Albums of 2018

Jirin
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Jirin »

I’m mostly thinking of less well known albums that I found because one source was raving. I can make a list when I have more time to jog my memory. But I would include Aviary in albums that could stand a little more editing down.

Daughters album reminds me of Liars - Drums Not Dead but more focused.
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bonnielaurel
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by bonnielaurel »

discord
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by discord »

Not sure I get Aviary at all.
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Honorio
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Honorio »

Image

Rosalía – El mal querer

It's been a long long time since the last time I participated on an "Albums of…" thread, exactly five years ago (see here). This doesn't mean that I don't follow these threads (that by the way are the ones with more visitors), in fact I'm going to seize the opportunity to congratulate Nick for his excellent reviews on these threads.
So my first recommendation in five years is the second album by Spanish singer Rosalía, an album that set fire to the social networking sites and the media in Spain during the last week. In fact Rosalía has been so ubiquitous during this last week in Spain that right now there are so many jokes about it along the lines of "yesterday I lost my car keys, I looked under the couch cushion and there was Rosalía." Spain suddenly has been divided in half between supporters and detractors of Rosalía.

But, what's the reason for all this buzz? Let's begin with the detractors. I haven't analysed deeply their reasons but I can detect mainly two criticisms:
a) Rosalía has been immediately accused of cultural appropriation, in fact since the very release of "Malamente," the first single. Rosalía is not gypsy, she is paya (a pejorative expression meaning non-gypsy, just like "whitey"). She was born in Catalonia, not in Andalucia, the cradle of flamenco music. She has been criticized for using gypsy slang (caló) or Andalusian accent and for betraying the flamenco roots fusing it with contemporary sounds in order to reach massive audiences. The same old (and boring) debate between pure and impure with race implications, not too different to the recent controversy with the Grammys on the Blues category going to white musicians (see this) but taken to the Spanish current reality and replacing the black/white controversy by an even older gypsy/payo controversy. Two quotes of Rosalía on the subject (translated from an interview for Rockdelux): "Flamenco has been my school voluntarily and I will continue to study it deeply, but there are other music styles that are also part of me and I want to include them. It hurts me to know that somebody can think I disrespect flamenco when it's my root and my main inspiration." "I don't believe in cultural appropriation or cultural expropriation because I don't believe in cultural property. What about Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon"? Someone's going to argue the he appropriated African art?"
b) The second criticism is even more absurd and probably difficult to understand for the non-Spanish people. It's related with success itself. Many Spanish people despise the artists when they gain huge popularity, especially if they achieve international recognition. This a country where actors like Javier Bardem or Penélope Cruz receive enormous backlash instead justified praise. Milestones for a Spanish artist like receiving an 8.8 and BNM (Best New Music) in Pitchfork or making an impressive performance on the MTV European Music Awards are being received in Spain with more raised eyebrows than genuine happiness. Words like overrated, hype or marketing product are flowing freely on social networking sites and people are making jokes of her habitual presence in the media and criticisms about the financial support from her record company (when all she is doing is promote her work, just like any other artist). Another quote from the same interview when she is asked about the marketing: "But, if all that was done by myself! Only my mother and my sister help me because I have very ambitious projects that I can't do it alone. I didn't even have a manager! But I'm aware I am the best A&R for myself, maybe because I am a musician and I know what to do. I have to confess that I always had a clear intuition of every step I had to take."

And she's absolutely right, she is very smart and she knows how to manage her own career perfectly. Probably she had in mind from the very beginning a bold move like her second album, fusing flamenco and trap. But she opted to debut with an album like "Los ángeles" ("The Angels"), an album of (almost) traditional flamenco with a minimalist approach with mainly voice and guitar and traditional songs about death. But it was not a strictly traditional album, she was not accompanied by a flamenco player but by Raül Fernández, a performer (under the stage name Refree) and producer with background on indie folk and indie rock whose unpolished playing took a fresh view to an old style. Probably this first step aimed to gain the respect of rock critics and flamenco purists, like trying to prove to everyone that she had a deep knowledge of tradition before jumping unashamedly into mainstream.
Because yes, suddenly she is mainstream right now. And not only in Spain. Her first single ("Malamente" / "Badly") had more than 30 million views on You Tube while the Spanish population is 46 million people (the second and third single got 20 and 5,5 millions respectively). Praise from Pitchfork and The Guardian may produce that "El mal querer" could be the first Spanish album appearing on high positions on the Album of the Year lists. And a careful attention to the visual packaging including a) a powerful live act with a small band (two backing singers, two handclappers and El Guincho playing keyboard, samples and percussion) but a large group of dancers and b) imaginative video-clips that also fuse Spanish tradition (religious icons or bullfighting) and contemporary visuals with suburban stylings are achieving the magic trick of conquering the casual listeners and, more important, the support of the younger audiences, people that never or rarely have listened to flamenco before.
If you want to see a sample of the Rosalía visual work I include links to some of her video-clips (my Top 5) and some live performances:
- Her performance on the MTV Awards.
- Her whole show (stunning!).
- Antes de morirme (duet with C. Tangana, 2016).
- De plata (2017).
- Malamente (2018).
- Pienso en tu mirá (2018).
- Di mi nombre (2018).

But maybe it's time to talk about the album. First about the lyrics (something that the English-speakers may find useful) and then the music.
The lyrics develop a story, that's why every song has a subtitle representing the chapters of the story. It's a concept album about a toxic relationship ("El mal querer" can be translated as "The Bad Loving") based on an anonymous romance from the XIII Century, "Le Roman de Flamenca." This romance tells the story of a woman locked up in a tower by her husband. Based on this romance (sadly still relevant on these current times) but incorporating some autobiographical experiences from her failed relationship with C. Tangana (a popular Spanish trap singer that collaborated on the album) she wrote the songs. The chapters are called "Omen," "Wedding," "Jealousy," "Argument," "Lament," "Cloister," "Liturgy," "Ecstasy," "Conception," "Sense" and "Power." Particularly important is the last chapter, when she sings "A ningún hombre consiento / que dicte mi sentencia" ("I don't give my consent to any man / who dictates my sentence") or "Yo era tuya compañero / hasta que fuiste carcelero" ("I was yours, my partner, / until you became my prison guard"). This last track was significantly the first recorded and the one that gave sense to the whole project, ending the album with a strong commitment on women empowerment (there is an article including 16 quotes from the album as a statement against machismo). The lyrics and the concept are brilliant but, in my opinion, maybe too obviously inspired by Beyoncé's "Lemonade."

The album mixes flamenco and trap from the very first second, opening the album with syncopated handclaps and a loop of three chords on electric piano. Later a bass line and some electronic percussion. And that's all. Only some meticulously placed effects and voices (with diverse equalizations, reverbs and sound levels) creates the magic of the first track. The second song ("Que no salga la luna"/"May the Moon Not Rise") is only one of two songs featuring a Spanish guitar, the most archetypical instrument of flamenco, but in this case it's a sample from a tune by La Paquera de Jerez (on the other track, "Preso"/"Prisoner", the guitar was played by Rosalía herself). The third track and second single, "Pienso en tu mirá" ("I Think of Your Glance") features imaginative chord sequences and rhythm patterns (I strongly recommend the splendid music analysis made by Jaime Altozano, sadly without English subtitles). Maybe it' just me (it's one of my favourite flamenco tracks ever) but I can detect some influences on this track of the Lole y Manuel song "Tu mirá," including the children voices and part of the lyrics. Probably I'm not wrong because this song opens the (highly recommendable) Spotify playlist created by Rosalía herself with her favourite flamenco tracks.
We find many interesting arrangements throughout the album but keeping a quite minimalistic and spacious approach, keeping Rosalía's voice as the main weapon. Some of these arrangements include a beat created from samples of motorcycle sounds on track 4, a full orchestra on track 5, samples from Justin Timberlake and Arthur Russell on tracks 7 and 10 respectively or a-capella voices with harmonizer on tracks 9 and 11. The main responsible for this spare but inventive production is Pablo Díaz-Reixa whose stage name is El Guincho and whose albums "Alegranza!" (2007) or "Pop negro" (2010) also received international acclaim. But mainly, as I told before, we have the gorgeous Rosalía's voice, displaying a lot of resources and emotion throughout the album, although maybe not reaching the heights of "De plata" from her previous album.

Well, I'm afraid I talked too much again. It's obvious that I liked the album. Let's hope we can have the first Spanish album ever on the Top 10 of the year on Acclaimed Music. I'll cross my fingers…
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Jackson »

Pauler wrote:I spent today listening to two of the most acclaimed Electronic albums of the year: Knock Knock by DJ Koze and 2002-2007 by A.A.L. The former is a gorgeous affair; it is soulful and welcoming in its approach, full of warm tones and overall very atmospheric due to the amount of different synth timbres utilized. The latter is more straight-forward and dance-focused. It has some outstanding moments ("I Never Dream" comes to mind) and some that went on a bit too long. I have to side with DJ Koze on this one.
A belated thanks for this recommendation - I finally got around to the DJ Koze album today and it's great! And surprisingly accessible. I enjoy AAL too but I agree that most of the songs drag on 1-2 minutes too long.
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Bruno »

“Caution” by Mariah Carey.

Really nice album.
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by DocBrown »

Honorio wrote: The second criticism is even more absurd and probably difficult to understand for the non-Spanish people. It's related with success itself. Many Spanish people despise the artists when they gain huge popularity, especially if they achieve international recognition. This a country where actors like Javier Bardem or Penélope Cruz receive enormous backlash instead justified praise.
Not at all unique to Spaniards, Honorio. In English, I've heard it called "the tall poppy syndrome" (as tall poppies are always the first to be cut down).

I watched Rosalía's single releases with great interest because I was quite literally blown away by Los ángeles. I was fully prepared to be disappointed by this sophomore album because, like your Spanish critics, I was not particularly amenable to the dilution of her flamenco style (certainly authentic enough for this gringo) with other elements. She seemed to be headed towards a very "American" blend of hip hop elements and pop styling, not my cup of tea at all. But upon receipt of the album, I saw how a storyline was being developed, even if my lack of Spanish prevented me from decoding the story (so thank you for your summary, Honorio, it was very helpful).

While I still prefer the simplicity of voice (what a voice!) and guitar of Los ángeles, I am beginning to appreciate the evolution of Rosalía's artistry in El mal querer, and in particular how well the arrangements complement the storytelling. The percussion elements really drive the story along. I'm always surprised by how quickly the album comes to an end.

One comment, though, about the chance of this album reaching critical mass as an international success; unless Sony Music picks up this physical release (currently only available from Sony Spain), it may delay Rosalía from becoming the star she deserves to be. As someone who doesn't like streaming or downloading (I know, I'm a dinosaur) it is difficult and very expensive to get Spanish releases in Canada, moreso than any other EU nation. Fortunately, my efforts to obtain a LP copy of Los ángeles led to a very interesting online correspondence with a very engaging fellow in the south of Spain (and at the time, the most expensive new record I'd ever bought!)

I've also been mostly absent from this thread this year, because of how few new records I've enjoyed, but I did want to recommend one other unmentioned release, for fans of Courtney Barnett, Beach House or Alvvays; Lala Lala's The Lamb. Imagine post-punk as performed by Mazzy Star...
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by JohnnyBGoode »

Top 10 so far. No movers in this from early EOY lists but, as stated elsewhere, Rolling Blackouts CF now challenging after a re-listen following strong early showing:

1. Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy
2. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
3. Noname - Room 25
4. Kamasi Washington - Heaven and Earth
5. Low - Double Negative
6. A.A.L. - 2012 - 2017
7. Beach House - 7
8. GoGo Penguin - A Humdrum Star
9. Snail Mail – Lush
10. Spritualized - And Nothing Hurt
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Jackson »

Jirin wrote:
Daughters album reminds me of Liars - Drums Not Dead but more focused.
The comparison to Liars is interesting - not sure I hear that but this album is excellent. It's crazy this band hadn't come out with an album for eight years. What were they doing for so long?
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Nick »

Probably my last update before the EOY lists really start rolling in...

Great:

1. A.A.L (Against All Logic)- 2012 - 2017
2. Kamasi Washington- Heaven and Earth
3. Beach House- 7
4. Janelle Monáe- Dirty Computer
5. Car Seat Headrest- Twin Fantasy (Face to Face)
6. Arctic Monkeys- Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
7. Deafheaven- Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
8. Father John Misty- God's Favorite Customer
9. Kanye West and Kid Cudi- Kids See Ghosts
10. Pusha T- Daytona

Very Good:

11. Daughters- You Won't Get What You Want
12. Robyn- Honey
13. Jon Hopkins- Singularity
14. Mitski- Be the Cowboy
15. Snail Mail- Lush
16. Mount Eerie- Now Only
17. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks- Sparkle Hard

Good:

18. DJ Koze- Knock Knock
19. Cupcakke- Euphorize
20. U.S. Girls- In a Poem Unlimited
21. Sons of Kemet- Your Queen Is a Reptile
22. MGMT- Little Dark Age
23. Sophie- Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides
24. Idles- Joy as an Act of Resistance
25. Aphex Twin- Collapse (EP)
26. Iceage- Beyondless
27. Julia Holter- Aviary
28. Kero Kero Bonito- Time 'n' Place
29. Kacey Musgraves- Golden Hour
30. Cloud Nothings- Last Building Burning
31. Noname- Room 25
32. St. Vincent- MassEducation
33. Yves Tumor- Safe in the Hands of Love
34. Boygenius- Boygenius (EP)
35. Brockhampton- Iridescence
36. Blood Orange- Negro Swan
37. Courtney Barnett- Tell Me How You Really Feel
38. Saba- Care for Me
39. Nine Inch Nails- Bad Witch
40. Spiritualized- And Nothing Hurt
41. Rosalía- El Mal Querer
42. Cupcakke- Eden
43. Kamasi Washington- The Choice (EP)

Decent:

44. Kanye West- Ye
45. Unknown Mortal Orchestra- Sex & Food
46. Amen Dunes- Freedom
47. David Byrne- American Utopia
48. Andrew W.K.- You're Not Alone
49. Eminem- Kamikaze
50. Beyoncé & Jay-Z- Everything Is Love
51. Various Artists- Black Panther: The Album - Music from and Inspired By
52. Superorganism- Superorganism
53. Moses Sumney- Black In Deep Red, 2014 (EP)
54. Shame- Songs of Praise
55. Nas- Nasir
56. Titus Andronicus- A More Productive Cough
57. Death Grips- Year of the Snitch
58. Low- Double Negative
59. Interpol- Marauder
60. Animal Collective- Tangerine Reef
61. Gorillaz- The Now Now
62. Chvrches- Love Is Dead
63. Yo La Tengo- There's a Riot Going On
64. Franz Ferdinand- Always Ascending
65. Panda Bear- A Day with the Homies (EP)

Poor:

66. Justin Timberlake- Man of the Woods
67. Cardi B- Invasion of Privacy
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JohnnyBGoode
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by JohnnyBGoode »

JohnnyBGoode wrote:Top 10 so far. No movers in this from early EOY lists but, as stated elsewhere, Rolling Blackouts CF now challenging after a re-listen following strong early showing:

1. Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy
2. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
3. Noname - Room 25
4. Kamasi Washington - Heaven and Earth
5. Low - Double Negative
6. A.A.L. - 2012 - 2017
7. Beach House - 7
8. GoGo Penguin - A Humdrum Star
9. Snail Mail – Lush
10. Spritualized - And Nothing Hurt
Actually after a couple of more listens it's finally really started to click. I think Low might go high.
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Dan
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Dan »

:greetings-waveyellow: It’s exciting times for all of us with the year-end critics lists starting to come in, and all the questions about who’s gonna end up where when all is said and done. (I have a feeling Janelle Monáe will be crowned queen by the critics, but let’s see.)

I’ve done my annual thing of sampling loads and loads of albums and then listening to the ones that struck my fancy. Below are my current top 13. I’m sure I’ll get to 15 as I explore more lists by critics and forumers over the next couple of months.

[imgsize 100x100]https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com ... _QL65_.jpg[/imgsize]
1 | Ezra Furman | Transangelic Exodus (Indie Rock)
It’s an album built around the story of someone being forced to withdraw from society with their ‘transangelic’ partner – a partner who has grown wings and who is ostracized because they are seen as a threat to the integrity of the human race. In the CD inlay, Ezra Furman describes himself as the queer grandchild of Holocaust survivors and explains that the album is both a protest record and an exercise in empathy “for the immigrant, for the refugee, for the closeted, for the out, for the vulnerable, for the homeless, for the searching.”

I guess what I like most about the album is the bold way it portrays the two main characters as both vulnerable and a little fucked up. There’s much in the music as well as the vocal delivery that reminds me of other artists I admire who have also portrayed vulnerability and otherness in their music and lyrics. I hear some of Lou Reed’s struggle to be someone the world can accept while you are in a constant state of transforming, the yearning voice of Rufus Wainwright, Tom Waits’ intense desire for release as expressed through clattering, experimental rhythms, the untamed, in-your-face beats of recent Perfume Genius. But there’s also lots of catchy power pop melodies to balance out the ferocity of it all. To me, it’s a very exciting record.

A track from the album: Driving Down to L.A.

[imgsize 100x100]https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com ... _QL65_.jpg[/imgsize]
2 | Rosalía | El mal querer (Flamenco Pop)
Well… hola Rosalía. I tried very hard to like her debut album Los ángeles, but despite being impressed with her vocals I thought the subtle, folky guitars diluted the flamenco rhythms – I usually like my flamenco quite punchy. But the mix of minimalist (yet powerful) flamenco and modern R&B/pop on this sophomore album is many kinds of wonderful to me. Although she has gone “commercial” it’s hardly an album full of radio-friendly hits, and fortunately flamenco is still very much at the heart of it.

A track from the album: Pienso en tu mirá

[imgsize 100x100]https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com ... _QL65_.jpg[/imgsize]
3 | Years & Years | Palo Santo (Dance-Pop)

[imgsize 100x100]https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com ... _QL65_.jpg[/imgsize]
4 | Janelle Monáe | Dirty Computer (Contemporary R&B, Art Pop)

[imgsize 100x100]https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com ... _QL65_.jpg[/imgsize]
5 | Amanda Shires | To the Sunset (Alt-Country, Americana)

[imgsize 100x100]https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com ... _QL65_.jpg[/imgsize]
6 | Ry Cooder | The Prodigal Son (Americana)

[imgsize 100x100]https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com ... _QL65_.jpg[/imgsize]
7 | Kacey Musgraves | Golden Hour (Country Pop)

[imgsize 100x100]https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com ... _QL65_.jpg[/imgsize]
8 | Orquesta Akokán | Orquesta Akokán (Latin Jazz, Mambo)

[imgsize 100x100]https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com ... _QL65_.jpg[/imgsize]
9 | Alela Diane | Cusp (Contemporary Folk)

[imgsize 100x100]https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com ... _QL65_.jpg[/imgsize]
10 | RAM | August 1791 (Rasin)

[imgsize 100x100]https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com ... _QL65_.jpg[/imgsize]
11 | Natalia Lafourcade | Musas Vol. 2 (Nueva canción latinoamericana)

[imgsize 100x100]https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com ... _QL65_.jpg[/imgsize]
12 | Father John Misty | God's Favorite Customer (Chamber Pop)

[imgsize 100x100]https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com ... _QL65_.jpg[/imgsize]
13 | Christine and the Queens | Chris (Synthpop)
...will keep us together.
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Matski
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Matski »

Just to check, is anyone going to be running a 2018 Best Albums/Songs poll for the forum in January?

For once, I seem to be on top on the year's releases and may even have a list ready by the new year. Only have the new albums by Anderson Paak, Rosalía, Daughters and Julia Holter to catch up on. Hopefully saving the best until last there.
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Pauler »

Bruno wrote:“Caution” by Mariah Carey.

Really nice album.
I concur. Despite the inevitable vocal decline, Mariah still has one of the most mystifying and gorgeous-sounding timbres ever. Each register is a different color and she is a fantastic vocal musician. "8th Grade" is the most interesting thing Timbaland has done since....last decade? "The Distance" with the chanting is solid and "GFTO" is exactly how I want to hear Mariah on a modern R&B/Pop production.
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Bruno »

Pauler wrote:Each register is a different color and she is a fantastic vocal musician.
Agreed. One of the most skilled singers of all time.
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Jirin »

Lots of recent additions but none has quite had the chance to bubble up my list yet so here's my top:

Transcendant:
1. Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer

Great:
2. Eels - The Deconstruction
3. Young Fathers - Cocoa Sugar
4. Preoccupations - New Material
5. Jack White - Boarding House Reach
6. Gang Gang Dance - Kazuashita

Very good:
7. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
8. Beach House - 7
9. Ice Age - Beyondless
10. George FitzGerald - All That Must Be
11. Ty Segall - Freedom's Goblin
12. Barrence Whitfield & The Savages - Soul Flowers Of Titan
13. IDLES - Joy As An Act Of Resistance
14. Slaves - Acts Of Fear And Love
15. Jenny Wilson - EXORCISM

Good:
16. Serpentwithfeet - soil
17. Neko Case - Hell On
18. U.S. Girls - In A Poem Unlimited
19. Noname - Room 25
20. First Aid Kit - Ruins
21. Soccer Mommy - Clean

Climbing:
Kamasi Washington - Heaven and Earth
MNEK - Language
Phosphorescent - Cest la vie
Julia Holter - Aviary
Tirzah - Devotion
Ezra Furman - Transangelic Exodus

Also for 2020 I've been thinking of doing some sort of decade listening tournament, and with 2019 coming up need to think of any discovery/qualification process next year.
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Maschine_Man »

Albarn has had a few duds over the last few years, but the new The Good, The Bad & The Queen album is the Brexit soundtrack I need in my life right now.
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by notbrianeno »

Matski wrote:Just to check, is anyone going to be running a 2018 Best Albums/Songs poll for the forum in January?

For once, I seem to be on top on the year's releases and may even have a list ready by the new year. Only have the new albums by Anderson Paak, Rosalía, Daughters and Julia Holter to catch up on. Hopefully saving the best until last there.
I’m your guy unless anyone else wants to run it this year
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Matski »

Excellent news. Looking forward to it notbrianeno.
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Jirin »

Listening to Kelly Moran - Ultraviolet. It’s absolutely beautiful. Haunting atmospheric piano music.

Also I decided on the format for the 2010-2019 tournament I’m planning for 2020.

First I picked 10-16 albums from each year to automatically get in and 12-24 more to qualify for the remaining positions to get to 20 per year. (Except for 2019 which will just use the result of the year end comp).

Them there will be an individual year round to get down to 10 per year. Then a round with those 100, the top 32 of which will go into a final double elimination round.
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Jirin »

Titus Adronicus - A Productive Cough is a weird album.

It’s very different and stylistically all over the place. It includes a version of Like A Rolling Stone where lyrics are changed to be in the first person.

Good album. Maybe year’s worst album title. I didn’t listen to it until it was nominated in BMAA because it made me think of mucous.
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Jackson »

I'm still doing a bunch of listening as always during this time of year, but these ten albums will definitely factor into my year-end list:

Against All Logic | 2012-2017
Daughters | You Won't Get What You Want
DJ Koze | Knock Knock
Fucked Up | Dose Your Dreams
Idles | Joy as an Act of Resistance
Kali Uchis | Isolation
Let's Eat Grandma | I'm All Ears
Mitski | Be the Cowboy
Parquet Courts | Wide Awake!
U.S. Girls | In a Poem Unlimited
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Jirin »

I'm starting my year end tournament listening game now, and because I started discovery a little late in the year I couldn't narrow it down very far and there's 80 albums in the game, in order of how I currently rank them:

95-100
Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer

90-94
Eels - The Deconstruction
Kamasi Washington - Heaven And Earth
Young Fathers - Cocoa Sugar
Preoccupations - New Material
Jack White - Boarding House Reach
Slaves - Acts Of Fear And Love
Gang Gang Dance - Kazuashita

85-89
Beach House - 7
Khruangbin - Con Todo El Mundo
Ty Segall - Freedom's Goblin
IDLES - Joy As An Act Of Resistance
Kelly Moran - Ultraviolet
I'm With Her - See You Around
Daughters - You Won't Get What You Want
Iceage - Beyondless
Boygenius - Boygenius
Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
Jenny Wilson - EXORCISM
George FitzGerald - All That Must Be
Barrence Whitfield & The Savages - Soul Flowers Of Titan

80-84
serpentwithfeet - soil
Noname - Room 25
Neko Case - Hell On
Phosphorescent - Cest la vie
Titus Andronicus - A Productive Cough
Fatoumata Diawara - Fenfo
Daniel Bachman - The Morning Star
U.S. Girls - In A Poem Unlimited
Deafhaven - Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
Low - Double Negative
Mary Gauthier - Rifles & Rosary Beads
Haley Heynderickx - I Need To Start A Garden
Sophie - Oil Of Every Pearl's Un Insides
Pusha T - Daytona
Kali Uchis - Isolation
Spiritualized - And Nothing Hurt
The Breeders - All Nerve
First Aid Kit - Ruins
4Soccer Mommy - Clean
Tirzah - Devotion
Parquet Courts - Wide Awake!

75-79
Flasher - Constant Image
A Place To Bury Strangers - Pinned
Ezra Furman - Transangelic Exodus
A.A.L. (Against All Logic) - 2012-2017
Daniel Avery - Song For Alpha
Gruff Rhys - Babelsberg
The Liminanas - Shadow People
Anna von Hausswolff - Dead Magic
Gogo Penguin - A Humdrum Star
Speedy Ortiz - Twerp Verse
Bodega - Endless Scroll
MNEK - Language
Mitski - Be The Cowboy
Laurie Anderson & Kronos Quartet - Landfall
White Denim - Performance
Amen Dunes - Freedom
DJ Koze - Knock Knock
Natalia Lafourcade - Musas Vol. 2
Animal Collective - Tangerine Reef
Vessel - Queen Of Golden Dogs
Melissa Laveaux - Radyo Siwel
Maribou State - Kingdoms In Colour
Sun Kil Moon - This Is My Dinner
Ray BLK - Empress
Szun Waves - New Hymn To Freedom

70-74
Objekt - Cocoon Crush
Elephant Micah - Genericana
MO - Forever Neverland
The Good, The Bad and the Queen - Merrie Land
Ben Howard - Noonday Dream
Foxing - Nearer My God
St Vincent - Masseducation
Nils Frahm - All Melody
Tune Yards - I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life
Julia Holter - Aviary
Years & Years - Palo Santo
Jean Michel Blais - Dans Da Main
Gazelle Twin - Pastoral
Melomaniac
Superunknown
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Melomaniac »

Rank | Artist - Album | Ratings

1 | Blood Orange - Negro Swan | 85/100
2 | Julia Holter - Aviary | 83/100
3 | Beach House - 7 | 82/100
4 | Christine and the Queens - Chris | 81/100
5 | Young Fathers - Cocoa Sugar | 81/100
6 | Kids See Ghosts - KIDS SEE GHOSTS | 81/100
7 | Kamasi Washington - Heaven and Earth | 80/100
8 | Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy | 80/100
9 | Low - Double Negative | 80/100
10 | Dirty Projectors - Lamp Lit Prose | 79/100
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PlasticRam
Into the Groove
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by PlasticRam »

Sophie - Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides 9.3
MGMT - Little Dark Age 8.6
ASAP Rocky - Testing 8.5
Popcaan - Forever 8.5
CHVRCHES - Love Is Dead 8.3
The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships 8.3
Pusha T - Daytona 8.3
Julia Holter - Aviary 8.2
serpentwithfeet - soil 8.1
Willie Nelson - Last Man Standing 8.1
Let's Eat Grandma - I'm All Ears 8.0
XXXTentacion - Skins 7.9
U.S. Girls - In a Poem Unlimited 7.9
Migos - Culture II 7.9
Parquet Courts - Wide Awake! 7.8
Lil Yachty - Lil Boat 2 7.8
Beach House - 7 7.8
Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts 7.7
XXXTentacion - ? 7.6
Idles - Joy as an Act of Resistance 7.5
Dessa - Chime 7.5
Father John Misty - God's Favorite Customer 7.4
Noname - Room 25 7.2
Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino 7.2
A.A.L (Against All Logic) - 2012 - 2017 7.2
Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour 7.2
Gorillaz - The Now Now 7.1
Nas - Nasir 7.1
Kanye West - Ye 7.1
Shame - Songs of Praise 7.1
Paul McCartney - Egypt Station 7.0
Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer 7.0
Rae Sremmurd - SR3MM 7.0
Yves Tumor - Safe in the Hands of Love 7.0
Paul Simon - In the Blue Light 6.9
Teyana Taylor - K.T.S.E. 6.9
Kali Uchis - Isolation 6.9
Eels - The Deconstruction 6.8
Low - Double Negative 6.8
Lupe Fiasco - Drogas Wave 6.8

Iceage - Beyondless 6.7
SOB X RBE - Gangin 6.7
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter V 6.7
J. Cole - KOD 6.6
Playboi Carti - Die Lit 6.6
Mount Eerie - Now Only 6.5
Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy 6.5
Ariana Grande - Sweetener 6.5
Travis Scott - Astroworld 6.4
Mitski - Be the Cowboy 6.4
Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy 6.2
Mac Miller - Swimming 5.9
Last edited by PlasticRam on Sat Dec 15, 2018 8:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I feel like that
Jackson
Into the Groove
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Location: Los Angeles

Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Jackson »

Jackson wrote:I'm still doing a bunch of listening as always during this time of year, but these ten albums will definitely factor into my year-end list:

Against All Logic | 2012-2017
Daughters | You Won't Get What You Want
DJ Koze | Knock Knock
Fucked Up | Dose Your Dreams
Idles | Joy as an Act of Resistance
Kali Uchis | Isolation
Let's Eat Grandma | I'm All Ears
Mitski | Be the Cowboy
Parquet Courts | Wide Awake!
U.S. Girls | In a Poem Unlimited
Add Sons of Kemet, Yves Tumor, Tirzah, and Christine and the Queens to this. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with Julia Holter's Aviary. There are some brilliant songs on the album, but it's a tough, bleak listen all the way through and I don't feel the same connection to it as her previous work. I'm sure it'll still find a spot, but it will break her streak of three straight top five albums for me.
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prosecutorgodot
Keep On Movin'
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Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:53 am
Location: SF Bay Area, California

Re: Albums of 2018

Post by prosecutorgodot »

Recommendations from the final trimester of 2018:

Kero Kero Bonito | Time 'n' Place
KKB are making very fun and heartfelt pop music this decade. Maybe 2016's Bonito Generation was too gimmicky for the average music listener; the J-Pop/rapping/M.I.A. beats/bilingual vocals combo was perhaps overwhelming. Those aspects probably were my favorite, as they easily created a separation between KKB and pop musicians using more obvious sound palettes. The trio have decided to stick with lyrics in English this time, and go for a more standard noise pop and twee pop sound. As a result, I hope that Belle and Sebastian fans (and really everyone else too) give this a shot.

Prince | Piano and a Microphone (1983)
If you ever wanted to hear the legendary musician in the raw, I have the record for you.

Rosalía | El Mal Querer
2017's Los ángeles was a very distinctive record from that year, with Rosalía's vocals being upfront and center, and the listener having nowhere to hide from its raw beauty. The record didn't hit me on first listen, as it lacked pop accessibility, but it has grown on me and showed that Rosalía had a lot to offer. El Mal Querer clarifies Rosalía's place, specifically in the pop-sphere. Such a fresh sound, that I hope to hear more of in the future.

George Clanton | Slide
A burgeoning style of dream-pop? Vocals and lyrics are meh, but the shoegaze-y atmosphere is great.

Daughters | You Won't Get What You Want
Reminds me of Suicide's self-titled album. This "rock" album displays very strange noises. Manages to stay catchy. Listening to this record is like being slowly reeled into the abyss (imagine some evil fisherman looming above you). Listen if you want to drop into a dark, dark hole.

Polyphia | New Levels New Devils
Instrumental rock album. Snarling guitars.

Anderson .Paak | Oxnard
R&B/hip-hop album made by a confident, charismatic guy.

Avantdale Bowling Club | Avantdale Bowling Club
Personal storytelling over jazz instrumentals.

Ariana Grande | Sweetener
You could do a lot worse in the epic-mainstream pop world. Ariana actually cares about writing her verses. Half Pharrell beats, half more typical pop production. I wish "thank u, next" was on this album.
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Romain
Happy Up Here
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Location: Lyon, France

Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Romain »

It's never too late to make discoveries, and I've just discovered my 2018 album: Cosmo Sheldrake - The Much Much Much How How And I.
This album made my heart captivate with its sensitivity, its incredible melodies and the singer's sweet and melancholic voice.
I fell in love with this album.

A solid 10/10 for one of th besy album of the décade for me.
Jirin
Running Up That Hill
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Re: Albums of 2018

Post by Jirin »

A late 2018 discovery for me is Mark Lanegan/Duke Garwood - With Animals.
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