Top Albums 2018

This year, I again present a personal list of the new albums that have meant most to me this year. I've appreciated many other albums, some of which are more widely critically acclaimed, but these  reflect my taste. In the world of 2018 more than ever, kindness is a precious yet seemingly under-valued quality. Courtney Marie Andrews is a charismatic live performer with a soulful voice, but also has an amazing, hymn like sense of melody. Many of my favourite albums share such beauty; Low's Double Negative though reflects and engages with our troubled times instead of being an escape from them. This remarkable creation may have been right at the top of my list had my criteria been the greatest album of 2018 rather than the one I most enjoy listening to. The Low Anthem's Salt Doll also deserves a special mention for its remarkably intimate, hushed atmosphere: it's gorgeous, yet bold.

1) Courtney Marie Andrews May Your Kindness Remain

2) Jonathan Wilson Rare Birds

3) The Low Anthem The Salt Doll Went to Measure the Depth of the Sea

4) Israel Nash Lifted

5) Low Double Negative

6) Gretchen Peters Dancing with the Beast

7) Hiss Golden Messenger Virgo Fool

8) Emma Ruth Rundle On Dark Horses

9) Amanda Shires To The Sunset

10) Kamasi Washington Heaven & Earth

11) Florence + The Machine High as Hope

12) GoGo Penguin A Hundrum Star

13) First Aid Kit Ruins

14) Spiritualized And Nothing Hurt

15) Tuung Songs You Make At Night

16) Gregory Alan Isakov Evening Machines

17) Wye Oak The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs

18) Christine and the Queens Chris

19) Phosphorescent C’est La Vie

20) Ex-Re self-titled

Honourable Mentions
21) Pinegrove Skylight
22) Mountain Heart Soul Searching
23) Laura Gibson Goners
24) Beach House 7
25) Julien Baker boy genuis
26) Molly Burch First Flower
27) Cat Power Wanderer
28) Trampled by Turtles Life is good on the Open Road
29) Phil Cook People are my Drug
30) Exitmusic The Recognitions
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