Well, the year's just about wrapped up at this point. This year, there was so many great albums. Seriously, there was. Not everything was good of course, but there was plenty to praise. Throughout the year, there was great album after great album released, and I'm going to count off my 10 favorites this year. With each entry, and that includes my honorable mentions, I will leave a link of a track that I feel represents the album well, so if one of these albums interest you, you can get a rough idea of what the album sounds like. Also, keep in mind this is my opinion, and if you disagree for whatever reason, that's great! Different opinions are the best opinions (My ranking has bias for genres I like). With that said, let's start with the 5 honorable mentions...
Bad Wolves - Disobey (Groove Metal)
The debut album from metal-core/groove metal outfit Bad Wolves left a pretty strong impression on me. This thing is heavy and energized like on the opener Officer Down, it can have solid "lighter" metal on No Masters, and it strikes some nice calmer moments like Remember When and The Cranberries cover Zombie. It does drag a bit towards to end and leaves me with a few skippable tracks, which is why it missed out on the actual list. Still, an impressive debut that shows much potential.
No Masters: Bad Wolves - No Masters (Official Audio) - YouTube
Father John Misty - God's Favorite Customer (Singer Songwriter/Soft Rock)
If I was basing this whole list on lyrical content entirely, this would be an easy lock for the top 10, but since I'm also judging this on every part of the music, this misses the mark. Still, shining moments are found throughout the record, like on the self-aware and often hilarious Mr. Tillman, the thoughtful The Songwriter, and the gorgeous title track. It's very well-made, but its instrumentals are too similar to warrant a spot in the top 10, a problem singer-songwriters seem to run into. However, this record is so earnest and well-made that it deserves a mention.
Title Track: God's Favorite Customer - YouTube
Ice Nine Kills - The Silver Scream (Metalcore)
Look, this album is incredibly cheesy, but I got a kick out of it. It's a metal core album based on horror movies, how can you not love that? There are a few songs that cross the line of being too cheesy for my taste, and it can come off as a sort-of gimmick, but this band is not one that relies solely on a gimmick; They're genuinely very talented musicians that know how to create an infectious, heavy rhythm with great break-down that fit naturally into a song. Highly recommended. Just keep in mind it's both cheesy and very heavy.
The American Nightmare (Based on A Nightmare On Elm Street): The American Nightmare - YouTube
Pusha T - DAYTONA (Hip-Hop)
Well, this is a bit different than what you've seen so far, right? Well, I really enjoyed this record! The production is top notch, the verses are really strong, and it has some great hooks. It's not on the main list because this one didn't quite connect with me as it did some people, and there is another album similar to this that I loved more that may or may not be on the main list.
If You Know You Know: Pusha T - If You Know You Know (DAYTONA) - YouTube
Estrons - You Say I'm Too Much, I Say You're Not Enough (Punk/Pop)
Of all these honorable mentions, this is the one I'm most upset didn't make the main list. Estrons with this record have proven themselves a really great pop/punk act with this great debut record (Not like Blink-182 or Green Day pop-punk; Think traditional punk with pop sensibilities and female vocals). This album is explosive and fun throughout its short run time, and one of my more revisited of the year. The reason its not on the main list is because a few of the tracks are too similar and the variety in these tracks isn't ideal. For the most part, however, this is a good thing and I dig the crap out of it. This is super overlooked, so absolutely check it out if this sounds up your alley.
Lilac: Lilac - YouTube
Okay, now its time to move on to the main list, starting with number 10.
10. Underoath - Erase Me (Rock/Metalcore)
Talk about a comeback. After an almost ten year stretch of releasing no albums, Underoath returns with an amazing set of industrial rock and metal. Across the board, this album is ferocious, intense, and well-preformed. Spencer Chamberlain's vocals, both clean and unclean, are great and Aaron Gillespie's drumming is some of the best I've heard all year (I appreciate good drumming, since I'm a drummer myself). Also, if you think this band is still Christian, think again. There's plenty of themes around that, but there's several curse words dropped throughout, but not to sound tough; They make sense and don't take away from the album. However, problems come in with the mix. The mix on this record is murky and weak, which is why it isn't higher. Still, this record is a brutal mix of basically everything I love about mainstream rock.It Has To Start Somewhere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LswEN0icdj0
9. Andrew W.K. - You're Not Alone (Hard Rock/Pop Rock)
Hey, did you know hard rock can be fun? Like, really enjoyable and uplifting? Well, this is your proof it can be. Every time I listen to this record, there's a smile on my face. Andrew W.K. is all about partying and this album totally sells it. It's encouraging, fun, and silly, but in all the right ways. A couple of tracks on this thing are kind of long and I do tend to skip them, but even then, they're not terrible and there's only a couple of them. As a whole, this is great! Definitely one of the must fun albums of the year.
Music Is Worth Living For: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdW3UJ7lQvU
8. Mike Shinoda - Post Traumatic (Hip-Hop/Pop/Alternative)
Admittedly, I am a big Linkin Park fan, so when I heard Mike Shinoda was releasing an album which acted as a sort-of diary of his experiences after Chester passed away, I got excited. Simply put, this did not disappoint. Shinoda has never been the best lyricist on the planet, but they work here and you can hear the emotion in his performance, whether he's rapping or singing. I also like the guests here for the most part, especially Chino Moreno from Deftones, who delivers a breathtakingly beautiful chorus on Lift Off. This is one of the strongest works surrounding anything Linkin Park, so I'd say this is absolutely worth checking out. Just keep in mind this is very much inspired by hip-hop, pop, and the like more than rock.
Promises I Can't Keep: Promises I Can't Keep (Official Audio) - Mike Shinoda - YouTube
7. Judas Priest - Firepower (Speed Metal/Heavy Metal)
If you thought a band that's been around as long as Judas Priest would just make crappy music, think again. They have legitimately one of the most energized and best metal albums of the entire decade with Firepower. This album is almost an hour long, but it's extremely tight and rarely ever drags. Even this record's weakest tracks are okay and don't take away a whole lot from it as a whole. Rob Halford gives one of the best vocal performances of the year, and the band sounds as good as ever. While this doesn't add a whole lot to their classic sound, the album's so good and entertaining that I don't care. A definite recommend for any metal fan.
Lightning Strike: Lightning Strike - YouTube
6. Deafheaven - Ordinary Corrupt Human Love (Post-Rock/Shoegaze/Black Metal)
Wow. What an experience this beast was. This is one of the most uniquely beautiful albums of the year. I don't even know how to describe this record. I guess its post-rock with death metal vocals? I guess that's it. This is definitely an acquired taste and many will hate it, but I thought this was awesome! The build-ups on these tracks are absolutely phenomenal (Especially on Glint, one of the year's best songs) and despite that many of the tracks are over 10 minutes in length, they never feel dragged out, and the talent these guys have is just off the charts. I don't re-visit as often as many of the other albums, because of those long lengths, and I have to be in the right mood for it, but when I am, does this ever deliver. This is not for everyone, but if you're into experimental metal, this is a must listen. Heck, even if you aren't, this is a good jumping off point. Just be prepared for the lengthy run-times.
5. Ghost - Prequelle (Pop Rock/Metal)
Here's a controversial one among the Christian community. I stand by my interpretation of the band's on-stage persona as merely a gimmick and a parody, but if you don't want to listen to it, don't. I will because this band's music is top-tier stuff. This record is very influenced by sounds of the 80s, like hair metal and the such, which brings a poppier edge to the tracks that surprisingly works well with their metal sound. Tracks like Rats, Dance Macabre, See the Light, and Life Eternal all have edges of pop in them that don't feel forced and it actually gives them a great melody. This record is absolutely infectious from its opening moments to its closing ones, not wasting a minute of time. Also, the track Miasma has a sax solo in it that's randomly thrown in at the end that's amazing.
Rats: Rats - YouTube
4. Daughters - You Won't Get What You Want (Experimental Rock/Noise Rock)
If you want a record that's a challenge to get into, a record that's actually kind of scary, and/or a record that's loud and unique, you might love this. This is my first exposure to the noise rock genre, and I love it. The instrumentation is freaky and legit will scare me if I listen to it in the middle of the night, and the lyricism is somewhat cryptic, but extremely compelling at the same time. It also shows some good variety throughout and it runs at a terrific pace, making every single second worth it. All I can say is listen to the track I'm going to post. If you love that, then I have no doubt you'll adore this record. If you don't, don't bother. You will hate it. This kind of experimental music isn't for everyone, but it is for me.
Satan In The Wait: Daughters "Satan In The Wait" - YouTube
Okay, these top 3 are what I refer to as the "elite 3" of the year, that meaning these are the only 3 albums released this year that I gave an A+ (My highest grade) to. These may not necessarily be "perfect albums" per se (I don't think any of these are perfect to be honest), but they really grabbed me in some way or another over the other records I heard this year. Now, let's continue to number 3...
3. Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts (Experimental Hip-Hop)
Remember when I was talking about the new Pusha T album in the honorable mentions and I said there was another album similar to it I liked better? Well, this is that record. Kids See Ghosts is a collaboration project between rappers Kanye West and Kid Cudi that I only listened to because Anthony Fantano, one of my favorite music reviewers, gave it his first 10/10, a grade he hadn't in three years. What I stumbled across was one of the most unique and experimental albums of the entire year. Every time I listen to this, I'm entranced by the production, the samples, the verses, the hooks, and the chemistry between Kanye and Cudi. They crafted what is my biggest surprise of the year and one of the best albums of the decade. It took a bit for me to get into, but once I was into it, I was hooked and came back for relisten after relisten. Every track is great, like the incredibly fun and prime use of sampling on 4th Dimension and the rock influences on Freeee. However, where this album really shines is in the second half, which can get quite poignant and emotional, like on Reborn and Cudi Montage. If you can't stand rap, this won't change your mind, but for those with a wide appreciation for music, this is a must hear.
4th Dimension: 4th Dimension - YouTube
2. IDLES - Joy as an Act of Resistance (Punk/Post-Punk)
Talk about great punk. I mean, wow, holy crap! If it weren't for another certain album that we'll get to, this would be my album of the year. This is one of the best lyrical records I've ever heard. Legit, the lyrics on this album range from hilarious, like on Love Song and Gram Rock, emotional on June, and incredibly political in a good way, on Danny Nedelko and Great. It's perfectly balanced, as all things should be (I apologize for the ham-fisted reference. That was a hard choice the required the strongest wills). The instrumentation here is also great and very loud, especially on the closer Rottweiler and the opener Colossus, even reaching points where it sounds kind of like noise rock. There isn't a lot of variety here, but the songs are distinct enough to stand on their own and the extremely quotable lyrics make me not notice the moments where the instrumentation can get repetitive. The thing that people will probably have trouble with this band is singer Joe Talbot's voice, which is very strong and abrasive. However, if you can get past that, this album rules!
Danny Nedelko - IDLES - DANNY NEDELKO - YouTube
Ok, we have arrived at the number one spot. My favorite album of the entire year. One that could not be topped and left a significant impact on me; One that I knew was special from the very first song on the very first listen. Okay, let's stop with my Obvious stalling. My definite pick for best album of 2018 is...
1. A Perfect Circle - Eat The Elephant (Art Rock)
I remember first hearing this album. It was April 20th of this year, the album's release date, after watching a few reviews for it. Once the opening track (The title track) started to play, I knew this was something special. The piano, the haunting vocals, the drums, everything was so perfect. The album continued to give me perfection throughout its 57 minute run time, which lead me to discover what is now one of my favorite bands of all time and one of my favorites albums of all time. From the hard rock of The Doomed and TalkTalk, the poppier So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish and Delicious, and the gorgeous, slower tracks By And Down The River and Feathers, variety is found throughout the record and it's all extremely well-done. I can say I was addicted to every song on this record at least once. This was my first exposure to this band, and since then, I listened to the rest of their catalog and fell in love, but this record will stand as a special moment, a moment where they did one of the best stylistic shifts of any band this decade. In comparison with their old alternative/hard rock sound, they gave us a melodic, piano-driven sound filled with gorgeous composition that still keeps some of the edge of their older work, but stands on its own as a beautifully made record. Maynard James Keenan's vocals and lyrics is top-tier level stuff, albeit not as aggressive as before, but in a good way. This really gives him a chance to show the range of his melodic singing voice that he only gets to show in his solo output in Puscifer, and his lyrics are diverse and while pretentious to some, they sat extremely well with me. Guitarist Billy Howerdel, who performs most of the instruments here, does a spectacular job balancing out all of them and delivers a wide variety of style and influences, ranging from jazz, hard rock, classical, and pop. All of these deliver some of the best tracks they've done to date, even if they are different. I could ramble on all day about this thing, so give this thing a shot if you're into albums with thought-provoking lyrics, piano-driven music, or good music in general. Just ignore the album cover. I adore this thing, but the album cover's hideous. I mean, look at that thing.
So, we have arrived at the end of the list. This was a big stepping point for me in terms of music this year, definitely my biggest ever. However, every step was worth it. For every mediocre or bad album, there were 2 terrific ones, and these records lead me through some hard times. I encourage you to check out the albums that you think you would like best, since I believe these are all great examples of their respective genres. Anyway, I've got nothing else to say, so enjoy life, I guess. Merry Christmas! Bye.
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