Year-End Lists

Consequence: Top 50 Albums of 2018

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

1. Be the Cowboy
   Mitski
2. Dirty Computer
   Janelle Monáe
3. Care for Me
   Saba
4. Heaven and Earth
   Kamasi Washington
5. Daytona
   Pusha T
6. Chris
   Christine and the Queens
7. boygenius
   boygenius
8. Invasion of Privacy
   Cardi B
9. Golden Hour
   Kacey Musgraves
10. And Nothing Hurt
    Spiritualized
11. Isolation
    Kali Uchis
12. Honey
    Robyn
13. Our Raw Heart
    YOB
14. Negro Swan
    Blood Orange
15. iridescence
    BROCKHAMPTON
16. Black Panther The Album Music From And Inspired By
    Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, SZA
17. Historian
    Lucy Dacus
18. Room 25
    Noname
19. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
    The 1975
20. Halloween (Original 2018 Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter & Daniel Davies
21. FM!
    Vince Staples
22. Lush
    Snail Mail
23. Bloom
    Troye Sivan
24. Testing
    A$AP Rocky
25. Aviary
    Julia Holter
26. Hive Mind
    The Internet
27. Tell Me How You Really Feel
    Courtney Barnett
28. I Loved You at Your Darkest
    Behemoth
29. Paranoia 2
    Dave East
30. Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
    Deafheaven
31. Collapse
    Aphex Twin
32. Twin Fantasy
    Car Seat Headrest
33. Flow State
    Tash Sultana
34. Post-
    Jeff Rosenstock
35. Hereditary (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    Colin Stetson
36. You Won't Get What You Want
    Daughters
37. Cocoa Sugar
    Young Fathers
38. No Shame
    Lily Allen
39. Age Of
    Oneohtrix Point Never
40. WARM
    Jeff Tweedy
41. Quarterthing
    Joey Purp
42. 7
    Beach House
43. Look Now
    Elvis Costello & The Imposters
44. Sparkle Hard
    Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
45. TA13OO
    Denzel Curry
46. Freedom’s Goblin
    Ty Segall
47. In a Poem Unlimited
    U.S. Girls
48. so sad so sexy
    Lykke Li
49. Superorganism
    Superorganism
50. Wanderer
    Cat Power

Gorilla vs. Bear: 30 Favorite Albums of 2018

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

1. Devotion
   Tirzah
2. From the Series of Songs “Altogether Unaccompanied” Vol. I – IV
   Helena Deland
3. El Mal Querer
   Rosalía
4. Freedom
   Amen Dunes
5. Honey
   Robyn
6. Some Rap Songs
   Earl Sweatshirt
7. Sweetener
   Ariana Grande
8. Grid of Points
   Grouper
9. Fire
   Bella Boo
10. No Fool Like an Old Fool
    Caroline Says
11. Beacon
    Tess Roby
12. Aviary
    Julia Holter
13. Nothing 2 Loose
    DJ Healer
14. Channel Tres
    Channel Tres
15. Model Express
    Cindy Lee
16. Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
    Sophie
17. Salt
    Mr Twin Sister
18. Whack World
    Tierra Whack
19. Years
    Sun June
20. Die Lit
    Playboi Carti
21. Breakfast
    The Samps
22. Have fun
    Smerz
23. Celeste (Original Soundtrack)
    Lena Raine
24. Nuova Napoli
    Nu Guinea
25. 7
    Beach House
26. In a Poem Unlimited
    U.S. Girls
27. Portrait With Firewood
    Djrum
28. Neoteny
    PYNKIE
29. The Rite of May
    Oklou
30. There’s Always Glimmer
    Gia Margaret

Les Inrockuptibles: Top 50 Albums of 2018

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

1. Contre-Temps
   Flavien Berger
2. Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
   Arctic Monkeys
3. Wanderer
   Cat Power
4. Little Dark Age
   MGMT
5. Joy as an Act of Resistance
   Idles
6. Tell Me How You Really Feel
   Courtney Barnett
7. ye
   Kanye West
8. Lost & Found
   Jorja Smith
9. Les rescapés
   Miossec
10. Broken Politics
    Neneh Cherry
11. Cavernes
    Perez
12. Wide Awake!
    Parquet Courts
13. La fragilité
    Dominique A
14. Radiate
    Jeanne Added
15. Somnium
    Jacco Gardner
16. Lush
    Snail Mail
17. Jeannine
    Lomepal
18. Negro Swan
    Blood Orange
19. Testing
    A$AP Rocky
20. Twin Fantasy
    Car Seat Headrest
21. Superorganism
    Superorganism
22. Songs of Praise
    Shame
23. The Dog and the Future
    Agar Agar
24. Be the Cowboy
    Mitski
25. El Mal Querer
    Rosalía
26. Jassbusters
    Connan Mockasin
27. Daytona
    Pusha T
28. Insecure Men
    Insecure Men
29. Superior State
    Rendez Vous
30. Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
    Sophie
31. Il Francese
    Jean-Louis Murat
32. Une main lave l'autre
    Alpha Wann
33. Lithopédion
    Damso
34. Age Of
    Oneohtrix Point Never
35. Always Ascending
    Franz Ferdinand
36. Dream Wife
    Dream Wife
37. In a Poem Unlimited
    U.S. Girls
38. Cocoa Sugar
    Young Fathers
39. Minus
    Daniel Blumberg
40. Freedom’s Goblin
    Ty Segall
41. NASIR
    Nas
42. Bottle It In
    Kurt Vile
43. And Nothing Hurt
    Spiritualized
44. Qualm
    Helena Hauff
45. Bisous
    Myth Syzer
46. Freedom
    Amen Dunes
47. Care for Me
    Saba
48. Invasion of Privacy
    Cardi B
49. XEU
    Vald
50. Image au mur
    Grand Blanc

KCRW: Best Albums of 2018

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2020]

1. Heaven and Earth
   Kamasi Washington
2. Good Thing
   Leon Bridges
3. Con Todo El Mundo
   Khruangbin
4. For Ever
   Jungle
5. God’s Favorite Customer
   Father John Misty
6. El Mal Querer
   Rosalía
7. Sex & Food
   Unknown Mortal Orchestra
8. Oxnard
   Anderson .Paak
9. Geography
   Tom Misch
10. Blood
    Rhye

Albumism: 50 Best Albums of 2018

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

1. Dirty Computer
   Janelle Monáe
2. Golden Hour
   Kacey Musgraves
3. No News Is Good News
   Phonte
4. Be the Cowboy
   Mitski
5. Wax
   KT Tunstall
6. Tell Me How You Really Feel
   Courtney Barnett
7. God’s Favorite Customer
   Father John Misty
8. Record
   Tracey Thorn
9. Please Don't Be Dead
   Fantastic Negrito
10. Clean
    Soccer Mommy
11. 7
    Beach House
12. Ventriloquism
    Meshell Ndegeocello
13. Primal Heart
    Kimbra
14. Marauder
    Interpol
15. Geography
    Tom Misch
16. Hell-On
    Neko Case
17. Honey
    Robyn
18. Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
    Arctic Monkeys
19. Book of Ryan
    Royce da 5'9"
20. Hive Mind
    The Internet
21. May Your Kindness Remain
    Courtney Marie Andrews
22. Khrysis & Elzhi Are Jericho Jackson
    Jericho Jackson
23. Golden
    Kylie Minogue
24. Everything's Fine
    Jeane Grae & Quelle Chris
25. The Now Now
    Gorillaz
26. One
    Dubstar
27. Ruins
    First Aid Kit
28. Life
    Boy George
29. Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John
    Juliana Hatfield
30. Daytona
    Pusha T
31. I'm a Dream
    Seinabo Sey
32. Ruby
    Macy Gray
33. Good Thing
    Leon Bridges
34. Czarface Meets Metal Face
    Czarface
35. Broken Politics
    Neneh Cherry
36. PRhyme 2
    PRhyme
37. In a Poem Unlimited
    U.S. Girls
38. The Midnight Hour
    The Midnight Hour / Ali Shaheed Muhammad / Adrian Younge
39. M3
    DJ Jazzy Jeff
40. The Lookout
    Laura Veirs
41. A Breukelen Story
    Masta Ace & Marco Polo
42. Natural Rebel
    Richard Ashcroft
43. Lush
    Snail Mail
44. All Nerve
    The Breeders
45. For My Crimes
    Marissa Nadler
46. Indigo
    Kandace Springs
47. High As Hope
    Florence + The Machine
48. Heaven and Earth
    Kamasi Washington
49. Resistance Is Futile
    Manic Street Preachers
50. No Shame
    Lily Allen

Glide Magazine: 20 Best Albums of 2018, in alphabetical order by artist

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

• Undesirable
  Becky Warren
• LONER
  Caroline Rose
• Songs of the Plains
  Colter Wall
• May Your Kindness Remain
  Courtney Marie Andrews
• Sweet Unknown
  Erika Wennerstrom
• Be More Kind
  Frank Turner
• Prequelle
  Ghost
• Glorietta
  Glorietta
• Lifted
  Israel Nash
• Whatever It Takes
  The James Hunter Six
• Rare Birds
  Jonathan Wilson
• The Other
  King Tuff
• Carolina Confessions
  The Marcus King Band
• Wide Awake!
  Parquet Courts
• How To: Friend, Love, Freefall
  Rainbow Kitten Surprise
• Collagically Speaking
  R+R=NOW
• Onion
  Shannon & The Clams
• Life Is Good on the Open Road
  Trampled By Turtles
• Emanon
  Wayne Shorter
• One Drop of Truth
  The Wood Brothers

20 Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order)

• To the Sunset
  Amanda Shires
• Oxnard
  Anderson .Paak
• All Nerve
  The Breeders
• Black Velvet
  Charles Bradley
• Vanished Gardens
  Charles Lloyd & The Marvels & Lucinda Williams
• Downey to Lubbock
  Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore
• Passwords
  Dawes
• Shake the Spirit
  Elle King
• Dirty Computer
  Janelle Monáe
• The Tree of Forgiveness
  John Prine
• Heaven and Earth
  Kamasi Washington
• Bought to Rot
  Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers
• Dirty Pictures, Pt. 2
  Low Cut Connie
• Years
  Sarah Shook & the Disarmers
• All At Once
  Screaming Females
• Be True
  Sloucher
• Sparkle Hard
  Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
• What a Time to Be Alive
  Superchunk
• Sex & Food
  Unknown Mortal Orchestra
• Rhododendron
  Valley Maker

Paste Magazine: 50 Best Albums of 2018

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

1. Historian
   Lucy Dacus
2. Wide Awake!
   Parquet Courts
3. Tell Me How You Really Feel
   Courtney Barnett
4. Clean
   Soccer Mommy
5. Lush
   Snail Mail
6. Be the Cowboy
   Mitski
7. Daytona
   Pusha T
8. Hope Downs
   Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
9. Double Negative
   Low
10. Bark Your Head Off, Dog
    Hop Along
11. Freedom
    Amen Dunes
12. Songs of Praise
    Shame
13. In a Poem Unlimited
    U.S. Girls
14. Dirty Computer
    Janelle Monáe
15. I’ll Be Your Girl
    The Decemberists
16. Twentytwo in Blue
    Sunflower Bean
17. Little Dark Age
    MGMT
18. God’s Favorite Customer
    Father John Misty
19. Honey
    Robyn
20. Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
    Arctic Monkeys
21. May Your Kindness Remain
    Courtney Marie Andrews
22. Big Red Machine
    Big Red Machine
23. Look Now
    Elvis Costello & The Imposters
24. Beyondless
    Iceage
25. Joy as an Act of Resistance
    Idles
26. What a Time to Be Alive
    Superchunk
27. Room Inside the World
    Ought
28. How to Socialise & Make Friends
    Camp Cope
29. Future Me Hates Me
    The Beths
30. I Need to Start a Garden
    Haley Heynderickx
31. Hell-On
    Neko Case
32. Room 25
    Noname
33. She Remembers Everything
    Rosanne Cash
34. Knock Knock
    DJ Koze
35. See You Around
    I’m With Her
36. MITH
    Lonnie Holley
37. New Material
    Preoccupations
38. The Hex
    Richard Swift
39. The Crossing
    Alejandro Escovedo
40. Ultraviolet
    Kelly Moran
41. abysskiss
    Adrianne Lenker
42. Things Have Changed
    Bettye LaVette
43. LONER
    Caroline Rose
44. Golden Hour
    Kacey Musgraves
45. Nature
    Paul Kelly
46. C’est La Vie
    Phosphorescent
47. Constant Image
    Flasher
48. Girl Going Nowhere
    Ashley McBryde
49. Negro Swan
    Blood Orange
50. There’s a Riot Going On
    Yo La Tengo

Revolver Magazine: 30 Best Albums of 2018

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

1. Prequelle
   Ghost
2. Errorzone
   Vein
3. Time & Space
   Turnstile
4. Firepower
   Judas Priest
5. The Sciences
   Sleep
6. Stranger Fruit
   Zeal & Ardor
7. Criminal
   The Soft Moon
8. I Loved You at Your Darkest
   Behemoth
9. Burnt Sugar
   Gouge Away
10. Eat the Elephant
    A Perfect Circle
11. A Patient Man
    Cult Leader
12. Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
    Deafheaven
13. Head Cage
    Pig Destroyer
14. Nótt eftir nótt
    Kælan Mikla
15. Electric Messiah
    High On Fire
16. Dance on the Blacktop
    Nothing
17. Posthuman
    Harm's Way
18. Too Far Gone
    Cane Hill
19. Manor Of Infinite Forms
    Tomb Mold
20. Our Raw Heart
    YOB
21. N / O / I / S / E
    Ghostemane
22. Glow
    Old Wounds
23. On Dark Horses
    Emma Ruth Rundle
24. Idol
    Horrendous
25. Good To Feel
    Candy
26. City Morgue Vol 1: Hell or High Water
    City Morgue
27. Down Below
    Tribulation
28. Erase Me
    Underoath
29. Infinite Games
    The Black Queen
30. To Drink from the Night Itself
    At the Gates

Raisa Bruner: 10 Best Albums of 2018, as published by Time Magazine

[see also 2017]

1. Invasion of Privacy
   Cardi B
2. Dirty Computer
   Janelle Monáe
3. Be the Cowboy
   Mitski
4. Shawn Mendes
   Shawn Mendes
5. Vibras
   J Balvin
6. Honey
   Robyn
7. Bloom
   Troye Sivan
8. Golden Hour
   Kacey Musgraves
9. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
   The 1975
10. Camila
    Camila Cabello

Mojo Magazine: 75 Best Albums of 2018

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

1. Heaven and Earth
   Kamasi Washington
2. Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
   Arctic Monkeys
3. Hope Downs
   Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
4. Dirty Computer
   Janelle Monáe
5. Chris
   Christine and the Queens
6. Joy as an Act of Resistance
   Idles
7. Deafman Glance
   Ryley Walker
8. Tell Me How You Really Feel
   Courtney Barnett
9. And Nothing Hurt
   Spiritualized
10. All Nerve
    The Breeders
11. Fenfo
    Fatoumata Diawara
12. Daytona
    Pusha T
13. Bottle It In
    Kurt Vile
14. True Meanings
    Paul Weller
15. Record
    Tracey Thorn
16. Elephants on Acid
    Cypress Hill
17. World’s Strongest Man
    Gaz Coombes
18. Cocoa Sugar
    Young Fathers
19. Double Negative
    Low
20. I’m All Ears
    Let’s Eat Grandma
21. Wide Awake!
    Parquet Courts
22. Open Here
    Field Music
23. Golden Hour
    Kacey Musgraves
24. Smote Reverser
    Oh Sees
25. Wanderer
    Cat Power
26. Look Now
    Elvis Costello & The Imposters
27. Egypt Station
    Paul McCartney
28. Rebound
    Eleanor Friedberger
29. Le Kov
    Gwenno
30. Con Todo El Mundo
    Khruangbin
31. Hunter
    Anna Calvi
32. Babelsberg
    Gruff Rhys
33. The Prodigal Son
    Ry Cooder
34. Insecure Men
    Insecure Men
35. The Blue Hour
    Suede
36. The Sciences
    Sleep
37. We’re Not Talking
    The Goon Sax
38. Freedom’s Goblin
    Ty Segall
39. Sparkle Hard
    Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
40. There Is a Place
    Maisha
41. 13 Rivers
    Richard Thompson
42. Piano & a Microphone 1983
    Prince
43. Chemistry Lessons, Vol. 1
    Chris Carter
44. There’s a Riot Going On
    Yo La Tengo
45. The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs
    Wye Oak
46. Alive in the East?
    Binker and Moses
47. Temet
    Imarhan
48. C’est La Vie
    Phosphorescent
49. The Art of Pretending to Swim
    Villagers
50. Microshift
    Hookworms
51. How to Solve Our Human Problems
    Belle and Sebastian
52. Confident Music For Confident People
    Confidence Man
53. May Your Kindness Remain
    Courtney Marie Andrews
54. Mozart’s Mini-Mart
    Go-Kart Mozart
55. Digital Garbage
    Mudhoney
56. Love, Loss, and Auto-Tune
    Swamp Dogg
57. Love is Magic
    John Grant
58. The Lookout
    Laura Veirs
59. Benton County Relic
    Cedric Burnside
60. Listening To Pictures (Pentimento, Vol. One)
    Jon Hassell
61. Singularity
    Jon Hopkins
62. Be the Cowboy
    Mitski
63. Your Queen Is a Reptile
    Sons of Kemet
64. Uniform Distortion
    Jim James
65. Utopia
    Björk
66. Lump
    Lump
67. Last Man Standing
    Willie Nelson
68. Call The Comet
    Johnny Marr
69. For Ever
    Jungle
70. The Visitor
    Neil Young & Promise of the Real
71. Songs of Praise
    Shame
72. Lala Belu
    Hailu Mergia
73. Boarding House Reach
    Jack White
74. Unstoppable
    Candi Staton
75. The Now Now
    Gorillaz