Graphic by Clara Boberg
Matt Reinstein and Finn O’Rourke
Arts Reporters
We think it’s safe to say that 2018 went by pretty quickly, and while it sometimes may seem that time moves forward at rapid pace, there are a handful of albums from the year will stay with us for a long time, albeit 2018’s quick run. Since we both have different tastes and varieties of music we like, we each made a list of 15 albums which gave us lots of joy this year. Here are the best albums of 2018.
P.S. We know there were a lot of other awesome albums that came out this year that we missed. We hope you can understand that it’s extremely difficult to listen to every single project that came out this year. We also hope you appreciate how difficult it is to order a year-end list like this. These albums are hard to compare. Days and nights were spent thinking about this.
Enough chit-chat. Let’s get on with it!
THE LIST:
F: 15. Con Todo El Mundo by Khruangbin
Laura Lee on bass, Mark Speer on guitar, and Donald “DJ” Johnson on drums: all that Texan trio Khruangbin needs to create a unique sound. It’s mostly instrumental, rooted in RnB, psychedelia, dub, and undiscovered musical ideas from around the world. Easily one of the most stylish albums of the year, Con Todo El Mundo takes particular inspiration from the funk and soul sounds of the Middle-East, most notably Iran.
M: 15. Snares Like a Haircut by No Age
Lo-Fi/alternative rock duo No Age seems less experimental on this project than their previous ones because their first album in 5 years, Snares Like a Haircut, sounds more focused on the duo’s roots of post-punk material. The pair’s enthusiasm and simple execution is the core of its quality. The hyperness is there, the ambient fuzz is there, the noise is there- there’s just a lot “there” in No Age’s most recent release.
F: 14. Errorzone by Vein
Local Boston hardcore band, Vein, fuses the brutal breakdowns of hardcore punk with the technicality and speed of math rock and nü metal. It’s super aggressive, but also melodic and boundary-pushing. The general hype for the band is large because of the varying kinds of metal presented in the album. If you’re looking for something to beat someone up to, while also providing you with beautifully complex musicianship, give Errorzone a check.
M: 14. ASTROWORLD by Travis Scott
ASTROWORLD came along way past its due (the release of the album was hinted at for over 2+ years), yet his fans still developed an immense amount of hype around it. Scott delivered with a more than concrete, consistent 17 track album whose best part is the diversity of the collaborators. Drake, Pharrell, Kevin Parker (Tame Impala), and Stevie Wonder to name a few, make great contributions to the project.
F: 13. Room 25 by Noname
The follow-up to Los Angeles-based Chicago rapper, Fatimah Nyeema Warner’s (a.k.a. Noname’s), debut mixtape Telefone chronicles her new life as an LA resident after the reception of her cult following, as well as more specific topics, such as the loss of her virginity at age 25. The first two tracks, “Self” which seamlessly flows into “Blaxploitation”, are simply too amazing to handle and are most definitely the best openers to an album this year. The album, adding up to barely 35 minutes of music, is equally influenced by jazz-rap as by neo-soul, demonstrating the power of telling one’s story.
M: 13. When My Heart Felt Volcanic by The Aces
All female group The Aces hit it pretty glitzy with their debut summer pop-rock album, When My Heart Felt Volcanic. I would compare them to HAIM, but they have better harmonies and a more fun, airy sound. Their debut met all the credentials to summon together a strong pop following- solid vocals, good melodies and an alternative enough sound to be considered “cool.” All they need to do now is to consistently release music together, because this sure was a fun one.
F: 12. Sweetener by Ariana Grande
If you listen to music at all, you’ve probably already heard the singles, “God is a Woman,” “Breathin,” and “No Tears Left To Cry” and fallen in love with the pop icon all over again. But not only do the singles slap, the entire album has so much more to offer. Mixing feelings of empowerment, love, anxiety, acceptance, and hope, Grande’s Sweetener has a song to offer for all of your needs.
M: 12. Sweetener by Ariana Grande
Yeah, what Finny-boy said. Sweetener meets all the credentials for a pop super smash. It’s sleek, tender, sexy, with just a splash of controversy- all things pop (and Grande) desire.
F: 11. KIDS SEE GHOSTS by KIDS SEE GHOSTS
At minute 1.06 in the album’s opener, “FEEL THE LOVE,” Kanye West starts screaming gun noises at the top of his lungs. As the song goes on, West’s vocals align with the drums, turning into a groove like no other and then- abruptly ends. I knew from Kanye’s first “Grrrat,” a vocal simulation of a gun going off, that this would be an incredibly cool album. KIDS SEE GHOSTS is the collaboration of Kanye West and Kid Cudi at the peak of their careers, fusing psychedelia with hip-hop, exploring both the highs and lows of their wild lives.
M: 11. Veteran by JPEGMAFIA
JPEGMAFIA’s Veteran is one of the more brazen Hip/Hop records I’ve heard in the last few years. The sampling he uses on this album are bold; they vary from head-bobbing to eyebrow-raising, and whether or not they always hit, that’s part of the edge and appeal. Not to mention, Peggy’s lyrics offer a nice blend of wokeness and social satire. Veteran pays homage to mainstream rap, all the while containing production that steers it clear off that map.
F: 10. Single Forever by Today Junior
The second local Boston band on this list, Today Junior’s sound is a gorgeous blend of indie rock, surf rock, and punk. Single Forever creates an appealing, vibrant, and melodic sound, consistent throughout the entirety of the record. This album is an important first step in Joday Junior’s maturity as a band and will hopefully earn them the recognition they highly deserve in the future.
M: 10. TA13OO by Denzel Curry
Florida Soundcloud rapper Denzel Curry made his statement into the general field of Hip/Hop in 2018 with his release of TA13OO. His last album, Imperial, was strong, but this one is just an improvement. He flows easier in and out of pockets, his rhymes are more focused, and his presentation varies. Some of the hottest bangers of the year come from TA13OO. Zeltron 6 Billion finds the perfect blend of hype beats with introspective and legitimate rhymes.
F: 9. Bark Your Head Off, Dog by Hop Along
Philly band Hop Along’s third album, Bark Your Head Off, Dog, is a warm indie-rock album with interesting storytelling and song structures. Singer Frances Quinlan’s unpredictable voice, cracking as much as it does scream, and Joe Reinhart’s tasteful guitar work make up this exceptionally polished (but not too polished) piece of music. Everything sounds like it’s meant to be there. Bark Your Head Off, Dog feels like a warm blanket to help one through the various emotions of daily life.
M: 9. FIREPOWER by Judas Priest
Metal gods Judas Priest, at almost 50 years as a band, put out what I think to be the purest metal album of the year, FIREPOWER. Its theatricality opens the door for it to be more welcoming than a lot of other metal projects. The fun is tangible on this record, coming from the improved songwriting from the group. Consistency is always heightened through the penmanship. Track for track, FIREPOWER gives everything awesome we know Judas Priest has to offer.
F: 8. You Won’t Get What You Want by Daughters
Legendary noise rock group Daughters return with their first album in eight years, delivering one of the most brutally terrifying albums of the decade. Daughters sound is somewhere between the rebellion of punk rock and a kind of futuristic, dystopian nightmare, evoked by Nick Sadler’s piercing, otherworldly guitar effects. You Won’t Get What You Want is much more atmospheric and layered than any of the band’s previous work, demonstrating a more developed sound without losing the particular danger they are known for.
M: 8. KIDS SEE GHOSTS by KIDS SEE GHOSTS
Kanye West and Kid Cudi’s collaborative project, KIDS SEE GHOSTS, proved to be a trip through psychedelic pop-rap. What’s so great about the project is that even though it’s the shortest album in either of their discographies, the pair seem to explore the most content they’ve done before. Kanye’s tight mix presents Kid Cudi to flourish in his singing, while Cudi’s tameness allows Kanye to be, well, Kanye. It’s one of the smoothest- and prettiest- records that came out this year.
F: 7. Twin Fantasy by Car Seat Headrest
Frontman Will Toledo’s re-recorded version of Twin Fantasy, an album initially released in 2011, does the original justice. The original recording of this album was made in the backseat of Toledo’s car and only ever released on Bandcamp many years before Car Seat Headrest gained any mainstream attraction. But both long-time fans and new listeners appreciated the much-improved production, instrumentation, and performances of this new version. Both versions of Twin Fantasy are available online, and fans of both agree that Toledo’s music captures teenaged desire and heartache beautifully.
M: 7. The Horizon Just Laughed by Damien Jurado
Probably the most low key LP I put on my list, Damien Jurado’s The Horizon Just Laughed, is an excellent indie-folk project released by Secretly Canadian. It’s too bad how under the radar this project fell because it really is worth a listen (or more). Jurado’s buttery voice sifts through his messages such as his love for his hometown, Seattle, Washington and his gratitude for memory. There’s traditional folk, Americana, and jazz-rock; The Horizon Just Laughed is an ambitious venture into the field of each respective genre.
F: 6. Veteran by JPEGMAFIA
Barrington DeVaughn Hendricks, better known as JPEGMAFIA, has had an interesting life; he served as a tour duty in Iraq for four years and spent formative years in Alabama, New York, Germany, and Japan. During his military stay in Japan, he learned how to produce and sample. At this same time, he began to make music under the name JPEGMAFIA and developed his eyebrow-raising production techniques after forming the group Ghostpop. Lyrically, Hendricks was influenced by the racism he experienced after moving to Alabama at age thirteen, inspiring the wokeness and social satire (as was praised earlier by Matthieu). All of these experiences are the reason that, at 28 years old, Peggy is veteran of both the military and underground hip-hop.
M: 6. soil by serpentwithfeet
Josiah Wise, the brain behind the solo project, “serpentwithfeet,” gave a social cry with his debut album, soil -actually also released by Secretly Canadian- and it’s nothing short of weird. It’s just strange. But it’s without a doubt the most glorious display of sound and vocalism this year had to offer. Wise shares deeply personal experiences of growing up as a gay black man in America. His runs, as well as his falsettos, provide to a delicacy that can’t be matched with anything else other than progressive Avante-garde production.
F: 5. Aviary by Julia Holter
90 minutes in length, Los Angeles based musician Julia Holter’s Aviary is a vast, sprawling art-pop album that can seem both difficult and easy to listen to because of its length and experimental sound. Holter is known for flipping conventional pop forms and melodies on their head, twisting and distorting them to fit her creative direction. It’s fair to say that Julia Holter puts the “art” in art-pop. Aviary is a search for meaning in a world with less and less meaning every day, explained by Holter herself, “I think this album is reflecting that feeling of cacophony and how one responds to it as a person—how one behaves, how one looks for love, for solace”
M: 5. Ephorize by CupcakKe
And the best rap album of the year goes to a woman! Let me tell you, this album, Ephorize, is hilarious. Some of the hottest bars these ears have heard all year. Her raunch reaches a height of extravagance that, to some, can be perceived as gimmicky, but I just see it as her being true to herself. Her vulgarity can become the main character of the project, but there are seriously personal mentions to her struggles with sexual abuse and depression, confirming she’s no joke.
F: 4. Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe
“I want a crazy, classic, life/So if the world should end tonight/I had a crazy, classic, life,” Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, and actor Janelle Monáe asserts on the first track of her highly anticipated third full-length album. These lyrics perfectly demonstrate what Dirty Computer is about: embracing and loving yourself. Janelle Monáe has created a catchy, youthful pop record promoting inclusivity, liberation, and love that I couldn’t get enough of this year.
M: 4. Dark Horse by Devin Dawson
A former heavy metal band member, Devin Dawson grew tired and wanted to make a switch to his passion, writing music catered to a country sound. Dark Horse is a very impressive debut. This is exactly what modern country needed. There’s still the catchy pop riffs that meet the desires of current country listeners, but there’s also RnB synth sequences that are really pleasant for any music lover. The electronic spark is a spark and nothing else, as Dawson’s smooth delivery is what takes the cake on this terrific modern country record.
F: 3. Twisted Crystal by Guerilla Toss
Guerilla Toss puts a twist on their classic noise/punk/experimental/dance sound and goes down a much more psychedelic path. You can (almost?) sing along to this album (maybe?). Despite my lack of a concrete answer of whether or not you can sing to this album, Twisted Crystal makes you think, nonetheless. Playing with more of an upbeat pop vocal style and less complex instrumentation- while still managing to be just as captivating as their prior albums- Guerilla Toss’ Twisted Crystal is definitely a good time.
M: 3. Joy as an Act of Resistance. by IDLES
There are a handful of albums that sum up 2018- all the events, all the emotions, all the influence- but none did that better than IDLES’s Joy as an Act of Resistance. The post-punk group follows up their 2017 Brutalism by tightening some screws to make a more than exhilarating project that reels with anger, ferocity, and relation. The songs pick apart debates on Brexit, immigration, toxic masculinity, and television by adding in a unique sense of humor, yet remaining highly intense. IDLES make sure to warrant their frustration, showcasing their integrity.
F: 2. Wide Awake! by Parquet Courts
After releasing a variety of albums and EPs since 2011, gaining traction mainly in underground circles, Brooklyn natives Parquet Courts released their sixth studio album, their most popular and critically acclaimed record to date. Wide Awake! Tastefully blends sounds of both punk and funk music, along with the help of production legend Danger Mouse, Parquet Courts have created the most diverse and accessible album in their discography. When asked about the album’s contrasting influences in an interview with Billboard, guitarist and singer Adam Savage says, “there’s this duality between joy and anger that I find to be really interesting, and that’s something the record kind of deals with at large. I always thought it was really interesting how hardcore could be such an angry music form but could make you feel so positive.”
M: 2. Providence Canyon by Brent Cobb
Brent Cobb followed up his Grammy-nominated debut album, Shine on Rainy Day, with a funky blue collar country release in Providence Canyon. Nothing too extreme here. No boundaries being pushed. But there’s something so refreshing about a man and his guitar playing real country blues-rock. His honesty and his lack of pushing his own agenda- letting his words take control, his play influence the listener- provides to accessibility no other album from this year can match. His subdued presence allows the music to take control on the album, not his character, which I think is rare in today’s country.
F: 1. Trash/Cable by Trash Rabbit
The band formerly known as Tommy and the Cables made the best album of 2018. Local Newton South students Mena Lemos, Gibran Mobarak, Nick Adams, and Tommy Cable have developed wonderful musical relationships among each other over the course of their time at South, each bringing a spicy variety of sounds to the table. The band’s sound could be considered there are elements of pop, jazz, and emotional hardcore. Trash/Cable is the first “real” recording of this quartet and more than anything gift listeners with a feeling of teenage connection and romance that is hard to find anywhere.
M: 1. Stranger Fruit by Zeal and Ardor
Under the moniker “Zeal and Ardor,” Manuel Gagneux, a Swedish-American musician, produced the most interesting album of the year, which also happens to be the best. Stranger Fruit’s combination of black metal, blues, and negro spiritualism is a disgusting, ear-wrenching art piece. The appeal comes from the tenderness oozing out of the trenches within the screaming, killer bass lines, and disturbing visuals presented in the lyrics. It’s gritty at its most tame, heartbreaking at its most adventurous. What Gagneux conveys through his versatility- a relentless display of human suffering- is what sign, seals, and delivers this to be the best album of the year for me.
