The 2018 end of the year music lists thread

i did not hear “boo’d up” until this year so it’s on my list and i wrote about it as if its year of impact was 2018, which... was it not

Guitar.com - Best guitar albums of 2018
https://guitar.com/features/best-guitar-albums-of-2018/

4. Robben Ford - Purple House (8/10
3. J Mascis - Elastic Days (8/10)
2. Doyle Bramhall II - Shades (8/10)
1. Boygenius – Boygenius EP (9/10)

ha, if this is real it's my favorite one yet

behind a paywall but look at the state of this url

The Times
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/best-albums-of-2018-from-janelle-monae-and-the-beatles-to-the-1975-and-kanye-west-6sr8jzqnf

i did not hear “boo’d up” until this year so it’s on my list and i wrote about it as if its year of impact was 2018, which... was it not

very very clearly 2018 year of impact yeah

thought I'd see these on more lists: OTW; anna wintour; powerglide; drip too hard

― single bed mentality (||||||||), Friday, December 7, 2018 5:59 AM (five hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I really like "Anna Wintour" but it's kinda obvious why publications aren't super enthusiastic about an Azealia song, even before the whole Grimes thing

"powerglide" will be on my tracks list for sure. "anna wintour" was a late cut.

I've seen Drip Too Hard on a few lists. Haven't seen OTW yet, but it'll be on mine.

know she's pretty much worn through everyone's patience by now but anna wintour slaps. guess it's probably a combo of her being too _problematic_ and the song just not cutting through

despite her impressive ability to maintain her celebrity, azealia still has one song, essentially, that anyone has ever cared about on anything approaching a wide scale, and it was her first one

aw no, i think chasing time was brilliant

on anything approaching a wide scale
seems to be the key here

AZB has lots of good songs, don't care that only one was zeitgeisty

'anything approaching' is a pretty wide range lol

-40 has been going down this pedantic wormhole since, like, "Still Tippin'." Ignore.

― 5th Ward Weeaboo (Whiney G. Weingarten), Wednesday, 5 December 2018 17:39 (two days ago) Permalink

This is such a bad post. I’m not pedantic I just think it’s obnoxious when critics are exposed to a record but only pick up on it when it becomes a Social Movement. By this logic a bunch of critics should have had faneto this year

I literally saw Ella mai perform a then-released “bood up” whole opening for Kehlani in mid 2017. Her album was produced by dj mustard and had a ton of streams, this isn’t obscure

― ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Friday, December 7, 2018 4:30 AM (ten hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I mean, "Trip" is good enough that it doesn't matter if you've heard more than one Ella Mai song.

Last Rites's top 25 metal albums: https://yourlastrites.com/2018/12/07/best-of-2018-last-rites-combined-staff-top-25/

25. OUTRE-TOMBE – NÉCROVORTEX
24. HORRENDOUS – IDOL
23. BINAH – PHOBIATE
22. CRIPPLE BASTARDS – LA FINE CRESCA DA DENTRO
21. OKSENNUS – KOLME TOISTA
20. SLUGDGE – ESOTERIC MALACOLOGY
19. VARATHRON – PATRIARCHS OF EVIL
18. SKULMAGOT – SKULLED TO DEATH
17. URFAUST – THE CONSTELLATORY PRACTICE
16. SLEEP – THE SCIENCES
15. A FOREST OF STARS – GRAVE MOUNDS AND GRAVE MISTAKES
14. MÖRKÖ – ULVOVA TYHJYYS
13. HATE ETERNAL – ON DESOLATE SANDS
12. SATAN – CRUEL MAGIC
11. SEAR BLISS – LETTERS FROM THE EDGE
10. MESSA – FEAST FOR WATER
9. MOURNFUL CONGREGATION – THE INCUBUS OF KARMA
8. MADDER MORTEM – MARROW
7. W.A.I.L. – WISDOM THROUGH AGONY INTO ILLUMINATION AND LUNACY VOL. II
6. SOLSTICE – WHITE HORSE HILL
5. VISIGOTH – THE CONQUEROR’S OATH
4. VOIVOD – THE WAKE
3. JUDAS PRIEST – FIREPOWER
2. DECEASED – GHOSTLY WHITE
1. AMORPHIS – THE QUEEN OF TIME

Solid picks (Horrendous, Varathron, Urfaust, Messa, Mournful Congregation, Solstice, Voivod) among the stuff I've heard. I'll have to check out the rest.

I find Amorphis worship mystifying but it's a good list

Their debut is amazing but I haven't heard anything beyond that. I'll get there eventually.

Shame they got suckered in by the Judas Priest veteran act narrative.

(I kid, I kid.)

Heh, I tried but classic metal is mostly a blind spot for me, JP even more so than others.

Judas Priest rules

shout out to the metal lists, man. feels like they're covering *far* more albums / reflecting far less by consensus than any others.

Amorphis are consistently great.

Amorphis have become one of the most consistently strong metal bands today. The new album is superb.

http://remezcla.com/lists/music/the-10-best-urbano-songs-of-2018/

This list of urbano songs includes reggaeton, dembow, Latin trap, and hip-hop tracks from both the underground and the mainstream.

1. Bad Bunny - "Estamos Bien"
2. Cardi B - "I Like It" (ft. Bad Bunny & J Balvin)
3. C.Tangana - "Traicionero" (ft. Cromo X)
4. Nio García, Darell, and Casper Mágico - "Te Boté" Remix (ft. Ozuna, Bad Bunny, and Nicky Jam)
5. Mala Rodríguez - "Gitanas"

Plus 5 more

whew yes the "te boté" remix. a highlight of my year was hearing that blasting at a club (followed by becky g "mayores" lol)

OkayAfrica's Ghanaian tracks list: https://www.okayafrica.com/ghana-songs-music-best-2018-listen-stream

GuiltyBeatz x Mr Eazi x Patapaa x Pappy Kojo "Akwaaba"
Kuami Eugene "Wish Me Well"
Kwesi Arthur x M.anifest "Feels"
Shatta Wale "My Level"
Joey B x La Même Gang "Stables"
Amaarae "Fluid"
E.L "Ghana Meets Naija"
KiDi "Thunder"
Becca x Sarkodie "Nana"
Eddie Khae "Do The Dance"
La Même Gang "Stone Island"
Akwaboah x Strongman "Forget"
Efya x Mr Eazi "Mamee"
R2Bees x Wizkid "Supa"
B4Bonah x M.anifest "Devil Is A Liar (Remix)"
Juls x Kojey Radical "Normal"
Kwesi Arthur "Woara"
Sarkodie "Black Excellence"
Medikal x Kwesi Arthur x Ahtitude "How Much"
Wendy Shay "Bedroom Commando"
King Promise "Abena"
Miyaki "Anfara"
Mzvee x K "Bend Down"

Bit late on this but want to echo the praise upthread for the Eiko Ishibashi record. It's fucking gorgeous, I love it.

yeah, really nice. that and the don toliver records are the best discoveries from this year's list season

Oh I did not like Tierra Whack the first time I heard it but it’s somewhat amazing isn’t it?

Watching the 15 minute music video helps.

Yeah I *really* did not get the Tierra Whack album at all either, but with all the love it's getting I think I'm gonna have to revisit it

Afropop worldwide podcast/radio show "Stocking Stuffers"-new,and reissued African and Caribbean and Central American and Latinx

http://afropop.org/audio-programs/stocking-stuffers-2018

Ebo Taylor, Yen Ara (Ghana)
Angelique Kidjo, Remain in Light (Benin artist covers T. Heads)
Bokanté & Metropole Orkest & Jules Buckley, What Heat, (US, Netherlands, Guadeloupe)
Ronnie Moipolai, I’m Not Hear to Hunt Rabbits, (Botswana guitarist)
“Listen All Around” Double cd comp of pre-independence music from central (Congo & more0 and east Africa
Bombino, Deran (Niger guitarist)
Delgres, Mo Jodi,(Paris-based Guadeloupe meets Creole Louisiana)
Stella Chiweshe, Kasahwa: Early Singles (Zimbabwe reissue)
Toko Telo, Diavola (Madagascar)
Damily, Valimbilo (Madagascar)
Doctor Nativo, Guatemaya (Guatemalan reggae-cumbia)
King Koya, Tierra de King Coya (Colombian techno-cumbia)
Anbessa Orchestra, Negestat (Ethiopiques led by Israelis in Brooklyn)
Hailu Mergia, Lala Belu (Ethiopia)
Sidi Touré, Toubalbero (Mali)
Fatoumata Diawara, Fenfo (Mali)
Harouna Samake, Kamele Blues (Mali)
Invisible System, Bamako Sessions (Mali)
Irene Mawela, Ari Pembele - Let's Rejoice (South African old-school mbaqanga singer)
Professor Rhythm, Professor 3 (South Affrican reissue on Awesome Tapes)
Qhizzo, Gqom Plug (South Africa)
Thabang Tabane, Matjale (South African Venda roots-jazz)
Lucibela, Laço Umbilical (Cape Verde singer's debut)
Los Rumberos De La Bahia, Mabagwe (Cuban rumba)
RAM, RAM 7 - August 1791 (Haiti)
Bachata Haiti, Bachata Haiti
Sarazino, Mama Funny Day (Paris-based Algerian singer)
MHD, 19 (Paris-based Afro-trap rapper whose parents are Guinean and Senegalese)
Moulay Masters, Moulay Ahmed El Hassani, Atlas Electric (Moroccan mountains)
Tallawit Timbouctou, Hali Diallo (Malian desert )
Dur-Dur Band, Dur-Dur Of Somalia
Two Niles to Make a Melody, the Violins and Synths of Sudan.
Cheikh Lô, Ne La Thiass vinyl reissue (Senegal)
African Scream Contest 2 (Benin)
Dr. Nico, Dieu De La Guitare vinyl reissue (Congo)
Bumba Massa, V70 (Congo)
Jupiter and Okwess, Kin Sonic (US release 2018) (Congo)
Bixiga 70, Quebra Cabeça (Brazil)

Opium Hum's top 40 black metal albums of 2018:

40. Hellfire Deathcult – Black Death Terroristic Onslaught
39. Provocator – Satan, Chaos, Blood and Terror
38. Lampir – The Alchemy of Cursed Blood
37. Autokrator – Hammer of the Heretics
36. Purity Renaissance – Purity Renaissance
35. Spectral Wound – Infernal Decadence
34. ION – A Path Unknown
33. Reverorum ib Malacht – Im Ra Distare Summum Soveris Seris Vas Innoble
32. Eigenlicht – Self-Annihilating Consciousness
31. Esoctrilihum – Inhüma
30. Alrakis – Echoes from η Carinae
29. Wolvennest – VOID
28. Carved Cross – The Yawning Abyss of Perdition
27. Cantique Lépreux – Paysages Polaires
26. Craft – White Noise and Black Metal
25. Echtra – BardO
24. Occelensbrigg – The Quest for the Star Mountain
23. Cor Scorpii – Ruin
22. Immortal – Northern Chaos Gods
21. Pa Vesh En – Church of Bones
20. Abstracter – Cinerous Incarnate
19. Severoth – When the Night Falls...
18. Nahtrunar – Mysterium Tremendum
17. Demonomancy – Poisoned Atonement
16. Sigh – Heir to Despair
15. Moenen of Xezbeth – Ancient Spells of Darkness...
14. Summoning – With Doom We Come
13. Slidhr – The Futile Fires of Man
12. Altar of Perversion – Intra Naos
11. Carpe Noctem – Vitrun
10. Mylingar – Döda Drömmar
9. Cosmic Church – Täyttymys
8. Panphage – Jord
7. Svartidauði – Revelations of the Red Sword
6. Ars Hmu – The Dawn of Black Pansophy
5. Iskandr – Euprosopon
4. Mahr – Antelux
3. Cultes des Ghoules – Sinister, or Treading the Darker Paths
2. Imperial Triumphant – Vile Luxury
1. Entropy Created Consciousness – Impressions of the Morning Star

http://opiumhum.blogspot.com/2018/12/my-40-favorite-black-metal-records-of.html

He put together a doom metal top 10 as well:

10. CHRCH – Light Will Consume Us All
9. Dautha – Brethren of the Black Soil
8. Sunnata – Outlands
7. Eartaker – Harmonics
6. Author & Punisher – Beastland
5. Assumption – Absconditus
4. Hamferð – Tamsins Likam
3. Convocation – Scars Across
2. Sinistro – Sange Cássia
1. Ancestors – Suspended in Reflections

http://opiumhum.blogspot.com/2018/12/my-10-favorite-doom-metal-records-of.html

Lol a doom list for those who hate doom, though Ancestors is a good album that's been slept on.

I don't really know why anyone needs another Sigh album tbh

Someone who needs 40 black metal albums might.

I do love that Dautha record.

I didn't even hear/know that Ancestors had a new one this year, must have been poorly promoted?

You could say the same for pretty much every metal band older than 10 years, but here we are, and it’s not all bad.

That Opium Hum list looks v/ interesting tho, I’ve hardly heard anything from it.

That's true I suppose, I guess I just find their style particularly exhausting to listen to an hour at a time as much as I hypothetically admire it

I didn't even hear/know that Ancestors had a new one this year, must have been poorly promoted?

It's on a small label called Pelagic; no publicity campaign that I'm aware of. I bought the digital version from the band's own Bandcamp page.

Ah, fits. I feel like the first couple records were considerably more visible.

Drowned In Sound’s 15 Favourite Albums of 2018
https://medium.com/drowned-in-sound/drowned-in-sounds-15-favourite-albums-of-2018-28c7ff3e68ab

15. Manic Street Preachers - Resistance is Futile
14. Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy
13. Suede - The Blue Hour
12. Blood Orange - Negro Swan
11. Metric - Art of Doubt
10. Muncie Girls - Fixed Ideals
9. Young Fathers - Cocoa Sugar
8. Chvrches - Love is Dead
7. Black Foxxes - Reiði
6. Anna Calvi - Hunter
5. SOPHIE - Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides
4. Gazelle Twin - Pastoral
3. Christine and the Queens - Chris
2. IDLES - Joy as an Act of Resistance
1. Low - Double Negative

7. Black Foxxes - Reiði

great album

it's not really fair at all but I have a hard time listening to or taking Metric seriously since those figures came out of the absurd levels of federal arts funding they've received at the expense of hundreds, if not thousands of more interesting acts

Damn, was not aware. I now subscribe to what you just said.

hundreds, thousands or some other metric factor

I'm late in getting to this, but the Senyawa album from the Wire list is really striking.

"...those figures came out of the absurd levels of federal arts funding they've received at the expense of hundreds, if not thousands of more interesting acts..."

A ridiculous and tired argument.