Year-End Lists

NPR Music: 50 Best Albums of 2018

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Dirty Computer
   Janelle Monáe
2. Be the Cowboy
   Mitski
3. Golden Hour
   Kacey Musgraves
4. Historian
   Lucy Dacus
5. Room 25
   Noname
6. Invasion of Privacy
   Cardi B
7. Honey
   Robyn
8. El Mal Querer
   Rosalía
9. Isolation
   Kali Uchis
10. Whack World
    Tierra Whack
11. Bark Your Head Off, Dog
    Hop Along
12. boygenius
    boygenius
13. Interstate Gospel
    Pistol Annies
14. Superorganism
    Superorganism
15. Dreamers
    Magos Herrera & Brooklyn Rider
16. Tell Me How You Really Feel
    Courtney Barnett
17. Double Negative
    Low
18. Heaven and Earth
    Kamasi Washington
19. By The Way, I Forgive You
    Brandi Carlile
20. Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa
    Jeremy Dutcher
21. Chris
    Christine and the Queens
22. Sweetener
    Ariana Grande
23. Rifles and Rosary Beads
    Mary Gauthier
24. soil
    serpentwithfeet
25. Con Todo El Mundo
    Khruangbin
26. Care for Me
    Saba
27. Bartók: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
    Christian Tetzlaff, The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra & Hannu Lintu
28. The Tree of Forgiveness
    John Prine
29. Acrylic
    Leikeli47
30. Universal Beings
    Makaya McCraven
31. Orquesta Akokán
    Orquesta Akokán
32. re:member
    Ólafur Arnalds
33. Siblings
    Colin Self
34. Vibras
    J Balvin
35. ASTROWORLD
    Travis Scott
36. FM!
    Vince Staples
37. Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 11 "The Year 1905"
    Boston Symphony Orchestra & Andris Nelsons
38. Origami Harvest
    Ambrose Akinmusire
39. Maghreb United
    Ammar 808
40. Friends. Lovers. Favorites
    The Hirs Collective
41. Future Me Hates Me
    The Beths
42. The Other Side of Air
    Myra Melford's Snowy Egret
43. Magus
    Thou
44. Blueprint
    Alice Bag
45. Johann Sebastian Bach
    Vikingur Ólafsson
46. Prisma Tropical
    Balún
47. Spa 700
    700 Bliss
48. DiCaprio 2
    JID
49. Lush
    Snail Mail
50. Everything Is Love
    The Carters

Entertainment Weekly: 20 Best Albums of 2018

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2011]

1. Golden Hour
   Kacey Musgraves
2. Invasion of Privacy
   Cardi B
3. Sweetener
   Ariana Grande
4. Be the Cowboy
   Mitski
5. Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
   Arctic Monkeys
6. Interstate Gospel
   Pistol Annies
7. Black Panther The Album Music From And Inspired By
   Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, SZA
8. Desperate Man
   Eric Church
9. Dirty Computer
   Janelle Monáe
10. Camila
    Camila Cabello
11. By The Way, I Forgive You
    Brandi Carlile
12. Hell-On
    Neko Case
13. Lush
    Snail Mail
14. Daytona
    Pusha T
15. The Tree
    Lori McKenna
16. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
    The 1975
17. Isolation
    Kali Uchis
18. Negro Swan
    Blood Orange
19. Look Now
    Elvis Costello & The Imposters
20. ASTROWORLD
    Travis Scott

Complex: Best Albums of 2018

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Daytona
   Pusha T
2. ASTROWORLD
   Travis Scott
3. KOD
   J. Cole
4. Sweetener
   Ariana Grande
5. Redemption
   Jay Rock
6. Victory Lap
   Nipsey Hussle
7. Everything Is Love
   The Carters
8. Black Panther The Album Music From And Inspired By
   Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, SZA
9. Negro Swan
   Blood Orange
10. Invasion of Privacy
    Cardi B
11. Swimming
    Mac Miller
12. Drip Harder
    Lil Baby & Gunna
13. Dirty Computer
    Janelle Monáe
14. Kids See Ghosts
    Kids See Ghosts
15. Care for Me
    Saba
16. Whack World
    Tierra Whack
17. Fetti
    Curren$y, Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
18. Tha Carter V
    Lil Wayne
19. Room 25
    Noname
20. DiCaprio 2
    JID
21. Hive Mind
    The Internet
22. NOIR
    Smino
23. beerbongs & bentleys
    Post Malone
24. Honey
    Robyn
25. East Atlanta Love Letter
    6LACK
26. 4275
    Jacquees
27. Book of Ryan
    Royce da 5'9"
28. Championships
    Meek Mill
29. TA13OO
    Denzel Curry
30. SR3MM
    Rae Sremmurd
31. FM!
    Vince Staples
32. MIH-TY
    Jeremih & Ty Dolla $ign
33. KAOS
    DJ Muggs & Roc Marciano
34. Scorpion
    Drake
35. God Level
    03 Greedo
36. Golden Hour
    Kacey Musgraves
37. K.T.S.E.
    Teyana Taylor
38. Us
    Empress Of
39. Vibras
    J Balvin
40. Not All Heroes Wear Capes
    Metro Boomin
41. Forever
    Popcaan
42. Supreme Blientele
    Westside Gunn
43. November
    SiR
44. Oxnard
    Anderson .Paak
45. Die Lit
    Playboi Carti
46. My Dear Melancholy
    The Weeknd
47. Heaven and Earth
    Kamasi Washington
48. Caution
    Mariah Carey
49. Some Rap Songs
    Earl Sweatshirt
50. Culture II
    Migos

The Skinny: Top 50 Albums of 2018

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

1. Cocoa Sugar
   Young Fathers
2. Wide Awake!
   Parquet Courts
3. Be the Cowboy
   Mitski
4. Joy as an Act of Resistance
   Idles
5. Honey
   Robyn
6. Here Lies the Body
   Aidan Moffat & RM Hubbert
7. Dirty Computer
   Janelle Monáe
8. Tell Me How You Really Feel
   Courtney Barnett
9. Twin Fantasy
   Car Seat Headrest
10. All Melody
    Nils Frahm
11. From When I Wake the Want Is
    Kathryn Joseph
12. 7
    Beach House
13. Negro Swan
    Blood Orange
14. Dream Wife
    Dream Wife
15. The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs
    Wye Oak
16. Acts of Fear and Love
    Slaves
17. Confident Music For Confident People
    Confidence Man
18. Saturn
    Nao
19. Chris
    Christine and the Queens
20. Room 25
    Noname
21. Singularity
    Jon Hopkins
22. Isolation
    Kali Uchis
23. Bark Your Head Off, Dog
    Hop Along
24. Ecstatic Arrow
    Virginia Wing
25. Sunday Best
    Martha Ffion
26. Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
    Sophie
27. Lavender
    Half Waif
28. The Future and the Past
    Natalie Prass
29. Now Only
    Mount Eerie
30. Dance Music
    Mastersystem
31. Working Class Woman
    Marie Davidson
32. Freedom
    Amen Dunes
33. Con Todo El Mundo
    Khruangbin
34. Sum of All Your Parts
    Fatherson
35. Lush
    Snail Mail
36. All That Divides
    Black Peaks
37. Beyondless
    Iceage
38. C’est La Vie
    Phosphorescent
39. Superorganism
    Superorganism
40. Compro
    Skee Mask
41. 2012-2017
    Against All Logic
42. Fall Into the Sun
    Swearin’
43. Double Negative
    Low
44. To the Sunset
    Amanda Shires
45. In a Poem Unlimited
    U.S. Girls
46. At Weddings
    Tomberlin
47. Songs of Praise
    Shame
48. The House
    Porches
49. Invitation To Her's
    Her's
50. Veteran
    JPEGMAFIA

Chris Richards: Best Music of 2018, as published by The Washington Post

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2019 • 2017 • 2011]

1. soil
   serpentwithfeet
2. Cold Devil
   Drakeo the Ruler
3. Golden Hour
   Kacey Musgraves
4. Simi
   BlocBoy JB
5. The Tree
   Lori McKenna
6. Sparrow
   Ashley Monroe
7. Time & Space
   Turnstile
8. Stadium
   Eli Keszler
9. Life Of
   Steve Tibbetts
10. Nasty
    Rico Nasty

The Quietus: Albums of the Year 2018

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Pastoral
   Gazelle Twin
2. An Angel Fell
   Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids
3. Insecure Men
   Insecure Men
4. The Blue Hour
   Suede
5. Cocoon Crush
   Objekt
6. We Are Ill
   ILL
7. Your Queen Is a Reptile
   Sons of Kemet
8. Double Negative
   Low
9. Now! (In a Minute)
   Audiobooks
10. Who Do You Love
    Årabrot
11. Dirty Computer
    Janelle Monáe
12. Mogic
    Hen Ogledd
13. You Won't Get What You Want
    Daughters
14. Working Class Woman
    Marie Davidson
15. Daytona
    Pusha T
16. A Laughing Death in Meatspace
    Tropical Fuck Storm
17. Chemistry Lessons, Vol. 1
    Chris Carter
18. Red Goddess (Of This Men Shall Know Nothing)
    Hawthonn
19. Wet Will Always Dry
    Blawan
20. Aviary
    Julia Holter
21. The Scars of Man on the Once Nameless Wilderness
    Panopticon
22. Sujud
    Senyawa
23. Grid of Points
    Grouper
24. Unfold
    Gábor Lázár
25. Solan Goose
    Erland Cooper
26. Slowly Paradise
    Eric Chenaux
27. Powerhouse
    PLANNINGTOROCK
28. Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
    Sophie
29. Multum in Parvo
    Todd Barton
30. Ambition Will Eat Itself
    The Yossarians
31. The Long Sleep
    Jenny Hval
32. The Sound of Music
    Laibach
33. Here Lies the Body
    Aidan Moffat & RM Hubbert
34. Dimensional People
    Mouse On Mars
35. Compro
    Skee Mask
36. Physical
    Gabe Gurnsey
37. Reckonings
    Laura Cannell & Andre Bosman
38. Safe in the Hands of Love
    Yves Tumor
39. New Hymn to Freedom
    Szun Waves
40. Chapel Perilous
    Gnod
41. Something Blue
    Blocks & Escher
42. Spa 700
    700 Bliss
43. Devotion
    Tirzah
44. My Mother the Vent
    Guttersnipe
45. Everywhere At The End Of Time – Stage 5
    The Caretaker
46. Isolation
    Kali Uchis
47. Sonder Somatic
    Bruce
48. Don’t Look Away
    Alexander Tucker
49. All Is Quiet At The Ancient Theatre
    Alison Cotton
50. Khonnar
    Deena Abdelwahed
51. Head Cage
    Pig Destroyer
52. IRISIRI
    Eartheater
53. Goat Girl
    Goat Girl
54. Invasion of Privacy
    Cardi B
55. Assimilation
    Ben Vince
56. Yes I Jan
    Bas Jan
57. Sekundenschlaf
    тпсб
58. Thankful Villages, Vol. 1
    Darren Hayman
59. Hilja
    Cucina Povera
60. Sistahs
    Big Joanie
61. Bad Witch
    Nine Inch Nails
62. Euphoria
    Synth Sisters
63. AJA
    AJA
64. I Have Fought Against It, But I Can’t Any Longer.
    The Body
65. The Residue
    Manni Dee
66. Rezzett
    Rezzett
67. King of Cowards
    Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
68. Only Love
    The Armed
69. Qualm
    Helena Hauff
70. Lady’s Mantle
    Jake Muir
71. Terminal
    ZULI
72. Thee Opener of the Way
    Primitive Knot
73. Faces of Earth
    Melting Hand
74. K.O.
    Miss Red
75. Magic & Machines
    Vanishing Twin
76. Anticlines
    Lucrecia Dalt
77. Red, White & Zero
    East Man
78. Veteran
    JPEGMAFIA
79. Whale City
    Warmduscher
80. Polish Space Program
    Xenony
81. Power
    Lotic
82. Landfall
    Laurie Anderson & Kronos Quartet
83. Basic Volume
    Gaika
84. Daqa'iq Tudaiq
    Jerusalem in My Heart
85. Thresholder
    Ian William Craig
86. Sinking into a Miracle
    AMOR
87. Bliss Signal
    Bliss Signal
88. Free Form
    Dizzy Fae
89. The Third Helix
    Drew McDowall
90. Goatherder
    Capitol K
91. Scented Pictures
    Nonpareils
92. Front Variations (One & Two)
    Richard Skelton
93. Mr. Dynamite
    Creep Show
94. iridescence
    BROCKHAMPTON
95. Sorrow
    David Terry
96. Le Kov
    Gwenno
97. Lala Belu
    Hailu Mergia
98. Omegaville
    Anthroprophh
99. Murmurations
    Simian Mobile Disco
100. Lekhfa
     Maryam Saleh, Maurice Louca & Tamer Abu Ghazaleh

Stereogum: 50 Best Albums Of 2018

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Golden Hour
   Kacey Musgraves
2. Lush
   Snail Mail
3. Sweetener
   Ariana Grande
4. Invasion of Privacy
   Cardi B
5. 7
   Beach House
6. Constant Image
   Flasher
7. Clean
   Soccer Mommy
8. Double Negative
   Low
9. God’s Favorite Customer
   Father John Misty
10. Be the Cowboy
    Mitski
11. Daytona
    Pusha T
12. Honey
    Robyn
13. Historian
    Lucy Dacus
14. FM!
    Vince Staples
15. And Nothing Hurt
    Spiritualized
16. iridescence
    BROCKHAMPTON
17. Lavender
    Half Waif
18. Bark Your Head Off, Dog
    Hop Along
19. Kiss Yr Frenemies
    illuminati hotties
20. At Weddings
    Tomberlin
21. El Mal Querer
    Rosalía
22. Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It
    Rolo Tomassi
23. Room 25
    Noname
24. Yolk in the Fur
    Wild Pink
25. Dose Your Dreams
    Fucked Up
26. In a Poem Unlimited
    U.S. Girls
27. abysskiss
    Adrianne Lenker
28. Isolation
    Kali Uchis
29. K.T.S.E.
    Teyana Taylor
30. Beyondless
    Iceage
31. Only Love
    The Armed
32. Devotion
    Tirzah
33. Skulls Example
    Dear Nora
34. Heaven and Earth
    Kamasi Washington
35. Some Rap Songs
    Earl Sweatshirt
36. Deafman Glance
    Ryley Walker
37. We Already Lost the World
    Birds In Row
38. Dirty Computer
    Janelle Monáe
39. Little Dark Age
    MGMT
40. Cocoa Sugar
    Young Fathers
41. How to Socialise & Make Friends
    Camp Cope
42. Death Spells
    Holy Fawn
43. Age Of
    Oneohtrix Point Never
44. TA13OO
    Denzel Curry
45. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
    The 1975
46. Singularity
    Jon Hopkins
47. Drip Harder
    Lil Baby & Gunna
48. Cheer
    Drug Church
49. Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
    Sophie
50. Nasty
    Rico Nasty

The Wire: Top 50 Albums of 2018

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Your Queen Is a Reptile
   Sons of Kemet
2. Terminal
   ZULI
3. Downtown Castles Can Never Block the Sun
   Ben Lamar Gay
4. My Mother the Vent
   Guttersnipe
5. Veteran
   JPEGMAFIA
6. Let Night Come On Bells End the Day
   Sarah Davachi
7. Sujud
   Senyawa
8. NTS Sessions 1-4
   Autechre
9. The Switch
   Body/Head
10. Double Negative
    Low
11. Daqa'iq Tudaiq
    Jerusalem in My Heart
12. Aviary
    Julia Holter
13. Stadium
    Eli Keszler
14. Insula
    Proc Fiskal
15. Age Of
    Oneohtrix Point Never
16. Pillars
    Tyshawn Sorey
17. Metal Aether
    Lea Bertucci
18. Daytona
    Pusha T
19. IRISIRI
    Eartheater
20. Pylon II
    Nordra
21. Devotion
    Tirzah
22. Brace Up!
    Chris Corsano & Bill Orcutt
23. Tahoe
    Dedekind Cut
24. Everything's Fine
    Jeane Grae & Quelle Chris
25. Talk in a bit
    Hannah Silva
26. для FOR
    Kate NV
27. Faithful Fairy Harmony
    Josephine Foster
28. Black Helicopters
    Agnarkea
29. Lala Belu
    Hailu Mergia
30. Sleep Like It's Winter
    Jim O’Rourke
31. Brass Orchids
    Anne Guthrie
32. The Dream My Bones Dream
    Eiko Ishibashi
33. Raw Silk Uncut Wood
    Laurel Halo
34. Hilja
    Cucina Povera
35. The Return
    Kamaal Williams
36. Queen of Golden Dogs
    Vessel
37. Hydrorion Remnants
    Embassador Dulgoon
38. Room 25
    Noname
39. Autobiography
    Jlin
40. Grid of Points
    Grouper
41. There’s a Riot Going On
    Yo La Tengo
42. Qualm
    Helena Hauff
43. The Dark Orchestra
    Nkisi
44. Pastoral
    Gazelle Twin
45. İstikrarlı Hayal Hakikattir
    Gaye Su Akyol
46. Listening To Pictures (Pentimento, Vol. One)
    Jon Hassell
47. Ecce Homo
    Ipek Gorgun
48. Communion
    Park Jiha
49. Bloody Sirens
    Musarc/Neil Luck
50. Safe in the Hands of Love
    Yves Tumor

Uproxx: 50 Best Albums Of 2018

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2017 • 2016]

1. ASTROWORLD
   Travis Scott
2. Golden Hour
   Kacey Musgraves
3. Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
   Arctic Monkeys
4. Dirty Computer
   Janelle Monáe
5. Sweetener
   Ariana Grande
6. Room 25
   Noname
7. God’s Favorite Customer
   Father John Misty
8. Invasion of Privacy
   Cardi B
9. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
   The 1975
10. Some Rap Songs
    Earl Sweatshirt
11. Honey
    Robyn
12. Care for Me
    Saba
13. 7
    Beach House
14. Clean
    Soccer Mommy
15. Black Panther The Album Music From And Inspired By
    Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, SZA
16. Bloom
    Troye Sivan
17. DiCaprio 2
    JID
18. Bottle It In
    Kurt Vile
19. Daytona
    Pusha T
20. Camila
    Camila Cabello
21. Victory Lap
    Nipsey Hussle
22. Knock Knock
    DJ Koze
23. boygenius
    boygenius
24. And Nothing Hurt
    Spiritualized
25. I Need to Start a Garden
    Haley Heynderickx
26. Age Of
    Oneohtrix Point Never
27. Singularity
    Jon Hopkins
28. Pieces of a Man
    Mick Jenkins
29. Freedom
    Amen Dunes
30. Grid of Points
    Grouper
31. Wanderer
    Cat Power
32. C’est La Vie
    Phosphorescent
33. Lush
    Snail Mail
34. Good Thing
    Leon Bridges
35. Yolk in the Fur
    Wild Pink
36. Everything Is Love
    The Carters
37. Nearer My God
    Foxing
38. so sad so sexy
    Lykke Li
39. Be the Cowboy
    Mitski
40. beerbongs & bentleys
    Post Malone
41. Historian
    Lucy Dacus
42. Voicenotes
    Charlie Puth
43. Scorpion
    Drake
44. Marauder
    Interpol
45. Art of Doubt
    Metric
46. Heaven and Earth
    Kamasi Washington
47. Heaven
    Dilly Dally
48. Light of Mine
    Kyle
49. Devotion
    Tirzah
50. Swimming
    Mac Miller

Craig Jenkins: 15 Best Albums of 2018, as published by New York Magazine’s Vulture

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

1. Be the Cowboy
   Mitski
2. Double Negative
   Low
3. Interstate Gospel
   Pistol Annies
4. Golden Hour
   Kacey Musgraves
5. Daytona
   Pusha T
6. Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
   Arctic Monkeys
7. Swimming
   Mac Miller
8. Some Rap Songs
   Earl Sweatshirt
9. The Sciences
   Sleep
10. Caution
    Mariah Carey
11. The Now Now
    Gorillaz
12. Our Raw Heart
    YOB
13. My Dear Melancholy
    The Weeknd
14. Negro Swan
    Blood Orange
15. All Nerve
    The Breeders