The 2018 end of the year music lists thread

That gq intro is hilariously well timed for the recent posts about poptimism v rockism

hyden's argument about man of the woods is pretty interesting to me

it goes in circles for way too long; it's a one-sentence argument (MOTW is emblematic of 2018 because Justin Timberlake release an album everyone forgot about his flannel shirts collection).

well whatever it's something he prob did for free for a place he doesn't work at... it's more interesting as an argument than like 95% of all EOY blurbs tho

There is some great dissonance on the Dan Weiss album, it's true.

lmao @ steve hyden deliberately humiliating himself

not that that isn't his primary mode

And culture writers will write anniversary pieces that attempt to link Timberlake's "log cabins and facial hair" iconography to the rise of white nationalism during the early years of the Trump administration.

i guess this is interesting but it's more likely that no one will ever write about this album again

I remember when JT was supposed to ride a starring role in a Woody Allen picture and an album into a new era of ultra prominence.

i mean he could be wrong! he could also be right? in any case it was nice to see some space on one of these lists devoted to a line of argument about a record that isn't one of the same 25 records all websites are currently talking about

This is a great song and cute video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baj6llvgpWA

oh wait, i forgot about the faucet line, yeccchh

Hyden is good sometimes but he really needs to try reading something besides Chuck Klosterman.

"Breeze Off the Pond" was a legit good album track.

idk man. i've compained about Hyden's style but he's going on his third book and I'm gonna be unemployed and possibly done with music writing in like 20 days, so don't fix what ain't broke, I guess...

for what it's worth I have had the "wait lmao MAN OF THE WOODS" "lol that came out this year didn't it" "man." "of the woods" conversation twice this month

spin's top 51 albums of the year... featuring contributions from several posters itt. please click... it's all on one page

https://www.spin.com/featured/best-albums-2018/

oh uh i guess i wrote a blurb for a no. 1 album for once, sorry ahead of time for how that reads

Cool format. I found a few write-ups by ILM posters pretty quickly, LOL (nice work, folx)

j/k i was very proud to contribute i've just also been a mess bc year-end writing is like scraping an empty metal barrel for hours at a time xp

wow, nice job -- so easy to navigate

nice to see that Trouble album on a list.

damn, can you unfuck the lists in the archive with that format

i'm glad caution ended up so high, i really regretted not having it on my ballot

That Malkmus album... oy. Of the albums I seriously engaged with this year (admittedly, not a huge number), that's gotta be at/near the bottom.

mariah album was something i thought was pretty nice & then didn't stop listening to for like 3 straight weeks

right?????

same

mariah album was something i thought was pretty nice & then didn't stop listening to for like 3 straight weeks

― J0rdan S., Wednesday, December 12, 2018 4:32 PM (eight minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

It sneaks up on you.

wrote about robyn/sophie/janelle, super happy to do so

[Re: Mariah, actually bought a copy at Target a few days ago, it's taken up residence in the car CD player. (I wish I'd voted for it.)]

Determined to finally listen to that Robyn album sometime before the end of the year

Learned to like the Carey album on a road trip Thanksgiving weekend.

wrote about robyn/sophie/janelle, super happy to do so

― aloha darkness my old friend (katherine)

loved your Robyn blurb

Something I’ve been wondering about before and was reminded of again while going over that Aquarium Drunkard list: Why is that these music loving people only bother with African pop music when it’s a) very old or b) made in the diaspora? I mean, you know you’re gonna lap that stuff up when the curated comps come out in 2050, so why not just engage with it now and enjoy it while it’s hot?!

xp — thanks!

the sophie album was the one I was most surprised by, particularly the middle which is a huge departure from her old stuff

breastcrawl i’m nodding but also kind of guilty of that myself

(also sorry for blowing my quota of kate bush references, in my defense robyn directly cited a specific album as an influence, and if “is it cold in the water” doesn’t earn the comparison nothing does)

I mean, you know you’re gonna lap that stuff up when the curated comps come out in 2050, so why not just engage with it now and enjoy it while it’s hot?!

this is otm and not only for african music.

Has Nicki Minaj turned up on any lists yet?

Whoa, I hadn't heard of this "Ohmme" duo... this is great

Jordan - great "Caution" write-up.

Carl Wilson

still gotta hear tropical fuck storm

eh

From Junkee list, The Ocean Party - The Oddfellows' Hall. The indie pop flows strong out of Melbourne. Eight albums under their belt and they just now get some attention when a key member passed just over a month ago.

I've been impressed by the consistently interesting tastes of Andy RSTB French for a few years. I didn't realize Ultimate Painting broke up, but glad I could find files of UP! -
http://www.ravensingstheblues.com/rstb-best-of-2018-reissues-etc/

I lose track of the good country-folk Americana stuff so it's great to be reminded to listen to the likes of Scott Hirsch especially. Howlin Rain, One Eleven Heavy, Doug Paisley and Anna St. Louis are good too. Crepes is really lovely synthy psych pop/dream pop from, yep, Melbourne. I was REALLY impressed by the power and humor of the self-described "electronic pub rock" of minimal wave/post-punk duo The Native Cats from Tasmania. It's their first album since Peter Escott transitioned to Chloe Alison. Also check out her 35 minute bit mixing comedy and experimental sound at an art exhibition last year.

http://thequietus.com/articles/25761-reissues-compilations-mixes-best-of-2018

https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-electronic-music-of-2018/

is it just me that can't read the texts in the Spin list?

I can't either. Tried several browsers on different computers, with and without adblock.

The "Uneven Paths – Deviant Pop From Europe 1980-1991" compilation on that Aquarium Drunkard list is really great.

Sure is. This has been a terrible year for keeping up with new records for me because there is so much amazing archival stuff coming out. Feel kind of bad for favouring the old, and that loops back to breastcrawls point upthread, but basically I wish I had more time and money to keep up with both