band has tons of energy to spare and each song is full of explosive power.
Favorite songs: Concrete, One Rizia & Angie |
| 23 |  | Neko Case
Hell-On
Neko Case is a national treasure and on her seventh album she shows us why. Hell-on is another showcase for her lyrics that can be both tough but tender at the same time.
Favorite songs: Last Lion of Albion, Bad Luck & Sleep All Summer |
| 24 |  | Illuminati Hotties
Kiss Yr Frenemies
Love the name love the album even more. The songs on this album have the right balance of power pop mixed with nineties indie rock.
Favorite songs: Shape of My Hands, Pressed 2 Death & Cuff |
| 25 |  | Eleanor Friedberger
Rebound
Even though it would be nice to have a new Fiery Furnaces album, the fact that Eleanor Friedberger’s solo career has seen her release some very good but underrated albums more than makes up for there not being one. Rebound is another stellar album where the emphasis is on lush synths to accompany her melodic vocals.
Favorite songs: Make me a Song, Are We Good & My Jesus Phase |
| 26 |  | Courtney Barnett
Tell Me How You Really Feel
Courtney Barnett’s second album is full of her biting lyrics and great musicianship. The songs on this album are more varied from introspective ballads to more raging punk bangers.
Favorite songs: Nameless, Faceless, City Looks Pretty & Need a Little Time |
| 27 |  | Titus Andronicus
A Productive Cough
This time around frontman Patrick Stickles tones down the volume and goes in a more ballad heavy direction. Even though the songs on here are slower they are still pack a punch.
Favorite songs: Number One (In New York), Crass Tatto & Real Talk |
| 28 |  | The Essex Green
Hardly Electronic
After 12 years the Essex Green return with another fine album. The songs on this record are filled with luscious harmonies and upbeat melodies.
Favorite songs: Sloane Ranger & the 710 |
| 29 |  | No Age
Snares Like A Haircut
Another band who we haven’t heard from in awhile that came back with their best album. This duo know how to make a racket without sacrificing listenability.
Favorite songs: Cruise Control, Soft Collar Fad & Popper |
| 30 |  | IDLES
Joy as an Act of Resistance
I missed out on this band’s first album so I made sure to not do the same with this one. The songs on here deal with topics ranging from immigration, love and class. With this album the band delivers a record with so much energy and clever lyrics backed by strong hooks.
Favorite songs: Colossus, Danny Nedelko & Never Fight a Man with a Perm |
| 31 |  | Snail Mail
Lush
Promising debut album by this young singer songwriter. Lindsey Jordan songs are full of emotion and honesty. Her musicianship is also pretty solid for such a young person.
Favorite songs: Pristine, Let’s Find an Out & Heatwave |
| 32 |  | Smokescreens
Used to Yesterday
Starting as a side project by members of Terry Malts and the Plateaus this group has grown into a full fledged band. Mixing the sound of Flying Nun records with classic indie pop the Smokescreens show that
they can incorporate different influences while still forging their own sound.
Favorite songs: Used to Yesterday, Waiting for Summer & Someone New |
| 33 |  | Field Music
Open Here
Here is another band that has yet to release an album that has ever disappointed me. On Open Here the Brewis brothers have crafted an album of sonically rich and melodically addictive songs.
Favorite songs: Count it Up, Share a Pillow & Time in Joy |
| 34 |  | LUMP (UK)
LUMP
As a fan of Laura Marling I have to admit it took me some time to get use to this side project of hers. The tracks on this album are far removed from her normal folk sound. The seven songs that make up this album are more synth based. Surprisingly Laura’s folk melodies and the synths of her collaborator Mike Lindsey compliment each other quite well.
Favorite song: Late to the Flight & Curse of the contemporary |
| 35 |  | Papercuts
Parallel Universe Blues
Every year an album comes out that doesn’t get the same glowing critical attention that other releases do. In the case of the new Papercuts record that’s a shame as songwriter Jason Quever has a knack for coming up with some great melodies that are also very dreamy.
Favorite songs: Laughing Man & Sing to me Candy |
| 36 |  | The Goon Sax
We're Not Talking
I only heard some of this band’s debut album. On Their sophomore album this young band show some maturity on this set of catchy indie pop gems.
Favorite song: We Can’t Win |
| 37 |  | Kurt Vile
Bottle It In
Kurt Vile has always been one of indie rock most reliable artists. Bottle it In is another album showcasing his laid back guitar playing. A couple of the lengthier songs could have been shorter but overall this is another fine effort by him.
Favorite songs: Loading Zone, One Trick Ponies & Mass Hysteria |
| 38 |  | Pistol Annies
Interstate Gospel
2018 was one of my favorite years for music in the Americana genre. Pistol Annies features three of the best female singers in Country music today. On Interstate Gospel they show why with their great vocal harmonies. Definitely one of the best Americana albums of 2018.
Favorite songs: Interstate Gospel & When I was his Wife |
| 39 |  | Car Seat Headrest
Twin Fantasy (Mirror to Mirror)
Essentially a remake of an earlier record that Will Toledo recorded back in his bandcamp days. This new version still manages to maintain the bands rough edges while making them more clearer.
Favorite songs: Cute Thing, Beach Life-in death & Nervous Young Inhumans |
| 40 |  | Buffalo tom
Quiet and Peace
Welcome return from these guys. I saw them live many times during the nineties but I have to admit that I stopped listening to them after Smitten. Anyway hearing this reminds why I liked them in the first place. They still got that mix of classic rock and grunge.
Favorite songs: All be Gone. Lonely Fast Deep & Roman Cars |
| 41 |  | The Decemberists
I’ll Be Your Girl |
| 42 |  | Cut worms
Hollow Ground |
| 43 |  | Peter Bjorn and John
Darker Days |
| 44 |  | Flasher
Constant Image |
| 45 |  | Metric
Art of Doubt |
| 46 |  | Frankie Cosmos
Vessel |
| 47 |  | Melody's Echo Chamber
Bon Voyage |
| 48 |  | Ty Segall
Freedom's Goblin |
| 49 |  | The Chills
Snow Bound |
| 50 |  | Dirty Projectors
Lamp Lit Prose |
| 51 |  | Lykke Li
So Sad So Sexy |
| 52 |  | Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
Hope Downs |
| 53 |  | Phosphorescent
C'est La Vie |
| 54 |  | Ohmme
Parts |
| 55 |  | Anna Calvi
Hunter |
| 56 |  | Sloan
12 |
| 57 |  | Speedy Ortiz
Twerp Verse |
| 58 |  | interpol
Marauder |
| 59 |  | Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Sex and Food |
| 60 |  | Florence and the Machine
High as Hope |
| 61 |  | Arctic Monkeys
Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino |
| 62 |  | Janelle Monae
Dirty Computer |
| 63 |  | Low
Double Negative |
| 64 |  | The Joy Formidable
AAARTH |
| 65 |  | Foxing
Nearer My God |
| 66 |  | Guided by Voices
Space Gun |
| 67 |  | U.S. Girls
In A Poem Unlimited |
| 68 |  | Eric Bachmann
No Recover |
| 69 |  | CHVRCHES
Love Is Dead |
| 70 |  | Loma
Loma |
| 71 |  | Death Cab for Cutie
Thank You For Today |
| 72 |  | The 1975
A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships |
| 73 |  | Laura Veirs
The Lookout |
| 74 |  | Iron And Wine
Weed Garden |
| 75 |  | Joyce Manor
Million Dollars To Kill Me |
| 76 |  | Wild Pink
Yolk in the Fur |
| 77 |  | We Were Promised Jetpacks
The More I Sleep The Less I Dream |
| 78 |  | Hot Snakes
Jericho Sirens |
| 79 |  | Hovvdy
Cranberry |
| 80 |  | Tomberlin
At Weddings |
| 81 |  | Adrianne Lenker
abysskiss |
| 82 |  | Anna Burch
Quit The Curse |
| 83 |  | The Dodos
Certainty Waves |
| 84 |  | tUnE-yArDs
I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life |
| 85 |  | The Love Language
Baby Grand |
| 86 |  | Waxahatchee
Great Thunder |
| 87 |  | Laura Gibson
Goners |
| 88 |  | Anna St. Louis
If Only There Was A River |
| 89 |  | Belle and Sebastian
How to Solve Our Human Problems |
| 90 |  | Wild Nothing
Indigo |
| 91 |  | Swearin'
Fall Into The Sun |
| 92 |  | Courtney Marie Andrews
May Your Kindness Remain |
| 93 |  | Soccer Mommy
Clean |
| 94 |  | Hinds
I Don't Run |
| 95 |  | Hop Along
Bark Your Head Off, Dog |
| 96 |  | H.C. McEntire
Lionheart |
| 97 |  | Dream Wife
Dream Wife |
| 98 |  | Mumford and Sons
Delta |
| 99 |  | Yo La Tengo
There’s A Riot Going On |
| 100 |  | Gouge Away
Burnt Sugar |
| 101 |  | Paul McCartney
Egypt Station |
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