Best of 2018: Our 15 Favorite Albums

2018 has certainly been a hell of a year for music. Here, the Midwest Action staff pulled their favorites from a year characterized by standout creative work to form our Best of 2018 lists. Check out our 15 favorite albums from 2018 below.

Bathing Peach by V.V. Lightbody

When I first heard Bathing Peach, it was described to me as “nap rock.” Seeing as I like both naps and rock separately, I knew it’d be a winning combination. Clean guitars, flutes, and Viv’s gorgeous vocals all coalesce into nine shimmering folk pop tracks. These songs are perfect for a hammock on a breezy summer day, or for when you want to mentally escape to a hammock on a breezy summer day. All in all, a gorgeous solo debut from V.V. Lightbody.
–Alyssa Lee

Seconding Alyssa’s choice, I cannot recommend this album highly enough. Bathing Peach is the musical equivalent of taking a self-love, mental-health day in the middle of a hectic work week. Full of intimate tales and simply gorgeous production, V.V. Lightbody’s debut is a treat to listen to over and over again.
–Dan Jarvis

Terminal Patience by The Voluptuals

Irreverent, glam, experimental, psychedelic, pop, but most of all, pure rock. The rhythms of the lyrics are chock full of pop culture references and have great percussive pop qualities.
–Tina Mead

There’s Always Glimmer by Gia Margaret

Beautifully arranged, genuine bedroom pop that finds magic and truth in the most mundane moments.
–Dale Price

Curtains by Ester

The latest project of Anna Holmquist (The Curls, Night and Gale) is an instant indie-folk masterpiece. This introspective collection of songs was written over a 3 year span and finally released in May of 2018 via Dark Circles Records. Curtains is a brilliant mix of thoughtful songwriting, crystal clear production, and a strong group of collaborators that serves as some of Holmquist’s strongest work to date.
–Dan Jarvis

Black Holes by The Blue Stones

This debut album has been in the works for 7 years between these two Detroit natives. Blues rock at its finest, these guys draw influence from the, Rolling Stones, Black Keys, Led Zepplin, White Stripes, so strap in.
–Neal Zelenak

Hundred Acres by S. Carey

S. Carey’s Hundred Acres is everything I’ve been missing since soft Eau Claires indie came to the forefront of the scene in the 2010s. It’s soft, introspective, and interesting. Hundred Acres boasts beautiful acoustic arrangements and glowing harmonies, and it’s an incredibly gorgeous listen from top to bottom.
–Alyssa Lee

Humanity Pending by Disappearance

Metalcore at its finest. Disappearance is uniquely set up as a band, with two vocalists that each layer their screams and one vocalist who mixes in singing as well. They all allow each other a chance to shine in aspects of each song.
–Guy Smith

Kodakrome S/T by Kodakrome

A great balance of Aggression and melody. Truly Anthemic at points.
–Silas Mishler

Nonsense by A.M. Stations

This heavy yet melodic rock album is hard to lump into one neat genre but it’s got a little something for everyone. The self-recorded album was 3 years in the making and is a diverse mix of punk, post-hardcore, pop, and lo-fi rock. For fans of Sebadoh, Sonic Youth, and loud, heavy guitars.
–Dan Jarvis

Transangelic Exodus by Ezra Furman

Transangelic Exodus tells stories that somehow deliver hope while expressing pain. The music is anthemic, vintage, verging on glam, and completely new.
–Tina Mead

Akinetic by In Tall Buildings

Akinetic is everything I’ve ever wanted in music. Gorgeous harmonies, acoustic rhythms and melodies interspersed between glowing synths and electronic beats, and atmospheric instrumentation all take this album from good to great. In Tall Buildings’ is stripped down indie rock at its absolute apex.
–Alyssa Lee

User Error by sewingneedle

Their finest outing yet. Flirting with math-rock, post-punk, and a lot of genres in between—this Midwestern trio has found a sound that’s dissonant yet jangly, dark yet accessible, and all around a joy to listen to. Fans of ’90s experimental rock a-la Slint, Sonic Youth, and Shudder To Think, will find themselves right at home.

–Dan Jarvis

Room 25 by Noname

No flash, no DJ frills–just rhythm and taste while a compelling story is being told.
–Ashley Mishler

Blowie Pt. 1 by BrBra Bush

Wut? What? Whaaat?! An out of nowhere release that is FUUUUNNNNKKKKIEEEEE. It has a little bit of everything that lifts the spirit and kicks the hang over of living bummer couple years.
–Silas Mishler

Awoooooga by Bash Bang

The sadly short-lived 4-piece super-group—made up of members of Strawberry Jacuzzi, Sheep Numbers, Glad Rags, and more— were able to put out a 22-minute ripper of an album that is damn fun to listen to. Awoooooga is a diverse and quirky, punk-pop masterpiece that showcases the huge amount of talent within this group of local music scene legends.
–Dan Jarvis

 


 

Best of 2018

ALBUMS • EPS • SONGS • MUSIC VIDEOS • VINYL RELEASES • CASSETTE RELEASES