It's been another bumper year for music and, just like last year, I refuse to squeeze the list into an arbitrary 10, just because that's how many fingers I have. So here's my top 12 of 2018.
12) Brand New Friend - Seatbelts for Aeroplanes
The first album on my list was strangely never meant to be an album. Brand New Friend is a Northern Irish four-piece who recorded a few demos that their label liked enough to throw together as an album. But the thing is, it completely works and it even received a nomination for the Northern Ireland Music Prize. Like a missing link between British punk of the 1970s and US pop-punk of the 2000s, it's full of the raw energy you'd expect from a young band's demo tape but amongst the scuzzy guitars, they've actually got a solid set of catchy tunes too.
The first album on my list was strangely never meant to be an album. Brand New Friend is a Northern Irish four-piece who recorded a few demos that their label liked enough to throw together as an album. But the thing is, it completely works and it even received a nomination for the Northern Ireland Music Prize. Like a missing link between British punk of the 1970s and US pop-punk of the 2000s, it's full of the raw energy you'd expect from a young band's demo tape but amongst the scuzzy guitars, they've actually got a solid set of catchy tunes too.
11) Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats - Tearing at the Seams
A throbbing, swaggering chunk of soulful vintage blues, the second album from Nathaniel Rateliff's new project sounds confident and assured, but also captures the raw spirit of a band just jamming with mates or playing in a smoky bar. I don't suppose it's something that's particularly in fashion these days but that just means they don't have much competition. They deserve to be noticed.
10) Jon Hopkins - Singularity
If pop-punk or blues isn't your thing, maybe the ethereal bleeps of Jon Hopkins would suit you better. Now on his fifth solo studio album (plus a couple of other collaborations), he specialises in producing ambient electronic dance music that's far from just for the background. If it sounds like it'd be perfect on a soundtrack to a sci-fi film, you may be interested to know he has actually provided the music for Monsters and How I Live Now (both excellent films if you get the chance to see them). The standout track on Singularity is Emerald Rush; it starts off eerily otherworldly and transforms itself into something you could find yourself dancing to on some distant planet in the year 2233.
If pop-punk or blues isn't your thing, maybe the ethereal bleeps of Jon Hopkins would suit you better. Now on his fifth solo studio album (plus a couple of other collaborations), he specialises in producing ambient electronic dance music that's far from just for the background. If it sounds like it'd be perfect on a soundtrack to a sci-fi film, you may be interested to know he has actually provided the music for Monsters and How I Live Now (both excellent films if you get the chance to see them). The standout track on Singularity is Emerald Rush; it starts off eerily otherworldly and transforms itself into something you could find yourself dancing to on some distant planet in the year 2233.
9) Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer
Another artist who is surely from the future is Janelle Monae. Having found success in her native US, this is her third full-length album and first to hit the top 10 in the UK. Simply referring to her as an R&B and soul singer doesn't do her sound justice. With previous album titles such as The ArchAndroid and The Electric Lady, and a wardrobe and attitude which defy society's norms, she could easily be the product of some artificial intelligence to find a mix of Prince, Grace Jones and Andre 3000, but I guess even that's underplaying it. Lyrically the album makes reference to political identities to do with gender, sexuality and race, and the struggles to fight for equality. But it ends on a hopeful and powerful note with Americans, a track which acts as a rallying call to reclaim her country from those who seek to divide. Dirty Computer isn't just a collection of catchy songs, it's an important work of art too.
Another artist who is surely from the future is Janelle Monae. Having found success in her native US, this is her third full-length album and first to hit the top 10 in the UK. Simply referring to her as an R&B and soul singer doesn't do her sound justice. With previous album titles such as The ArchAndroid and The Electric Lady, and a wardrobe and attitude which defy society's norms, she could easily be the product of some artificial intelligence to find a mix of Prince, Grace Jones and Andre 3000, but I guess even that's underplaying it. Lyrically the album makes reference to political identities to do with gender, sexuality and race, and the struggles to fight for equality. But it ends on a hopeful and powerful note with Americans, a track which acts as a rallying call to reclaim her country from those who seek to divide. Dirty Computer isn't just a collection of catchy songs, it's an important work of art too.
8) Father John Misty - God's Favorite Customer
Following very quickly on from 2017's Pure Comedy and picking up largely where that album left off, God's Favorite Customer is arguable a better album for being shorter and more concise. In contrast to its more serious predecessor, Josh Tillman (Father John's real name) set out to make this one lighter and easier to digest. It still contains political references but the lyrics are more personal and honest, and the melodies are breezier and more memorable. I get the feeling though that in order to make his next album a reaction to this one, he may step in a completely different direction still.
Following very quickly on from 2017's Pure Comedy and picking up largely where that album left off, God's Favorite Customer is arguable a better album for being shorter and more concise. In contrast to its more serious predecessor, Josh Tillman (Father John's real name) set out to make this one lighter and easier to digest. It still contains political references but the lyrics are more personal and honest, and the melodies are breezier and more memorable. I get the feeling though that in order to make his next album a reaction to this one, he may step in a completely different direction still.
7) MGMT - Little Dark Age
For those of you who were wondering whatever happened to MGMT, here is your answer. Known for huge hits such as Kids and Electric Feel from their debut album, their second was disappointing and their third, well, weird. This, their fourth album, is just as experimental but it's much more accessible and provides lots of those "ah, who does this remind me of" moments that help to make an album feel both familiar and fresh. A good example is Me And Michael which surely deserves to play over the opening credits to some buddy film set in the 80s. Elsewhere, there are similarities to OMD, Depeche Mode and others but presented in a leftfield fashion without missing out the catchy hooks from their debut. They're back on track.
For those of you who were wondering whatever happened to MGMT, here is your answer. Known for huge hits such as Kids and Electric Feel from their debut album, their second was disappointing and their third, well, weird. This, their fourth album, is just as experimental but it's much more accessible and provides lots of those "ah, who does this remind me of" moments that help to make an album feel both familiar and fresh. A good example is Me And Michael which surely deserves to play over the opening credits to some buddy film set in the 80s. Elsewhere, there are similarities to OMD, Depeche Mode and others but presented in a leftfield fashion without missing out the catchy hooks from their debut. They're back on track.
6) Tom Odell - Jubilee Road
Tom Odell's debut album, Long Way Down, was, quite rightly, a huge international success thanks to its powerful and emotional ballads. The 2016 follow-up, Wrong Crowd, was for me a mis-step. The heartfelt lyrics and soft piano were overshadowed by the bombastic production which made the album feel unauthentic. His third album, Jubilee Road, however, is much easier on the ear. Odell's unique voice and honest lyrics are accompanied by catchy tunes and a more sensitive production. In parts, it does feel like the album deliberately alternates between earnest ballad and foot-tapping showstopper but with hooks so catchy they'll have you clapping your hands in no time, why does that matter? It's not anything ground-breaking but it's the only album on my list that I listened to again immediately after hearing it the first time so that's got to count for something surely.
Tom Odell's debut album, Long Way Down, was, quite rightly, a huge international success thanks to its powerful and emotional ballads. The 2016 follow-up, Wrong Crowd, was for me a mis-step. The heartfelt lyrics and soft piano were overshadowed by the bombastic production which made the album feel unauthentic. His third album, Jubilee Road, however, is much easier on the ear. Odell's unique voice and honest lyrics are accompanied by catchy tunes and a more sensitive production. In parts, it does feel like the album deliberately alternates between earnest ballad and foot-tapping showstopper but with hooks so catchy they'll have you clapping your hands in no time, why does that matter? It's not anything ground-breaking but it's the only album on my list that I listened to again immediately after hearing it the first time so that's got to count for something surely.
5) Editors - Violence
As with MGMT, Editors are another band famous for their 00s hits. Their 2018 album, Violence, sticks to what you'd expect from the band known for their doom-laden lyrics and dramatic guitars but ramps up the theatre with the production. It feels grander and bolder than anything they've done before and yet somehow simpler in its content too. They've cranked up the electronic hooks and added a few dance beats here and there. Hallelujah (So Low) is a scuzzy and soaring rock track while the standout Magazine starts with eerie choral chants and explodes into an almost brutalist dance-rock fusion. There are softer elements too. No Sound but the Wind is a piano version of a previously released song about fighting against the odds. If you were a fan of Editors before and had fallen out of love, this album will reel you back in.
As with MGMT, Editors are another band famous for their 00s hits. Their 2018 album, Violence, sticks to what you'd expect from the band known for their doom-laden lyrics and dramatic guitars but ramps up the theatre with the production. It feels grander and bolder than anything they've done before and yet somehow simpler in its content too. They've cranked up the electronic hooks and added a few dance beats here and there. Hallelujah (So Low) is a scuzzy and soaring rock track while the standout Magazine starts with eerie choral chants and explodes into an almost brutalist dance-rock fusion. There are softer elements too. No Sound but the Wind is a piano version of a previously released song about fighting against the odds. If you were a fan of Editors before and had fallen out of love, this album will reel you back in.
4) Robyn - Honey
Hugely anticipated, Robyn's first studio album in eight years sees her break free of the glittery electro-pop image she had created for herself, and whilst Honey is still basically an electronic album, starting with the familiar-sounding Missing U, Robyn sounds more like an artist in control of her destiny and willing to try new things. There are elements of chillout electronica on Baby Forgive Me and Send To Robin Immediately, sensual dancefloor hooks on the title track, and some surprising 90s house beats on Between The Lines. It's sultry, pulsating and intriguing, but most importantly, from start to finish it feels like you're having your hand held while being walked from the dancefloor to Robyn's new live show in a different room. I'm excited to see where she heads next.
Hugely anticipated, Robyn's first studio album in eight years sees her break free of the glittery electro-pop image she had created for herself, and whilst Honey is still basically an electronic album, starting with the familiar-sounding Missing U, Robyn sounds more like an artist in control of her destiny and willing to try new things. There are elements of chillout electronica on Baby Forgive Me and Send To Robin Immediately, sensual dancefloor hooks on the title track, and some surprising 90s house beats on Between The Lines. It's sultry, pulsating and intriguing, but most importantly, from start to finish it feels like you're having your hand held while being walked from the dancefloor to Robyn's new live show in a different room. I'm excited to see where she heads next.
3) Frank Turner - Be More Kind
He's never been one to shy away from politics, but Frank Turner's seventh studio album is his most political to date and is a reaction to the polarisation of opinions and the rise of right-wing ideologies in a world of Trump and Brexit. The album starts with the words "don't worry if you don't know what to do", a reminder that none of us have the answers but Turner helps guide us through anyway. On the second track, 1933, a rousing punk stomper, he likens our current situation to the events leading up to World War II, using the refrain "don't go mistaking your house burning down for the dawn". The title track is much softer and is an appeal for us all to turn down the rhetoric and be kind to each other. But he cranks up the tempo again on Make America Great Again, a critique of Donald Trump which doesn't quite make the mark I guess he'd hoped but maybe that's only because the rest of the album is so strong. Musically, Be More Kind relies less on the raw folk-punk of his previous albums as Turner starts to experiment with other sounds too. In his own words, Blackout sounds like the first Frank Turner track that could be played in a club. It may not represent a complete change in direction but Be More Kind does feel like the start of something different.
He's never been one to shy away from politics, but Frank Turner's seventh studio album is his most political to date and is a reaction to the polarisation of opinions and the rise of right-wing ideologies in a world of Trump and Brexit. The album starts with the words "don't worry if you don't know what to do", a reminder that none of us have the answers but Turner helps guide us through anyway. On the second track, 1933, a rousing punk stomper, he likens our current situation to the events leading up to World War II, using the refrain "don't go mistaking your house burning down for the dawn". The title track is much softer and is an appeal for us all to turn down the rhetoric and be kind to each other. But he cranks up the tempo again on Make America Great Again, a critique of Donald Trump which doesn't quite make the mark I guess he'd hoped but maybe that's only because the rest of the album is so strong. Musically, Be More Kind relies less on the raw folk-punk of his previous albums as Turner starts to experiment with other sounds too. In his own words, Blackout sounds like the first Frank Turner track that could be played in a club. It may not represent a complete change in direction but Be More Kind does feel like the start of something different.
2) Teleman - Family of Aliens
Family of Aliens is the third album from indie-electro band Teleman and has the sound of a band really hitting their stride. It's full of introspective, reflective synth-pop as opposed to the more anthemic sounds in their previous albums but it's all the more intriguing for it. The title track eases you in and then the lead single Cactus contains just enough funk to get your shoulder moving. By the third track, Song for a Seagull, you're hooked. It's a soaring lament from someone observing someone else from afar (or maybe watching an actual seagull) featuring thoughtful one-liners like "you can spend a lifetime playing a version of the real girl". Between the Rain bounces along like an ELO hit before the looping piano of Always Dreaming brings you back down. Elsewhere there are Daft Punk-style vocoders, discordant hooks and ethereal bleeps. If you're a fan of Alt-J, Vampire Weekend or Django Django, this one's for you.
1) Christine & The Queens - Chris
To be honest, there wasn't any doubt as to which album I'd have top of my list. Christine & The Queens is the alter ego of French singer-songwriter Héloïse Letissier. On her second album, she's adopted another identity: Chris. Chris is funkier, sexier and catchier than her debut Chaleur Humaine. This isn't accidental. When performing, Letissier is bewitchingly eccentric and Chris is her attempt to hone that performance into a cool, sexy but androgynous pop star. She cut her hair short and adopted an edgier look. At the moment, it's kind of a concept album but I guess if she keeps the Chris moniker, it would represent a career change instead. Every song on the album could conceivably be a hit and, what's more, she's recorded most of them in both English and French. Mostly, the French versions sound more natural. La marcheuse has an authentic fluidity to it compared to the English The walker. The funky hit single Girlfriend, however, works better than the French version entitled Damn, dis-moi. This is partly because even the French version has an English chorus. In reality though, it's worth listening to both sets of tracks. The hooks are memorable enough and the melodies catchy enough to sustain your attention twice, whichever language they're in. It's a magnificent piece of work that really represents an artist in total control, not just of their sound, but their entire concept.
Honourable mention must also go to albums which nearly made my list: The Slow Readers Club - Build A Tower; Deaf Havana - RITUALS; Neneh Cherry - Broken Politics; Justin Timberlake - Man of the Woods; Lykke Li - so sad so sexy; Ezra Furman - Transangelic Exodus; Will Varley - Spirit of Minnie; and Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Sex & Food.
If you don't have time to listen to all of these albums, I made a playlist of the best tracks from 2018 on Spotify. You can have a listen here. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy. Here's to 2019.
Family of Aliens is the third album from indie-electro band Teleman and has the sound of a band really hitting their stride. It's full of introspective, reflective synth-pop as opposed to the more anthemic sounds in their previous albums but it's all the more intriguing for it. The title track eases you in and then the lead single Cactus contains just enough funk to get your shoulder moving. By the third track, Song for a Seagull, you're hooked. It's a soaring lament from someone observing someone else from afar (or maybe watching an actual seagull) featuring thoughtful one-liners like "you can spend a lifetime playing a version of the real girl". Between the Rain bounces along like an ELO hit before the looping piano of Always Dreaming brings you back down. Elsewhere there are Daft Punk-style vocoders, discordant hooks and ethereal bleeps. If you're a fan of Alt-J, Vampire Weekend or Django Django, this one's for you.
1) Christine & The Queens - Chris
To be honest, there wasn't any doubt as to which album I'd have top of my list. Christine & The Queens is the alter ego of French singer-songwriter Héloïse Letissier. On her second album, she's adopted another identity: Chris. Chris is funkier, sexier and catchier than her debut Chaleur Humaine. This isn't accidental. When performing, Letissier is bewitchingly eccentric and Chris is her attempt to hone that performance into a cool, sexy but androgynous pop star. She cut her hair short and adopted an edgier look. At the moment, it's kind of a concept album but I guess if she keeps the Chris moniker, it would represent a career change instead. Every song on the album could conceivably be a hit and, what's more, she's recorded most of them in both English and French. Mostly, the French versions sound more natural. La marcheuse has an authentic fluidity to it compared to the English The walker. The funky hit single Girlfriend, however, works better than the French version entitled Damn, dis-moi. This is partly because even the French version has an English chorus. In reality though, it's worth listening to both sets of tracks. The hooks are memorable enough and the melodies catchy enough to sustain your attention twice, whichever language they're in. It's a magnificent piece of work that really represents an artist in total control, not just of their sound, but their entire concept.
Honourable mention must also go to albums which nearly made my list: The Slow Readers Club - Build A Tower; Deaf Havana - RITUALS; Neneh Cherry - Broken Politics; Justin Timberlake - Man of the Woods; Lykke Li - so sad so sexy; Ezra Furman - Transangelic Exodus; Will Varley - Spirit of Minnie; and Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Sex & Food.
If you don't have time to listen to all of these albums, I made a playlist of the best tracks from 2018 on Spotify. You can have a listen here. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy. Here's to 2019.
