I just want to listen to music until I go to bed, so I'm taking some time to revisit various 2018 albums. Maybe I can move closer to having any idea what I think is the best album of the year if I give all of the ones I've liked so far another listen.
Daughters - You Won't Get What You Want
I think I'm over the initial "wow effect" with this album. The songs feel mostly underdeveloped and the vocalist is mostly not very interesting to listen to. I like him most in the songs where he puts in some more energy, like
The Reason They Hate Me. When he's sticking more to his flat, moany style like in
Daughter, he's just dragging the song down.
Some tracks feel very underdeveloped.
The Reason They Hate Me is a pretty fleshed out progression compared to most tracks here. I guess I'm kinda over this album already. It's not bad, but I don't care that much either.
Halo Maud - Je Suis Une Ile
Definitely being reminded how good this album is. It's modern French electronic indie pop with a vocalist that has a bit of that Francoise Hardy vibe. The whole album is rich with fully fleshed out compositions, full of memorable melodies and progressions, catchy beats and plenty of interesting feels and sounds. Plenty of surprises throughout the album. Pretty much does a whole bunch of things that I like an album to do.
Very likely a top 10 album of the year for me.
Proof that it's got some very good songs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-fgAmQ3niA
Alela Diane - Cusp
Definitely has the songs and the delivery down. Sounds great too in terms of sound/recording quality. So that leaves... Not a lot to complain about. One of the top hitters of the year for me. Simply gorgeous. Top 10 material for sure!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEX6xp8yREo
Barbara Morgenstern - Unschuld und Verwüstung
Barbara always brings a good album to the table, so this one is not surprisingly in the top 10 running for me as well. Might even end up number 1. I really love what she's doing with chord progressions on this album. Some of them are kind of unusual. Her voice sounds like it always did and her approach is pretty no frills, but it hits something in me somehow. I just love to listen to her voice. Lots of interesting electronic sounds and a fair bit of piano on this album. Her songs are very memorable, but relatively low key, so give them a moment to breathe.
I think it's weird that there aren't more fans of Morgenstern on MB, but oh well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUr2Rq3moKI
Beth Rowley - Gota Fría
Simply. Gorgeous. I'm dying.
Top 10 album for sure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6TrffGM-uo