Acclaimed Music Forums

The best albums of 2018 (update January 31)

The numbers presented next to each album title are the weighted average rating, and, in brackets, average and number of ratings (out of 31 included sources). The weighted average is based on a formula that includes a) the average of ratings and b) the number of sources that have rated the album.

The magazines I used for the ratings were:
EUR + Australia: Gaffa-dk; Gaffa-sw; Humo; Indiestyle; Jenesaispop; Laut; Mondosonoro; Musikexpress; Nojesguiden; Ondarock; Plattentests; Sentire Ascoltare; The Music
UK: DIY; Drowned In Sound; The Guardian; Music OMH; NME; The Line Of Best Fit; The Skinny; The 405
USA + Canada: Allmusic; AV Club; Consequence Of Sound; Earbuddy; Exclaim!; Paste; Pitchfork; Popmatters; Rolling Stone; Under The Radar

Highlights: These are the top three songs from the album according to Allmusic, Consequence of Sound, Jenesaispop, Plattentests, The Skinny, Beardfood, BostonGlobe, Nowtoronto, Entertainment Weekly, etc…

New entry or Re-entry
Albums that have obtained new reviews and improved the score
Albums that have obtained new reviews but worsened the score

Out: None

10 - Shopping: The Official Body - 70,8 (73,8 / 12)
Highlights: Wild Child - Discover - The Hype
Post-Punk
[imgsize 280x280]https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_1 ... 303157.jpg[/imgsize]


09 - The Spook School: Could It Be Different? - 71,5 (76,1 / 7)
Highlights: Still Alive - I Only Dance When I Want To - Less Than Perfect
Indie Pop
[imgsize 280x280]https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_1 ... 370278.jpg[/imgsize]


08 - First Aid Kit: Ruins - 76,1 (74,4 / 26)
Highlights: It's a Shame - Hem of Her Dress - Rebel Heart
Indie Folk
[imgsize 280x280]https://cdn-s3.allmusic.com/release-cov ... 812584.jpg[/imgsize]


07 - Dream Wife: Dream Wife - 76,2 (79,2 / 12)
Highlights: Let's Make Out - Fire - Hey! Heartbreaker
Alternative Rock
[imgsize 280x280]https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_1 ... 359022.jpg[/imgsize]


06 - No Age: Snares Like a Haircut - 76,5 (78,9 / 14)
Highlights: Send Me - Cruise Control - Soft Collar Fad /b]
Noise Pop
[imgsize 280x280]https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_1 ... 357019.jpg[/imgsize]


05 - Nils Frahm: All Melody - 76,7 (77,3 / 19)
Highlights: Kaleidoscope - My Friend the Forest - Sunson
Ambient
[imgsize 300x300]https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_1 ... 370292.jpg[/imgsize]


04 - tUnE-YaRdS: I Can feel You Creep Into My Private Life - 77,7 (77,7 / 21)
Highlights: Heart Attack - Look at Your Hands - Hammer
Art Pop
[imgsize 300x300]https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_1 ... 332487.jpg[/imgsize]


03 - Jeff Rosenstock: Post- - 78,2 (82,9 / 7)
Highlights: USA - Yr Throat - Let Them Win
Power Pop
[imgsize 300x300]https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_5 ... 355833.jpg[/imgsize]


02 - Ty Segall: Freedom's Goblin - 78,4 (79,1 / 19)
Highlights: Fanny Dog - My Lady's on Fire - She
Garage Rock
[imgsize 300x300]https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_5 ... 370319.jpg[/imgsize]


01 - Shame: Songs Of Praise - 79,0 (78,6 / 22)
Highlights: Concrete - One Rizla - Tasteless
Post-Punk
[imgsize 300x300]https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_5 ... 346066.jpg[/imgsize]

Bang Jan wrote:I'll just ask for above 70 albums before anyone else does again...

None

Wow no hip hop and just one art pop album. I'm liking 2018 already !

Otisredding wrote:

Bang Jan wrote:I'll just ask for above 70 albums before anyone else does again...

Easily my favorite recurring joke on this forum.

Otisredding wrote: Highlights: These are the top three songs from the album according to Allmusic, Consequence of Sound, Jenesaispop, Plattentests, The Skinny, Beardfood, BostonGlobe, Nowtoronto, Entertainment Weekly, etc…

I hardly dare to ask, but do you know when you'll complete the highlights? I want to get the playlist up.

Rob wrote:

Otisredding wrote: Highlights: These are the top three songs from the album according to Allmusic, Consequence of Sound, Jenesaispop, Plattentests, The Skinny, Beardfood, BostonGlobe, Nowtoronto, Entertainment Weekly, etc…

I hardly dare to ask, but do you know when you'll complete the highlights? I want to get the playlist up.

I am sorry. I've been delayed a lot.

It's your turn, Rob

spiritualized wrote:Wow no hip hop and just one art pop album. I'm liking 2018 already !

Shame would be ranked #39 in last year's EOY list, so I'd just consider the year is starting slow.

Otisredding wrote:

Rob wrote:

Otisredding wrote: Highlights: These are the top three songs from the album according to Allmusic, Consequence of Sound, Jenesaispop, Plattentests, The Skinny, Beardfood, BostonGlobe, Nowtoronto, Entertainment Weekly, etc…

I hardly dare to ask, but do you know when you'll complete the highlights? I want to get the playlist up.

I am sorry. I've been delayed a lot.

It's your turn, Rob

Thanks Otisredding!

We are live with the first version of the A Taste of MegaCritic Playlist 2018!:



Albums not on Spotify:

Ty Segall - Freedom's Goblin
Fanny Dog
She
My Lady's On Fire

No Age - Snares Like a Haircut
Cruise Control is not separately on YouTube, but the whole album is and it is the first track:Full Album
Send Me
Soft Collar Fad

My wishes for 2018: the label Drag City comes to Spotify. In the first month they have already ruined the completeness of the playlist. I recommend the Ty Segall album though, to everyone who likes rock only a little bit. Let's hope that it will be remembered by the end of the year. Segall is one of those guys who usually gets great reviews, but then becomes forgotten on the final lists.

Rob wrote:
My wishes for 2018: the label Drag City comes to Spotify. In the first month they have already ruined the completeness of the playlist. I recommend the Ty Segall album though, to everyone who likes rock only a little bit. Let's hope that it will be remembered by the end of the year. Segall is one of those guys who usually gets great reviews, but then becomes forgotten on the final lists.

Definitely agree on Segall. The last three records have been amazing, but he's not fashionable enough maybe.
It's beyond me how so much crap can go on the EOY lists but they can't find a space for what is definitely the best rock band in the last ten years.