The Best Music of 2018

The concept of year end lists, or any sort of artist rankings, are often interesting but inherently flawed. While the concept of highlighting noteworthy works is itself quite valuable, specific numerical rankings tend to make me question the endeavor. While I think Tootsie, Clockwork Orange, and Lawrence of Arabia are all great films, seeing them ranked in order just seems like an argument waiting to happen.

Rather than produce a definitive list, my presentation of the best music of the year is more cohesive than it is comprehensive. This selection of indie, hip hop, experimental, and dance music provides a general sense of what I consider to be the most notable highlights from an arguably unremarkable but nonetheless enjoyable year in music.

Track List

Fahrland – Yesterday

Suuns – Make It Real

Kids See Ghosts feat. Mos Def – Kids See Ghosts

Yaeji – One More

Bella Boo – Fire Fire

Galcher Lustwerk – Warm Cake

Robyn – Baby Forgive Me

Planningtorock – Transome

Chromatics – Camera

Connan Mockasin – Last Night

Men I Trust – Show Me How

Amen Dunes – Miki Dora

Astronauts, Etc. – The Room

Tirzah – Gladly

Blood Orange – Charcoal Baby

Tierra Whack – 4 Wings

Travis Scott – R.I.P. SCREW

Young Echo – Here

Raime – See Through Me, I Dare You

Carla Dal Forno – Summertime

Yves Tumor feat. James K – Licking An Orchid

James Blake – Don’t Miss It

Sophie – It’s Okay To Cry

The 1975 – Mine

E Ruscha – Who Are You

Kamasi Washington – Testify

Moodymann – Pitch Black City Reunion

George FitzGerald – Passing Trains (Kornel Kovacs Remix)

Toro Y Moi – Freelance

CHAI – Flat Girl

Nine Inch Nails – Over and Out

Poison Arrow – Casa Show