Thursday, March 21, 2019

My Favorite Albums and Singles of 2018

It's been a while since my last post, but I've never stopped following or listening to music. If anything, I probably listen to more new artists than before, who are especially easier to find due to the advances of the 21st century.

So why no posts? The typical answer that any blogger who started last decade will tell you: life.

Life has blessed me in many ways since I last posted, but it has changed in such a way that it's forced me to adapt in a way that I have yet to accomplish.

I don't see myself posting regularly in the future, although the thought is nice. It's too hard to predict when I'll bring an idea to fruition. The good news is that I still have ideas and I hope to share them more often than I have in the past few years.

I still host my radio show, Noteworthy at UIC Radio on Mondays from 6PM-8PM CT, so if you would like a reliable, steady source for what I'm listening to or some of my ideas, that's your best bet. The radio show also has its own Facebook and Twitter.

I never stopped coming up with ideas about music and I still started on year-end lists for 2016 and 2017. I would like to finish them at some point because it's going to bug me until I do, but I can't guarantee anything. I have no idea when the next time I'll pop up on here will be. I'll definitely do my 2019 lists, and if I've learned any lessons, it should be released in a more timely manner.

All I know is that I was frustrated that I hadn't posted a list in two years and it nagged me. I was simply determined to rectify that for 2018.

The actual list itself was done around late December/early January, but I'm just now getting around to posting it. Yes, it's going on April and I'm not going to let that be an excuse.

Perhaps fewer excuses and more ideas would do me some good.

Top 50 Albums of 2018


  1. Saba – Care For Me
  2. Beach House - 7
  3. Noname – Room 25
  4. Tirzah – Devotion
  5. The Beths – Future Me Hates Me
  6. Tune-yards – I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life
  7. Robyn – Honey
  8. Young Fathers – Cocoa Sugar
  9. Courtney Barnett - Tell Me How You Really Feel
  10. Meshell Ndegeocello – Ventriloquism
  11. Reason – There You Have It
  12. Nao - Saturn
  13. Tom Misch - Geography
  14. Mac Miller – Swimming
  15. Kali Uchis – Isolation
  16. Janelle Monae – Dirty Computer
  17. Cornelia Murr - Man On My Mind
  18. Pusha T – Daytona
  19. Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap
  20. DJ Koze – Knock Knock
  21. Royce da 5’9” - The Book of Ryan
  22. Anna Calvi - Hunter
  23. Black Panther: The Album
  24. Arin Ray – Platinum Fire
  25. Snail Mail - Lush
  26. J.I.D. -DiCaprio 2
  27. Mitski – Be The Cowboy
  28. The Internet – Hive Mind
  29. Jon Hopkins - Singularity
  30. Ariana Grande – Sweetener
  31. Lucy Dacus - Historian
  32. Tash Sultana – Flow State
  33. Jean Grae & Quelle Chris – Everything's Fine
  34. J. Cole – KOD
  35. St. Beauty – Running To The Sun
  36. Travis Scott – Astroworld
  37. Jeff Rosenstock - Post-
  38. Kadhja Bonet - Childqueen
  39. Eleanor Friedberger – Rebound
  40. Vince Staples – FM!
  41. Fatima - And Yet It's All Love
  42. NoMBe – They Might’ve Even Loved Me
  43. Tracey Thorn – Record
  44. Hop Along – Bark Your Head Off, Dog
  45. Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs
  46. Soccer Mommy - Clean
  47. Esperanza Spalding – 12 Little Spells
  48. Smerz – Have Fun
  49. Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy
  50. U.S. Girls – In A Poem Unlimited

Top 250 Singles of 2018

  1. Kanye West feat. Kid Cudi, PARTYNEXTDOOR and 070 Shake – Ghost Town
  2. Janelle Monae feat. Grimes – Pynk
  3. Jessie Reyez - Sola
  4. Radiant Children – Go Left
  5. Pusha T - If You Know You Know
  6. Ariana Grande – get well soon
  7. Cassie – Don't Play It Safe
  8. A$AP Rocky feat. Moby – A$AP Forever
  9. Jonny Greenwood – House of Woodcock
  10. J. Cole – ATM
  11. Xander feat. Malik Elijah - askmeificare
  12. Janelle Monae – Make Me Feel
  13. Pusha T – The Story of Adidon
  14. Madison McFerrin - Insane
  15. Kacey Musgraves – High Horse
  16. Drake – Nice For What
  17. Janelle Monae – Django Jane
  18. Jessie Reyez – Apple Juice
  19. Ari Lennox – Whipped Cream
  20. Coco O. Bled For You
  21. Mac Miller – Small Worlds
  22. Anderson .Paak - ‘Til It’s Over
  23. Halsey feat. Big Sean & Stefflon Don – Alone
  24. Low - Disarray
  25. Anderson .Paak - Bubblin’
  26. Hatchie – Sure
  27. D.R.A.M. - Best Hugs
  28. Khalid feat. Swae Lee – The Ways
  29. Cornelia Murr – Man On My Mind
  30. Anderson .Paak feat. Kendrick Lamar – Tints
  31. The 1975 – Sincerity Is Scary
  32. Snail Mail – Heat Wave
  33. Gucci Mane feat. Kodak Black & Bruno Mars – Wake Up In The Sky
  34. Vanessa Zamora – Al Fondo de Mi
  35. Drake – God's Plan
  36. DJ Esco & Future feat. Nas – Walk Thru
  37. Brandi Carlile – The Joke
  38. N*E*R*D feat. Kendrick Lamar – Don't Don't Do It
  39. Doja Cat – Mooo!
  40. Courtney Barnett – City Looks Pretty
  41. Dean – instagram
  42. Jessie Reyez feat. JRM – Imported
  43. Rosehardt & Space People – Electric Slide (In Ya DMs)
  44. Nipsey Hussle feat. YG – Last Time I Checc’d
  45. Hatchie - Sleep
  46. Moonchild - The List
  47. serpentwithfeet – bless ur heart
  48. Hoodboi feat. Tkay Maizda – Glide
  49. Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B – Finesse (Remix)
  50. St. Beauty – Caught
  51. Charlie Puth feat. Boyz II Men – If You Leave Me Now
  52. Sunflower Bean – Twentytwo
  53. The Internet – Roll (Burbank Funk)
  54. Rich The Kid – Plug Walk
  55. Ella Mai – Boo'd Up
  56. Childish Gambino – This Is America
  57. Swizz Beatz feat. Lil Wayne – Pistol On My Side (P.O.M.S.)
  58. Laura Jean – Girls on the TV
  59. Japanese Breakfast – Boyish
  60. Phony Ppl – Way Too Far
  61. The Weeknd feat. Kendrick Lamar – Pray For Me
  62. John Mayer – New Light
  63. Ariana Grande – No Tears Left To Cry
  64. Vic Mensa & Valee – Dim Sum
  65. Years & Years - Sanctify
  66. Kanye West feat. Lil Pump – I Love It
  67. Car Seat Headrest – Beach Life-in-Death
  68. Jean Grae & Quelle Chris – My Contribution To This Scam
  69. audiobooks – Dance Your Life Away
  70. Noname feat. Saba & Smino - Ace
  71. MorMor – Whatever Comes To Mind
  72. Gender Roles – Plastic
  73. Drake – Duppy Freestyle
  74. Radiant Children – Life's A Bitch
  75. Leikeli47 – Roll Call
  76. Westside Gunn feat. Anderson .Paak - Wrestlemania 20
  77. Jay Rock feat. Kendrick Lamar - Win
  78. Riton feat. Kah-Lo & Mr. Eazi – Catching Feelings
  79. Me’shell Ndegeocello – Sometimes It Snows In April
  80. Blocboy JB feat. Drake – Look Alive
  81. Rina Sawayama – Valentine (What's It Gonna Be?)
  82. Channel Tres – Topdown
  83. Mitski – Nobody
  84. Courtney Barnett – Need A Little Time
  85. Valee feat. Pusha T – Miami
  86. Samana – Beneath The Ice
  87. Post Malone feat. Ty Dolla $ign – Psycho
  88. Black Eyed Peas – Street Livin'
  89. D.R.A.M. - WWYD?
  90. Arin Ray – Skeemin'
  91. The Carters – APESHIT
  92. Tracey Thorn - Queen
  93. Hop Along – Prior Things
  94. Leon Bridges – Bad Bad News
  95. Saweetie feat. Kehlani – ICY GRL (Bae Mix)
  96. Jade Bird – Lottery
  97. The Beths - Future Me Hates Me
  98. JGrrey – Don't Fade
  99. Saba – Life
  100. Young Fathers – Border Girl
  101. Jessie Reyez – Body Count
  102. Cam O’bi feat. Smino – Tenderheaded
  103. Lady Gaga – I'll Never Love Again
  104. Sun June – Discotheque
  105. Ashley Monroe – Hands On You
  106. Kadhja Bonet – Delphine
  107. Denzel Curry feat. Twelve’len and Goldlink – Black Balloons
  108. Cardi B feat. 21 Savage – Bartier Cardi
  109. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Hunnybee
  110. Ash – Confessions In The Pool
  111. Tom Misch feat. Loyle Carner – Water Baby
  112. MorMor –Heaven's Only Wishful
  113. 1010 Benja SL – Wind Up Space
  114. Troye Sivan – My My My!
  115. Riton feat. Kah-Lo – Fake ID
  116. Let's Eat Grandma – Hot Pink
  117. Lucy Dacus – Night Shift
  118. Twist - Venus
  119. Wafia – I’m Good
  120. Gender Roles – About Her
  121. Free Nationals feat. Daniel Caesar & Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Beauty & Essex
  122. HONNE feat. Tom Misch – Me & You
  123. Soccer Mommy - Cool
  124. Nicki Minaj – Barbie Dreams
  125. Saba – Busy
  126. Zilo – Keep Up Wimmi
  127. Boosie – Webbie I Remember
  128. Young M.A. - Praktice
  129. Valee feat. Jeremih – Womp Womp
  130. Phoebe Ryan feat. Tove Lo – Heart Attack
  131. SG Lewis feat. AlunaGeorge - Hurting
  132. Cardi B feat. Bad Bunny & J. Balvin – I Like It
  133. Jade Novah – Next To You
  134. Beulahbelle – You Only Live Twice (Living Room Version)
  135. Ebony Bones – No Black In The Union Jack
  136. Gabrielle Aplin – My Mistake
  137. Tomberlin – I'm Not Scared
  138. J. Cole – Album of the Year - Freestyle
  139. PREP feat. DEAN – Cold Fire
  140. 88Rising feat. Blocboy JB – Peach Jam
  141. Confidence Man – Out The Window
  142. The 1975 – TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME
  143. Okay Kaya – IUD
  144. The 1975 – Love It If We Made It
  145. Radiant Children – Tryin'
  146. The Regrettes – Back In Your Head
  147. Richard Reed Parry – Song of Wood
  148. Cardi B – Money
  149. Moaning Lisa – Comfortable
  150. Daphne & Celeste – Alarms
  151. Gorillaz feat. George Benson – Humility
  152. L8LOOMER - < 3
  153. Bas feat. J. Cole – Tribe
  154. H.E.R. - Focus
  155. Janelle Monae – I Like That
  156. CHVRCHES – Never Say Die
  157. Speedy Ortiz – Lean In When I Suffer
  158. Reason – The Soul
  159. Gallant – Gentleman
  160. Eleanor Friedberger – Make Me A Song
  161. Royce da 5’9” feat. Eminem & King Green - Caterpillar
  162. Beach House - Alien
  163. Raveena – Honey
  164. Amber Mark – High On Your Love
  165. Carrie Underwood – Cry Pretty
  166. Kyle Craft – The Rager
  167. H.E.R. feat. Bryson Tiller – Could've Been
  168. Jenny Hval - Spells
  169. Mariah Carey – With You
  170. Simmy - Umahalela
  171. Ebhoni – Opps
  172. Kylie Minogue - Dancing
  173. Kadhja Bonet – Mother Maybe
  174. Joyner Lucas & Chris Brown – Stranger Things
  175. Chance The Rapper – I Might Need Security
  176. Machine Gun Kelly – Rap Devil
  177. Benin City – Double or Nothing
  178. Deerhunter – Death in Midsummer
  179. 6ix9ine feat. Nicki Minaj – FEFE (Remix)
  180. Barrie – Tal Uno
  181. Jean Grae & Quelle Chris – Gold Purple Orange
  182. Tash Sultana – Free Mind
  183. Lil Baby feat. Drake – Yes, Indeed
  184. NAO – Another Lifetime
  185. Bazzi feat. Camilla Cabello – Beautiful
  186. Leon Thomas feat. Buddy – Favorite
  187. Lil Wayne – Dedicate
  188. Mahalia – Surprise Me
  189. Carly Jepsen – Party For One
  190. Lykke Li – Hard Rain
  191. Lizzo – Boys
  192. YG feat. 2 Chainz, Big Sean and Nicki Minaj – Big Bank
  193. Wiley feat. Scratchy and D Double E – Bar
  194. Trouble & Mike WiLL Made-It feat. Drake – Bring It Back
  195. Charly Bliss – Heaven
  196. Leon Bridges – Beyond
  197. Kendrick Lamar feat. SZA – All The Stars
  198. Rhye – Count To Five
  199. Sylvan Esso – There Are Many Ways To Say I Love You
  200. Jay Rock feat. Kendrick Lamar, Future, and James Blake – King’s Dead
  201. Azealia Banks – Movin' On Up (Coco’s Song, Love Beats Rhymes)
  202. Nilufer Yanya – Baby Luv
  203. Travis Scott feat. Drake – Sicko Mode
  204. Your Smith – The Spot
  205. Tyler the Creator feat. A$AP Rocky – Potato Salad
  206. Chloe x Halle feat. Joey Bada$$ - Happy Without Me
  207. Shawn Mendes feat. Zedd – Lost In Japan (Remix)
  208. Ilham feat. Arin Ray - Cycle of Games
  209. Mothers – Pink and Blue
  210. Julia Holter – I Shall Love 2
  211. Eminem feat. Joyner Lucas – Lucky You
  212. Kandace Springs – 6 8
  213. Brian Fallon – If Your Prayers Don’t Get To Heaven
  214. Janet Jackson feat. Daddy Yankee – Made For Now
  215. Jay Som –Pirouette
  216. Dilly Dally - Doom
  217. CASISDEAD – Pat Earrings
  218. Gavin Turek – WHITNEY
  219. Dilly Dally - Marijuana
  220. Sheck Wes – Mo Bamba
  221. Lou Phelps feat. Jazz Cartier – Come Inside (Kaytranada Edit)
  222. Joseph Chilliams feat. Saba – Unfriendly Black Hotties
  223. Trippie Redd feat. Travis Scott – Dark Knight Dummo
  224. Riton feat. Kah-Lo – Ginger
  225. Cazzu - Chapiadora
  226. Royce da 5’9” feat. J. Cole – Boblo Boat
  227. DJ Koze – Pick Up
  228. Aloe Blacc – Brooklyn In The Summer
  229. Tres Oui - Séance
  230. Cardi B – Be Careful
  231. SOB X RBE – Anti Social
  232. Robyn – Honey
  233. Chloe x Halle – Grown
  234. JID feat. BJ The Chicago Kid - Skrawberries
  235. Tangents – Swells Under Tito
  236. Diana Gordon – Wolverine
  237. Hatchie – Bad Guy
  238. Miya Folick – Stock Image
  239. Kimbra – Version Of Me
  240. Natalie Prass – Short Court Style
  241. Towkio feat. Teddy Jackson – Symphony
  242. NEIKED feat. Miriam Bryant – How Did I Find You
  243. The Go! Team – The Only Thing New Is U Finding Out About It
  244. Craig David feat. Goldlink – Live In The Moment
  245. JD. Reid feat. Katy B – Call Your Bluff
  246. Buddy – Trouble On Central
  247. T.I. feat. Meek Mill – Jefe
  248. Victoria Monet – The Glow
  249. Field Music – Time In Joy
  250. Soleima – Low Life