2018 was an interesting year.

In terms of music, it was a year I went to more concerts than the last couple of years, but it was also a year that I was less enthused about the releases that occurred. Taking a step back and looking at the most played songs and albums in 2016, 2017, and 2018, I can say with some confidence I preferred the previous years.

With that said, there was some great music this year. When Mt. Joy’s self-titled album dropped, I knew it was going to be my favorite. It was something that I so clearly and fully enjoyed that I listed it with past year’s favorites by July, knowing full well that it would be what I featured in this post. I moved on to others, including a lot of Caamp, throughout the year but Mt. Joy was the standalone option as the favorite album of the year so I highlight it for posterity here.

The other album that I really have to highlight is The 1975’s A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships. It was a late year doozy.

Past favorite albums of the year include:

  • I Love You Like a Brother by Alex Lahey (2017)
  • Painting of a Panic Attack by Frightened Rabbit (2016)
  • The Positions by Gang of Youths (2015)
  • Islands by Bear’s Den (2014)
  • White Lighter by Typhoon (2013)
  • Lonesome Dreams by Lord Huron (2012)
  • The Year of Hibernation by Youth Lagoon (2011)
  • Passive Me, Aggressive You by The Naked and Famous (2010)