We all have those songs that can be on repeat for hours, but one of the best feelings is putting an album on shuffle and being completely satisfied with whatever song plays next. These are the albums that one could describe as “just killers and no fillers” and where your favorite song always seems to change. With women leading the way, the top albums of 2018 showcased artists that have already been known to dance to the beat of their own drum. Whether it was Janelle Monáe showing us the importance of intersectionality in a world that tries to erase nuance or The 1975 reminding us of the danger of our society’s obsession our online presence, these albums didn’t just entertain us, they taught us. We stood in awe of Mitski as she proved herself to be more than just a hype machine but rather a pillar of musical excellence in her standout album Be The Cowboy.

We also took note of the newcomers, like Haley Heynderickx and Fenne Lily as they gave us raw acoustic songs we never knew we needed. With the return of Father John Misty and Pinegrove we explored the fragile lines between musicians who have been involved in controversy and their plight to become better or in Tillman’s case more “authentically bogus that bogusly authentic.” Within these albums are songs that collectively tell stories and carry messages of hope, freedom or just the utter confusion of everyday life. With a mix of skill, talent and heart, these artists gave us albums that landed them a spot on our best of 2018 list, each holding a special place in our hearts.

Stream the list directly on Spotify or Apple Music. Special thanks to Brandt Imhoff for the stunning playlist cover.

30. Phosphorescent - C'est La Vie

29. Foxwarren - Foxwarren

28. The Paper Kites - On The Corner Where You Live

27. Cautious Clay - Blood Type

26. The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships

25. Florence + The Machine - High As Hope

24. Father John Misty - God's Favorite Customer

23. Wet - Still Run

22. Hop Along - Bark Your Head Off, Dog

21. Lykke Li - so sad so sexy

20. The Beths - Future Me Hates Me

19. Snail Mail - Lush

18. Wild Pink - Yolk in the Fur

17. Miya Folick - Premonitions

16. Blood Orange - Negro Swan

15. Oh Pep! - I Wasn't Only Thinking About You

14. Adrianne Lenker - abysskiss

13. Pinegrove - Skylight

12. Liza Anne - Fine But Dying

11. Ashe - The Rabbit Hole

10. Haley Heynderickx - I Need to Start A Garden

9. Ariana Grande - Sweetener

8. Soccer Mommy - Clean

7. Death Cab for Cutie - Thank You For Today

6. Lucy Dacus - Historian

5. Fenne Lily - On Hold

4. Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer

3. Boygenius - Boygenius

2. First Aid Kit - Ruins

1. Mitski - Be the Cowboy