2018 was one of those years where it felt like a wave rushing over you. Sometimes it was at a force where you could fall over with any slight movement. Sometimes it enveloped you into a dream-like state. The year simultaneously flew by but felt like it dragged on forever. Luckily, we had a LOT of great music to listen to this year. This was one of the toughest lists to put together yet with so many incredible albums to sift through and sit with. As always, our list encompasses some incredible out-of-towners, newcomers, old-timers, and a bunch of locals. Enjoy.

We also want to take a moment to shout out some honorable mentions to local albums that just missed the cut this year. Check them out:

• Alexander, Settle Down
• bedbug, i’ll count to heaven in years without seasons
• Saccharine, Hollow Space
• Tuxis Giant, Here Comes the Wolf

*=Local

50. Jorja Smith, Lost & Found

49. Petal, Magic Gone

48. The Internet, Hive Mind

47. Kendrick Lamar, Black Panther the Album

46. Leikeli47, Acrylic

45. serpentwithfeet, soil

44. Squitch, Uncle Steve in Spirit*

43. Lala Lala, The Lamb

42. Camp Cope, How to Socialise & Make Friends

41. Caroline Rose, LONER