Esquire's (US) 20 Best Albums of 2018

The best albums of 2018 represent a time in flux within the industry, within culture, and beyond to our uncertain social-political climate.

Published: December 19, 2018 17:01 Source

# 1

Be the Cowboy by Mitski

Album • Aug 17 / 2018 Art Pop Indie Rock

# 2

Invasion of Privacy by Cardi B

Album • Apr 06 / 2018 Trap East Coast Hip Hop

# 3

Lush by Snail Mail

Album • Jun 08 / 2018 Indie Rock Indie Pop

# 4

Room 25 by noname

Album • Sep 14 / 2018 Jazz Rap Conscious Hip Hop

# 5

DAYTONA by Pusha T

Album • May 25 / 2018 Hardcore Hip Hop Southern Hip Hop

# 6

Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves

Album • Mar 30 / 2018 Country Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 7

Honey by Robyn

Album • Oct 26 / 2018 Dance-Pop Electropop House

# 8

Some Rap Songs by Earl Sweatshirt

Album • Nov 30 / 2018 Abstract Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop

# 9

Knock Knock by DJ Koze

Album • May 04 / 2018 House Deep House

# 10

Sweetener by Ariana Grande

Album • Aug 17 / 2018 Contemporary R&B Electropop

# 11

Boygenius by boygenius

EP • Oct 26 / 2018 Indie Rock Indie Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 12

Clean by Soccer Mommy

Album • Mar 02 / 2018 Singer-Songwriter Indie Pop Indie Rock

# 13

A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships by The 1975

Album • Nov 30 / 2018 Art Pop

# 14

Whack World by Tierra Whack

Album • May 30 / 2018 Pop Rap Alternative R&B East Coast Hip Hop

# 15

Astroworld by Travis Scott

Album • Aug 03 / 2018 Trap Pop Rap Southern Hip Hop

# 16

Isolation by Kali Uchis

Album • Apr 06 / 2018 Neo-Soul Contemporary R&B

# 17

CARE FOR ME by Saba

Album • Apr 05 / 2018 Conscious Hip Hop Jazz Rap

# 18

Everything Is Love by THE CARTERS

Album • Jun 16 / 2018 Pop Rap Contemporary R&B

# 19

Chris by Christine and the Queens

Album • Sep 21 / 2018 Synthpop Alt-Pop

# 20

God's Favorite Customer by Father John Misty

Album • Jun 01 / 2018 Singer-Songwriter Chamber Pop