With 2019 now here, and me wanting to bring some life to this blog again, before I start looking to the present with releases from the new year that catch my attention I wanted to look back at my favorite releases of 2018. There's not much point to putting a ton of time and effort into profiles and reviews of close to forty albums since we're already a couple weeks into 2019, but before I start a new chapter and try to get things running again, I'd like to close the book on some very deserving releases from 2018. To keep things simple, I've divided this into two posts. One will be my ten favorite albums of 2018, after a lot of listening I feel confident about these being the ten I liked the most this past year. And then there is this post which covers "the rest", all albums I loved, they just didn't crack the Top Ten. I don't see a need to rank these, they're getting equal love from me, so instead I'll list them in the order they were released.
Above & Beyond - Common Ground (Released 1/26/18)
The progressive trance masters returned with their fourth full length in 2018, again utilizing long time collaborators like the incomparable Zoe Johnston, Justine Suissa and Richard Bedford on vocals. Yes there are the dance floor burners you expect like "Cold Feet" and "Northern Soul", but there is also beautiful balladry in "Bittersweet & Blue" and the stunning piano based "Always" featuring Johnston.
Jesse Marchant - Illusion Of Love (Released 1/26/18)
After two albums recorded under the moniker JBM, Jesse Marchant has released two using his name and his latest was this beauty released early in the year. You can always count on the Montreal born singer-songwriter for gorgeous ballads like this album's "Sister, I" and "In This Short Time" but Marchant also draws on Americana, rock and folk sounds on album highlights "Frame For One" and "Heart Of Mine". Jesse Marchant continues to be criminally overlooked while producing nothing but great albums.
Niklas Paschburg - Oceanic (Released 2/9/18)
Hamburg born Niklas Paschburg's debut album is a gorgeous collection of piano based music with electronic flourishes. After a brief intro, it starts with the stunning "Spark" and envelopes you in its beauty for the rest of the journey. Classical and ambient influences are in here too but Paschburg fills each song with melody to keep the listener enthralled. Tracks like "Journey Among Worlds" and "Sand Whirling" made this one of my go-to albums when I needed to escape the world and just relax for an hour or so in 2018.
The Boxer Rebellion - Ghost Alive (Released 3/23/18)
Ghost Alive was quite a departure from The Boxer Rebellion's last album, 2016's Ocean By Ocean. Some of the punchier pop/rock of that album has been put away for an introspective eleven song collection of ballads in the wake of the passing of singer-songwriter Nathan Nicholson's father. It's a stripped down affair as Nicholson explores his loss on tracks like "Here I Am" and "Fear". "Love Yourself" continues the ban's commitment to promoting mental health issues and well-being. Ghost Alive deals with heavy topics in ways anyone who has suffered loss can relate, it's an essential listen from a band who never disappoints.
Aisha Badru - Pendulum (Released 4/27/18)
The debut album from New York's Aisha Badru is a mix of folk, rock, pop and soul, all carried by her unique vocals and lyrical explorations of hardship and pain. Badru makes no secret of the album's personal material, yet something that on the surface sounds as incredibly sad as "Bridges" does actually carries an empowering, uplifting message. Many of the songs are awash with electronic touches and soundscapes swirling around Badru's acoustic guitar work with "Splintered" a highlight. One of many fantastic debut albums in 2018.
Cary Brothers - Bruises (Released 4/27/18)
Cary Brothers has been at this for awhile. The inclusion of "Blue Eyes" on the 2004 Grammy winning soundtrack to the film Garden State was just one of the countless songs Brothers has had placed in a film or a TV show. If you don't know who Cary Brothers is, there is a good chance you've heard his music if you consume entertainment. His latest full length Bruises just adds to his catalog of first rate melodic pop-rock. It wouldn't be a Cary Brothers album without at least a couple killer ballads and that is covered here by "Nothing In The World/The Path" and ""Everything I Say". There is also a serious 80's synth-pop vibe on the wonderful "Can't Read Your Mind" and "Crush" and do not miss the soaring chorus on "Til The Stars". Also, dammit if that isn't one of my favorite album covers of the year.
The Summer Kills - Last Night We Became Swans (Released 4/27/18)
This collaboration between Matthew Ryan and the duo Hammock first took shape back in 2011 with the release of the song "Like New Year's Day". Little did I know it would be seven years before a full album arrived but as they say, all good things come to those who wait. The combination of Ryan's gravelly voice with the electronic/post-rock soundscapes of Hammock is a match made in heaven on an album that fluctuates between gorgeous pieces like the piano based opener "Are You Awake?" and more rock based tracks like "Stop" and "There Is No Tomorrow". "Collide" even flirts into dance territory. The wait was worth it gentlemen.
Aquilo - ii (Released 5/4/18)
The English duo of Tom Higham and Ben Fletcher, better known as Aquilo, have been on my radar since they fist started posting songs on Bandcamp back in 2014. After a few EP's and their debut full length in 2017, they wasted no time releasing their second album in 2018. You expect shimmering ballads like "Who Are You" and "I Could Fight On A Wall" from Aquilo, their catalog overflows with one gorgeous gem after another, but they branch out more into acoustic based pop/rock on ii with tracks like "Ghost" and "Thin", all of course dripping with their irresistible harmonies.
Reuben And The Dark - Arms Of A Dream (Released 5/4/18)
Hailing from Calgary, Alberta and led by singer-songwriter Reuben Bullock, Reuben And The Dark deliver a dark, cinematic folk rock sound on their sophomore full length. Highlights include the anthemic "Heart In Two", the stomping "Hallelujah" and album opener "Wildlife". Reuben And The Dark are one of those bands I saw as an opening act and came away more impressed with them than the headliner. Arms Of A Dream was an essential 2018 release.
Postdata - Let's Be Wilderness (Released 5/18/18)
Another Canadian act, this one from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Postdata is the side project of Paul Murphy of the band Wintersleep. After the last Wintersleep album in 2016, Murphy moved on to record his second album as Postdata, the first coming back in 2010. The debut was a much more sparse, acoustic affair while Let's Be Wilderness is made up of fully fleshed out melodic pop/rock tracks and it's fantastic. "Gravity", "Pasture" and "Ithaca" are all lovely ballads while "Erase Your Heart" and "Black Cloud" are highlights of the more rock based material. Murphy remains busy as 2019 brings the next Wintersleep album, one I'll surely cover here as well.
Covenhoven - A Kind Of Revelation (Released 6/1/18)
Covenhoven is the project of Denver musician Joel Van Horne. His third album is a continuation of the orchestral folk/rock displayed on its two predecessors. Influenced after visiting the West Coast, A Kind Of Revelation is enveloped in warm strings, harmonies and melodies with highlights including "Sirens Of The Sea", "Where To Begin" and the album closing title track. Another artist I'm happy to cover here on Now It's On, Covenhoven's music deserves a much wider audience.
Richard Edwards - Verdugo (Released 6/1/18)
The man behind Margot & The Nuclear So And So's had a busy 2018. He re-released my favorite album of 2008, Margot's Animal, on vinyl along with Not Animal, the "Sony approved" version of the far superior Animal as well as an album of demo recordings from that period called Vulgar In The Chapel. Then after releasing his first solo album in 2017, Edwards returned with his sophomore solo release Verdugo in June. Anyone who has followed Edwards' career knows what a great songwriter he is, further evidence provided throughout here. Check that chorus on "Minefield" and dare it not to get stuck in your head. "Strange" is another top notch ballad in the Edwards songbook, there's even an updated, psychedelic version of "Pornographic Teens" which first appeared on the debut solo album.
Ben Howard - Noonday Dream (Released 6/1/18)
Ben Howard's third album continues the experimentation found on I Forget Where We Were, one of my favorite albums from that year as well. Although I enjoyed his debut, these last two albums have seen Howard take his folk and rock leanings into much more atmospheric and bolder places and Noonday Dream is overflowing with stunners like opening track "Nica Libres At Dusk", the dark, throbbing "The Defeat", the acoustic based "What The Moon Does" and personal favorite "Someone In The Doorway".
Hilary Woods - Colt (Released 6/8/18)
One listen to Colt, the debut album by Hilary Woods makes it easy to understand why her past work has included composing for films. The Dublin, Ireland based musician's craft is on full display here, an album of dreamy, ethereal music to get lost in. Piano, synths, strings, sparse beats all combine in the creation of these tracks, all beautiful and culminating in an album I highly recommend you listen to from start to finish. Entrancing music. Opening tracks "Inhaler" and "Prodigal Dog" should hook you in, then just lay back and enjoy the rest of the journey.
Chicane - The Place You Can't Remember, The Place You Can't Forget (Released 6/15/18)
A legend in chillout electronic and progressive trance, Chicane returned in 2018 with my favorite album of his since 2000's Behind The Sun. Tracks like "Gorecki" and "Ten Deep" are new Chicane classics, there is plenty to dance to here as always but the highlight comes in the form of "Serendipity", a stunningly gorgeous ambient ballad featuring vocals by Tracy Ackerman.
Israel Nash - Lifted (Released 7/27/18)
Israel Nash's fifth album mixes rock and folk with a Southern influence. Album highlights include "Sweet Springs", "Rolling On", "Strong Was The Night" and "SpiritFalls", all boasting sweet harmonies and melodies. This album easily could have been released in the 70's with it's warm retro sound.
Foxing - Nearer My God (Released 8/10/18)
Foxing swung for the fences on this one. Co-produced by Chris Walla, formerly of Death Cab For Cutie, Nearer My God is a bold alternative rock opus that sheds the "emo" tag they've had hung on them. This is one of those headphone albums, you simply need a good headphone listen to pick up all the production touches on this one. It may take a few listens to fully digest everything going on here but trust me, the payoff is worth it. From the soaring chorus on the title track to the melancholy rock of "Bastardizer" to the bombast of opening track "Grand Paradise", Nearer My God is not to be missed.
Death Cab For Cutie - Thank You For Today (Released 8/17/18)
There has yet to be a bad Death Cab album, even though the last couple have been a little inconsistent I still like everything this band puts out. But Thank You For Today is my favorite thing they've put out since Plans. Yes this is their first post-Chris Walla studio album but Ben Gibbard and company shine throughout. "Northern Lights", "Autumn Love", "Near/Far", it is just track after track of punch, melody driven pop/rock. It doesn't get much better though than when Gibbard delves into moodier sounds. "You Moved Away" is an atmospheric ballad and "Summer Years" may just be my favorite Death Cab song in the last 15 years. Perfection.
Olafur Arnalds - re:member (Released 8/24/18)
Icelandic composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Olafur Arnalds released his grand experiment re:member in August. The album features his new Stratus system. In a nutshell, the two Stratus Pianos are self-playing, semi-generative pianos triggered by a central piano played by Arnalds. Ever the innovator and experimenter, this takes Arnalds' music into directions and melodies he may not have been anticipating and the result is a breathtakingly gorgeous piece of work mixing solo piano, classical and electronic influences. The title track is up there with the most beautiful songs I heard in 2018 and one of my favorite artist/producers working today SOHN adds his angelic vocals to "unfold".
Troye Sivan - Bloom (Released 8/31/18)
All it took was seeing Troye Sivan perform "The Good Side" on Saturday Night Live and I knew I had to check out this album. It's a heartbreaking ballad and oh so damn lovely. As someone who grew up on 80's pop music, the rest of Bloom easily resonated with me. The synth-pop of tracks like "Seventeen", "My My My!" and "Lucky Strike" wear 80's influences on their sleeves.
Orbital - Monsters Exist (Released 9/14/18)
Oh, how wonderful to have the Hartnoll brothers back again. After breaking up in 2004, the two reunited again in 2008, only to yet again call it quits in 2014. Thankfully these two electronic music legends reformed again in 2017 and released their ninth album in 2018. They did not disappoint with Monsters Exist either, an at times dark and foreboding journey through some of our current political and societal ills, see the title track and "There Will Come A Time", mixed with classic uplifting Orbital dance tracks like "Hoo Hoo Ha Ha" and "P.H.U.K.". As if having them back wasn't great enough, they'll be one of the headliners at the 2019 Movement electronic music festival in Detroit.
Villagers - The Art Of Pretending To Swim (Released 9/21/18)
Led by Conor O'Brien, Dublin, Ireland's Villagers fourth album joins the ranks of my "headphone albums" for 2018. Another one of those albums so expertly produced, you really need a good, intimate listen to experience everything as it was intended. The band's orchestral folk/rock incorporates electronics and vocal samples on standouts such as "Again" and the masterpiece "Love Came With All That It Brings", a head dizzying listen from start to finish.
HAERTS - New Compassion (Released 10/5/18)
German duo HAERTS returned in 2018 with their sophomore album, their first since splitting from major label Columbia. Their synth-pop sound is still prevalent on tracks like the opening ballad "No Love For The Wild" and my favorite track here, the powerhouse "Fighter", but New Compassion also showcases a more acoustic based, 70's influenced pop/rock sound that is just as welcoming.
Gregory Alan Isakov - Evening Machines (Released 10/5/18)
Another of my favorite modern folk/rock artists, Gregory Alan Isakov released his sixth studio album in 2018. Evening Machines is pretty evenly split between dreamy ballads like "Berth", "San Luis" and the devastating "Was I Just Another One" and acoustic driven tracks that pull from country, Americana, folk and rock influences like "Caves" and "Dark, Dark, Dark".
Tunde Olaniran - Stranger (Released 10/5/18)
Flint, Michigan's own Tunde Olaniran has become a mainstay in the Detroit music scene as well. All it really takes is seeing, and hearing, Tunde perform once to become a fan and I've been fortunate to see him perform plenty for the past few years, most recently at 2018's DIY Street Fair. That performance mixed some of his best known older material with a number of tracks off Stranger, his second full length. As much as I enjoyed his 2015 debut Transgressor, this one is next level. The production is insane, his lyrics on point and this man can sing. Just put "Miracle" on as a starting point and thank me afterwards. Then give the whole thing a listen. If "I'm Here", "Mountain" and "I'm Here" don't get you moving, I can't help you.
Eliza Shaddad - Future (Released 10/26/18)
One of my favorite debut albums of 2018 came later in the year from London-based Eliza Shaddad. There is a moody alternative rock feel to most of Future with highlights including "White Lines", "This Is My Cue" and the ballad "The Conclusion". Shaddad cements herself as a talent to watch going forward.
Marley Carroll - Flight Patterns (Released 11/16/18)
Emancipator's Loci Records label continues to unleash one impressive release after another.The standout for me in 2018 was Asheville, North Carolina native Marley Carroll's Loci debut Flight Patterns. This label always can be counted on for great downbeat and chilled out electronic releases but Carroll's release may be the most danceable Loci album so far. Don't get me wrong, it fits the label's catalog perfectly, there are just a lot more grooves and beats here. "Migration", "Starlings" and "Shiver" are among the highlights of this expertly crafted release.
Hidden Land - Perspectives (Released 11/16/18)
This is one I owe to the great site Noisetrade who featured this duo around the time of their album release. Hidden Land is Myles O'Mainnian from California and Johan Lager from Sweden. Together they create astoundingly beautiful music built around strings, piano, guitars, wordless vocal harmonies and there are even a few songs that feature full vocals. Far from ambient, their music has warm, stirring melodies, truly a treasure to come across in the dead of winter.
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