Top Albums of 2018
For the past few years I have released lists of my top albums from the year. I think that it is worth mentioning the process that I have crafted these lists. At the end of the year my criteria is always albums that I listened to lots throughout the year that were released in that same year. Many times, the album I listen to the most throughout the year, does not make the list because it was released the year prior and I missed it when it was released. So if there are glaring omissions, that may be why. I would always appreciate that you reach out and tell me about an album I missed just in case though. Reach out
twenty eighteen
This year’s list is quite late. I found that I listened to a lot of podcasts when driving this year. The majority of my music consumption would be while working. This might be evident in the style, or perhaps not. I’ve been listening to a lot of Jordan Rakei, Loyle Carner, Berhana, Snoh Aalegra, Nick Hakim, Raveena who all released their latest albums in 2017, so they will not qualify for this list.
Tom Misch - Geography
Mac Ayres - Something to Feel
SABA - CARE FOR ME
Jorja Smith - Lost & Found
Mac Miller - Swimming
Noname - Room 25
S. Carey - Hundred Acres
Charlotte Day Wilson - Stone Woman
Stimulator Jones - Exotic Worlds and Masterful Treasures *
Bahamas - Earthtones
LANY - Malibu Nights
*Was just shown this album, but it needs to be on the list, if it helps anyone discover him
As I look at the list I am realizing that I listened to more of the music from 2017 this year than music released this year. Check out the artists I mentioned in the first paragraph if you want a better representation of what my 2018 sounded like.
My friend Matt Im just started working with Renga and he is the source for the majority of my music. Maybe I’ll convince him to start posting his playlists more publicly. They are what I spend a lot of time listening to.
twenty seventeen
As I sat down to make this list I realized I ended up listening to a lot of the albums on last years list over and over with some new additions from 2016 that weren’t on my list. 2016 really was an incredible year of music, the best since I’ve been doing this in my opinion. There were some strong albums this year still here are the ones I listened to the most.
Daniel Caesar - Freudian
SZA - Ctrl
Tyler, the Creator -Flower Boy
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN
Sampha - Process
LANY - LANY
Arcade Fire -Everything Now
Julien Baker -Turn Out the Lights
Leif Vollebekk - Twin Solitude
Rapsody -Laila’s Wisdom
H.E.R. - H.E.R.
I also really enjoyed some of these guys but didn’t really listen to enough to include in the ten above.
Maggie Rogers -Now That the Light is Fading
Alvvays -Antisocialites
Fleet Foxes -Crack-Up
Logic -Everybody
Khalid -American Teen
Drake -More Life
Mount Kimbie -Love What Survives
King Krule -The OOZ
I know I missed some big ones, like Lorde, The War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, The National. I will listen to those more to really appreciate them, but I wanted to be honest in my list. Let me know if I made some grotesque oversights.
twenty sixteen
Big year in music. This year had some incredible albums. I found I was listening to a lot more hip-hop and soul music. Traditionally the majority of albums on these lists are indie rock. Some of my top bands from the last few years came out with some great albums, but I found that I really didn’t give them too many plays. I have been listening to podcasts while commuting and listening to music while at work. Not sure if this affects the music selection or that there was just so many amazing hip-hop and soul albums out this year.
Anderson .Paak-Malibu
Bon Iver-22, A Million
Chance the Rapper-Coloring Book
Frank Ocean-Blonde
Kanye West-The Life of Pablo
Childish Gambino-”Awaken, My Love!”
Local Natives-Sunlit Youth
James Blake-The Colour In Anything
James Vincent McMorrow-We Move
Noname-Telefone
NxWorries-Yes Lawd!
These albums are all really good and I found myself go back to them for a good period of time. I don’t feel I listened to them enough to put them in the above list, but they are all highly recommended.
The Suffers-The Suffers
Michael Kiwanuka-Love & Hate
St. Paul & the Broken Bones-Sea of Noise
Isaiah Rashad-The Sun’s Tirade
Vulfpeck-The Beautiful Game
Mac Miller-The Devine Feminine
Glass Animals-How To Be A Human Being
SOL-The Headspace Traveller
J Cole-4 Your Eyez Only
Young the Giant-Home of the Strange
Solange-A Seat at the Table
This year I am also going to start posting what I’ve been listening to each month. I always love hearing some recommendations. If you think I’d really dig somebody let me know!
twenty fifteen
This year was an interesting year for me with how I listened to music. I was working from home for the majority of the year and my job was speaking on the phone so I had much less time to listen to music. I still listened to some good ones, but didn’t find as much new music as normal. Here are 15 of my favourite albums that were released in 2015.
Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment- Surf
Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color
Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell
Shlohmo - Bad Vibes
Tame Impala - Currents
Seoul - I Became a Shade
Mute Math - Vitals
Jon Foreman - Darkness
Half Moon Run - Sun Leads Me On
Vulfpeck - Thrill of the Arts
Liana La Havas - Blood
Made In Heights - Without My Enemy What Would I Do
Glass Animals - Zaba
Beirut - No No No
Grimes - Art Angels
I am sure I missed some good ones like Adele and Beibs, but we all know they were both great. Chvrches, Modest Mouse and Chilly Gonzales had some good ones as well that I didn’t listen to enough to include. Let me know some other ones I missed.
twenty fourteen
My favourite album of the year is Built on Glass by Chet Faker. I listened to it a lot this year and seeing him live in Vancouver at the Commodore Ballroom was just icing on the cake. Here is the list of some of my favourite albums that were released this year.
Built on Glass - Chet Faker
Post Tropical - James Vincent McMorrow
Range of Light - S. Carey
This Is All Yours - Alt-J
Spike Jonze’s Her Score - Arcade Fire
So Long, See You Tomorrow - Bombay Bicycle Club
Bad Vibes - Shlohmo
Small Reveal - Aidan Knight
Mind Over Matter - Young the Giant
Strangers - RAC
Still Life - Dawn Golden
Galore - Thumpers
Awake - Tycho
Salad Days - Mac Demarco
Shriek - Wye Oak
Sylvan Esso - Sylvan Esso
twenty thirteen
This year’s favourite album would probably be Hummingbird by Local Natives because well they are just my favourite ever but Vampire Weekend and Daughter made compelling cases. All great albums, feel free to send some suggestions.
Andrew Belle - Black Bear
Alexander Fairchild - Alexander Fairchild Volume 1
Daughter - If You Leave
James Blake - Overgrown
Jinja Safari - Jinja Safari
Justin Timberlake - 20/20 Experience pt.1
Local Natives - Hummingbird
The Paper Kites - States
Shad -Flying Colours
Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City
Volcano Choir - Repave
Honourable Mention
Air Marshal Landing - You Used To Be Me
Bastille - Bad Blood
CHVRCHES - The Bones Of What You Believe
Dylan Joel (Prod. Otis Grey)- That’s Good
King Krule - 6 Feet Beneath The Moon
Lorde - Pure Heroine
Mount Kimbie - Cold Spring Fault Less Youth
The Naked & Famous - In Rolling Waves
Youth Lagoon - Wondrous Bridge
Some that I wanted to include but haven’t listened to enough honestly put in my favourite
ON AN ON - Give In
Kodaline - In A Perfect World
The National - Trouble Will Find Me
Arcade Fire - Reflektor
Some amazing stuff is already lined up for 2014 such as new James Vincent McMorrow, Young the Giant, Tokyo Police Club and I am sure much more.
twenty twelve
Here are some of my favourite albums of the year. By far Yellow Ostrich has been my favourite of the year but here is a bunch of other great tunes.
Yellow Ostrich - Strange Land & Ghost EP
Two Door Cinema Club - Beacon
Tame Impala - Lonerism
The Elwins - And I Thank You
Geographer - Myth
Freelance Whales - Diluva
Family of the Year - Loma Vista
The Royal Royal - Royal
Benjamin Francis Leftwich - In The Open EP
Honourable Mention
Milo Greene - Self Titled
Thrupence - Voyages EP & Unfinished Business Tape
Ben Howard - Burgh Island EP
Air Marshal Landing - Vitamins EP
Caleb Winters - You Are the Sea
Astro Safari - The Human Contradiction
Said the Whale - Little Mountain
twenty eleven
The top would have to be Young the Giant with Ben Howard being a close second.
Young the Giant - Young the Giant
Ben Howard - Every Kingdom
Benjamin Francis Leftwich - Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm
Bombay Bicycle Club - A Different Kind of Fix
Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Givers - In Light
Hey Ocean! - IS
Noah and the Whale - Last Night On Earth
Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal
Honourable Mention
Braids - Native Speaker
Bryan and Katie Torwalt - Here on Earth
Daniel Bashta - The Sounds of Daniel Bashta
Dinosaur Bones - My Divider
Ed Sheeran - +
Foster the People - Torches
Lights - Siberia
M83 - Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
Peter, Bjorn and John - Gimme Some
Theophilus London - Lovers Holiday EP
twenty ten
- Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
- Tokyo Police Club - Champ
- Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
- Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
- Shad - TSOL
- Matt & Kim - Sidewalks
- Wakey!Wakey! - Almost Everything
- Broken Bells - Self-Titled
- Lights - Lights. Acoustic
- Ra Ra Riot - The Orchard
- Vampire Weekend - Contra
- Holy FK - Latin
- Emarosa - Self-Titled
- Yeasayer - Odd Blood
- Minus The Bear - Omni
- LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
- Phantogram - Eyelid Movies
- Michou - Cardona
- The National - High Violet
- Gold Panda - Lucky Shiner
It was close at the top for me I beleive that the top 6 could have been rearranged in any order and I would be fine with it, But Local Natives continues to take my heart, surpassing my always favourite Tokyo Police Club. If you have any album suggestions for me, let me know.