Even if no more good music came out for the rest of the year, what we've been gifted with at the moment has been plenty. Here is a list (in alphabetical order) of ten of the best albums of 2018... so far. Obviously, I am just one man, so if your favorite albums aren't featured on this list, let me know what they are.
Against All Logic — 2012-2017:
One track to listen to: "This Old House Is All I Have"
Car Seat Headrest — Twin Fantasy:
Sure, Car Seat Headrest originally released Twin Fantasy in 2011. However, Will Toledo — the young mastermind behind the group — always felt it was incomplete. His relative lack of recording experience led to an extremely lo-fi record that failed to capture all of the 19-year-old's ideas. Seven years later, with a new band and better equipment, Toledo has re-recorded his Bandcamp classic, and by doing so has given it new life. The songs show a kid hateful towards many things — his body, love, sexuality and drugs. But through the bitterness comes the real image of Toledo, a tender and soft spoken man yearning to be loved. Equally fun and sobering, Twin Fantasy shows Toledo at his finest, and it is amazing to see this album given the justice it deserves.One track to listen to: "Bodys"
Lucy Dacus — Historian:
Full disclaimer: I listen to a lot of sad and depressing music. However, few albums reach down to the bottom of my soul quite like Lucy Dacus' Historian. And the music isn't even that somber. Rather, its her poetic lyrics matched with quaint musicality that produces these powerful feelings within me. Even when Dacus uses a a fairly unoriginal metaphor (like love being an addiction), she manages to put a clever spin on it: "I'll call you 'cause I'm used to it/You'll pick up 'cause you're not a quitter." Fans of P.J. Harvey and Iron & Wine will love this band, but honestly it's difficult to imagine anyone's heart not being both warmed and broken by this album.One track to listen to: "Addictions"
Forth Wanderers — Forth Wanderers:
I firmly believe that every generation has its own version of emo, even if it's technically not "emo" music. Bands that try to capture this aesthetic often copy their predecessors, leaving their music devoid of any genuine feeling to call their own. Forth Wanderers do not have that problem. On their sophomore release, the band tows the line of disenchanted emo rock without sounding overly whiny or sentimental. Think Alvvays mixed with Sunny Day Real Estate. It's incredibly refreshing to hear band play with their influences without drowning in them. This music is the equivalent to wearing sunglasses indoors and it is amazing.One track to listen to: "Nevermine"
No Age — Snares Like a Haircut:
With their first album in five years, Chicago rockers No Age have maybe peaked with 2018's Snares Like a Haircut. It's as punchy and catchy a noise rock album could hope to be, providing no shortage of memorable moments laced with saccharine guitars that still sound like they've gone through a shredder. The deadpan delivery of vocalist and drummer Dean Allen Spunt contemplate one's place in the world, as evidence by the track "Send Me": "There's so much I wish that I had/Another roof perhaps, and then I wouldn't feel so bad." It's the band's most melodic album yet, but feels no less exciting than their earlier records. For all the punk rock fan's of the 80's who suddenly found themselves married with two kids and a white picket fence, this is your anthem.One track to listen to: "Drippy"
Parquet Courts — Wide Awake!:
Years before they played before a bunch of confused housewives on "The Ellen Show," Parquet Courts were producing some of the most innovative rock records of the decade. Providing punk rock with a more western sound, the Brooklyn quartet have continued to redefine themselves with each album, and Wide Awake! might be their most realized version yet. Implementing bits of funk, classic rock and even elevator music, each song has its own quirky personality that proves more infectious with every listen. The lyrics are just as varied, with topics skipping from starting fights to protesting, and even hurling expletives at Tom Brady. One thing's for sure — you'll never be bored dissecting the many layers of this insanely fun album.One track to listen to: All of them... Listen to every single one.
Post Malone — beerbongs & bentleys:
Never in my most vivid nightmares did I ever see myself enjoying a Post Malone album. However, it has become impossible to deny with the release of his incredible beerbongs & bentleys. Post recently found himself under fire for stating that in an interview that hip-hop music was largely void of deep emotions. It's ironic that he would make such a ridiculous statement, considering how emotional this record is. Post proves he is not defined by "rockstar" and "Psycho," his two absolutely gigantic singles. "Rich and Sad" and "Better Now" see the auto-crooner reflect on his life in a way I never thought he'd be capable of. No matter your feelings on Post Malone, it is impossible to deny the man's ability to write a hook, as seemingly every track oozes single status. 2018 might be remembered as the year Post declared himself among the best mainstream hip-hop has to offer.One track to listen to: "Rich and Sad"
Shame — Songs of Praise:
In case you weren't aware, post-punk music is experience a renaissance at the moment. Bands like Metz, Idles and Iceage are providing a new twist on the sounds of legends like Joy Division and Echo & the Bunnymen. The latest addition to this wave are a pack of British youngsters known as Shame. Their debut album Songs of Praise (named after a Christian music show) contains everything a proper punk album needs: wit, personality and pure aggression. Yet, the quintet pushes beyond the essentials and delivers a sound that gives post-punk more modern sensibilities. "One Rizla" sees the band embrace a more indie rock sound that delivers one catchy chorus: "But if you think I love you/You've got the wrong idea." One of the most exciting bands in rock, Shame will no doubt be a name hard rock fans will chant for years to come. Also, please watch their KEXP performance. You will not regret it.One track to listen to: "Concrete"
Kamasi Washington — Heaven and Earth:
If you have even a passing interest in jazz, it's more than likely you've come across the work of Kamasi Washington before. He stands alone as the modern-day king of jazz. However, even if jazz is not your cup of tea, there is something to love about Washington's compositions. More so than previous releases, Heaven and Earth is a completely cinematic record. The brooding swagger of "Fists of Fury" and quiet anger of "Street Fighter Mas" are just two examples of Washington's ability to create a new world with each song. His music is confident, angry and ready to kick some ass, all in a way that a jazz layman might find jarring — which is exactly the point of this record. It's an Avatar-sized production that makes itself impossible ignore. Washington is for this generation what Davis and Coltrane were for there's and for good reason.One track to listen to: "Street Fighter Mas"
Young Fathers — Cocoa Sugar:
It's fitting that this album should finish this list, as it might just be the best album of the year so far. Scottish trio Young Fathers are all about redefining labels, having stated that their one goal is to redefine what it means to be a pop band. With Cocoa Sugar, they not only transcend pop, but any label one could attempt to throw at them. Incorporating elements of dance, hip-hop, R&B and gospel, Young Fathers create 12 tracks that serve more as an experience than a set of tracks. They offer incredibly unique insights on topics like race and money: "Don't you turn my brown eyes blue/I'm not like you." Many critics have labelled Cocoa Sugar a safe record for the band, but that could not be further from the truth. It's their third full-length album and easily their most daring. I hold out hope that even better music will be released this year, but I'm pessimistic — what more can an artist do?One track to listen to: "In My View"
thanks for the recommendation of Against All Logic, really enjoyed their stuff, and i havent heard of this project anywhere else yet!
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