10 Best Albums of 2018
1. Eleanor Friedberger — Rebound
Eleanor Friedberger is getting better and better with every record. Here she displays her amazing, particular voice, and her lyrics got even deeper. Favorite song: In Between Stars
2. Father John Misty — God’s Favorite Customer
With his fourth album under the name Father John Misty, Josh Tillman keeps his wits and doubles down on the sadness, while showing vulnerability and empathy. Favorite song: Please Don’t Die
3. Lucy Dacus — Historian
With a warm, beautiful voice and great lyrics of love lost and companionship, Lucy Dacus delivers a amazing second album. Favorite song: Addictions
4. Josh T. Pearson — The Straight Hits!
After the openness and sadness of Last of the Country Gentlemen, Josh T. Pearson let it lose and makes a fun, yet intense second record under his name. Favorite song: Whiskey Straight Love
5. Neko Case — Hell-On
Neko Case is a treasure, one of the best songwriters out there today. The self-produced Hell-On is a dense record about the human condition in time of chaos. Favorite song: Hell-On
6. Mitski — Be the Cowboy
A unique songwriter, Mitski creates ostensibly simple songs from complex, heavy emotions. She makes it look easy. Be the Cowboy is deep, dark and very accessible, all at the same time. Favorite song: Geyser
7. Melody’s Echo Chamber — Bon Voyage
Psych-pop at its best, Bon Voyage is Melody Prochet’s comeback album after years and after a near-fatal accident. Gleeful and full of unexpected musical twists and turns, this is a psychedelic celebration of life. Favorite song: Cross my Heart
8. Courtney Barnett — Tell me How You Really Feel
Courtney Barnett makes it all sound effortless: great melodies, excellent lyrics, and noisy guitars. In this record, she analyses her life on the road and her love life with her usual humor. Favorite song: Nameless, Faceless
9. La Luz — Floating Features
Surf riffs, retro-sounding organs, and swirling vocals make this album an exceptional experience. Sounding nostalgic and modern, sweet and tense, dreamy and real, at the same time, Floating Features is truly an accomplishment. Favorite song: Cicada
10. Frankie Cosmos — Vessel
Greta Kline’s third album is yet another indie-pop masterpiece about love and self-loathing. Favorite song: Apathy
Honorable mentions
Akira Fukai — Eggplant; Car Seat Headrest — Twin Fantasy; Ezra Furman — Transangelic Exodus; Khruangbin — Con Todo El Mundo; Hinds — I Don’t Run; Jess Williamson — Cosmic Wink; Caroline Rose — Loner; TT — LoveLaws; Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks — Sparkle Hard; Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs — Clippety Clop; Thom Yorke — Suspiria; Correspondence — Jens Lekman & Annika Norlin
