Having already delved into my favourite and least favourite singles, it's now time for my belated top 20 favourite albums of 2018. Feel free to let me know your favourite albums of the year - there was so much music being released in 2018 that I could barely keep up with it all, so I've probably missed out on a few hidden gems.
As always, don't forget to check out my previous year end lists from 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012!
20 - 11
20. Errorzone –
Vein
Boston metal/hardcore band Vein let loose a non-stop assault
of explosive riffage and wild percussion. If you like your music loud, heavy
and unrelenting, this is certain to hit your sweet spot.
19. Year of the Snitch
– Death Grips
Noisy Californian trio Death Grips concoct their most
experimental record to date (which is saying something), straying from their
hip hop roots for a more rock-inspired sound.
18. Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides - SOPHIE
Genre-blurring (and gender-blurring) electronic producer,
SOPHIE, continues to innovate with an album that’s equal parts cute, weird and
terrifying.
17. Virtue – The
Voidz
Fronted by Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, zany alt-rock band
The Voidz serve up their second LP and it’s a wild rollercoaster of musical
styles.
16. FM! – Vince Staples
West coast rapper Vince Staples delivers a radio-show-themed
record that’s criminally short but packed with ridiculously fun bangers.
15. Acts of Fear And
Love – Slaves
UK punk duo Slaves offer a more Britpop-inspired sound on
their third studio album, continuing to chant out anthemic hooks over primal
guitars and drums.
14. Ye – Kanye West
His recent tweets may be tripe and his new fashion line may
be ugly, but at least Kanye delivered with an enjoyable album – it’s his most cohesive and
relatable record in years.
13. Negro Swan –
Blood Orange
Dev Hynes AKA Blood Orange explores black depression with a
selection of melancholy songs that delve into soul and alternative hip hop.
12. Geography – Tom Misch
UK singer-songwriter/producer Tom Misch delivers his debut
album after years of teasing Soundcloud singles, perfecting his unique mix of
jazz guitar, hip hop percussion and soulful lyrics.
11. Veteran – JPEGMAFIA
Baltimore hip hop artist spits provocative bars over
self-produced jittery instrumentals, creating a sound that is utterly wild and
unique.
10 – 1
10. Twisted Crystal
– Guerilla Toss
Art rockers Guerilla Toss continue to play with their wacky
fusion of squelchy synths, funky bass and incanted vocals, this time around
taking on a more psychedelic edge.
9. Care For Me – Saba
Chicago rapper Saba pens some touching introspective lyrics
over some gorgeous jazzy beats on his second studio album.
8. Some Rap Songs – Earl Sweatshirt
Despite being largely hookless and grooveless, Earl’s
depressed stream-of-consciousness lyrics and the lo-fi disjointed beats make
for a hypnotic and powerful listen on his new LP Some Rap Songs.
N.E.R.D. make a return with an energetic star-studded hip
hop album sporting bubbly beats and politically-charged lyrics. Technically
released in December ’17 – but I’m including it anyway.
6. The Wake – Voivod
Prog-thrashers Voivod continue to push boundaries on their
fourteenth studio album, delivering twisted riffage and unpredictable
progressions.
Having previously dismissed her music
as generic pop, Ariana Grande has proved me wrong with Sweetener, using her vocal talent to confront personal tragedy in
her life over an eclectic choice of beats.
4. Boarding House Reach – Jack White
Jack White shows that rock music still has new places to go
on this experimental new album, combining bluesy riffage with elements of
electronica and even hip hop.
3. Cocoa Sugar – Young Fathers
The Edinburgh trio have had me hooked with their new album,
which sees them streamlining their alternative hip hop sound into a style that
ridiculously catchy and equally inventive. The twisted synth-heavy beats are oddly
fun, their lyrics are intriguingly cryptic and Alloysious’s lead vocals are
enjoyably manic.
2. Joy As An Act Of
Resistance – Idles
The UK punk group continue to grow their incredible sound on their second album, toning down the aggression and sounding more upbeat lyrically (even if the delivery is still gritty and loud). Joe Talbot continues to deliver politically charged messages with a cynical sense of humour that keeps them fun rather than preachy. The musicianship is also impressive.
1. TA16OO – Denzel Curry
Having followed Denzel’s music since his debut, it’s been
incredible to see the Floridian rapper’s career evolve. Following a theme from
light to dark, the album slowly transitions from light and soulful to dark and
aggressive as Denzel explores the full range of his vocal talent whilst exploring
themes of mental illness and even dipping into sociopolitics. It’s his most catchy,
creative and cohesive record to date and one of the decade’s best hip hop releases.