Top 10 Albums of 2018

10. "Virtue" - The Voidz

No longer just a solo side project for Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas, the Voidz have grown into their own indie powerhouse themselves. More experimental and rougher around the edges than The Strokes ever allowed Casablancas to be, "Virtue" explores heavy riff soundscapes with droning hypnotic backbeats. The heavily distorted and wonderfully familiar vocals of Casablancas guide the listener through the video game-esque world, where there is never a time short of shredding guitar solos and choruses you can't resist bobbing your head to.

Tracks to listen to: "Leave It In My Dreams", "All Wordz Are Made Up", "QUARRYUS"

9. "Tell Me How You Really Feel" - Courtney Barnett

Australian native Courtney Barnett returns with a triumphant sophomore album, which manages to be more concise than her Grammy nominated debut. Still getting used to her title as alternative's new songwriting heiress, feelings of anxiety and social confusion are the lyrical pillars in"Tell Me How You Really Feel". There's something about Barnett's rather monotone delivery and driving chord progressions that manage to dig out the most authentic feelings of self-doubt, and then rock and dance all over them.

Tracks to listen to: "City Looks Pretty", "Need A Little Time", and "Crippling Self-Doubt And A General Lack Of Confidence"

8. "The Art Of Pretending To Swim" - Villagers

Irish singer-songwriter Conor O'Brien's alt-folk style blends classic acoustic guitar playing with electronic blue-eyed soul grooves. O'Brien's soft delivery paired with his ear for blissful melodies creates a true delight for listeners. Lyrically, the album centers around the idea of keeping yourself afloat in a world full of rising water. "Long Time Waiting", discusses how it is solely up to you to change your life and you'll waste a lot of time by simply waiting for life to change itself. Villagers has become a well-known national pride for Ireland, but continues to lack the attention deserved here in the U.S.

Tracks to listen to: "A Trick Of The Light", "Long Time Waiting", "Sweet Savior"

7. "Trench" - Twenty One Pilots

After the release of "Blurryface", the duo of Tyler Joseph and Joshua Dun found themselves on top of the world, and most of the charts as well. Twenty One Pilots' third official release took a route that was musically darker than their previous records; their first attempt at concept album. The songs are loosely tied around a character attempting to escape a post-apocalyptic-like city under the control of Nico & The Niners. Very similar to his writing in the past, Tyler Joseph's songwriting is introspective, and the character seeking escape very well may be a representation of Joseph attempting to escape the pressures of stardom.

The duo's musical expertise is on full display in songs such as "Levitate", where Joseph raps at impressive speed over an undeniably catchy drum fill by Dun. While the majority of the album deals with rather dark content, the band finds it's usual sense of humor in songs "Smithereens" and "Legend". I was delighted to see Twenty One Pilots move towards a slightly less radio hit friendly album, focusing on telling a story more so than racking up even more #1's. The band will tour the globe in support of "Trench" in 2019.

Tracks to listen to: "The Hype", "My Blood", "Levitate", "Chlorine"

6. "Tranqulity Base, Hotel, & Casino" - Arctic Monkeys

"I'm a big name in deep space, ask your mates." 2018 brought the return of the most recognizable face of indie rock, and this time they ditched the leather jackets for a baby grand and a martini. During their 5 year hiatus, frontman and songwriter Alex Turner spent his time collaborating with Miles Kane (the other half of The Last Shadow Puppets) and giving in to his Bowie impersonations. What followed was Arctic Monkeys' most unique album yet, one that sounds to me like Alex Turner's first solo album.

"Tranquility Base, Hotel & Casino" is a large step in a new direction for the young punks from Manchester, trading in their iconic guitar riffs for a sound that would better fit a cigar lounge than a festival. Turner croons about outer space and batman over entrancing bass grooves. The 6th release from the lads was met with extreme opinions, and although it is not my personal favorite album of theirs, it still ranks high in my albums of 2018.

Tracks to listen to: "Star Treatment", "One Point Perspective", "The Ultracheese"

5. "Bambi" - Hippocampus

Midwestern heroes Hippocampus emerge with an ambitious sophomore album, proving that they have the talent and ambition to eventually fill stadiums. "Bambi" is easily one of the most fresh and innovative alt-rock albums I have heard in a long time. The members of Hippocampus met as children in music camps, and the longtime musical chemistry is very apparent in the tightness of their playing, sounding like a band that has been playing together for decades.

"Bambi" plays with the idea of frailty of young adulthood and growing confidently into yourself. "I've been here before/don't you know it's all the same/I've been here before/don't you know you're not to blame for feeling," Jake Luppen (vocals/guitar) yells in "Anxious", the quintessential anthem for every twenty-something year old. Keep an eye out for these kids.

Tracks to listen to: "Bambi", "Golden", "Doubt", "Think It Over"

4. "Francis Trouble" - Albert Hammond Jr.

Earlier in this list I ranked The Strokes's frontman at #10, well here's The Stroke's guitar mastermind ending up in the #4 spot with his 4th solo album. "Francis Trouble" is Hammond Jr.'s alter ego, named after the twin he ate in the womb. I had the privilege this year to see Hammond Jr. perform this album and I was beyond impressed with his frontman stage presence after spending years behind the limelight of Julian Casablancas. Years of sober living have made Hammond Jr. more lethal than ever before.

There is a very fair argument in saying that Albert Hammond Jr. is the most influential guitarist of the 21st century, and...I think they're right. His guitar chops and creativity is bursting at the seams in songs like "Set To Attack" and "ScreaMER", tinged with one of the most recognizable guitar tones ever heard.

Tracks to listen to: "Set To Attack". "Tea for Two", "Far Away Truths"

3. "Street Safari" - Public Access T.V.

Capturing the essence of New York City streets as the legends before them, Public Access T.V. would make Lou Reed proud. Somehow the young band have managed to release the best 80's record of 2018. "Street Safari" takes you in a time machine, or maybe its just an underground subway, back to the glory of loud guitars, late nights, and bright lights.

Frontman John Eatherly snarls on the anti-war Ramones-influenced tune "Rough Boy": "Can peace really come from a machine gun/Rough boy, can we count on you/Rough boy, red white & blue." A raucous, danceable time capsule from start to finish, "Street Safari" satisfied a need for the original spirit of rock n' roll that many bands lacked this year.

Tracks to listen to: "Metrotech", "Lost In The Game", "Meltdown"

2. "Be The Cowboy" - Mitski

Who knew that 2018 would bring us the perfect breakup album. Got your heart broken in 2018? Japense-American Mitski understands, as displayed on her 5th studio album. "Be The Cowboy" revels in feelings of loneliness and helpless romanticism. "I look for a picture of you to keep in my pocket/but I can't seem to find one where you look how I remember," she muses in synth heavy bop of "Why Didn't You Stop Me?". Mitski's full and calming vocals serve as a knowing friend, opening up to the stark vulnerability within her songwriting.

The high point of the record, the single "Nobody", could easily be a sequel song to Billy Idol's "Dancing With Myself". "Nobody" is an exclamation of desperate loneliness, but one that makes you want to dance with your reflection alone on a Tuesday night. Y'know, normal reactions to possibly the greatest song of the year.

Tracks to listen to: "Nobody", "Why Didn't You Stop Me?", "Pink In The Night", "Washing Machine Heart"

1. "A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships" - The 1975

Released on November 30th, "A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships" had little time to rocket itself to the top of my album list for the year, but after my 5th consecutive listen I knew this one was special. I should say that before this album was released, I was not optimistic in the slightest. I hadn't been fond of the first single and didn't know if I trusted The 1975's musical direction. Here's the part where I say: I was wrong.

On the Manchester-born quartet's third album, they search for an understanding of love in an artificial world. Songwriting team Matty Healy (singer) and George Daniels (drummer) grapple with the state of the world in "Love It If We Made It": "Truth is only heresy/We're just left to decay/Modernity has failed us/And I'd love it if we made it." Healy's vocals sound more poignant and powerful than ever before.

The real magic occurs on the B side of the record, where the band transitions into a more mature sound in songs "Inside Your Mind" and "Mine", digging deeper into jazz influences within the group. The rather simple instrumental arrangements of these two songs were shocking in the very best way, coming from a band who is best known for an excess of noise. The last three tracks on the album may very well be the best songs The 1975 have released yet, and I urge any reader to give them a listen!

Tracks to listen to: "Mine", "I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)", "It's Not Living (If It's Not With You)", "Love It If We Made It"

Thanks for reading! See you in 2019.