Year-End Lists

XLR8R: Top Releases of 2018

[see also 2011]

• Safe in the Hands of Love
  Yves Tumor
• Hundreds of Days
  Mary Lattimore
• Persona
  Rival Consoles
• Everywhere At The End Of Time – Stage 4
  The Caretaker
• Everywhere At The End Of Time – Stage 5
  The Caretaker
• NTS Sessions 1-4
  Autechre
• XLR8R+003
  various artists
• No. 4
  Christina Vantzou
• Stargate Music
  Ras G & The Afrikan Space Program
• Selva Oscura
  William Basinski + Lawrence English
• Debiasing
  Barker
• Double Negative
  Low
• Am I Using Content Or Is Content Using Me?
  Raime
• In Death's Dream Kingdom
  various artists
• Cocoon Crush
  Objekt
• Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
  Sophie
• Nothing 2 Loose
  DJ Healer
• Somewhere Decent To Live
  Space Afrika
• Rebirth
  Farai
• Knock Knock
  DJ Koze
• Singularity
  Jon Hopkins
• Compro
  Skee Mask
• Word Color
  Gacha Bakradze
• Kasper Bjørke Quartet: The Fifty Eleven Project
  Kasper Bjørke
• All Melody
  Nils Frahm
• Trivial Occupations
  Francis Harris
• Mutant Beat Dance
  Mutant Beat Dance
• Invisibility
  SIT
• Sonder Somatic
  Bruce
• Infinite Moment
  The Field
• 15 Years of the Bunker
  various artists
• Collapse
  Aphex Twin
• Working Class Woman
  Marie Davidson
• Tidal River
  Albrecht La'Brooy
• Portrait With Firewood
  Djrum

The Playlist: Best TV Shows of 2018

[see also 2023 • 2010s • 2016]

1. Atlanta
2. Barry
3. Homecoming
4. The Americans
5. Succession
6. The Little Drummer Girl
7. Dear White People
8. Killing Eve
9. The Good Fight
10. The End of the F***ing World
11. BoJack Horseman
12. A Very English Scandal
13. The Terror
14. Counterpart
15. American Vandal
16. The Haunting of Hill House
17. Billions
18. Sharp Objects
19. Glow
20. Forever
21. The Chi
22. The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
23. Better Call Saul
24. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
25. Sorry for Your Loss

Time Out London: 20 Best Films of 2018

[see also 2021 • 2016 • 2015]

1. You Were Never Really Here
   Lynne Ramsay
2. Widows
   Steve McQueen
3. Phantom Thread
   Paul Thomas Anderson
4. Hereditary
   Ari Aster
5. Roma
   Alfonso Cuaron
6. Mission: Impossible – Fallout
   Christopher McQuarrie
7. Cold War
   Pawel Pawlikowski
8. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
   Martin McDonagh
9. Loveless
   Andrey Zvyagintsev
10. Lady Bird
    Greta Gerwig
11. Black Panther
    Ryan Coogler
12. The Rider
    Chloé Zhao
13. A Quiet Place
    John Krasinski
14. BPM (Beats Per Minute)
    Robin Campillo
15. Shoplifters
    Hirokazu Kore-eda
16. Leave No Trace
    Debra Granik
17. American Animals
    Bart Layton
18. First Man
    Damien Chazelle
19. Suspiria
    Luca Guadagnino
20. A Star Is Born
    Bradley Cooper

AllMusic: Best Albums of 2018

[see also 2023 • 2021 • 2020 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

• The Crossing
  Alejandro Escovedo
• Blueprint
  Alice Bag
• Sweetener
  Ariana Grande
• Sparrow
  Ashley Monroe
• NTS Sessions 1-4
  Autechre
• The Big Bad Blues
  Billy F Gibbons
• Negro Swan
  Blood Orange
• Port Saint Joe
  Brothers Osborne
• A Soprano's Schubertiade
  Carolyn Sampson and Joseph Middleton
• Chris
  Christine and the Queens
• The Horizon Just Laughed
  Damien Jurado
• Monte Sagrado
  Draco Rosa
• Open Here
  Field Music
• Aftering
  Fred Thomas
• Prequelle
  Ghost
• Gilbert O'Sullivan
  Gilbert O'Sullivan
• Stravinsky: Orchestral Works
  Gustavo Gimeno and Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg
• See You Around
  I’m With Her
• Dirty Computer
  Janelle Monáe
• The Tree of Forgiveness
  John Prine
• Singularity
  Jon Hopkins
• Aviary
  Julia Holter
• Golden Hour
  Kacey Musgraves
• Childqueen
  Kadhja Bonet
• Isolation
  Kali Uchis
• Heaven and Earth
  Kamasi Washington
• Kids See Ghosts
  Kids See Ghosts
• Power
  Lotic
• Dirty Pictures, Pt. 2
  Low Cut Connie
• Sculptor
  Luluc
• Ravel & Duparc: Aimer et mourir – Danses et mélodies
  Magdalena Kožená and Robin Ticciati
• Universal Beings
  Makaya McCraven
• Songs of Resistance 1942 - 2018
  Marc Ribot
• Bon Voyage
  Melody’s Echo Chamber
• Be the Cowboy
  Mitski
• Now Only
  Mount Eerie
• Third
  Nathan Salsburg
• Hell-On
  Neko Case
• Room 25
  Noname
• Volunteer
  Old Crow Medicine Show
• Age Of
  Oneohtrix Point Never
• Tru
  Ovlov
• Interstate Gospel
  Pistol Annies
• Honey
  Robyn
• Hope Downs
  Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
• El Mal Querer
  Rosalía
• The Official Body
  Shopping
• Midnight Marker
  Shy Layers
• Your Queen Is a Reptile
  Sons of Kemet
• Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
  Sophie
• What a Time to Be Alive
  Superchunk
• Superorganism
  Superorganism
• The Midnight Hour
  The Midnight Hour / Ali Shaheed Muhammad / Adrian Younge
• Silver Dollar Moment
  The Orielles
• ASTROWORLD
  Travis Scott
• Arvo Pärt
  Viktoria Mullova / Paavo Järvi
• FM!
  Vince Staples
• Ecstatic Arrow
  Virginia Wing
• Dirt
  Yamantaka//Sonic Titan
• Our Raw Heart
  YOB

Chicago Public Library: 10 Best Books of 2018

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014]

• An American Marriage
  Tayari Jones
• Circe
  Madeline Miller
• Educated
  Tara Westover
• The Great Believers
  Rebecca Makkai
• Heavy

  An American Memoir
  Kiese Laymon
• I’ll Be Gone in the Dark

  One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
  Michelle McNamara
• My Year of Rest and Relaxation
  Ottessa Moshfegh
• Severance
  Ling Ma
• There There
  Tommy Orange
• Washington Black
  Esi Edugyan

Vibe Magazine: 30 Best Albums of 2018

[see also 2019 • 2017]

1. East Atlanta Love Letter
   6LACK
2. iridescence
   BROCKHAMPTON
3. Harlan & Alondra
   Buddy
4. Invasion of Privacy
   Cardi B
5. Everything Is Love
   The Carters
6. Scorpion
   Drake
7. Ella Mai
   Ella Mai
8. Lovers Rock
   Estelle
9. Hive Mind
   The Internet
10. KOD
    J. Cole
11. DiCaprio 2
    JID
12. Village
    Jacob Banks
13. Dirty Computer
    Janelle Monáe
14. Redemption
    Jay Rock
15. Tha Carter V
    Lil Wayne
16. Swimming
    Mac Miller
17. Lady Lady
    Masego
18. Championships
    Meek Mill
19. Victory Lap
    Nipsey Hussle
20. Room 25
    Noname
21. Daytona
    Pusha T
22. There You Have It
    Reason
23. Book of Ryan
    Royce da 5'9"
24. Care for Me
    Saba
25. November
    SiR
26. K.T.S.E.
    Teyana Taylor
27. Whack World
    Tierra Whack
28. ASTROWORLD
    Travis Scott
29. Black Panther The Album Music From And Inspired By
    Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, SZA
30. Stay Dangerous
    YG

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

Maureen Corrigan: Best Books of 2018, as aired on NPR’s Fresh Air

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2011]

• The Great Believers
  Rebecca Makkai
• Lake Success
  Gary Shteyngart
• There There
  Tommy Orange
• Warlight
  Michael Ondaatje
• Washington Black
  Esi Edugyan
• Barracoon

  The Story of the Last “Black Cargo”
  Zora Neale Hurston
• The Largesse of the Sea Maiden
  Denis Johnson
• I’ll Be Gone in the Dark

  One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
  Michelle McNamara
• Sharp
  Michelle Dean
• Heartland

  A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth
  Sarah Smarsh

Christopher Orr: Best Films of 2018, as published by The Atlantic

[see also 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014]

1. Roma
   Alfonso Cuaron
2. Cold War
   Pawel Pawlikowski
3. A Star Is Born
   Bradley Cooper
4. First Reformed
   Paul Schrader
5. Black Panther
   Ryan Coogler
6. The Old Man & the Gun
   David Lowery
7. Widows
   Steve McQueen
8. The Death of Stalin
   Armando Iannucci
9. The Rider
   Chloé Zhao
10. A Simple Favor
    Paul Feig

Runners-up

• The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
  Joel & Ethan Coen
• Can You Ever Forgive Me?
  Marielle Heller
• Eighth Grade
  Bo Burnham
• The Favourite
  Yorgos Lanthimos
• Green Book
  Peter Farrelly
• If Beale Street Could Talk
  Barry Jenkins
• Isle of Dogs
  Wes Anderson
• Leave No Trace
  Debra Granik
• Mary Poppins Returns
  Rob Marshall
• Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
  Morgan Neville