Another year, another batch of new music blessing our mere mortal lives. 2018 in particular has been an exciting one music-wise, with many artists proving the era of the album is far from over. For the first time ever, The EDIT’s writers have teamed up to talk about their favourite albums of the year. Here are our picks.
Jack White: Boarding House Reach – Erin Lindsay
For an album that was conceived in a small, quaint apartment in Nashville, and recorded using the most basic analogue equipment and reel-to-reel tapes, you’d think this was a record coming from a start-up band. No, this is Jack White. Boarding House Reach is a bizarre masterpiece that is nothing short of chaotic. How was it that this epic album was made with the simplest equipment? That just adds to the amazement factor. Every song takes you on a journey. From the slowed down tracks, such as the stunning Humoresque, Why Walk A Dog? and the more country-twang sounding What’s Done is Done, to the fast-paced Corporation, the two singles Over and Over and Over, and Respect Commander and to Hypermisophoniac – yes that’s a word, and as whimsical to the ear as it currently sounds in your head – every song is different and is almost like an insight into Jack White’s unpredictable, erratic mind.
Arianna Grande: Sweetener – Adam Lyon
Ariana Grande is quickly becoming one of this generation’s musical icons. With numerous hits under her belt at the young age of 25, she is slowly but surely taking over the pop music world. Sweetener is Grande’s fourth studio album and is arguably her best. She channels her emotions into each and every song, based on life experiences including the suicide of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller and recent failed engagement to Pete Davidson. This makes each song so pure, and as always, she sings beautifully. God is a Woman in particular is a song worth of all the praise it is given, and No Tears Left to Cry could quite possibly make you weep a little. Overall, this album is a true reflection of Grande’s experiences and emotions and is one of the many reasons why Sweetener is my pop album of the year.
Cardi B: Invasion of Privacy – Rebeka Luzaitye
Nobody was expecting a record like Bodak Yellow, and even fewer resisted the urge to give into its catchy trap. Cardi had a lot to prove with her debut album and she did. Impassionate, angry, fun, and lyrically ingenious – Invasion of Privacy is the best rap record of the year (sorry Astroworld). Cardi built her career out of very little, making space – invading it – where few have ever attempted to before. If Nicki left the gate of female rap ajar, Cardi ripped it off its hinges. This reflects well on both of them, regardless of their recent childish behaviour. Be Careful is easily the best revenge songs of all time while Thru Your Phone shows a more mellow and melodic side. I Like It was THE song of the summer, transcending any and all boundaries that attempt to silence this fiery, outrageous, gifted powerhouse of a woman. 2019 – the year of Cardi, I’m telling you.
Tom Grennan: Lighting Matches – Callum McQuade
After two years of dropping the odd single here and there, this July we finally got to hear the masterpiece Tom Grennan has been working on all that time. Lighting Matches made an appearance in the Top 5 album chart just one week after its release, and an appearance on the main stage at TRNSMT festival. Filled with the likes of Royal Highness, Run in the Rain, and the hugely popular Radio 1 B-List track Found What I’ve Been Looking For, this album certainly earned him his BBC Music Introducing Artist of The Year 2018 award. Grennan also finished his first solo tour, which included a date at the Barrowlands where The EDIT caught up with him to talk about his crazy success. Make sure to check out our chat with him here.
Greta Van Fleet: Anthem of the Peaceful Army – Caitlin Black
It takes something special for a modern album to transport you to another decade but that’s exactly what Greta Van Fleet’s Anthem of the Peaceful Army does. Following the success of their debut album From the Fires last year, Greta Van Fleet certainly did not disappoint. The rock band is often compared to the iconic Led Zeppelin, due to the lead singer Josh Kiszka’s vocal likeness to Robert Plant, which is undoubtedly a good thing. This album is no exception, the Led Zeppelin influences are still very prominent in songs such as Age of Man and When the Curtain Falls, which both have a classic rock feel, but the more stripped-back songs, such as Anthem and The New Day provide a more unique sound. Whether you love them or hate them, there is no denying the talent of this band as they are introducing the classic rock genre to younger generations.
Confidence Man: Confident Music for Confident People – Nicola Roy
Lovingly described by an anonymous YouTube user as ‘The Wiggles but for twentysomethings who love cocaine’, Australian electro-pop outfit Confidence Man breathed life into this summer with the release of their debut album, Confident Music for Confident People. Fronted by stylish duo Janet Planet and Sugar Bones, the band has successfully crafted a selection of glittering dance tracks that ooze 80s and 90s vibes, paired with smart lyrics dripping in irony. Opening track Try Your Luck is a tale about sleeping with a friend’s ex, accompanied by a synth-pop beat and a chorus that never leaves your head from the first listen. We’re learning what it’s like to be the coolest person in the room with C.O.O.L Party, and Janet’s deadpan monologue perfectly compliments the groovy bass line without taking anything away from the melody. The standout track has to be Boyfriend – the lyrics about a boring and repetitive relationship is such a contrast to the infectious beat, which would feel at home on any LCD Soundsystem or Deee-Lite album. They’re currently taking a well-deserved break from a summer of festivals but have teased that they will return soon with more music that hopefully is fun and carefree as this.
LANY: Malibu Nights – Mary Boag
LANY are famous for producing the type of songs that you play on long road trips or listen to in the bath. Malibu Nights is no different. This album will remind you of being 15, dreaming about your first crush, while simultaneously making you feel like a bitter grown up. LANY’s lead singer Paul Klein wrote this album in the space of a month. Similarly to their self-titled debut album released in the summer of 2017, Malibu Nights primarily consists of songs about love. Any hopeless romantics out there will find at least one song they can somewhat relate to. When you pay close attention to the lyrics it becomes clear that Klein is experiencing the kind of heartbreak that consumes your whole life. Some call it wallowing in self-pity, LANY calls it providing their fans with a raw insight into a broken Hollywood relationship. LANY’s music is easy listening, but not to be confused with boring. Malibu Nights consists of 9 soothing, sensitive and upbeat tracks which will fill you with the desire to run away to California and never love again.
Car Seat Hardest: Twin Fantasy (Face to Face) – Craig McLean
On Twin Fantasy (Face to Face), Car Seat Headrest remaster lead singer Will Toledo’s 2011 bandcamp recording, turning it into a modern masterpiece. Toledo takes us on a journey through his emotional difficulty as he indulges on topics such as coming out as homosexual, drinking, drug abuse, and heartbreak. Car Seat Headrest is one of the fastest rising cult names in the American Indie Rock scene and Twin Fantasy (Face to Face) is a contender for album of the decade as well as the year 2018.
All of these albums are available to listen to on Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music or buy in HMV (with the exception of Invasion of Privacy) or wherever you prefer to listen to your music.
