Top 25 Albums Of 2018
Here are my Top 25 Albums of 2018! I guess it would be cool to say there’s some kind of complicated formula or something that I used to determine all of this, but the reality is that I just went with the albums that I could never seem to take off of repeat. Enjoy.
25) Gang Of Youths – MTV Unplugged (Live In Melbourne)
I don’t generally dig live albums, but I got caught up in this one from Gang Of Youths. Side note, who knew that MTV Unplugged was still a thing?
24) Anna Burch – Quite The Curse
You know an album is good when it comes out in January and still manages to make your year-end list. Anna Burch’s debut is a sharp, hook-filled effort.
23) Chastity – Death Lust
Death Lust is Chastity’s nod to 90s alternative rock, and I’m all about it.
22) Beach House – 7
The wall of sound that Beach House push out on 7 is undeniably good.
21) Hop Along – Bark Your Head Off, Dog
Hop Along’s Frances Quinlan gives it her all in every single song on Bark Your Head Off, Dog, and that’s why I’ll keep coming back to it for the foreseeable future.
20) Death Cab For Cutie – Thank You For Today
Who would have thought that the loss of Chris Walla would have lead to Death Cab For Cutie putting out their best album in years?
19) Mitski – Be The Cowboy
Be The Cowboy is the first Mitski album that I’ve truly adored. It’s loaded with wonderfully constructed songs that grab your attention and hold on tight.
18) Rosalia – El Mal Querer
Kudos to Rosalia for crafting an album with some of the absolute coolest tracks of 2018. I guess I’m into flamenco now?
17) Phosphorescent – C’est La Vie
When in need of ear-pleasing goodness, I often turn to Phosphorescent’s C’est La Vie.
16) Iceage – Beyondless
Oh Iceage, thank you so much for the pure shot of rock n’ roll that is Beyondless.
15) Molly Burch – First Flower
I can’t get enough of Molly Burch’s stellar voice. Granted, even if I could, I’d still be hung up on all of the great songwriting that’s on First Flower.
14) El Ten Eleven – Banker’s Hill
El Ten Eleven by far delivered my favorite instrumental album of the year.
13) Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks – Sparkle Hard
Stephen Malkmus’ is his usual witty self on Sparkle Hard, and that’s enough for me.
12) Superchunk – What A Time To Be Alive
Superchunk’s eleventh full length is one of their best. Also, I’m pretty sure they’re the only old rock band ever to put out a great album that sports an overly geriatric title like What A Time To Be Alive.
11) Parquet Courts – Wide Awake!
Danger Mouse helped Parquet Courts make their weirdest but somehow most accessible album to date. Impressive.
10) White Denim – Performance
If you know me, you know I’m all about White Denim. With that being said, I do think that Performance is one of their more fun releases.
09) Antarctigo Vespucci – Love In The Time Of Email
Antarctigo Vespucci is Jeff Rosenstock + Chris Farren. If you like catchy pop rock songs, then you need their album.
08) Screaming Females – All At Once
If I were to make a list of albums that I jammed in my car the most this year, it’s likely that Screaming Females’ All At Once would land at top. So many barn burners on it!
07) Caroline Rose – Loner
Caroline Rose’s Loner is one of 2018’s cleverest efforts. I’m really excited to see what she does next.
06) Black Panther Soundtrack
I don’t believe a soundtrack has ever made one of my year-end lists. That Kendrick Lamar fella is talented.
05) Snail Mail – Lush
Every time I revisit Snail Mail’s Lush, I somehow find a way to love it just a little more. Hell of a debut.
04) The Beths – Future Me Hates Me
Nothing in 2018 was anywhere near as infectious as The Beths’ Future Me Hates Me.
03) Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour
There are a couple of songs on Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour that do absolutely nothing for me, but the rest of it is so overwhelmingly fantastic that it doesn’t matter.
02) Jeff Rosenstock – Post
Here’s Jeff Rosenstock with another entry in the top 10 of my list (the other is Antarctigo Vespucci). Post is my favorite rock album of 2018.
01) MGMT – Little Dark Age
To be honest, I could take any entry in my top five and make a case for them here in the #1 spot. So why did I go with MGMT’s Little Dark Age? Because it’s a wonderfully weird album with an off-kilter electro pop sound and an array of ridiculous lyrics, and the whole thing (from front to back) just makes me happy.
