Billboard’s 50 Best Albums of 2018: Critics’ Picks

50 Best Albums of 2018: Critics’ Picks

The album's not dead — it's just evolving. As much as 2018 confirmed us to be living in a streaming-dominated, sales-declining universe, the event album still reigned as paramount: Whether it was the G.O.O.D Music family's streamlined seven-track exercises or the Young Money crew's bloated 20-something-song behemoths, Cardi B's career-solidifying debut or Robyn's breathlessly awaited comeback, Astroworld or Whack World, K.O.D. or K.T.S.E., the album found ways to surprise, to delight, to confound and to enthrall in 2018. Call a time of death on the LP format if you want to, but then don't also call us to complain about all the big-ticket 2018 releases you still have to catch up on before the year's end — some of which might even be yet to drop.

Here are the Billboard's staff 50 favorite albums of 2018. 

50. Rae Sremmurd, ‘SR3MM’

That 3 in the middle of the title of Rae Sremmurd's latest doesn't just mark the third album in the duo's catalog — it's also the number of discs in their 27-track opus, making even their Atlanta hip-hop brethren in Migos seem discerning by comparison. But for its 101-minute runtime, SR3MM feels more streamlined and less sprawling than most mainstream rap records half its size — even with the collection split into nine-track sets for the duo together, then solo sets for each, the album winds gently from hazy trap bangers ("Close") to nocturnal synth-rock drifters ("Touchscreen Navigation") and cool-kid verbal throwdowns (the Zoe Kravitz-featuring (!!) "Anti-Social Smokers Club") without ever turning at a sharp enough angle to disrupt your chilling in the back seat. In lesser hands the album could feel claustrophobic, but nobody knows how to let the top down for some ventilation like Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi. — ANDREW UNTERBERGER

49. Dierks Bentley, ‘The Mountain’

Whether it's delving into bluegrass, as he did on 2010’s Up the Ridge, or contemplating the complexities of life with 2018's The Mountain, Bentley is stealthily one of country music’s most adventurous artists. Though his ninth studio album, which is also his fourth consecutive No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, isn’t technically a concept set, Bentley’s questioning of his relationship to the world and his place in it serves as a through-line on such songs as the wistful “Burning Man,” where he’s balancing his fading youth with growing responsibilities, and “How I’m Going Out,” on which he ponders how he'll walk away from music when the time comes. Maybe the high altitude lead to such lofty thoughts, as Bentley and a core of frequent collaborators retreated to Telluride to write much of the album, then returned to the Colorado town to record the set. Getting out of Nashville proved inspirational in terms of new playmates: drummer Matt Chamberlain, best known for his work with Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, provided the propoulsive groove of first single "Woman, Amen," while Brandi Carlile lifts the bluegrass track “Travelin’ Light” to the level of a Johnny and June duet. — MELINDA NEWMAN

48. Let’s Eat Grandma, ‘I’m All Ears’

After introducing themselves as wide-eyed teenagers on 2016’s I, Gemini, Let’s Eat Grandma scaled their spirit of whimsy and experimentation to blown-out proportions of hybridized spectacle on this year’s I’m All Ears. From the proggy electro-pop of “Falling into Me” to SOPHIE’s unmistakable shapeshifting touch on the warped callout “Hot Pink,” the British duo deliver sparkling hooks but continue to play freely with structure, culminating in the entrancing 11-minute closer “Donnie Darko.” Let’s Eat Grandma use the element of surprise from top to bottom, pushing their singular vision of the future of pop to create one of the year’s most intricate albums, demanding us to listen up with the attention its title suggests. — ERIC FRANKENBERG

Ozuna, ‘Aura’

Ozuna’s sophomore album is bold from the get-go, leading not with reggaetón but with guitar and piano chords (courtesy of pianist Arthur Hanlon) and words of personal introspection. The danceable reggaetón jams, the pretty love songs set to a dembow beat, the fusion with bachata (on the Romeo Santos-featuring "El Farsante"), the collabs with American stars Akon and Cardi B are all to come — and all are hits, of course, the trademark for this 26-year-old with a syrupy voice and a golden pen. No wonder this follow-up to to Odisea, the best selling Latin album of 2017, matched its predecessor as the best-selling Latin release of 2018. — LEILA COBO

46. Paul McCartney, ‘Egypt Station’

Harkening back to the ramshackle, anything-goes charm of his '70s output, Paul McCartney's Egypt Station has the stylistic breadth of a genre-ADD Wings album but the careful studio craftsmanship of 21st century Paul. Whether reminding us he's still randy at 76 with "Come On to Me" or painting a timely portrait of a loud-mouthed, myopic leader on the seven-minute omnibus "Despite Repeated Warnings," Sir Paul is as affable, effortlessly melodic and rewarding as ever. — JOE LYNCH

45. RÜFÜS DU SOL, ‘Solace’

All eyes were on this Australian trio following the international success of 2016 single “Innerbloom,” and RÜFÜS chanelled all that hype into a compelling, almost spiritual collection of grooves. The band made a new home in California and was greatly inspired by the desert scene — leading to 42 minutes of sweeping, psychedelic grooves, from opener “Treat You Better” to closer “Another Life,” all set to singer Tyrone Lindqvist’s signature rasp. The record's lyrical messages are specific: "Underwater" captures the band's struggle to resist the flashy Los Angeles lifestyle, while "New Sky" captures the energy of a profound desire for change. But RÜFÜS translates these emotions into relatable moments that every music fan can enjoy. — KAT BEIN

44. Hayley Kiyoko, ‘Expectations’

Hayley Kiyoko’s major-label debut was a driving force in the year of #20GAYTEEN, which also saw the pop singer-songwriter touring arenas with Panic! at the Disco, making her live TV debut and receiving the push artist of the year award at the MTV VMAs. Expectations gave us “Curious,” a furiously catchy lead single with a rapid-fire chorus; "What I Need," a bold duet with Kehlani; and a handful of cinematic videos that, like the songs they accompanied, explored LGBT identity with refreshing candor. As Kiyoko gets ready to kick off her second headlining European tour in 2019, it’s clear that she's just getting started, and her voice couldn’t be more welcome right now. — GAB GINSBERG

43. J. Cole, ‘K.O.D.’

On what's undoubtedly his most ambitious project to date, J. Cole's fifth studio album, K.O.D., finds the rapper test-driving different flows created by SoundCloud all-stars like XXXTentacion and Lil Pump while also cautioning the new generation against their affinity for instant gratification. On K.O.D. — which carries three different subtitles (Kidz On Drugz, King Overdose, Kill Our Demonz) — Cole wrestles with temptation ("Kevin's Heart"), money woes ("Brackets") and relationships in the era of social media ("Photograph"). But the Dreamville mastermind is at his best on the visceral closer "1985," which scolds today's trendiest rappers about their lack of music-biz knowledge. "Just remember what I told you when your shit flop/ In five years you gon' be on Love & Hip-Hop, n—a." — CARL LAMARRE

42. Teyana Taylor, ‘K.T.S.E.’

When Teyana Taylor’s sophomore album, K.T.S.E., was announced as the closer of the five-album G.O.O.D. Music series, it seemed destined to get buried under the prior month-plus of new Kanye West-produced mini-LPs. Instead, Taylor gave the team a decisive finale with a focused set that should have the longest-lasting impact of any project in the series. Taylor commands the LP's disparate vibes with a confident sincerity: Whether it’s the retro-pop ode to motherhood “Never Would’ve Made It,” the languid, fluid funk of “Hurry” or the pulse-pounding bounce of “WTP,” K.T.S.E. proves this “Rose in Harlem” has reached full bloom. — BRYAN KRESS

41. MNEK, ‘Language’

“Everybody’s asking why they haven’t heard my album yet,” 24-year-old MNEK sings just a few minutes into his debut full-length, Language, before dropping the answer: “I had to come correct.” Since he was a teenager, the British songwriter-producer has been churning out sparkling electro-pop jams for the likes of Little Mix and Zara Larsson while racking up writing credits for icons like Madonna and Beyoncé. But he waited to drop his own LP until he knew he could deliver the goods — in this case, a meticulously crafted collection of cutting-edge dance beats and Y2K-era R&B melodies that also puts the experiences of black gay men at the forefront. MNEK’s hitmaking mastery is on display in every track, from the bottomless supply of hooks to the clever interludes and transitions that weave them together (“Background” concludes with a legitimately funny skit about how to pronounce his name — that’s em-en-ee-kay, like his real name, Uzoechi Emenike). It all makes for one of the rare pop albums that, in the age of cherry-picked playlists, demands a true start-to-finish listen. — NOLAN FEENEY

40. Soccer Mommy, ‘Clean’

Soccer Mommy’s world is one of cool girls and dumb dudes, sometimes painful vulnerability and other times a fuck-all attitude. Sophie Allison, the Nashville-raised singer-songwriter behind the outfit, is only in her early 20s, meaning she wasn’t even alive when Liz Phair dropped Exile in Guyville, but much like that album, Clean’s uncomplicated, guitar-centric, melodic rock songs house precise thoughts on envy (“I wanna be that cool”), rejection (“Wasting all my time wondering if you really loved me”) and insecurity (“Why would you still want to be with me?/She’s got everything you’ll ever need”). The music might sound like disaffected 1990s slouch rock, but Allison trades the distancing cynicism typically associated with that style for words that reveal straightforward feeling, both tender and ferocious. “I don't wanna be your fucking dog/That you drag around,” she insists on “Your Dog,” flipping the script on The Stooges and replacing submission with empowerment. — CHRISTINE WERTHMAN

39. Mariah Carey, ‘Caution’

If you needed yet another reminder as to why she remains the Supreme Diva, Mariah Carey's 15th album, Caution, continues to demonstrate her dominance as a chart fixture (it debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200) as well as a crafty songwriter and inimitable singer. Across just ten songs, the R&B luminary warns listeners to tread lightly when it comes to questioning her prowess — whether she's dishing out the "I don't know her" dismissals of “GTFO” and “A No No” or proving that her hip-hop roots still run deep with the Gunna-assisted “Stay Long Love You.” After decades of making pop history, it still comes easy for Carey to wave off contenders to her throne with a simple flick of her diamond butterfly-embellished fingers. — BIANCA GRACIE

38. Post Malone, ‘Beerbongs and Bentleys’

Every song from Post Malone's sophomore LP, beerbongs & bentleys, hit the Hot 100 in the album's debut week. That's 18 tracks, by the way — nine of which entered the top 20. Malone's album also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and notched the biggest streaming week ever (that is, until Drake crawled in with Scorpion) thanks to the presence of sure-fire smashes like "Better Now" and "rockstar," along with rawer, deep cuts like like "Over Now" and "Sugar Wraith." Whether you want to sway to some warm, melodic mid-tempos or turn up to grungy basement anthems, it's all there in the hybrid star's personal stash. He's not hip-hop, he's not R&B, he's Post Malone. — DAVID RISHTY

37. Pistol Annies, “Interstate Gospel’

Since 2013’s Annie Up, Pistol Annies’ Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe had kids, while Miranda Lambert went through a divorce. No lullabies to be had here, though; it’s the latter whose story might most closely match the narratives of Interstate Gospel, the country trio’s third album. The record features an ode to winning a divorce (“Got My Name Changed Back”), poignant tales of failing relationships (“Best Years of My Life,” “Masterpiece”) and wistful remembrances of an ex who’s making the same promises to a new piece (“When I Was His Wife”). Lambert, Monroe and Presley have, in a two-year span, each released damn good albums on their own, but the camaraderie on their third full-length together makes a strong case for keeping the band together, till death do them part. — KEVIN RUTHERFORD

36. Jon Hopkins, ‘Singularity’

A burst of popularity and a hectic tour schedule led Jon Hopkins to create one of the most eloquent LPs of 2018. The British producer's 2013 album, Immunity, earned him the U.K.'s coveted annual Mercury Prize, which brought him and his ambient musical stylings under a rare spotlight — yet the attention and trials of life on the road had him seeking balance. Hopkins credits regular Transcendental Meditation as the force that unlocked his greatest creative potential, allowing him to complete an idea he’d toyed with for years: Singularity begins with a single note and works its way through beautifully layered soundscapes, morphing from the opening track's spacey pulses to the pounding progressive vibes of "Everything Connected" and the choral voices of "Feel First Life" before returning back to that humble place with the calming notes of "Recovery." It’s an astounding and expertly executed experiment in sound and mood, with many layers to explore. — K.B.

35. Brockhampton, ‘Iridescence’

After breaking through with the Very Online skate park cognoscenti via three full-length projects in 2017, Brockhampton released just one LP this year. Still, Iridescence never felt like a break in their momentum. Following the dismissal of founding member Ameer Vann, vocalists Kevin Abstract, Matt Champion, Merlyn Wood, Dom McLennon, Joba, and Bearface (alongside a host of behind-the-scenes members) hit London’s Abbey Road studio and returned with this yearning, grimy, cathartic body of songs that reminds us what’s possible when best friends and family get together and create. The Texas rap collective's major label debut stands as the blockbuster opening chapter in a new franchise, the first day of school on a perilous, but exhilarating journey towards stardom. — CHRIS PAYNE

Twenty One Pilots, ‘Trench’ (Oct. 5)

It’s weird when the world discovers “your” band, but that’s what happened with Twenty One Pilots' Blurryface, a 2015 concept album that elebated the Columbus alternative duo to arenas. Instead of smoothing out that set's genre-hopping sound, singer Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun triple down on its follow-up, Trench. The storytelling is knottier — something about a rebel group called the Banditos — and once again the kitchen sink is filled with every sound they could grab, touching on pop, reggae, hip-hop, punk and EDM. Somehow, it makes perfect sense: From the throbbing bass, dub splashes and primal screams of “Jumpsuit” to the claustrophobic rapping on “Levitate” and the widescreen alt-pop snap of “My Blood,” TOP don’t abide any genre barriers, sometimes cramming an album’s worth of experimentation into a single track. The anxiety and insecurities that pulsed through previous albums are still there on songs like the electro-rock anthem “The Hype,” but their maturity and clear-eyed knack for melody can be summed up via Joseph’s falsetto chorus on the burbling “Cut My Lip”: “I don’t mind at all/ Lean on my pride/ I’m a lion.” — GIL KAUFMAN

33. Prince, ‘Piano and a Microphone 1983’

Well before his sudden death in 2016, Prince’s vault had achieved mythical status — and now that it’s finally being pried open, fans are, at long last, getting to hear what gems may lie within. If this recording is any indication, the famously-reclusive icon will only be bolstering his already-formidable reputation, particularly as an unparalleled instrumentalist. The title removes any surprises as to what you’re going to get, but that hardly matters; the stripped-down intimacy is what shines through, making it feel like you’re sitting at the feet of the master at work. The fact that the entirety of side one is a continuous medley — with the immortal “Purple Rain” presented as a mere interlude, dropped nearly as soon as it is suggested — is enough to make it a worthwhile listen. The punchy blues of “Mary Don’t You Weep,” the intricate ivory work and raspy growl of “Cold Coffee & Cocaine” and the plaintive “Why The Butterflies,” with its imperfect-yet-heartfelt vocal pleas, come as icing on the cake. — DAN RYS

32. Saba, ‘Care For Me’

Once death gets into your life, it doesn’t leave. Saba lost his cousin last year, when he was stabbed to death in the street, and it’s clear that the 24-year-old Chicago MC’s life hasn’t been the same since. Being an athletic, technically gifted rapper can be a gift and curse; if you don’t have a topic to ground your abilities, you run the risk of spinning syllables into nowhere. Unfortunately, Saba’s been served a horrible subject, the result being CARE FOR ME, an album haunted by loss and depression, even when it tries to strike out into different territory, like the relationship song “BROKEN GIRLS.” He finally stares the tragedy down on seven-minute narrative “PROM / KING,” a detailed account of his and Walter’s relationship that’s too potent to listen to more than a handful of times a year. It’s a tremendous artistic achievement that he would surely erase in a moment if it would bring his cousin back. That he follows this song with “HEAVEN ALL AROUND ME,” a gentle description of death, rather than something full of anger and bitterness, is a kind of gift to the listener, and to himself. — ROSS SCARANO

31. Florence + The Machine, ‘High as Hope’

Florence + The Machine’s stunning 2015 effort How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful will be remembered as the record where Florence Welch expelled her personal demos through foot-stomping bangers about getting drunk and wrecking ships. But the sweetly scaled-back follow-up, High as Hope, is a balm on those earlier wounds. Now 32, Welch is taking a more reflective approach to exploring pain and loneliness ("Hurts in ways I can't describe/ My heart bends and breaks so many, many times," she sings on “100 Years”) as well as the very modern hurt that comes with not being texted back (“Told me that he loved me, yeah/And then ghosted me again” on “The End of Love”). And of course, Flo is still willing to show off those incomparable vocals, as even a cursory listen of "Big God" or “Sky Full Of Song” will prove. Turns out, even the most shattered souls among us can still swim to shore. — GAB GINSBERG

30. Kids See Ghosts, ‘Kids See Ghosts’

Kanye West and Kid Cudi laid old demons to rest this summer and revived their long-running, sometimes contentious collaborative relationship for the duo’s self-titled superduo debut, Kids See Ghosts. The two godfathers of modern, introspective rap never shirk the weight of the reunion as they grapple with mental health struggles and public alienation while leaning into their complementary strengths: West’s crate-digging broadens to retrofit a Louis Prima Christmas number and a stray Kurt Cobain demo while the Cleveland crooner's moody meditations cast both artists in a redemptive light — a reassuring return for Cudi and a rare but welcome look for Kanye in 2018. — B.K.

Boygenius, ‘Boygenius’ (Nov. 9)

When Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus planned to tour together for the fall of 2018, they seized the opportunity to create something special for the occasion. Their self-titled EP as boygenius is is the miraculous result of this spur-of-the-moment supergroup, a six-song showpiece for the the soul-searching (and soul-searing) writing, captivating voices and harmonious chemistry of the trio of indie marvels. One listen through the echoing shreds of “Salt in the Wound” or the tongue-in-cheek manifesto of “Bite the Hand” and you’ll hope this is more than just a one-off effort. — HILARY HUGHES

28. Troye Sivan, ‘Bloom’

Troye Sivan’s sophomore LP arrived fully formed, complete with ballads (“Postcard”), smooth mid-tempo jams (“Lucky Strike”) and dance floor-conquering bangers (“My My My!”). But what shines through the album’s ten tracks is the 23-year-old’s calm wisdom: Sivan shows empathy to his exes on “The Good Side” and “Plum” and expresses his preference for "a quiet night" on “Dance to This," prioritizing deeply felt but unfussy songwriting rather than over-the-top statements. Bloom’s diaristic confessionals cut deep but never stray from the mercilessly catchy hooks that beg for endless repeat listens. — E.F.

27. Nipsey Hussle, ‘Victory Lap’

Few tropes in hip-hop are more eyeroll-inducing than rapping with a barely-suppressed yawn about how life is like a movie. But there’s always been something grandly cinematic about veteran Los Angeles MC Nipsey Hussle’s music and delivery, and for an album like Victory Lap — somehow, a decade after signing his first deal, still his “proper” debut album — the claim feels neither tired nor lazy. There’s a timeless quality that helps weave together the deep-soaked West Coast production of tracks like “Rap N—-s” — which sounds like a Dr. Dre meeting Michael Myers in the middle of the night on a suburban Illinois street — and “Grinding All My Life,” which puts a menacing spin on YG’s blueprint. (The two dovetail even more perfectly on the collaboration “Last Time I Checc’d.”) Kendrick Lamar is known for being a chameleon, but his verse on “Dedication” is so embedded in Nipsey’s sonic world that it takes a few bars to recognize it’s him, and he’s just one of several MCs who shine in cameo roles. — D.R.

26. Charlie Puth, ‘Voicenotes’

After Puth introduced a new sound with the irresistibly hooky and conspicuously adult hit “Attention” in 2017, the pop powerhouse hinted that he'd bring more funk and feistiness with his sophomore LP. Voicenotes followed suit: Its twelve tunes offer a perfect balance of his enviable falsetto, impressive piano skills and astute songwriting. But Puth also brought a lyrical edge to the dense production of Voicenotes, addressing more mature topics (a relationship with an older woman on "Boy," hooking up at a party on "Empty Cups") that appeal to both his twenty-something peers and the teeny boppers he drew in with his more innocent debut. The singles showed that Puth had what it took to become a pop mainstay, but the rest of Voicenotes proved that he’s a true artist who deserves “Attention” for more than just his fun radio hits. — T.W.

25. Snail Mail, ‘Lush’

Snail Mail’s debut album, Lush, includes a 73-second intro track, but the second song, “Pristine,” is where singer-songwriter Lindsey Jordan’s entire aesthetic first unfolds: Crisp guitar tones, elliptical hooks, instantly relatable storytelling ("And don't you like me for me? Is there any better feeling than coming clean?") and a voice that conveys an emotional intelligence far beyond its 19 years on earth. Jordan’s songwriting as Snail Mail captures the ache of teenage longing with impressive simplicity; Lush is a guitar-rock record without a whiff of pretension, reminiscent of turn-of-the-century indie triumphs from Liz Phair, Will Oldham and the Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle. All of those songwriters have mounted impressive catalogs from their confessionals, and based on Lush, Snail Mail may very well do the same. — JASON LIPSHUTZ

24. The Internet, ‘Hive Mind’

There’s no grand message, no narrative arc, just deep grooves and dope songwriting about everyday wonders, like respectfully hollering at sexy women and being supported by your homies while doing so. It’s a delight that one of the year’s best, most well-received R&B albums is 1) by a band, and 2) by a band fronted by a queer black woman. The songs are simultaneously tighter and catchier than 2015’s Ego Death; the members came together, trimmed back the shag and captured indelible moods, like the nerves of inviting a partner over (“Come Over”) and the thrilling anticipation of making the first move (“Mood”). Crucially, though, they make time for uplift (and Big Rube spoken word!), on “It Gets Better (With Time),” a reminder of “soul music’s moral authority.” There’s nothing this music can’t do. — R.S.

23. Shawn Mendes, ‘Shawn Mendes’

No stitches needed here — Shawn Mendes is ready for a more grown-up kind of angst and yearning on his self-titled album. Gone are the wailings begging for mercy, found are the sexy pleas of a rocker's invitation to stay the night. On "Particular Taste," Mendes refines the staccato pop-rock hooks he successfully deployed in his 2016 signature hit "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back." Featuring a smooth falsetto that would make Justin Timberlake jealous, "Where Were You in the Morning?" stands out among a tracklist full of love, lust and longing. And his collabs with Julia Michaels ("Like to Be You") and Khalid ("Youth") prove he's comfortable sharing the spotlight. With Shawn Mendes, the singer graduates from pretty teen pop star to an artist capable of soundtracking your late-night adventures — but one who hopes to wake up next to you in the morning. — DENISE WARNER

22. Noname, ‘Room 25’

Noname opens her debut studio album with a disclaimer: “Maybe this the album you listen to in your car, when you driving home late at night really questioning every god, religion, Kanye, bitches.” Room 25 sees 26-year-old slam poet-turned rapper Noname (full name Fatima Nyeema Warner) continue her coming-of-age story that began with 2016’s Telefone. But she proves this time around that she’s grown as a subject, with tracks that detail her first relationship, her move from Chicago to Los Angeles, our political climate, racism, sexism and above all, being a female rapper in 2018. "I'm struggling to simmer down, maybe I'm insomni-black," she raps on "Blaxploitation." Through poignant jazz-rap bars and neo-soul-esque verses, Noname makes the most of the LP’s quick 34-minute run time, even offering guest appearances from fellow up-and-comers Ravyn Lenae, Saba and Smino. While those three shine on their respective cuts, there's no question who real standout star is. — XANDER ZELLNER

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, ‘A Star Is Born: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack’ (Oct. 5)

It says a lot about the quality of the music from A Star Is Born that the 19-track, dialogue-free version of its soundtrack still leaves you wanting more. The set of songs (performed by the movie's musician characters) even works in a 2018, post-genre-Spotify-playlist sort of way, with the bluesy folk-rock of Jackson Maine (Cooper) and Ally (Gaga) from the first hour of the movie side-by-side with the electro-pop that follows Ally's glossy top 40 makeover. But, like the best soundtracks, this one truly resonates because it re-transports you to the world of A Star Is Born, thanks to a combination of live and studio recordings that include ambient noise and audience feedback and put you right back onstage with Jackson and Ally. It's as if you're rediscovering their characters and music all over again for the first time. We're off the deep end, watch as we dive back in. — KATIE ATKINSON

Christine & The Queens, ‘Chris’ (Sept. 21)

With Robyn trading the hook-laden outsider-pop she perfected on 2010’s Body Talk for something softer and weirder on this year’s Honey, a handful of artists are taking up the tradition of her highly emotional, highly danceable tunes — and no one is getting closer than Christine and the Queens. Chris, named for the macho evolution of Héloïse Letessier’s gender-bending stage character, indeed lets the bodies do the talking with rich descriptions of skin and sweat set to melancholy dance tracks that explore how sex, desire, rage and shame inform our sense of selves and define us to the world at large. (Though don’t be surprised if you’re too busy working your muscles on the dance floor to immediately notice the heavy stuff — like the references to suicidal thoughts and eating disorders on the aerobic standout “Doesn’t Matter.”) If Body Talk captured the aching loneliness that can strike even when you’re surrounded by people, Chris shows how full life can be on society’s fringes. — N.F.

19. Tierra Whack, ‘Whack World’

Speeding by at a song-per-minute clip, Whack World combines fun-house excitement with game-show puzzlement, daring listeners to guess what's behind doors No. 1 through 15. From witty rapid-fire verses to mumble rap to R&B to country twang, Whack hopscotches across countless styles, as if determined to avoid boredom at all costs. The album’s accompanying visual — 15 separate minute-long shorts — brings audiences further into her vibrant (and at times surreal) universe, with scenes both dizzyingly abstract and hilariously literal, leaving them acutely aware of that fact that anything can happen in just 60 seconds in Tierra’s world. — L.H.

18. Lil Wayne, ‘Tha Carter V’

“Superstars don’t sparkle, we shine deep,” Little Wayne raps on “Famous,” the 11th of 23 (!) tracks on his much-delayed Tha Carter V. Indeed, at almost 90 minutes in length, the listener has to work through some landfill to get to all of the gems on the album, but they're there — and well worth digging for. Initially slated for release in 2014, Tha Carter V was shelved due to a legal battle between Wayne and his label Cash Money that was settled earlier this year. The version that was released on Weezy’s 36th birthday in September is a dazzling cosmic blast of Big Ideas and musical styles – trap, gospel, R&B — that had been banging around his brain for the last four years. Wayne wrestles with mortality, family, mental health, drug use, the pitfalls of fame and even his attempted suicide at the age of 12, which he addresses in detail on the album’s soul-meets-snare finale, “Let It All Work Out,” a track built around a Sampha sample. Yet despite the dark subject matter, Tha Carter V has its share of exhilarating peaks — like the breathless Kendrick Lamar-featuring “Mona Lisa,” which plays like a Quentin Tarantino script set to a John Carpenter horror-movie score, dusted with Wayne’s trademark swagger and sly humor. “I’m feelin’ like John Gotti Lennon,” he raps, a killer artist once again spitting bullets. — FRANK DIGIACOMO

17. Rosalia, ‘El Mal Querer’

Rosalía’s break-through single “Malamente” and its follow-up, “Pienso en Tu Mirá,” announced the Barcelona artist’s spectacular arrival, with an addictive mash-up of flamenco, electronic beats and R&B attitude. Other tracks on El Mal Querer, Rosalía's second album, may at first listen seem almost traditional by comprison, but their sampled layers run deep: Rosalía, co-producer El Guincho and co-writer C. Tangana have done nothing less than create an entirely new sound, rooted in Spanish song, which could only have been borne from today's global pop culture. — JUDY CANTOR-NAVAS

16. Kali Uchis, ‘Isolation’

Kali Uchis’s full-length debut landed this year as an all-inclusive instant favorite, thanks to its global reach (on tracks like “Nuestra Planeta,” her bass-bumping rumba with Colombian reggaetón star Reykon), heavy-hitting list of collaborators (including Jorja Smith, Tyler, the Creator and BIA) and fusion of soul, hip-hop, Latin, pop and R&B. Hoping for a heady slow groove? She'll get you swaying with “Flight 22.” Looking for a Motown-worthy throwback? “Feel Like a Fool” will scratch any soulful itch with its robust brass and catchy chorus, which calls a heartbreaker on his mindgames. Isolation shows Uchis stretching her wings, past the lonely condition of the album title and into a mutli-continental community eager to embrace her talent. It’s a promising introduction that’s simply laying the groundwork for the Colombian-American singer-songwriter's international takeover. — H.H.

Drake, ‘Scorpion,’ 2018

With his much-anticipated double album, Drake decided that the kind of cold revenge he'd have to dish out to properly escalate the feud that nearly submarined his 2018 didn't serve anyone best. So instead, he decided to indulge in that other revevenge-related truism: that the best one is living well. The 25-track Scorpion saw Drake living better than nearly anyone in rap or pop history had previously, scoring the year's best first-week numbers and topping the Hot 100 with three of its singles for a record 29 weeks of the calendar year. And he did it with a set that threads his side of The Story of Adidon captivatingly throughout the double LP, spellbinding not only with those more revelatory tracks and its knockout trio of singles but also the inflammatory "Talk Up," the cuddling "After Dark," the soaring "8 Out of 10" and even the sublimely silly "Rachet Happy Birthday." If its reach exceeded its grasp, it's only because no one else on his level bothers reaching this far. He can't help it, it's in his nature. — A.U.

14. Mac Miller, ‘Swimming’

It’s hard — heartbreakingly hard — to separate Mac Miller’s graceful, honest album Swimming, released on August 3, from his death by accidental overdose one month and four days later. Though darker and colder than the frat-rap of Miller’s Blue Slide Park heydey, the 13 weightless songs on Swimming — widely understood as a reflection on the Pittsburgh rapper’s high-profile breakup with Ariana Grande and struggles with substance abuse, among other demons — present a wounded Miller at his most clear-eyed, patient and open, floating from earnest hopefulness (“Wings”) to que será, será existentialism (“Self Care”) and bitter lovesickness (“Dunno”) as if his feelings are passing clouds. “I was drowning, but now I’m swimming,” he sings on the dreamy jazz opener “Come Back to Earth,” acknowledging that overcoming pain is a constant effort and that to merely keep one’s head above water is no small feat. With this insight, the final album of Miller’s lifetime, however accidental, cements his legacy — lending the slow, tedious process of healing its own dignity. — TATIANA CIRISANO

The 1975, ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships’ (Nov. 30)

It's hard to talk about The 1975 without talking about their relationship to 2018 — particularly when their album title suggests a sprawling conceptual masterwork about subtweeting and swiping right. But as much as The 1975 are a band for their times — maybe the band — A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships' greatest revelations are disticntly timeless. "Be My Mistake," an acoustic weeper that sees oft-overzealously verbose singer-songwriter Matty Healy taking the kind of economical approach to lyrical scene-painting ("She bought me those jeans/ The ones you like") typically found in classic country. "I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)" is an it-(probably)-gets-better closing power ballad whose emotional oblivion is inspired by the music and feeling of the more literally apocalyptic blockbusters of the 20th century. And while much of the band's success has come by detaching from the guitar, the electrifying hook to "Give Yourself a Try" still feels like a million kids learning their first riff to properly irritate their parents with. Those who don't learn from the past may be doomed to repeat it, but those who learn everything from the past often get to dictate the future. — A.U.

12. Robyn, ‘Honey’

Expectations were sky-high leading into Honey, with fans having already held tight (not so patiently) for eight years, pining for more Body Talk-esque bangers. But Robyn doesn't do "expectations": She's been making unpredictable pop music for more than two decades, and Honey is no exception. Deceptively buoyant lead single "Missing U" was merely an appetizer for what fans were really in for, which is disco heartbreak ("Because It's in the Music"), post-fembot melancholy ("Human Being"), deep-house innovation ("Between the Lines") and whatever "Beach2k20" is. Honey might not have been the exact album fans anticipated, but it's a reminder that whatever album Robyn gives us next will be worth waiting a near-decade for. — K.A.

11. Mitski, ‘Be the Cowboy’

There’s no one song that defines Mitski Miyawaki’s concise but diverse fifth album, Be the Cowboy. Lead single “Geyser” starts as an organ-style dirge and ends in a celebratory crash of percussion, though the joy is tempered by her words, forcefully sung with panic behind the eyes: “I will be the one you need/ I just can’t be without you.” Second single “Nobody” is an uptempo disco romp that opens with “My god, I’m so lonely,” but the third single, “Two Slow Dancers,” sets its lamentations — “It would be a hundred times easier if we were young again” — against a plaintive keyboard. Though the sounds whip from one style to the next, the lyrics all come from the perspective of someone unsuccessfully trying to hide her vulnerability, like a person insisting "I'm fine" despite the fact that nothing seems to be. The guitar-wielding Japanese-American singer-songwriter has said she based Be the Cowboy on “a very controlled, icy, repressed woman who is starting to unravel.” But rather than making this character read like some glitching, shrewish robot, Mitski expresses her with a compassionate, empathetic, 14-song, 32-minute narrative that emphasizes her humanity. “Walk up in my high heels/ All high and mighty/ And you say, ‘Hello,’/ And I lose,” she sings in a crumbling line on “Lonesome Love.” Mitski albums have always cut deeply with their honesty, but with Be the Cowboy, she's sharpened her spurs and she's digging in. — C.W.

10. The Carters, ‘Everything Is Love’

Last June, social media went apeshit when The Carters dropped their collaborative album Everything Is Love. After years of unrelenting chatter regarding a possible joint album, Jay-Z and Beyoncè saddled up and concocted a mesmerizing nine-track project that showcases a couple fully healed from their marital troubles, at the expense of their detractors. Not only do they find delight in skewering the Grammys and the NFL on "APESHIT," but they also show little remorse to fair-weather homies on "FRIENDS," with Hov defiantly rapping: "I ain't goin' to nobody nothin' when me and my wife beefin'/ I don't care if the house on fire, I'm dyin', n—a, I ain't leavin… If y'all don't understand that, we ain't meant to be friends." The legendary's couple road to recovery is captured perfectly on "LOVEHAPPY," as both Jay and Bey reaffirm their tirelessness in fighting for their relationship and overcoming whatever nightmares that nearly derailed their marriage. For The Carters, love will always conquer all. — C.L.

J Balvin, “Vibras”

Reggaeton artists know, perhaps better than anyone, that while their music may be commercially successful, many don’t see it as quality-driven. But superstar J Balvin made a major effort to put a dent on such thinking with Vibras, an album mostly rooted in reggeaton but one that often expands daringly from it. Vibras asserts its independence right from the trippy title-track opener, which features vocals from Mexican alt chanteuse Carla Morrison over an electronic beat (which then seamlessly segues into the immediately recognizable intro of global hit “Mi Gente.”) This elasticity is what renders Vibras so successful: While reggaeton’s dembow rhythm runs under many of the tracks, it expands and contracts, from the more hardcore in the Wisin Y Yandel-featuring “Peligrosa” to Balvin’s signature melodic brand in “Donde Estarás” and the Zion & Lenonx-assisted “No Es Justo,” featuring Zion & Lennox. Then there’s “Brillo,” featuring Rosalía: a sparse, electronic-tinged trap that defies explanation. When all is said and done, it’s really all about the vibe. — L.C.

8. Camila Cabello, ‘Camila’

Camila Cabello confused fans with her abrupt exit from Fifth Harmony in December 2016, but she cut through all that chaos with the release of Camila. Cabello's debut set showcased her versatility as a solo artist, whether she's singing in whispery falsetto on "Never Be the Same" and "Real Friends," honoring her Spanish roots on "Inside Out" and lead single "Havana" or showcasing her vulnerable side on "Consequences" and "Something's Gotta Give." There's also plenty of the same swagger she brought with her former girl group on tracks like "She Loves Control" and "Into It." And even if there are still some Fifth Harmony fans disgruntled about the way her split went down, far more Camilizers have spawned from that fan base (and beyond) thanks to Camila: Not only did "Havana" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, but the album also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — two feats that 5H never achieved themselves, with or without Cabello. — T.W.

7. Travis Scott, ‘Astroworld’

In the days leading up to his much-hyped third album, Astroworld, 26-year-old multi-hyphenate Travis Scott summed up the project with four words: “I’m finally back home.” Part of that is literal — Astroworld is named for a since-demolished amusement park in the rapper and producer’s native Houston. But the album also showcases Travis in his natural habitat — as a ruthlessly creative visionary, conducting from behind the curtain. Over 17 sprawling, caps-locked tracks, Travis brings together hip-hop A-listers (Drake! Frank Ocean! Kid Cudi!), indie gods (Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, James Blake), legends and newbies (from Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey to Sheck Wes) — and the fact that none of them are officially credited only adds to the thrill of listening.

The result is a lush, psychedelic dreamscape that haunts, surprises and delights, much like a carnival itself: While the bouncy, swerving “Sicko Mode” serves as the central rollercoaster, with a dizzying beat switch and instantly viral guest-verse-and-a-half from Drake, lulling standout “Stop Trying to Be God” pulls in Stevie Wonder on harmonica, and the disarmingly mellow closer “Coffee Bean” offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of his co-parenthood with Kylie Jenner (“Your family told you I'm a bad move/ Plus I'm already a black dude”). Sure, his ambitions may verge on the overzealous — Astroworld could stand to lose a few tracks, or at least one reference to Jamba Juice — but to claim Travis takes a backseat to his collaborators would be missing the point. On “Sicko Mode,” no one puts it better than Travis himself: “Who put this shit together? I’m the glue.” — T.C.

6. Various Artists, ‘Black Panther’ Soundtrack

2018 saw Black Excellence shine brighter than it has in a long time, from Rep. Maxine Waters reclaiming her time to Colin Kaepernick pouring himself even more into activism after being blackballed by the NFL. And what better way to kick off such a glorious year fthan the Black Panther movie and its accompanying soundtrack all dropping during Black History Month? Led by Kendrick Lamar, the smartly curated 14-track project is brimming with pride from across the diaspora, as its featured artists embrace their kaleidoscopic heritage — like SOB X RBE bringing a youthful vibrancy with their Bay Area flows, or South African singer Babes Wodumo sharing the joy of afrobeat rhythms. Lamar's guidance topped it all off, as the hip-hop all-star injected his unmistakable vocals throughout without ever taking away from other artists' individuality. In a society that ofen tries to diminish us or blemish the fruits of our culture, this soundtrack was an additional example that we can never be silenced. — B.G.

Janelle Monae, ‘Dirty Computer’ (Apr. 27)

Is Janelle Monáe an oracle? It’s possible: She had the idea for Dirty Computer before her debut album was released in 2010. “Some of the things are very much relevant, so it's kind of bittersweet,” Monáe told Billboard, reflecting on how pertinent the funk-infused album is in today’s social climate. Really, there was no record in 2018 more reflective of the conversations echoing through pop culture today: With films like Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians dominating the box office and 100+ LGBTQ candidates winning federal, state and local races during the midterm elections, minority groups are finally seeing overdue recognition in highly visible spaces.

And just like this year’s headlines, Monáe’s opus both celebrates and dissects race, gender and sexuality (as well as their intersections) through thoughtful lyrics. Themes like the gender pay gap (“Screwed”) and police violence against black people (“Americans”) are sandwiched with powerful declarations of emancipation, like the trap-leaning banger “Django Jane” and laid-back groove “I Like That.” It adds up to an ambitious masterpiece that both captures the times and transcends them, and there's no doubt her mentor and collaborator Prince would've undoubtedly been proud. — PATRICK CROWLEY

4. Pusha T, ‘Daytona’

We all knew Pusha T had it in him. Since the G.O.O.D. Music empire and half of the legendary Clipse joined forces in 2010, you didn’t need Nostradamus to foretell a project like Daytona, Pusha’s T’s undisputed solo classic. It's a seven-song masterstroke of brazen, bespoke 'Ye beats alongside Push's own scathing hustler's gospel; where Pharrell once challenged the Virginia rapper with his weirdest beats, Kanye conjures sonic hypemen, soundtracking a ruthless assault. “RAP ALBUM OF THE YEAR” is all over Push’s lips and merch drops, but his claim runs deeper than critical plaudits: For a couple weeks this summer, Pusha T dominated the cultural discourse, as choice bars from Daytona closer "Infrared" (and the one-off, Hall of Fame-level diss they ultimately led to) brought hip-hop’s greatest commercial force to his knees. King Push will always have the heads — be it the career-summing lyrical triathlon of “If You Know You Know” or the street life séance of “Santeria,” it’s all effortless for him. But on Daytona, he snatched 2018’s style guide — the bloated tracklists, the gratuitous features — and sold it raw. — C.P.

Kacey Musgraves, ‘Golden Hour’ (Mar. 30)

Inspired by Sade and recorded in Sheryl Crow's horse stable-turned-studio, Kacey Musgraves' Golden Hour is the boundary-blurring, restlessly creative classic few country artists would be brave enough to deliver in a radio market that feeds on the familiar. But Musgraves followed her arrow into the stratosphere and beyond with her third album, stretching into spacey folk-country on "Slow Burn," tapping lush California harmonies for the title track and mixing banjos with a Vocoder on "Oh, What a World" (who knew Earl Scruggs and Daft Punk could party?). With a CMA album of the year win and now a Grammy nomination in the same category, the reception for Golden Hour has been as warm as the album's cozy production. And while no one went into 2018 thinking they needed a disco hoedown, "High Horse" is the Studio 54-by-way-of-barnyard banger that served as an ebullient jolt of joy in a year that sorely needed one. — J. Lynch

2. Cardi B, ‘Invasion of Privacy’

Two things are true about Cardi B — the stripper-turned-Instagram-star-turned-reality-TV-personality-turned-rapper — and her record-setting debut album, Invasion of Privacy: 1. She is certifiably fuck-less about whether you like her. 2. She will also use every tool in her arsenal to make sure that you do. These dueling forces power the LP, half of which she spends gloating at those who doubted her unlikely rise, the other half she spends winning them over anyway by showing off her catchphrase-generating charisma and the artistry underneath it.

Think Cardi's a one-note? Watch her host the year's biggest Latin crossover party on "I Like It," then see her dip into her vulnerable side on "Be Careful" and "Thru Your Phone." Think she’s leeching off other famous people in her orbit? Watch her recruit a who's who of superstar guests, from Chance the Rapper to SZA, only to golf-cap their efforts before immediately seizing the spotlight back. Docking points because she uses co-writers and didn’t pen every word? Sorry, this is 2018 we’re talking about, right? Besides, as a performer alone, Cardi is a thrill to observe: She’s shaped her once-clunky delivery into a blunt-force weapon, and she plays with her vowels like she’s constantly going over the crest of a small roller coaster: You can’t fuck with me if you waaaAAAaaanted to.

In 2018, the biggest rap albums reached for the extremes, either ballooning past the 20-song mark (Migos’ Culture II, Drake’s Scorpion) or shrinking down to half a dozen songs (Kanye West's hit-or-miss G.O.O.D Music series). The trend suggests there's a trade tradeoff between ubiquity via blockbuster chart dominance and artistic credibility via a tighter, stronger body of work. But with Invasion’s modest 13 tracks, each one as unskippable as the last, Cardi B walked her bloody shoes all over that idea. She can get 'em both, she don't have to chose. — N.F.

1. Ariana Grande, ‘Sweetener’

As its album cover suggests, Ariana Grande’s world was turned upside down following the tragic 2017 bombing outside of her Manchester tour stop. But on her first album since the attack, she didn’t let her past define her, and she didn’t dwell on what her future may hold, either. Instead, Sweetener captured a very specific time in the life of a 25-year-old pop star — from an unprecedented national tragedy to a whirlwind celebrity romance (including a spontaneous engagement that she broke off after four months). And while most fans couldn’t possibly relate to her extraordinary circumstances, Grande still ended the year seeming more approachable and human than ever. (More popular than ever, too: Sweetener had the largest streaming week ever for a pop album by a female artist with 126.7 million on-demand audio streams in its first week).

Heavily inspired by the exhilarating early days of her relationship with Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson — which was endlessly documented on social media — the album itself plays out like one lengthy Instagram story, soundtracking her life in real time. All the while, she swapped sky-high runs for low-registered “yuhs” and favored velvety R&B (with an assist from Pharrell’s frisky beats) over the swaggering synths of her past dance-pop bangers. She even titled a charming interlude “pete davidson”, explaining on Twitter: “i love his name and i love him / music lasts forever… so i want my love for him and how i feel to be a part of that.”

Although her relationship with Davidson guided much of the conversation about the album (while informing sexplicit lines like “I like the way you lick the bowl” on its title track), Sweetener is bookended by two sparse ballads that offer a different kind of intimacy. Opener “raindrops (an angel cried)”, is a chilling a cappella take on Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons' "An Angel Cried," while on the cool-breeze closer “get well soon,” Grande sings about self-care and learning to “unfollow fear” in light of her own post-traumatic anxiety. She's at her most emotionally raw on the set when she's saying nothing at all: “get well soon” ends with 40 seconds of silence, bringing the track’s runtime to 5:22 — a reference to the date of the Manchester attack.

As debate over the lifespan of the album format continues, what’s certain is that it’s becoming increasingly rare to see a major artist craft such a cohesive and personal body of work. And yet, Sweetener succinctly archived this pivotal period in Grande’s life the way only a proper album could — through her grief and anxiety, both in and out of love, the LP offered a front-row seat to it all, allowing her fans to see that it’s possible to stumble and hurt and still emerge stronger and more self-assured than ever. Her life may have been flipped upside down, but she’s always been on top. — L.H.