Another year down, and so many music lists come up

December 31, 2018 9:22 AM

Another year down, another round-up of Best Music Of The Year, from all corners of the internet, from the 100-strong, store-specific lists from Bleep (100 best tracks) and Bandcamp (100 best releases), to specific genres (The 100+ Best New Kpop Songs Of 2018, Ranked By Fans and Best K-Pop MVs in 2018; 15 Best Country Songs and 10 Best Country Albums of 2018). If you want the best of the best, Album of the Year aggregates broadly, and you can dig down into the 122 individual year-end lists. If those lists start looking too familiar, try Best Hindi Hits of 2018, or more broadly, OkayAfrica's "Best Of 2018" tagged posts, including The 35 Best South African Hip-Hop Albums, EPs & Mixtapes of 2018 and The Best Nigerian Music Videos of 2018.
posted by filthy light thief (8 comments total)

I don't follow K Pop but BTS has been one of my sister's favorite bands for the past 5 years or so, so I pay attention to them alone. Fake Love is, most definitely, a fantastic song. Also on the list is Singularity, which is solo by BTS member V. If you like r&b and dancing, I'd suggest watching the video. My favorite single from this year, however, would be from BTS member Jimin, titled Serendipity. It (along with Fake Love) was written by BTS member RM, intentionally with gender-neutral pronouns. The chorus is one of my favorite pop choruses of all time. Members RM and Suga (both rappers in BTS) write the majority of music for the band, and also produce (though they have a whole team as well), which is just astonishing to me.

Ok enough about kpop! Here's a list of really great albums that came out this year, in no particular order:

1. Shannen Moser - I'll Sing. Genre: Alt Country. Highlight: Joanna
2. Hayley Henderickx - I Need to Start a Garden. Genre: Alt Country/Americana. Highlight: No Face
3. Snail Mail - Lush. Genre:Indie/girl rock. Highlight: Pristine
4. Lala Lala - The Lamb. Genre:Indie Electronic Pop. Highlight: Destroyer
5. Forth Wanderers - Forth Wanderers. Genre: Indie Rock Highlight: Nevermine
6. Pine Grove - Skylight. Genre: Indie/Country. Highlight: Rings
7. mom jeans. - puppy love. Genre:indie. Highlight: now THIS is podracing
8. Empress Of - Us. Genre: Alt R&B/pop. Highlight: When I'm with him
9. Saintseneca - Pillar of Na Genre: Indie Highlight:Timshel
10. Hop Along - Bark Your Head Off, Dog. Genre:Indie rock. Highlight: Prior Things
11. Pianos Become the Teeth - Wait for Love. Genre: Rock Highlight: Bitter red
12. Robyn - Honey Genre: Pop Highlight Honey
13. Brandi Carlile - By The Way Genre: country. Highlight: Every Time I Hear That Song

I didn't include a lot of the big pop albums (like Ariana or Mitski) because I figure they'll get enough exposure. And, as it is so every year, I'm sure I'll find even more albums to fall in love with. Happy listening, Happy new year!
posted by FirstMateKate at 11:14 AM on December 31, 2018 [2 favorites]

I learn a lot about the year in music from these lists, so my best-of will only be solidified in June 2019...That said, I wasn't feeling (radio) hiphop or much of the pop that got play this year. "Thank u, next" is fine. "Adidon" doesn't have legs long term. Kacey Musgraves wrote more musically sophisticated songs on her previous album. I'll spare you my essay-length critique on "Girls Like You." Etc. And I say this as someone who happily enjoys pop.

That said, three releases I loved this year:

Sons of Kemet, Your Queen is a Reptile. Jazz, danceable, awesome. Full album. Highlight: My Queen is Angela Davis.

Camp Cope, How to Socialize and Make Friends. I would call this punk, but melodic and emotionally deep. Also profoundly sad at times. Bandcamp. Highlights: The Omen; I've Got You.

Saba, CARE FOR ME. Hip-hop about grief/mourning. I dunno how many times I can sit through this as an LP -- at least, while engaging with it lyrically -- but it's *such* an accomplishment. Full album. Highlight: Life.
posted by migrantology at 1:10 PM on December 31, 2018

migrantology, how could i forget camp cope?! they're one of my favorite bands. This year was just so long, it felt like ages ago.
posted by FirstMateKate at 1:20 PM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

2018 has been sooooooo long, I feel you. I'm excited to listen to the Pianos Become the Teeth album -- Keep You is such a rewarding listen, but I missed that they had a new record out. So thanks! :-)
posted by migrantology at 1:51 PM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

This is a surfeit of riches! I don't even know where to start.
posted by gusandrews at 2:58 PM on December 31, 2018

Damn that John Prine album's good.
posted by chavenet at 5:39 PM on December 31, 2018

Meanwhile, I'll spill my beer at midnight for all the many bands that had what it took but still never got found.
posted by Fupped Duck at 8:03 PM on December 31, 2018 [2 favorites]

Don't forget Weirdest Band in the World's The Weird 100.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 9:12 PM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]