Albums of 2018

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1. 1
   Tranquility Base Hotel & CasinoArctic Monkeys

   Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

   Arctic Monkeys · 2018 · Alternative & Indie

   A divisive lounge-and-piano reinvention, conceptual and wry. Bold and acclaimed. A brave left turn.

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2. 2
   SweetenerAriana Grande

   Sweetener

   Ariana Grande · 2018 · Pop

   A bright, Pharrell-touched pop record balancing experimentation and hooks. Polished and assured. A turning point in her career.

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3. 3
   Invasion of PrivacyCardi B

   Invasion of Privacy

   Cardi B · 2018 · Hip-Hop

   A sharp, hit-packed debut, home to 'Bodak Yellow'. Confident and huge. A breakthrough.

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4. 4
   Some Rap SongsEarl Sweatshirt

   Some Rap Songs

   Earl Sweatshirt · 2018 · Hip-Hop

   A dense, lo-fi art-rap peak of fractured loops. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.

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5. 5
   PrequelleGhost

   Prequelle

   Ghost · 2018 · Metal

   A catchy, plague-themed hard-rock peak, home to 'Rats'. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.

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6. 6
   Joy as an Act of ResistanceIDLES

   Joy as an Act of Resistance

   IDLES · 2018 · Alternative & Indie

   A cathartic, compassionate post-punk peak of fury and vulnerability. Loud and acclaimed. Their breakthrough.

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7. 7
   Dirty ComputerJanelle Monae

   Dirty Computer

   Janelle Monae · 2018 · Soul & R&B

   A bright, defiant pop-funk record of identity and freedom, Prince-indebted and joyful. Polished and acclaimed. Her most accessible peak.

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8. 8
   SingularityJon Hopkins

   Singularity

   Jon Hopkins · 2018 · Electronic

   A widescreen techno journey of peaks and ambient calm. Immersive and acclaimed. A high point.

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9. 9
   Lost & FoundJorja Smith

   Lost & Found

   Jorja Smith · 2018 · Soul & R&B

   A soulful, assured UK-R&B debut. Smooth and acclaimed. A breakthrough.

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10. 10
    Golden HourKacey Musgraves

    Golden Hour

    Kacey Musgraves · 2018 · Country & Americana

    A dreamy, crossover country-pop record of warmth and craft, blending disco shimmer and steel guitar. Beloved and acclaimed. Her masterpiece.

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11. 11
    IsolationKali Uchis

    Isolation

    Kali Uchis · 2018 · Soul & R&B

    A vibrant, genre-blending debut of psychedelic R&B-pop. Bold and acclaimed. A breakthrough.

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12. 12
    Heaven and EarthKamasi Washington

    Heaven and Earth

    Kamasi Washington · 2018 · Jazz

    A vast, ambitious double album of widescreen spiritual jazz. Bold and acclaimed. A modern high point.

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13. 13
    HistorianLucy Dacus

    Historian

    Lucy Dacus · 2018 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A literate, melodic indie peak of memory and grief. Warm and acclaimed. A breakthrough.

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14. 14
    SwimmingMac Miller

    Swimming

    Mac Miller · 2018 · Hip-Hop

    A warm, jazzy late record of growth and vulnerability. Soulful and poignant. A beloved turning point.

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15. 15
    Universal BeingsMakaya McCraven

    Universal Beings

    Makaya McCraven · 2018 · Jazz

    An inventive, improvisation-built modern-jazz peak. Bold and acclaimed. A high point.

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16. 16
    Be the CowboyMitski

    Be the Cowboy

    Mitski · 2018 · Alternative & Indie

    A sharp, theatrical art-pop record of compressed emotion and stylistic range. Inventive and acclaimed. Her breakthrough.

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17. 17
    Room 25Noname

    Room 25

    Noname · 2018 · Hip-Hop

    A sharp, soulful peak of witty, political rap. Smooth and acclaimed. A creative high.

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18. 18
    Wide Awake!Parquet Courts

    Wide Awake!

    Parquet Courts · 2018 · Alternative & Indie

    A punchy, danceable post-punk peak of wit and groove. Sharp and acclaimed. A standout.

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19. 19
    A Matter of TimeProtoje

    A Matter of Time

    Protoje · 2018 · Reggae & Dub

    A sharp, modern reggae-revival peak. Warm and acclaimed. A standout.

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20. 20
    DaytonaPusha T

    Daytona

    Pusha T · 2018 · Hip-Hop

    A lean, seven-track peak of coke-rap craft and Kanye's beats. Tight and acclaimed. A modern high point.

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21. 21
    Oil of Every Pearl's Un-InsidesSOPHIE

    Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides

    SOPHIE · 2018 · Electronic

    A radical, deconstructed pop landmark of plastic textures and beauty. Visionary and acclaimed. A singular record.

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22. 22
    Care for MeSaba

    Care for Me

    Saba · 2018 · Hip-Hop

    A hushed, grief-soaked peak of intimate Chicago rap. Tender and acclaimed. A breakthrough.

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23. 23
    The SciencesSleep

    The Sciences

    Sleep · 2018 · Metal

    A long-awaited stoner-doom comeback of crushing weight. Heavy and acclaimed. A worthy return.

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24. 24
    LushSnail Mail

    Lush

    Snail Mail · 2018 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A sharp, melodic indie-rock debut of teenage clarity. Tuneful and acclaimed. A breakthrough.

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25. 25
    Your Queen Is a ReptileSons of Kemet

    Your Queen Is a Reptile

    Sons of Kemet · 2018 · Jazz

    A fierce, percussive UK-jazz peak of political fire. Bold and acclaimed. A modern landmark.

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26. 26
    A Brief Inquiry into Online RelationshipsThe 1975

    A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships

    The 1975 · 2018 · Alternative & Indie

    An ambitious, genre-hopping meditation on the digital age. Bold and acclaimed. Their most acclaimed record.

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27. 27
    Whack WorldTierra Whack

    Whack World

    Tierra Whack · 2018 · Hip-Hop

    A dazzling, fifteen-one-minute-songs art-rap debut. Inventive and acclaimed. A singular record.

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28. 28
    AstroworldTravis Scott

    Astroworld

    Travis Scott · 2018 · Hip-Hop

    A widescreen, psychedelic rap record of immersive production and big guests, anchored by 'Sicko Mode'. Atmospheric and huge. His defining album.

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29. 29
    FM!Vince Staples

    FM!

    Vince Staples · 2018 · Hip-Hop

    A lean, sun-baked concept peak framed as a radio broadcast. Sharp and acclaimed. A creative high.

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