Year-End Lists

Clash Magazine: Albums of the Year 2018

[see also 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Chris
   Christine and the Queens
2. ASTROWORLD
   Travis Scott
3. East Atlanta Love Letter
   6LACK
4. Negro Swan
   Blood Orange
5. Honey
   Robyn
6. I’m All Ears
   Let’s Eat Grandma
7. Daytona
   Pusha T
8. Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
   Sophie
9. We Out Here
   various artists
10. Joy as an Act of Resistance
    Idles
11. Hive Mind
    The Internet
12. Lost & Found
    Jorja Smith
13. Scorpion
    Drake
14. Invasion of Privacy
    Cardi B
15. Songs of Praise
    Shame
16. Devotion
    Tirzah
17. Qualm
    Helena Hauff
18. Sweetener
    Ariana Grande
19. Dirty Computer
    Janelle Monáe
20. Room 25
    Noname
21. Kids See Ghosts
    Kids See Ghosts
22. Spaceman
    Octavian
23. Heaven and Earth
    Kamasi Washington
24. Good Thing
    Leon Bridges
25. Harlan & Alondra
    Buddy
26. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
    The 1975
27. Your Queen Is a Reptile
    Sons of Kemet
28. God’s Favorite Customer
    Father John Misty
29. Bloom
    Troye Sivan
30. Tha Carter V
    Lil Wayne
31. Murkage Dave Changed My Life
    Murkage Dave
32. Broken Politics
    Neneh Cherry
33. Merrie Land
    The Good, the Bad & the Queen
34. Black Panther The Album Music From And Inspired By
    Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, SZA
35. Saturn
    Nao
36. MassEducation
    St. Vincent
37. Suspiria (Music for the Luca Guadagnino Film)
    Thom Yorke
38. The Magic Gang
    The Magic Gang
39. iridescence
    BROCKHAMPTON
40. Culture II
    Migos

The Alternative: Top 50 Albums of 2018

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2017]

1. Bark Your Head Off, Dog
   Hop Along
2. Be the Cowboy
   Mitski
3. Nearer My God
   Foxing
4. Nothing but Love
   Just Friends
5. Somewhat Literate
   Retirement Party
6. Sunset Blush
   Kississippi
7. How to Socialise & Make Friends
   Camp Cope
8. boygenius
   boygenius
9. No Dogs Allowed
   Sidney Gish
10. Cheer
    Drug Church
11. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
    The 1975
12. Lush
    Snail Mail
13. Post-
    Jeff Rosenstock
14. Clean
    Soccer Mommy
15. [Untitled]
    mewithoutYou
16. Hypnic Jerks
    The Spirit Of The Beehive
17. Void Ripper
    Animal Flag
18. Happiness Hours
    The Sidekicks
19. Saved
    Now, Now
20. Thank You for Today
    Death Cab for Cutie
21. Sister Cities
    The Wonder Years
22. Music to Practice Safe Sex To
    Pool Kids
23. Future Me Hates Me
    The Beths
24. Yolk in the Fur
    Wild Pink
25. Million Dollars to Kill Me
    Joyce Manor
26. Historian
    Lucy Dacus
27. Errorzone
    Vein
28. Swimming
    Mac Miller
29. Burnt Sugar
    Gouge Away
30. Daytona
    Pusha T
31. Schmaltz
    Spanish Love Songs
32. Wide Awake!
    Parquet Courts
33. Puppy Love
    Mom Jeans.
34. Some Rap Songs
    Earl Sweatshirt
35. Bay Dream
    Culture Abuse
36. Waves
    Donovan Wolfington
37. Kiss Yr Frenemies
    illuminati hotties
38. Room 25
    Noname
39. What People Call Low Self​-​Esteem Is Really Just Seeing Yourself the Way That Other People See You
    awakebutstillinbed
40. Magic Gone
    Petal
41. Grad Life
    Graduating Life
42. Dance on the Blacktop
    Nothing
43. Merci
    Save Face
44. Slow Buzz
    Remember Sports
45. Besides
    Hodera
46. Love in the Time of E-Mail
    Antarctigo Vespucci
47. Golden Hour
    Kacey Musgraves
48. ASTROWORLD
    Travis Scott
49. 's Favorite Friend
    Stove
50. Modern Female Rockstar
    The Sonder Bombs

The Wild Honey Pie: Top 30 Albums of 2018

[see also 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2017 • 2016]

1. Be the Cowboy
   Mitski
2. Ruins
   First Aid Kit
3. boygenius
   boygenius
4. Dirty Computer
   Janelle Monáe
5. On Hold
   Fenne Lily
6. Historian
   Lucy Dacus
7. Thank You for Today
   Death Cab for Cutie
8. Clean
   Soccer Mommy
9. Sweetener
   Ariana Grande
10. I Need to Start a Garden
    Haley Heynderickx
11. The Rabbit Hole
    Ashe
12. Fine But Dying
    Liza Anne
13. Skylight
    Pinegrove
14. abysskiss
    Adrianne Lenker
15. I Wasn't Only Thinking About You...
    Oh Pep!
16. Negro Swan
    Blood Orange
17. Premonitions
    Miya Folick
18. Yolk in the Fur
    Wild Pink
19. Lush
    Snail Mail
20. Future Me Hates Me
    The Beths
21. so sad so sexy
    Lykke Li
22. Bark Your Head Off, Dog
    Hop Along
23. Still Run
    Wet
24. God’s Favorite Customer
    Father John Misty
25. High As Hope
    Florence + The Machine
26. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
    The 1975
27. Blood Type
    Cautious Clay
28. On the Corner Where You Live
    The Paper Kites
29. Foxwarren
    Foxwarren
30. C’est La Vie
    Phosphorescent

Earbuddy: 50 Best Albums of 2018

[see also 2017]

1. Wide Awake!
   Parquet Courts
2. Daytona
   Pusha T
3. Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
   Sophie
4. Be the Cowboy
   Mitski
5. I’m All Ears
   Let’s Eat Grandma
6. Kids See Ghosts
   Kids See Ghosts
7. Safe in the Hands of Love
   Yves Tumor
8. Post-
   Jeff Rosenstock
9. Beyondless
   Iceage
10. Last Building Burning
    Cloud Nothings
11. Capture the Flag
    War on Women
12. Now Only
    Mount Eerie
13. Historian
    Lucy Dacus
14. In a Poem Unlimited
    U.S. Girls
15. Collapse
    Aphex Twin
16. Year of the Snitch
    Death Grips
17. Singularity
    Jon Hopkins
18. Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
    Deafheaven
19. How to Socialise & Make Friends
    Camp Cope
20. Isolation
    Kali Uchis
21. Springtime and Blind
    Fiddlehead
22. Through a Wall
    Single Mothers
23. IRISIRI
    Eartheater
24. Dose Your Dreams
    Fucked Up
25. Compro
    Skee Mask
26. Room 25
    Noname
27. 7
    Beach House
28. Chime
    Dessa
29. Hive Mind
    The Internet
30. Us
    Empress Of
31. Aviary
    Julia Holter
32. Bark Your Head Off, Dog
    Hop Along
33. Honey
    Robyn
34. Hell-On
    Neko Case
35. At Weddings
    Tomberlin
36. soil
    serpentwithfeet
37. God’s Favorite Customer
    Father John Misty
38. Brighter Wounds
    Son Lux
39. I Have Fought Against It, But I Can’t Any Longer.
    The Body
40. Freedom’s Goblin
    Ty Segall
41. Moon 2
    Ava Luna
42. Go to School
    The Lemon Twigs
43. Room Inside the World
    Ought
44. What a Time to Be Alive
    Superchunk
45. Invasion of Privacy
    Cardi B
46. Family Portrait
    Ross from Friends
47. Mulberry Violence
    Trevor Powers
48. Bloom
    Troye Sivan
49. Endless Scroll
    Bodega
50. There is a Presence Here
    Many Rooms

Mark Richardson: Best Music of 2018, as published by The Wall Street Journal

• Universal Beings
  Makaya McCraven
• Double Negative
  Low
• WARM
  Jeff Tweedy
• Twin Fantasy
  Car Seat Headrest
• Lush
  Snail Mail
• Whack World
  Tierra Whack
• Room 25
  Noname
• Daytona
  Pusha T
• Golden Hour
  Kacey Musgraves
• Knock Knock
  DJ Koze
• Collapse
  Aphex Twin
• Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
  Sophie

The A.V. Club: 20 Best Albums of 2018

[see also 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2012 • 2011]

1. 7
   Beach House
2. Hell-On
   Neko Case
3. Care for Me
   Saba
4. Hunter
   Anna Calvi
5. Only Love
   The Armed
6. Safe in the Hands of Love
   Yves Tumor
7. Transangelic Exodus
   Ezra Furman
8. Some Rap Songs
   Earl Sweatshirt
9. Knock Knock
   DJ Koze
10. Be the Cowboy
    Mitski
11. Dirty Computer
    Janelle Monáe
12. Singularity
    Jon Hopkins
13. And Nothing Hurt
    Spiritualized
14. Future Me Hates Me
    The Beths
15. Wilkes
    Sam Wilkes
16. Overload
    Georgia Anne Muldrow
17. Song for Alpha
    Daniel Avery
18. You Won't Get What You Want
    Daughters
19. Daytona
    Pusha T
20. I’m All Ears
    Let’s Eat Grandma

Q Magazine: Top 50 Albums of 2018

[see also 2019 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
   Arctic Monkeys
2. I’m All Ears
   Let’s Eat Grandma
3. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
   The 1975
4. Honey
   Robyn
5. Wide Awake!
   Parquet Courts
6. Chris
   Christine and the Queens
7. Joy as an Act of Resistance
   Idles
8. Dirty Computer
   Janelle Monáe
9. True Meanings
   Paul Weller
10. Hunter
    Anna Calvi
11. Marauder
    Interpol
12. Golden Hour
    Kacey Musgraves
13. Babelsberg
    Gruff Rhys
14. Tell Me How You Really Feel
    Courtney Barnett
15. Negro Swan
    Blood Orange
16. Be the Cowboy
    Mitski
17. Freedom’s Goblin
    Ty Segall
18. Knock Knock
    DJ Koze
19. Daytona
    Pusha T
20. And Nothing Hurt
    Spiritualized
21. Double Negative
    Low
22. Hope Downs
    Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
23. Record
    Tracey Thorn
24. Look Now
    Elvis Costello & The Imposters
25. God’s Favorite Customer
    Father John Misty
26. In a Poem Unlimited
    U.S. Girls
27. Song for Alpha
    Daniel Avery
28. Hell-On
    Neko Case
29. World’s Strongest Man
    Gaz Coombes
30. Bottle It In
    Kurt Vile
31. High As Hope
    Florence + The Machine
32. Sparkle Hard
    Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
33. Songs of Praise
    Shame
34. Mozart’s Mini-Mart
    Go-Kart Mozart
35. Aviary
    Julia Holter
36. Rebound
    Eleanor Friedberger
37. 7
    Beach House
38. Yawn
    Bill Ryder-Jones
39. Wanderer
    Cat Power
40. Kids See Ghosts
    Kids See Ghosts
41. so sad so sexy
    Lykke Li
42. Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
    Sophie
43. Everything Is Recorded
    Everything Is Recorded
44. Pray For the Wicked
    Panic! At the Disco
45. Swimming
    Mac Miller
46. Invasion of Privacy
    Cardi B
47. Merrie Land
    The Good, the Bad & the Queen
48. Heaven and Earth
    Kamasi Washington
49. Resistance Is Futile
    Manic Street Preachers
50. Silver Dollar Moment
    The Orielles

Tiny Mix Tapes: Favorite 50 Music Releases of 2018

[see also 2010s • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
   Sophie
2. Safe in the Hands of Love
   Yves Tumor
3. The Smoke
   Lolina
4. Pop 2
   Charli XCX
5. Devotion
   Tirzah
6. Elysia Crampton
   Elysia Crampton
7. Double Negative
   Low
8. Daytona
   Pusha T
9. Grid of Points
   Grouper
10. Cruel Practice
    Shygirl
11. Stadium
    Eli Keszler
12. Aviary
    Julia Holter
13. Now Only
    Mount Eerie
14. Make Me Know You Sweet
    Pendant
15. Poaa
    Bamba Pana
16. Die Lit
    Playboi Carti
17. बड़ा शोक (heart break)
    Barrio Sur
18. Be the Cowboy
    Mitski
19. Another Life
    Amnesia Scanner
20. soil
    serpentwithfeet
21. Konoyo
    Tim Hecker
22. I'll Tell You What!
    RP Boo
23. ye
    Kanye West
24. IRISIRI
    Eartheater
25. Whack World
    Tierra Whack
26. Everywhere At The End Of Time – Stage 4
    The Caretaker
27. Simple Affections
    Simple Affections
28. Skinless X-1
    Fire-Toolz
29. Mudshadow Propaganda
    Prime Minister of Doom
29. Nothing 2 Loose
    DJ Healer
30. CC
    Klein
31. El Mal Querer
    Rosalía
32. Paraffin
    Armand Hammer
33. Raw Silk Uncut Wood
    Laurel Halo
34. Let Night Come On Bells End the Day
    Sarah Davachi
35. Gasp
    Seth Graham
36. K.T.S.E.
    Teyana Taylor
37. 7
    Beach House
38. Behold a Dark Horse
    Roc Marciano
39. In a Poem Unlimited
    U.S. Girls
40. Future Pop
    Perfume
41. Rio Grande
    Delroy Edwards
42. Everyone Needs A Plan
    Matthew Revert/Vanessa Rossetto
43. Orpheus vs. The Sirens
    Hermit and the Recluse
44. Approximately 1,000 Beers
    Jeff Witscher
45. Wide Awake!
    Parquet Courts
46. Rausch
    Gas
47. Veteran
    JPEGMAFIA
48. Freedom
    Amen Dunes
49. dOPENet [NYPD Records Volume 2]
    Satoshi Nakamoto
50. Mudboy
    Sheck Wes

Revolt: 11 Best Rap Albums of 2018

[see also 2019]

1. Victory Lap
   Nipsey Hussle
2. Daytona
   Pusha T
3. ASTROWORLD
   Travis Scott
4. Championships
   Meek Mill
5. KOD
   J. Cole
6. Swimming
   Mac Miller
7. Invasion of Privacy
   Cardi B
8. Redemption
   Jay Rock
9. NOIR
   Smino
10. Room 25
    Noname
11. Die Lit
    Playboi Carti

The Ringer: Best Albums of 2018, compiled by Rob Harvilla and Shea Serrano

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019]

1. Invasion of Privacy
   Cardi B
2. Daytona
   Pusha T
3. Clean
   Soccer Mommy
4. FM!
   Vince Staples
5. Dirty Computer
   Janelle Monáe
6. All Melody
   Nils Frahm
7. NOIR
   Smino
8. Sparkle Hard
   Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
9. Interstate Gospel
   Pistol Annies
10. White Bronco
    Action Bronson