So, it seems that 2018 is finally coming to an end. It’s been a hell of a year by most standards, but musically its been damn entertaining. Perhaps its fair that there’s some bright spot in all the chaos. Not to diminish the chaos, but when the negativity is at an all-pervasive fever pitch, its feels good to have something to hold onto. I’ll choose to remember 2018 as a banner year for music and for the birth of my second daughter rather than the year that page refresh politics threatened to give me an ulcer any day. Below are my favorite albums of the year, taking care to highlight some that might otherwise get forgotten. They’re in (quasi) alphabetical order with no other particular weight on the list. Keep your eyes out for a few more year-end features this week before I reset for the new year. As always, thanks for sticking with RSTB for these 12-odd years or so.









Spirit Rejoin by Al Doum & The Faryds



Freedom by Amen Dunes



Big Attraction by Amyl and the Sniffers



If Only There Was a River by Anna St. Louis



The Morning Star by Daniel Bachman



In Cahoots by Crepes



Hollow Ground by Cut Worms



Constant Image by Flasher



Prize // Reward by Good Morning



We're Not Talking by The Goon Sax



Grid Of Points by Grouper



The Alligator Bride by Howlin Rain



All These Worlds Are Yours [LP] by HOLY



SIIPI EMPII by Kemialliset Ystävät



Masana Temples by Kikagaku Moyo/幾何学模様



The Other by King Tuff



Thuban by Lay Llamas



Mating Surfaces by Lithics



In The Lover's Corner by The Love-Birds



Hundreds of Days by Mary Lattimore



Borderlands by The Myrrors







John Sharp Toro by The Native Cats



Olden Yolk by Olden Yolk



Everything's Better by One Eleven Heavy



Starter Home by Doug Paisley



King of Cowards by Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs



It's a New Day Tonight by Michael Rault



A To X by School Damage



Lost Time Behind the Moon by Scott Hirsch







12 by Sloan



STATE CHAMPION "Send Flowers" by State Champion



What a Time to Be Alive by Superchunk



I'm Terry by Terry



Kill The Lights by Tony Molina



Freedom's Goblin by Ty Segall



V. by Wooden Shjips