Ok yeah we are in Twenty-Nine-Scene now but as 3 Days Grace once sang, it’s never too late. By never too late, this is the last installment in the 2018 Albums Of The Year series we have been running throughout December and well, technically January now. So we hope you had a great holiday season and take away some music from this.
1. CHVRCHES- Love Is Dead
This album is certainly one of the most played of the year for me. The softness yet power in Lauren Mayberry’s voice takes over while the instrumentals add an emotional push behind it. It’s catchy, infectious, moody, and overall a fun record to listen to riding around with the windows down.
2. Post Malone- Beerbongs & Bentleys
Post Malone has risen to new heights in this hour plus long listen but he makes it overall worth it. While some tracks can be labeled as ‘filler’, the record is consistent and shows Malone at vulnerable moments. Upon first listen, all I could ask was “Damn Posty, who hurt you?!”. Above all, it’s his voice that wins it blended with the catchy hooks throughout. Love him or hate him, dude has pure skill.
3. Twenty-One Pilots- Trench
Underoath definitely delivered on Eras….*looks at notes* oh yes we already covered that one! Couldn’t tell by the imagery and colors here…Anyway, in all fairness this color scheme has been insanely popular this past year but each artist says there is a meaning to each color. That’s exactly what makes this record brilliant. You can digest it as a normal record or peel back the layers and find a story of another universe that takes you on a journey allowing you to be a part of it. While initially I did not like this record, it grew on me listen after listen until it ‘clicked’.
4. Juice WRLD- Goodbye & Good Riddance
‘Emo Rap’ is here, it is present, and it is taking over. Juice WRLD is the one of the faces of the new wave of hot artists taking plays from the emo music world and even being fans of it themselves. This record is a feel good record to listen to musically with some honest lyrics as well as some fun party songs. This was a regular spin for us when we wanted to take a break from chug chug sad sad my dog died music.
p.s. Expect even more emo rap on 2019’s list too.
5. Lil Peep- Come Over When You’re Sober Pt. 2
Probably THE face of the genre mentioned above that is emo rap. Sadly, he was one of the many beloved artists who tragically fell to drugs and left us. While gone, the impact he had in the genre and rap in general will not be forgotten and in fact, is probably why this type of music is catching on. Consider him the Underoath or My Chemical Romance of this scene. We can only assume how far he’d go in his career, but we have this record to show us how great of an artist he was by pushing boundaries with what can be done with blending genres that seemingly can’t be.
The Rest Of The Best:
6. Pale Waves- My Mind Makes Noises
7. LANY- Malibu Nights
8. Dan + Shay- Self-Titled
9. The 1975- A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
10. 6LACK- East Atlanta Love Letter
11. Kane Brown- Experiment
12. Troye Sivan- Bloom
