2018 may have seemed like a raging dumpster fire on the world stage, but it was an excellent year for music. Gone were many of the lifeless, too-cool-to-care acts of the past few years in rock and hip hop, and in their place, artists brought a new wave of authenticity, passion and optimism to audience’s ears. Culling the list down to ten was hard, but here are the ten best albums of the year.

10. Lil Wayne- “Tha Carter V”

The culmination of over a decade of work, Lil Wayne proved that when he’s on top of his game, he makes a strong case for being the best rapper alive. The record has its ups and downs, but at its highest points, “Tha Carter V” serves as a rap music time capsule, with beat work and collaborations that only an artist with Wayne’s unique legend could pull off.

9. Father John Misty- “God’s Favorite Customer”

This wasn’t Josh Tillman’s tightest album, but even at 70%, he’s still above the majority of modern rock artists. Hearing Tillman apply his signature ironic overwriting to a genuinely traumatic time in his life pushes this record over the top. Tillman may not be anywhere near as funny as on his first three records, but the sadness here is compelling, even with the songs that are trying to be funny feeling out of place.  

8. Snail Mail- “Lush”

It’s unbelievably refreshing to hear an album about teenage feelings coming from an actual teenager. Lindsey Jordan writes with ability that artists 20 years her senior lack and an energy that could only come from her. This record feels like witnessing the birth of a new alternative superstar, and one can only wonder in awe what she is going to do next.

7. Mac Miller- “Swimming”

Mac Miller’s passing was shocking and saddening for countless reasons, one of them being the direction his music was going. This record positioned Miller alongside contemporaries like Tyler The Creator at the forefront of a new jazz rap revolution. The tracklist was Miller’s most solid yet, with no filler songs and almost compulsive listenability. In a lesser year, this is a top 5 record for sure.

6. Turnstile- “Time and Space”

So much attention has been paid to how Turnstile “breaks the rules” of hardcore,their ability to capture the spirit of hardcore in their music has largely gone unnoticed. This is an instant moshpit classic. The songs on this record are as visceral as hardcore gets, and their much maligned melodic elements provide a great entry point for listeners who may not be used to screaming vocals.

5. Earl Sweatshirt- “Some Rap Songs”

This record represents a turning point for Earl, where he sheds the commercial elements that have held his music back and taken his place among rap’s underground legends. Earl stripped away all artifice and put the focus entirely on his raps, which are better than anyone else in the game.

4. Mitski- “Be The Cowboy”

A major trend of the best music of 2018 is vulnerability, and Mitski’s latest album sees her at her most vulnerable. Gone is the distortion and doubled vocals of her previous work, leaving only Mitski and the piano that she began to make music on. This seemingly simple set up hides an ocean of complexity, distilled into clear compositions by one of the most talented artists working today.

3. Parquet Courts- “Wide Awake!”

Parquet Courts have been doing the “thinking man’s rock band” thing for so long now that they’ve almost got it down to a science. What makes this record their best yet is that they strip away much of the irony around their earlier work and instead write a message of positivity, unity and activism, all while keeping the genre-blending mastery that has made them so compelling from the beginning.

2. Janelle Monae- “Dirty Computer”

In a perfect world, this record would have made Janelle Monae the biggest star alive. She solves pop music like the computer in the title of the record, effortlessly weaving together influences old and new to create practically perfect tunes. This is a record that is best experienced blind, as the twists and turns in store will make jaws drop.

1.  Idles- “Joy As An Act Of Resistance”

There were technically better records that came out this year, but none of them ever had a chance of topping this list. IDLES provides a bold new direction for punk music, injecting a radical message of self-love, vulnerability, acceptance and happiness into a genre known mainly for rage. On top of all that, this record rocks harder than anything that’s come out in a very long time. It’s a must listen for fans of punk, indie, rock music as a whole and happiness.