Our Staff Picks for 2018 series continues with a look at our favorite pieces of music from this year.
Unlike our other Staff Picks, this is not based on a group vote, but rather on the writer’s individual preferences. So, the order in which these selections appear are in the order of which we received them, t any sort of official ranking.
The choices do run the gamut of genres, and we’ve even thrown a little bonus track in here for you to enjoy.
So without further adieu, here’s our list of…
The Best Albums of 2018…
Daytona by Pusha-T
Pusha-T’s “Daytona” is too short, the cover art is in incredibly poor taste and the subject matter is incredibly limited, but it bangs…HARD!
In a year of great Hip-Hop releases and when most of his peers released 20+ song, guest appearance filled opuses (Drake, Travis Scott, Nicki Minaj, Lil’ Wayne, etc.) Pusha-T took care of business in seven songs and about 30 minutes. Daytona dropped on Memorial Day weekend and quickly became the soundtrack to the summer, ignited the biggest beef of the year, proved Kanye West hadn’t completely lost his touch as a musician and stoked anticipation for both weekly summer releases from GOOD Music and King Push’s next full length project. While there were almost weekly quality Hip-Hop releases in 2018, nobody did more with less of our time than Pusha-T.
-Angelo Gingerelli
Harlan & Alondra by Buddy
LA native and hip hop’s best kept secret, Buddy’s debut album arrived this summer. It’s been such a great year for new music and Buddy’s album Harlan & Alondra has to be one of my favorites. In this age of generic tunes that are mass manufactured, Harlan & Alondra sticks. This album includes guest features from all stars like A$AP Ferg, Snoop Dogg, and Ty Dolla $ign and hot at the moment favorites like Khalid and Guapdad4000. “Trouble On Central” has to be my favorite track off the album. Buddy illustrates what growing up in Compton is like as a young black man. The whole album is genuine, jazzy, and funky. It’s a gem from 2018 and it’s worth a listen.
-Patsy Thayieng
Halloween Soundtrack – John Carpenter
I’m not a huge fan of newer music released these days, but I do love to listen to soundtracks and scores from films, television series, and video games. This year my favorite soundtrack album of the year is John Carpenter’s soundtrack to David Gordon Green’s Halloween! It was terrific not only to hear Carpenter’s classic Halloween theme once again, but also the new tracks composed for the film, (my favorite track is “The Shape Hunts Allyson”). Knowing that Carpenter was composing this soundtrack had me excited for this film, and I wasn’t disappointed with it’s outcome!
-Josh B. Taylor
Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino – Arctic Monkeys
Just over 12 years ago, Arctic Monkeys were four young lads from Sheffield, England who released a debut album with dancefloor-pop hooks, infectious melodies, and iconically wry lyrics. Now, five records later, Alex Turner and co. have left the UK and our whole world behind for a celestial adventure with Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino. A concept album about living in a hotel located on the moon, the record is equal parts futuristic and nostalgic, moody and sentimental, timeless and contemporary.
“Four Out of Five” is a catchy ditty about a lunar-based taqueria with rave reviews, “Batphone” is, well, about waiting by Bruce Wayne’s phone for a call that may never arrive, and “Golden Trunks” reflects on a rather embarrassing world leader exposing himself through tacky swimwear. Nearly 8 months have passed and I’m still crooning in Alex Turner’s hushed brogue, “What’d you mean you’ve never seen Blade Runner?” It’s most likely the best work of Arctic Monkeys and undoubtedly the best record of the year.
-Kat Manos
Off to the Races by Jukebox the Ghost
Between our country’s abysmal political situation, tech companies stealing all our data, and losing legends like Aretha Franklin, Stan Lee, and Stephen Hillenburg, 2018 kind of sucked.
One of the only brief, shining moments of hopefulness came from a three-piece indie pop rock band from Washington, D.C. and their uplifting 5th studio album. Jukebox the Ghost’s Off to the Races is a masterclass in positivity with catchy lyrics (“Jumpstarted”), clever social commentary (“Everybody’s Lonely”), and heartfelt love songs (“Simple As 1 2 3”). If you haven’t listened to it yet or discovered the magic of Juicebox and Toast (one day you will understand), do yourself a favor and get on it.
-Al Mannarino
A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships by The 1975
Since they dropped their first single, “Give Yourself A Try” back in June, it was evident that the new album was going to be something special and they definitely did not disappoint.
On November 30th, The 1975 released their 3rd studio album, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships which is full of 15-tracks that are unique in their own way, yet still manage to come together to form a beautiful work of art. Not only does it sound great, and is full of catchy songs, but each track finds its way into your heart and makes you take a deeper look into today’s world. What more could you ask for?
A solid 10/10 in my opinion.
-Corbyn Jenkins
Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves
After two sharp critiques of the small-town life she once knew, country pop singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves raised the magnifying glass to herself on Golden Hour.
2018 finds Kacey in a state of marital bliss, observing the small moments of magic that color her daily routine. With a new change in perspective comes bold new sounds, ranging from psychedelic flourishes throughout the album to straight-up disco on “High Horse.”
But nowhere is the new Kacey more present than on the opener “Slow Burn,” a welcome slice of serenity in this otherwise chaotic year. Golden Hour is simply a delight to behold.
-Nick Porcaro
Bloom by Troye Sivan
Troye Sivan is 23; I’m 24. This means we were probably raised and had our musical taste informed by the same Top 40 hits. His sophomore album, Bloom, only further proves that theory. This is an album filled with infectious, fun, wholly danceable bangers clearly made by someone with an enthusiasm for pop music. Even better: he takes these familiar kind of songs and puts them through a decidedly queer lens. From the titular song, which he described as “bop about bottoming,” to the lusty “Lucky Strike,” and the pride-anthem “My My My!” this is a top-tier album that actually reflects the experiences and thoughts of a large but largely ignored demographic of pop music fans.
-Matt Taylor
Book of Bad Intentions by Clutch
For over 20+ years, I’ve been a Clutch fan. The band’s unique blend of metal, blues, bluegrass, and country has kept the band fresh, unpredictable, and interesting. Released in September, Book of Bad Intentions is probably one of the best records the band recorded this century. The grooves are so dirty, the licks are absolutely tasty, and Neil Fallon’s vocals are just kissed by the lord above. Lyrically, only a band like Clutch could make a killer track about making authentic Maryland crabcakes (‘Hot Bottom Feeder’). While every Clutch album has a couple bangers, Book of Bad Intentions might be their most complete record since 2013’s Earth Rocker — which is probably their best record of all-time. Go listen to this record and get ready to be engulfed by heavy, fuzzed out gloriousness.
-Bill Bodkin
Dirty Computer by Janelle Monae
Blending sci-fi imagery with social activism, Janelle Monae’s “Dirty Computer” may have been the album to define 2018, while also launching her career into the stratosphere her fans long believed she could reach. While every song on the album lands, the sheer diversity in their sounds and styles makes “Dirty Computer” a blockbuster.
As a musician, Monae channels Prince better than any of her peers with the stunning “Makes Me Feel.” Elsewhere on the album, she delivers one hell of a rap with the beautifully written “Django Jane.” And the one-two punch of “Take a Byte” and “Screwed” finds Monae at her pop-star best, with two incredibly fun, sexy songs. But the album is more than just a collection of songs — it’s a work of political activism.
“Pynk” celebrates queer love more than any other song in recent memory. “I Like That” finds Monae examining how she came to love herself as a child in the face of intolerant media messaging and bullying. And, most notably, “American” calls for all marginalized people to come together and demand their country back.
The fact that this album was tied to her own coming out, and her rumored romance with onscreen love interest Tessa Thompson, only makes the album more powerful. This is a landmark for R&B, for queer history, and for music in general.
-Matt Taylor
Masana Temples by Kikagaku Moyo
The latest effort from this top-tier Japanese psychedelic outfit is a towering achievement: from the fluttering sitar of “Entrance” to the pastoral beauty of “Amayadori” to the galloping crunch of “Gatherings,” all the colorful shades of Kikagaku Moyo (Japanese for Geometric Patterns) are on full display. Crystalline, dripping guitar and keys give way to surging rhythm and hypnotic vocals, wrapped in an intoxicating fuzz. A true melodic journey from start to finish, Masana Temples will warm your heart and melt your brain.
-Andrew Howie
IC-01 Hanoi by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
For the second Unknown Mortal Orchestra release of 2018, New Zealand-born, Portland-based bandleader Ruban Nielson cooked up a sizzling platter of humid, ambient, entirely instrumental jazz rock in the vein of Miles Davis’ all-important Bitches Brew. The seven tracks move from a snarling, chaotic opener into droning, freeform swamps of gooey psychedelia, misty, mountainous flutes, and the colossal, tumultuous “Hanoi 6.” The album finishes off in a daze, almost structureless, dense and meandering. The strong improvisation showcases not only the vibrant atmosphere of its namesake city, but also Nielson’s skill as a musician without boundaries.
-Andrew Howie
Rainier Fog by Alice in Chains
Simply stated, no other band speaks to the core of my soul quite like Alice in Chains (alongside Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, and Metallica). Straight up, their reunion with William DuVall in 2006 nearly had me in tears as I truly never thought I would ever have the opportunity to see Alice In Chains perform, let alone record new material.
When the band confirmed an official release date for Rainer Fog, I intuitively knew they would deliver another career-defining LP, as there’s no other group of songwriters (established or upcoming) who instill me with the highest confidence to believe in their new material quite like Alice In Chains. Without question, I hold Rainer Frog right up there alongside Dirt, Jar of Flies, and Black Gives Way To Blue.
One could seriously argue Rainer Fog is their best album yet; the entire record is stacked with jaw-dropping vocal harmonies, iconic guitar playing glistened with utter grit and heart-wrenching vibrato, and their signature unforgiving rhythmic delivery, which makes the heart rattle to every beat and transition.
Tracks like “All I Am,” “Drone,” and “Fly” showcase four musicians who continuously raise each other’s performance to peak levels; a rare level of confidence to embrace their past, present, and future by channeling the spirit of their befallen brothers, recording in their hometown of Seattle at the iconic “Studio X,” and continuing to master their craft as a musical dynasty. Allow me to say this, William DuVall has cemented his seat at the iconic Seattle table alongside Layne Staley, Chris Cornell, Eddie Vedder, Kurt Cobain, Andrew Wood, Mark Arm, and Mark Lanegan.
-Anthony Toto
