by PJ Wascher

It’s been a busy year. Work, traveling, running, life all seemed to take a little more time this year, but traditions are traditions! I’ve listened, I’ve ranked and I’m ready to reveal. Per usual, I’ve done my best to listen to as much music as possible. Throughout the year I’ve ranked my favorite albums on post it notes. As the end of the year approaches I try to read every list possible and see if I missed anything. There were some tweaks near the end of the year for me, but overall I seemed to be better connected to the top music this year than usual.

Looking back at the year in music, I’m pretty happy with the top end of my list. I loved the top 5 albums in my list and I love it when I can convincingly call an album my favorite of the year. But my list seemed to stall out around the middle of the year and in its mid-section. I had plenty of albums to consider, but struggled to truly place ones above the rest. Most were lacking the depth and several just weren’t as interest as I wanted. Lots of my favorite established artists returned with an album. Most did not live up to expectations. It was a year where I found myself on the hunt for something new and fresh. Not sure I quite got there with most of this list. There was good music this year, but I think 2018 pushed me to look even harder for new and different things to keep it fun. Without further ado let’s get to the fun part! Here’s my official Top 10 Albums of 2018:

 The Top 5

1. Historian by Lucy Dacus

I have admit this is about the latest audible for top album I’ve ever made. This album spent a good chunk of the first half of the year at the top of my list, but the next album on this list took over for most of the second half of the year. Listening and reflecting through December and writing this post finally pushed me to make the final switch. This album is what I expect from a number 1. It has great depth and is emotionally strong. This album features several songs that ignore the standard song time requirements and allow themselves to build into something special. The album deals an array of emotional subjects including break ups and finding stability in life. Over the last year few years there’s been some amazing female rock/folk groups releasing music. For the second year in a row, one of them is taking the top spot in my list.

Top Tracks:

• Night Shift
• Addicitions
• Timefighter

2. Can’t Wake Up by Shakey Graves

My list has a few themes in it, but the my second album does not follow any of it. This is an artist I’ve been following and knew could be something special. I loved Shakey Graves first album, which was also listed in my 2014 top 10, but after seeing them perform I knew this band could reach another level. Can’t Wake Up caught me at a funky time in the year. Several known artists had let me down. This album didn’t immediately jump off the page for me and got put away for few months. Going back in my queue with a new mindset things changed pretty quickly. This album has a flow I didn’t hear anywhere else this year. The album still holds that one man-band style while getting bigger more complex. The first album, while great, felt like it had a few filler tracks, this one is swinging hard from the moment you press play. This may not be the edgiest pick, but you can’t deny what you love.

Top Tracks:

• Excuses
• Kids These Days
• My Neighbor

3. Tell Me How You Really Feel by Courtney Barnett

When I look at my overall list I think there’s three albums that separated themselves from the rest. Each spent some time as my top album for 2018. In many ways this album felt like a good follow-up for anyone that loved Lucy Dacus’s Historian. They both feature female led rock groups with an introverted tone. I’ve always had a lot of respect for Courtney Barnett, but can’t say I’ve always connected with her work. I think that’s slowly changing, but the speak singing style takes some work for me. This album builds in ways that suck me in compared to anything she’s done till now. Past albums were a bit more surfer/punk rock. While this still has those roots, this one brings in some retro guitar sounds and has filled out a little more. When finding a theme for both this Lucy’s album, I think you’ll find two female rockers that are willing to be vulnerable, but with Barnett she mixes that vulnerability with a little more quirks and playfulness.

Top Tracks:

• Charity
• Nameless, Faceless
• Hopefulessness

4. Big Red Machine by Big Red Machine

Another self-indulgent pick for me! As I write this post, I’m sensing an alternating theme with my list so far. I LOVE Bon Iver. I got a chance to see him for the second time in concert this year and I can’t remain reasonable about it anymore. Sorry. This album/artist is actually a collaboration between Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner, you’d be forgiven for thinking this is basically a new Bon Iver album. In many ways it feels like it picked up where the last album left off. There are some new sonic arrangements, which I think we can credit Aaron for, but it brings back all the things I’ve been obsessed with for the last few years.

Top Tracks:

• I Won’t Run From It
• Lyla
• Gratitude

5. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships by The 1975 – I think this band snuck up on a lot of people. Starting as a fun pop rock band, this band officially turned a corner with their 2016 release “I like when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it.” This album in many ways builds off that. More emotionally, but sonically bounces around in now familiar, yet very satisfying, ways. The bands journey between these albums has not been smooth, but as is often the case, the journey allowed the band to reach another emotional level. Frontman Matt Healy was quoted calling The 1975 “band of the decade.” When I initially heard that, I found it bold. But upon further reflection I’m not so sure more. At the very least, they are on the short list.

Top Tracks

• TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME
• Love It If We Made It
• I Like America & America Likes Me

The Next 5

6. I’m All Ears by Let’s Eat Grandma – Some band names just force you to press play. Their first album was as quirky as their name but didn’t quite click for me. Their second release was a different story. This album is still playful, but the songs musically pack more punch. Channeling Sleigh Bells at some points, the band avoids going full punk rock and sticks more to a pop sound that I find less tiring. Despite being just outside the Top 5, they did end up releasing my Song of The Year (Falling Into Me. The high points on this album are pretty special.

Top Tracks:

• Falling Into Me
• Hot Pink
• Its Not Just Me

7. Come Tomorrow by Dave Matthews Band – He’s back at it, with his first album in 6 years. The band has changed a little, but surprisingly the core elements still hold up. Overall the album is solid, but we all know they have another level. For those who regularly see his tours, he’s been working out several of these songs the last few years. There were some surprises at which ones were included and which weren’t. Some of the songs turned out better than expected, while some are fine. The album carries an overall bluesy rock vibe, but the message relatively bright featuring lots of the songs about fatherhood. To best understand this album, I’d recommend jumping to Can’t Stop, which really set the tone for the rest of the recording sessions. This song is hardly a fan favorite in the touring circuit, but they crushed it on the album. You can see why Dave wanted to working through this sound. In many ways this album’s acoustics feel like a throwback to many 90’s sounds, which have yet to become trendy again, but in some ways that’s why I liked this album so much. Just different compared to a lot of the 80’s references we hear.

Top Tracks:

• Can’t Stop
• Come Tomorrow
• Come On Come On

8. God’s Favorite Customer by Father John Misty – Back at number 8! Give Father John Misty some credit for consistency. You don’t see too many artists that can release albums in back to back years and when they do they’re usually a letdown. This album ends up being a nice compliment to last year’s over the top Pure Comedy. God’s Favorite Customer is stripped down and more reserved, at least as much as he can be. His lyrics overall as still as quirky and unique as usual. I’m guessing there will be a year off after this year’s release, but if not, I’m ready to leave this spot saved for him.

Top Tracks

• Just Dumb Enough To Try
• Please Don’t Die
• Hangout At The Gallows

9. How To: Friend, Love, Freefall by Rainbow Kitten Surprise – There’s not too many “new” artists for me on this year’s list, but I was able to squeeze one in here. Officially, Rainbow Kitten Surprise is not new, but I’m using the phrase to reference bands I’ve never heard of before this year. The immediate comparison for me is Tune-Yards, but they are much more rock. Of all the albums on my list, I’d say this is the one that feels under-ranked. There’s days this album feels like a top 3 album, but there’s just enough peaks and valleys in it to keep it here for now.

Top Tracks:

• Mission To Mars
• Fever Pitch
• It’s Called: Freefall

10. 10. Lush by Snail Mail – Closing this album out with a true “new” artist. Snail Mail’s first release felt like a moment. Someone so young, with a new punk rock sound that felt like the sound of 2019 in June. “Pristine” was my runner up for song of the year. There’s just something exciting to be able to make music like this at that age. If this what she can do now, I’m very excited to where it goes next. The album has some amazing moments, but as a concept can be repetitive at moments. More searching and playing will surely open another door, but for now this first entry is too much fun to ignore. This is one of the moment’s I’ll remember most in 2018. Somebody I’ll remember where I was the first time I heard her.

Top Tracks:

• Pristine
• Stick
• Speaking Terms

If Only I could List 15 Albums

Solace by RÜFÜS DU SOL – I found myself digging deeper and deeper into electronic music this year. My list does not reflect that. I think it’s due to the fact that so many artists release tracks vs. albums. By the time they get around to an album many of the tracks are played out. There’s some exceptions to that rule though, including right here!

Top Tracks

• New Sky
• Lost In My Mind
• Treat You Better

My Mind Makes Noises by Pale Waves– Pop music is slowly becoming more of an indie music scene as hip hop takes over the Top 40. This could be the best thing to happen to the music genre. Pale Waves is a great example of this. Blending a nostalgic 80s synth pop sound with a punk indie rock, this is something you would not see if pop music was pure top 40.

Top Tracks

• Eighteen
• There’s a Honey
• Noises

Art of Doubt by Metric – A good compliment to the band above. I’ve been following Metric for the last three albums. It’s hard to top some of their early work, but I like the spaces they are exploring. This album has a bit more synth work then I’d like. Wish they’d let the guitars rock out a little more.

Top Tracks

• Art of Doubt
• Dark Saturday
• Die Happy

Amerian Utopia by David Byrne – Probably the craziest album on my list this year. David Byrne put on one of my favorite concerts of the year. The album is bold bizarre, but really clicked in a live performance setting.

Top Tracks

• Everybody’s Coming To My House
• Gasoline and Dirty Sheets
• Bullet

Dark Matter Dreams by Field Division – I never had a Fleetwood Mac phase in my life, but I think that’s starting to change. If that’s your thing, good news! The sound is back. Lots of bands are starting to bring it back to life as part of this 80s music nostalgia kick. Best example to date is right here.

Top Tracks

• River In Reverse
• Stay
• Big Sur, Golden Hour

High As Hope by Florence + The Machine – I was really struggling to decide on the last album for this spot. There were a lot of albums I was sitting on the fence with this year. In the end I went with the album I thought packed the biggest punch. I’d describe this album as dramatic. Lots of the songs build and utilize orchestral elements to create something theatrical for the ears.

Top Tracks

• The End of Love
• Hunger
• 100 Years

Honorable Mentions

Plenty of music to get you through the upcoming year. Did the trick for me! Feel free to go through and listen to all the links below, or click here and go to an online playlist hosted by Spotify:

Pillar of Na by Saintseneca https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-FzJ16prdM

Dirty Computer by Janelle Monae https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK47eUkBBps

Ruins by First Aid Kit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LE6veTNORI

Earthtones by Bahamas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFSmBahgFcc

Brighter Wounds by Son Lux https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjjlABP5t1Q

Always Ascending by Franz Firdinand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TNyy90LrAg

By The Way, I Forgive You by Brandi Carlile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r6A2NexF88

Mattiel by Mattiel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egeH3SrSMvE

I’ll Be Your Girl by The Decemberists https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksTFj6L0mao

Critical As Water by Jeremy Loops https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svo9Cxz_ZHA

Combat War by The Vaccines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU9hrd35Dsg

Off To The Races by Jukebox The Ghost https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhZ2_pAOfh4

The Ware Act I by The Family Crest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTRBogzjYT0

The Louder Call, The Faster It Runs by Wye Oak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOiuE8Fn-Ro

Vide Noir by Lord Huron https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY50XnGKvRE

On The Trade Ride Home by The Paper Kites https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gebjNeiWYaI

In The Rainbow Rain by Okkervil River https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AZW5aauxvw

Last Man Standing by Willie Nelson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdtx-pxjX8A

Good Thing by Leon Bridges https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELPOCJvDz3w

Nation of Two by Vance Joy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXXD1Qxpisw

Lost Friends by Middle Kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRmsyFCP-Jw

Superorganism by Superorganism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4nunES9DyI

Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino by Arctic Monkeys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71Es-8FfATo

Part Of The Light by Ray LaMontagne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G654GwXFKAo

Peace by Graveyards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbFGvxX70Pg

Shawn Mendes by Shawn Mendes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36tggrpRoTI

Love Is Dead by Chvrches https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1YqueG2gtQ

Perfume by Wand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnC5TURRqqE

Red by Bantug https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7T1xut5hvk

Ye by Kanye West https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAsHVwl-MU4

Hell On by Neko Case https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67SYzn4lmt8

What a Wonderful industry by M. Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPUTVruCb24

Kindness, A Rebel by Rive Whyless https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVqNz58osrI

So Sad So Sexy by Lykke Li https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tPtmA6Uq8Q

Lightlessness Is Nothing New by Maps & Atlases https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_gk7Ulp3zE

Kids See Ghosts by Kids See Ghosts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8ibdsPYOgw

Twentytwo In Blue by Sunflower Bean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMXvr6uIynY

Extralife by Darlingside https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Fp6aV5kFI

Passwords by Dawes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLS5z6fB9tk

One by Birdtalker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdrSSRYgfVk

Mindset by Vacationer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DZf2_1bAeU

Electric Light by James Bay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE-gdNIL8WI

The Now Now by Gorillaz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5yFcdPAGv0

Red Trees and White Trashes By Welles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KjOw2qsD30

Chrome Sparks by Chrome Sparks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34eedqfOUxM

Noonday Dream by Ben Howard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPzGKFFDuVU

Lifers by Cody Jinks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Je4CNC1TNs

Twin Fantasy by Car Seat Headrest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbDNP9R23h4

Palo Santo by Years & Years https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd188INryho

Uniform Distortion by Jim James https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmya6hUzVhE

This Night Falls Forever by DeVotchKa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=413Fl0ScUsc

Love Me/Love Me Not by HONNE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btIQvYcLNoI

Go To School by The Lemon Twigs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6LodGUpmxY

Fashion by Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR6j8R8i3WM

Thank You for Today by Deathcab for Cutie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAfUtYAHBMk

Performance by White Denim https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo7j2OIhay0

My New Moon by Amos Lee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQC8fI3W04A

Bloom by Troy Sivan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOuBqt3PbwE

Young Sick Camellia by St. Paul & The Broken Bones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBNzf3my46A

Uncle, Duke & The Chief by Born Ruffians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qlo0mhBcGA

The More I Sleep the Less I Dream by We Were Promised Jetpacks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5uucSFbSmM

The Art of Pretending To Swim by Villagers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JEGN_smznQ

Bambi by Hippo Campus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGESBZN8kH0

How Many Time Have You Driven By by Hana Vu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm4TjQtUVYE

The Witch by Pumarosa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nvdgUN-PSE

New Compassion by HAERTS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_pN_JTq5TE

Evening Machines by Gregory Alan Isakov https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BJ7MDOmLPE

Fine Buy Dying by Liza Anne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEM6cMBTgTE

Floating Features by La Luz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brhcgc2o2ko

Anthems of the Peaceful Army by Greta Van Fleet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86_vnQc1oBE

Honey by Robyn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o5BHH9U2Mg

Premonitions by Miya Folick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II9JXA_VOZ0

Lo Moon by Lo Moon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFLzjhXBDRw

Simulation Theory by Muse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0UWT0dFSQE

Young Romance by Roosevelt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ2NTa9EJUQ

Delta by Mumford & Sons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1DgqmqDPPs

Future Me Hates Me by The Beths https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVImwSb4EYU

Double Negative by Low https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzMo-EpWcPA

Supergiant by Valley Queen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxpmk6-G7qc

Lost & Found by Jorja Smith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYwRsJAPfec

7 by Beach House https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08qd-vsHbaY

I Need to Start a Garden by Haley Heynderickx https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w39qx5X_Owg

This Is Not The End by MILCK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PMbl7wzhY0

Bell House by Shy Guys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGDatjgw80w

Icarus Falls by ZAYN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-dv_DcDD_A

Astroworld by Travis Scott https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ONRf7h3Mdk

Egypt Station by Paul McCartney https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeJLrtFY7Ds

Transit by I’m Kingfisher https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBE8Pjqj56c

Euphoria by Total Giovanni https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfS7T8g8KZo

Beerbongs & Bentleys by Post Malone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYwF-jdcVjY

Daytona by Pusha T https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7-0ugujS2U