1. Janelle Monáe – “Dirty Computer”
Eleven years out in a career characterized by fascinating, hyperfengende and challenging releases, returned Janelle Monáe to albumformatet with his most commercially appealing music to date. Playful, sexual and more personal than ever, she showed finally arrived the man behind the android-alias Cindi Mayweather, and made sure to correct well-aimed blow against the moralizing pekefingrer and outdated tankemåter. Shutter continuous up to new creative levels.
2. Kacey Musgraves – “the Golden Hour”
“46 golden minutes with Kacey Musgraves”, wrote Dagbladet reviewer about the “Golden Hour”. The album is stuffed with great tunes and fortifies texanerens position as a very exciting artist who is doing his own “thing” in the intersection between country, americana, soul and pop with a little nod of the hat to the disko (!). The album is framed by a delicate sound and an elegant production that balances between smooth and frictionless and creative in a minimalist way.
3. Cardi B – “Invasion of Privacy”
Rarely has an album been as great a test, and rarely has an artist pass with just as much brilliance as when the Cardi B released their “Invasion of Privacy”. Both fun and breial in the style offered a 26-åringens debut on a listening experience so varied and convincing that all doubt around the realitystjernas talent on the microphone forduftet. With its distinctive charm and charisma, managed New York-the rapper not only to live up to megahiten “Bodak Yellow”, but did it at the same time clear that there was a new queen in town.
4. Ghost – “Prequelle”
Papa Emeritus III was brutally show allocated at the end of last year. The “new” man at the helm was the chopped more scampering Cardinal Copia, and the Ghosts mytetunge satansirkus continued into 2018 unabated. “Prequelle” turns up the pop-flirty to eleven and delivers entertaining and superfengende stadionrock from beginning to end. With choruses that are picked from Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson songbook and a revised 80-tallsproduksjonsestetikk has the Ghost gone from victory to victory in years.
5. Ry Cooder – “The Prodigal Son”
It took Ry Cooder (71) six years to follow up the political album “Election Special”. And for a comeback it’s been, here at home topped off with his first solo concert at the age of 30 years (Notodden). The album consists besides the three new-penned songs of the interpretations of negro spirituals, gospel, and some of the bluesmusikkens pioneers – in the new arrangements. Cooder plays most of the instruments myself, with his son Joachim on drums, and with “celestial” background vocals from Terry Evans and Bobby King. Very sjelfullt!
6. Travis Scott – “Astroworld”
despite the fact that Kanye West peppered us with releases, was 2018 the year when the Travis Scott really made a generasjonsbyks past his mentor. “Astroworld” knøt together the threads that the gap on his former soloskiver, and took us on a thrilling roller-coaster ride that started with årsdefinerende gjesteinnhopp from Frank Ocean, Swae Lee and Drake, combined smatrende 808-beats with Stevie Wonder-harmonica, and finally rounded off in an unexpected traditional hip-hop landscape.
7. Ariana Grande – “Sweetener”
A year with headlines about love, violation, and tragedy failed to overshadow Ariana grande’s musical foray into the adult ranks. The combination of the hard-acquired experience of life and 25-åringens otherworldly vocals resulted in a preliminary karrierehøydepunkt consisting of continuously balm for the ears and kvalitetssterkt radioføde – signed manufacturers as diverse as Pharrell Williams and Max Martin.
8. Idles – “Joy as an Act of Resistance”
the Bristol-punkerne Idles disc number two is a unreservedly energibrøl of an album, full of youthful faenskap, humor and strong opinions. Idles powerful punk is raw by nature, but at the same time full of finesse – but most of all be lifted “Joy as an Act of Resistance” presented by the rock-solid songwriting and a bunch of people who live and breathe the music of the baler. It’s about cultivating positivisme, unity, and living in the here and now. This can quickly become a punk classic.
9. Drake – “Scorpion”
With 25 new tracks got the Drake fans a solid gift package in June, and responded with to thank the OVO boss with the streamingrekord. As usual, the success marked by the Drake’s ability to both create and recreate, whether it was through this year’s big dance-the challenge (“In My Feelings”), the bounce-inspiration from the 90-century New Orleans, or to awaken Michael Jackson to live. Kanadierens trippeltrussel as a singer, rapper and entertainer makes him increasingly to a unique at the starry sky.
10. Marianne Faithfull – “Negative Capability”
In a age of soon 72 provides Marianne Faithfull out one of their best albums in their career. As an interpreter of others ‘ songs, she is unsurpassed, but this time she has a finger on more songs than usual – one of them together with, among others, Sivert Høyem. The album is very personal and is very much about loneliness and loss. Who can resist the sincere lines of text like this: “to die a good death is my dream” (from “Born to Live”)?
11. Blood Orange – “the Negro Swan” 12. Elvis Costello – “Look Now” 13. Behemoth “I Loved You at Your Darkest” 14. Brandi Carlile “By The Time, In Forgive You” 15. Earl Sweatshirt – “Some Rap Songs” 16. John Prine – “The Tree Of Forgiveness” 17. Father John Misty – “god’s Favorite Customer” 18. Judas Priest – “Firepower” 19. Bl6ck – “East Atlanta Love Letter” 20. John Hiatt – “The Eclipse Sessions” 21. Kali Uchis “Isolation” 22. Robyn “Honey” 23. Suede – “The Blue Hour” 24. Zeal & Ardor – “Stranger Fruit” 25. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – “Sparkle Hard”
