ILM’s Top 77 Albums of 2018

We'll since you are not particularly interested in discussing number 30 and I want to forget ever making such a mistake in this poll... here's 29:

https://i.imgur.com/zNAD1Fs.jpg
#29: Ariana Grande - Sweetener - 364 points – 11 votes - 1 first place vote

Ariana Grande - AG4 (2018 album)

I can't forgive her for licking those donuts.
― kornrulez6969

#31 is (like Let’s Eat Grandma – “Donnie Darko” from the tracks poll) one of those artist name/title combinations that'll make it very hard for me to want to check it out.

Booooooooo

please don't check out TFS, tuomas

i think i can guess who the first place voter is

the critical consensus that sweetener is the pinnacle of both ariana's career and pop in 2018 instead of re-heated pharrell leftovers from 2005 with a few nice max martin songs is just completely baffling to me

I loved "No Tears..." but the album was at least half duds

Lol, best blurb

Is that what the title track is about?

i liked "four out of five" from the AM album at least and can respect them for doing such a left turn at the peak of their career.

j0rdan otm about sweetener and even the martin/ilya tracks didn't quite reach the heights they reached on dangerous woman

I’m sorry but I’m not listening to a band called “ tropical fuck storm “

Damn! I didn't think Sweetener would be this high. I was rooting for her so much for this era, but apart from No Tears Left To Cry, Breathin' and Everytime this album did nothing for me. Pharrell's productions sound like rejects from the second Gwen Stefani album!

I'm only one listen into the new album and it's stronger than Sweetener, but I guess we needed the predecessor.

You guys are all tripping

Sweetener is AOTY

arctic monkeys is way too low

I’m sorry but I’m not listening to a band called “ tropical fuck storm “

I was gonna get mad but tbh for a long time this was my feeling re Arctic Monkeys lol

Sorry LJ I should've put TFS higher on my ballot but the album was so good at what it did that it always put me in a deep depression. My #22 :(

(Relax Moka, this is hardly the first time someone skipped an album on a rollout. Happened a bunch I think)

pretty insensitive band name for anyone who's seen the aftereffects of a tropical fuck storm

My favorite since their first album

arctic monkeys album is basically aladdin sane 2

Ariana album was a late cut; I'd prob rank it #29 of 2018 as well

Pharrell's productions sound like rejects from the second Gwen Stefani album!

And yet ironically it was 7 Rings, which had no Pharell involvement, where she started sampling The Sound of Music.

I think this decade has seen pressure in pop acts to release some sort of statement album and AG fans decided this was it and flocked to it before the decade was over. Little did they know she quickly forgot about it and started pushing a single for her next album instead, and some backlash for Sweetener happened. I think the final verdict for which one was it will depend on AG5 being better than AG4 but "7 rings" is hideous and it does not help its case imho.

https://i.imgur.com/HaXM6cS.jpg
#28: Against All Logic - 2012-2017 - 380 points – 12 votes

Andrew Gaerig: "These are thrilling, racing tracks, but they're also familiar, both functionally—every hi-hat in its right place—and emotionally, with the kind of crests and ecstasies you might find on 1990s labels like Nu Groove and Cajual."

Fred Thomas: "Over the course of the album's 11 tracks, nods are made to various phases in the development of electronic music. Early-'90s rave, egregiously detuned analog synth melodies à la the giddy experimentalism of Aphex Twin, disco edits, minimal house, and even moments of pre-techno influences are all touched upon as restless and colorful album washes by A.A.L., showing a different side of Jaar's range, but it's easily the most carefree and inviting of his work."

called it!

would probably have this at about #28 too, pleasant album

I think this decade has seen pressure in pop acts to release some sort of statement album and AG fans decided this was it and flocked to it before the decade was over

Actually, it’s divisive among fans as well.

oh yeh listened to this what seems aaaages ago

remember liking it so will have to revisit

I didn't vote for it but RIP Mid-air Thief

AAL was #1 on RYM for most of last year iirc

why the heck didn't i vote for this hailu mergia record? it's so lovely

arctic monkeys album is basically aladdin sane 2

― ciderpress, Wednesday, February 6, 2019 10:17 AM (four minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

kinda agree

such a #28 record

three tracks in, this against all logic album is pretty good on first spin.

AAL was #1 on RYM for most of last year iirc

I thought that honor unfortunately went to Kids See Ghosts.

I think Daughters eventually finished #1. Bit surprised that excellent album hasn't placed

i'm not, because it isn't :P

love this, was my #2 i think

the daughters album was not received well at all here iirc

as far as rym favourites go it is a shame it doesn't seem like mid-air thief will place now

i think it still could place

https://i.imgur.com/gF5cyX9.jpg
#27: Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - Hope Downs - 389 points – 14 votes

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

Edgardo Rodriguez: "When it comes down to it, Hope Downs ultimately succeeds thanks to its impressive quality control. There's not a single bad song on here, only slight variances in tone and luster. A similar comparison could be made to R.E.M.'s groundbreaking debut effort, Murmur, and though it won't have the same impact, the album does share that same meticulous rendering of ringing guitars."

Stuart Berman: "Even within the realm of contemporary indie, the band is a glorious anomaly. Sophisticated and subversive in equal measure, their staccato sing-alongs come on pristine and precise, then unspool in surprising directions as decorum gives way to abandon."

My "I'd like this to place but surely too few slots left now" that has not been mentioned yet in thread is serpentwithfeet -- so I'll guess that one for 78.

the fact this finished above TFS is grounds for an inquest

many xposts

OPN's album art and promotional campaign for Age Of were much more interesting than the music, which was a bummer because i've been a big fan of a lot of his stuff

the fact this finished above TFS is grounds for an inquest

― imago, Wednesday, February 6, 2019 5:31 PM (nineteen seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yawn

was hoping TFS got 78'd. Oh well.

strewth

why the heck didn't i vote for this hailu mergia record? it's so lovely

― my name is leee john, for we are many (NickB), Wednesday, February 6, 2019 10:24 AM (nineteen seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

my top discovery so far.

Voted for AAL. More diverse than some of his other stuff, in terms of sampling, textures, and rhythms, and yet still a cohesive album front to back.

Voted for RBCF but surprised to see it show up. The build up and lead guitar on "Exclusive Grave" is undeniable.