Top 15 Best Albums of 2018

There have been so many notable and important albums released in 2018 and of the ones I've listened to I have narrowed it down to my top favourite 15, plus a few honourable mentions. These are all albums I've absolutely adored and I've had to cut quite a few great releases from the list as there was so much to choose from. I'll stop rambling now and get into my list...

Honourable Mentions

OIL OF EVERY PEARL'S UN-INSIDES | SOPHIE

Undeniably one of the best experimental albums of the year, SOPHIE explores and reconstructs pop music into her own electronic dance extraordinaire. She showcases just how diverse her music is throughout and is thrilling regardless of the tempo or level of noise.

Black Honey (Self-Titled)

Their debut album is an excellent take on pop music by displaying the power of massive hooks and choruses paired with bright and powerful instrumentation. Every song is catchy, memorable and a lot of fun.

A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships | The 1975

Their third album is a mix of cultural relevance and a bunch of different genres from jazz to techno that is unfortunately more a social masterpiece than a musical one. There are several strong standouts and I wouldn't want you to miss out.

Parcels (Self-Titled)

This band deliver a flawless blend of funk, disco and electropop that results in one of the most pleasing albums of the year. With many great singles and deep cuts, this is instantly impressive and an enjoyable listen.

Time 'n' Place | Kero Kero Bonito

This is a fantastic indie pop release that features some of the most interesting production and musical choices that helps KKB rise above their peers. Don't skip the singles "Make Believe" or "Only Acting", or preferably the whole album.

I'm All Ears | Let's Eat Grandma

They may still have a long way to go but right now Let's Eat Grandma are making experimental pop and rock that burns with an energy and a passion you immediately sense from the opening instrumental track "Whitewater" right through to the lengthy journey that is "Donnie Darko". Despite a few misfires this is a creative and challenging but enjoyable album.

God's Favourite Customer | Father John Misty

Josh Tillman delivers his most personal and heartbreaking album, utilising his witty lyrics and clever writing to self-deprecate and introspect in some of their most funny, thought-provoking and interesting ways. He gives us a journey of his mind that is at its best when at its most specific, often depressingly so, but remaining as funny as ever.

15
High As Hope | Florence + The Machine

The album where Florence ditches the bombastic pop-rock for a minimalistic and personal vibe is coincidentally her best album yet. The songs here are so emotional, for the first time truly showing what Florence has been through by getting specific on every track and painting some really real and intense pictures with her best lyrics yet. You might think that in an album with a more mimimalistic approach, what exactly are The Machine doing? Well, they are providing some of their most beautiful compositions ever, bringing out strings and pianos for MAXIMUM EMOTIONAL EFFECT!
Best Songs: Hunger, Big God, The End Of Love

14
El Mal Querer | Rosalía

The beauty of flamenco pop music was something I would never consider without having heard Rosalía's music. The melodies and traditional elements all fit together so well it's incredible and the fact the album is so short it makes it easy just to play over and over without tiring at all. On top of bringing back older music to pop, Rosalía incorporates some fresh experimental elements that even further enhance her music and lift it above anything I could have hoped. What is the best part of the album though? Her voice. Rosalía sings so amazingly, her vibratos and expression dominate each song as she provides the best vocals in all of Latin pop.
Best Songs: MALAMENTE, DE AQUÍ NO SALES, BAGDAD

13
All That Must Be | George Fitzgerald

Fast and vast electronic beats drive this album and help to create some of the biggest and best soundscapes that I've heard, all whilst remaining danceable and entertaining. The synth choices are always perfect to add to the atmospheres of each song and because of longer song lengths he is able to fully develop his beats and ideas much better than on his debut. He continues to grow as an artist in his spectacular moments of tension, the quieter moments before and after a key shift in the music. George excells when masterfully building these shift moments, constructs that sound organic and natutal despite the electronic nature of the music; don't let anyone tell you electronic music can't sound organic.
Best Songs: Burns, Outgrown, The Echo Forgets

12
Welcome To The Neighbourhood | Boston Manor

After in my opinion an uneventful and generic but energetic debut album, Boston Manor returned with an accomplished sophomore release that delves into a more indie alternative rock direction that even incorporates some brilliant synthesizers to compliment the dark atmospheres and huge, heavy choruses. Speaking of huge, heavy choruses, that's something this album is littered with. In fact, literally every song has a great chorus supported by roaring, aggressive guitars and simple but effective drum rhythms. A particular highlight is "Bad Machine", the explosive bomb of a single that might just have ended up on another year-end list of mine...
Best Songs: Welcome To The Neighbourhood, Halo, Bad Machine

11
Trench | Twenty Øne Piløts

This album surprised pretty much everyone by how good it is, I mean with the monster truck of a lead single "Jumpsuit" people including myself were dubious of how to follow, especially since the band had never released anything quite so rock-heavy. Twenty One Pilots managed to follow with the expansive, genre-smoulder boulder that is Trench. Ranging from rap to electropop to alt rock and electronic, this album feels huge and very important whilst also being a fun and thought-provoking concept piece. Truly the story is fascinating, Tyler Joseph masterfully interweaving ideas and references in each song all the while aided by some of the best instrumentation and of course, Josh Dun's phenomenal drumming. To tie everything together we have the lush production to provide a finished and incredible sound.
Best Songs: Levitate, Chlorine, Bandito

10
Wide Awake | Parquet Courts

Bringing classic indie rock music into this modern age without sounding tired or unoriginal? Parquet Courts manage just that and more with a charged, energetic, fresh, emotional album that draws power from feelings and opinions in an often fragile and vulnerable way impressive for indie rocker men in their 30s. This is perhaps their least experimental and most dancy album to date but this does not detract from how powerful the experience is listening to this album. What is great about this album? The short and snappy songs, the angry and potent lyrics, the rough and raging instrumentation... Take your pick, it's all great! Finally, the best thing has to be the creative energy that seeps through every song and really helps elevate each one into a place of excellence.
Best Songs: Violence, Back To Earth, Tenderness

9
Daytona | Pusha T

I really didn't care about any of the rap beef of the year but that doesn't mean I didn't take a side. The way I decided was simple - who made the best music, was it Drake or Pusha T? Pusha T delivers an album of fiery rap bangers with lyrics that pierce every veil of his oppositions and opponents and tear them apart from the inside. His lyrics here aren't just aggressive and excellent either, they are also delivered with impeccable flow and to make them so sonically rewarding. Kanye West is not exactly in my good books but he comes very close simply because of his production on this album being as perfect as it is, the beats absolutely flawless and more memorable than literally anything in the top 40 that all currently seem to share the same beat. With only seven tracks we're kept on our toes listening to this as each song brings something different and there's no filler whatsoever.
Best Songs: If You Know You Know, Hard Piano, Come Back Baby

8
Cool Like You | Blossoms

Despite its title this is not a cheesy pop release oh no... This is a cheesy synthpop release! All jokes aside, Blossoms' sophomore release is a slick and personal synthpop album with some of the most catchy songs this current century. I saw The Guardian described this album as "What if the Killers hadn’t grown beards after Hot Fuss, and had instead set about writing 11 new versions of Mr Brightside?" and I think that's definitely an apt description. Of course I shall add to it because Blossoms make what could have been another indistinguishable indie pop album into something really special. Tom's lyrics for one are deeply personal and his writing a prominent part of giving these songs such great hooks every time. Next I have to compliment the synth sounds here, sounding both retro and also slick and special, bringing a life to the tracks that many artists in this vein can't manage. Although Blossoms don't utilise their guitars much here, when they do it adds so much vigor and thrust to the songs and propels them further forward into the realms of being absolute verified bangers, at least in my books.
Best Songs: How Long Will This Last?, Between The Eyes, Lying Again

7
Isolation | Kali Uchis

Bringing her own unique take on R&B into the mainstream and including everything from Spanish to hip hop and indie influences all together into this beautiful package of sensual and clever pop perfection. The lyrics are excellent and beautifully performed, her voice is just heavenly and also very flexible to work with the array of styles she incorporates so flawlessly into this album. The beats and production on this album do their best to match Kali's pace and thank goodness they succeed because these beats are perfect and offer even more flavour to add to the passion she provides at every turn, being especially complimentary when influenced with Spanish flares by Latin music. The guest appearances are a surprisingly pleasant addition to a few of these songs that provide some equally good verses and hooks. Overall it's an immaculate release that never fails to be interesting.
Best Songs: Dead To Me, In My Dreams, Tomorrow

6
Someone Out There | Rae Morris

This album is pop perfection. Rae Morris may have been fun in the past but she was often dragged down by forgettable ballads and altogether too many slow songs whereas on Someone Out There we get catchy choruses and emotion inseparably entwined in what's clearly her best work yet. The hooks are absolutely massive and on the slower moments she still delivers amazing and equally catchy choruses with impassioned, moving lyrics. On top of all this she manages to stay positive, a feat clearly difficult for the midtempo mainstream sludge that dominates at the moment. To even further prove just what she can do Rae and her producer FRYARS dabble with experimental elements that raise the music above all expectations. I have been a fan of Rae's music for over two years now and I'm so pleased at how much she's improved as an artist within that time. To have not only released multiple exceptional singles but also this album is outstanding.
Best Songs: Reborn, Wait for the Rain, Rose Garden

5
2012 - 2017 | Against All Logic

This is a Jaar-ing album, that's for sure. On his first studio release under the name Against All Logic, Nicholas compiles a stunning display of house and experimental dance music he's been working on for years. It really is an astounding piece of art that goes into so much musical detail at each moment, perhaps best represented on the closing song "Rave On U", an almost-ten-minute beauty with the most amazing and complex rhythms and beats. What I find really impactful is just how unlimited and unbound Nicholas is on these songs, how he's not afraid to plunge headfirst into experimentation rather than simply dipping a toe in. He utilises, manipulates and shifts parts around to be exactly what he wants regardless of expectations or restraints, always in control of what's going on in his album and not letting any song get dragged down by what's typical or expected. I'd love to hear a fully experimental album as it could really show just what Nicholas can do outside of classic house (don't take that as a swipe at this album, I really do love it).
Best Songs: This Old House Is All I Have, Cityfade, Rave On U

4
Be The Cowboy | Mitski

This is an album that never ceases to be amusing, exciting and painfully introspective. At this point in her career Mitski has established herself to be a masterful and witty songwriter, someone on the same level as Josh Tillman and Jason Isbell, perhaps closer to the former with her typical lyricisms and excellent commentary. On this album the songs and production are more stripped back and experimental but always pleasing and entertaining. From moments of self-deprecation and depressive wallowing to humorous comments on romantic and social states, Mitski gives us essentially a slice of her perspective and outlook. She crafts these songs in the best and most natural way, with whatever happens to sound good in that situation. This provides an interesting sonic palette from which we get moments of alternative rock, synthpop, disco, folk and experimental pop. In short it's both highly immersive and interesting, all resulting in one of my picks for one of the best albums of the year.
Best Songs: Geyser, A Pearl, Washing Machine Heart

3
Virtue | The Voidz

Julian Casablancas hasn't sounded this fresh in over ten years but for the first time since then he's a prominent artist to be interested in. After three incredible Strokes albums we got the undeniably lacklustre Angles and then Comedown Machine, albums that felt like unsuccessful retreads of The Strokes earlier and better work. He's also graced us with a disappointing solo album and the first Voidz album, a solid mix of modern progressive rock and his typical indie rock. Finally, after years of mediocrity and general inconsistency, Julian Casablancas has returned with The Voidz for their second studio album to release what has to be one of the most impressive albums of the decade. The songs on here are absolute fire with some of the freshest and most experimental elements incorporated into so many different styles of rock, each song taking on a different area or genre and providing a different and weird angle. Take the lead single "Leave It In My Dreams", the song closest to a Strokes-esque sound, but with some strange synthesizer elements thrown in just because that's how The Voidz roll. Next, you're treated to the banger "QYURRYUS", possibly the most experimental song on the album and a definitive highlight being described as future Arabic prison jazz by the band. So many of these songs could've and almost did make my Top 50 Songs (you can check that out to see which two did) as almost all of these songs are incredible successes. I can't pretend there aren't any misfires but I really don't mind those that slightly miss the mark for me, especially when overall it's full of amazing music.
Best Songs: QYURRYUS, Pyramid of Bones, All Wordz Are Made Up, We're Where We Were

2
Little Dark Age | MGMT

This album is Every bit the MGMT that the people have always wanted and they certainly deliver on their fantastically creative new album Little Dark Age. Preceded by the eponymous lead single I immediately became hooked to what this band could offer on their fourth studio album, especially after their last two commercial flops. The thing is, MGMT have never been about that commercial success and since their inspiring debut have far removed themselves from radio friendly territory, instead delving deep into psychedelia on their breathtaking Congratulations and further down the rabbit hole of experimentation and weirdness on their self titled back in 2013. It was a sound I enjoyed but for the majority of fans something difficult to enjoy, especially since their distinct lack of the massive hooks found on their debut in the form of the singles "Time To Pretend", "Electric Feel" and of course "Kids". To this day these three songs dominate their discography but now with Little Dark Age they take their first step back to the odd synthpop of their beginnings, this time more syncopated, complex and enjoyable than ever before. The drum rhythms might be the best I've heard all year and the synth work on this album is perfect and gorgeous, giving you no doubts about how experienced the duo are at this point. They incorporate elements of goth rock into some of the songs as well as some psychedelic elements into songs like "When You Die" and "Days That Got Away", no surprise given their proficiency in that vein after Congratulations. I can't begin to finish describing and explaining just how great this album is but I hope this summary is enough to convince you to give it a listen. It's the essential synthpop album for this modern day and shall live on, at least for me.
Best Songs: Little Dark Age, When You Die, TSLAMP, One Thing Left To Try

1
7 | Beach House

It's no coincidence this album has the most songs on my Best of the Year list because this is just the first time Beach House have truly perfected an album. This comes from a massive Beach House fan, I adore the band and their music it's just that they always seem capable of more despite having flawless, beautiful albums like Devotion and Bloom. It's not that I don't consider them perfect albums, particularly the former, just that I don't consider them the perfect Beach House album, erego I wouldn't rate them a 10. For their 7th album though? Yeah, this comes about as close as it gets to getting a 10 because it's an album that provides a variety of sounds that experiment and expand on the band's typical dream pop and psychedelia. We get some gorgeous moments of synthpop and shoegaze, some genuine guitar beauty in these riffs that explode, particularly on a song like "Dive" that in Beach House terms is about as rocking and driven as it gets and I love it! There are moments here and there of stripped back honesty and vulnerability, acoustic and piano moments on the songs "Lose Your Smile" and "Last Ride" respectively. These moments contrast with the raised highs of loudness and expression like on "Drunk In L.A" and the aforementioned "Dive". In my opinion Beach House truly open up and perfect their sound on this release, finally moving away from the very very good but slightly uninteresting dreaminess on their recent albums Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars; their sound here being much grander and more encompassing of everything they've ever done and more in a journey through the sounds of Beach House and my personal sounds of perfection. One more thing - you HAVE to listen to the B-side "Alien" with this album as it easily rivals some of the songs. In conclusion, my album of the year is something I find ticks every box: it's beautiful, truthful, fragile, experimental, psychedelic and dreamy, all my favourite things in music. On top of all that, Victoria Legrand's voice is wonderful and Alex Scally's guitar work is at its very best. 10/10.
Best Songs: Lemon Glow, Drunk In L.A., Dive, Lose Your Smile, Last Ride

I hope you enjoyed my Top 15 Best Albums of 2018, make sure to check out my other Year-End lists and I'll see you in 2019!
Happy New Year