Best & worst music of 2018

[StrawberryBlond 13,287]

Hey, everyone, my annual list of the best and the worst music of the previous year is here again. For those who don't know, I do amateur music reviews and I listen to as much new music in a year as I can, from popular to indie and every year, I put up the hits and misses of the year and you can put yours up too.

I feel like this was a particularly bad year, the worst ever, on record, actually. I was rather embarrassed to list my scoring for the best albums, actually. This year looks a bit more promising, so here's hoping. As usual, all the singles are roughly the same level of quality until we get to the top 10, at which point, I put a spoiler so there's some level of surprise and there will be scores for the albums. I hope you agree with lots of my picks (I know there's a few there that will raise some eyebrows) and for those who only listen to a few artists, this might be an educational tool for you of some of the best and worst picks of the year.

So, without further ado...

Best singles of 2018

40. Sean Paul & David Guetta feat. Becky G - Mad Love

39. Rita Ora - Let Me Love You

38. Liam Payne & J Balvin - Familar

37. Shakira - Nada

36. Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B - Girls Like You

35. Camila Cabello - Consequences

34. Kylie Minogue - Dancing

33. The Chainsmokers - Sick Boy

32. 5 Seconds Of Summer - Youngblood

31. Clean Bandit feat. Marina & Luis Fonsi - Baby

30. Rosalía - Malamente

29. Rita Ora feat. Cardi B, Bebe Rexha & Charli XCX - Girls

28. Paloma Faith - Loyal

27. Cardi B - Be Careful

26. The Chainsmokers - Everybody Hates Me

25. 5 Seconds Of Summer - Valentine

24. Judas Priest - Firepower

23. Nicki Minaj - Barbie Dreams

22. Halestorm - Uncomfortable

21. Iggy Azalea feat. Tyga - Kream

20. Ava Max - My Way

19. Anne-Marie - 2002

18. Avril Lavigne - Head Above Water

17. Rosalía - Di Mi Nombre

16. Lana Del Rey - Venice Bitch

15. Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

14. Avril Lavigne - Tell Me It's Over

13. Ava Max - Sweet But Psycho

12. Jack White - Connected By Love

11. Halestorm - Do Not Disturb
 

Spoiler

 

10. The Weeknd - Call Out My Name

09. Ariana Grande - God Is A Woman

08. Carrie Underwood - Cry Pretty

07. Cardi B feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin - I Like It

06. Lana Del Rey - Mariners Apartment Complex

05. Zayn - Sour Diesel

04. Christina Aguilera feat. Demi Lovato - Fall In Line

03. Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper - Shallow

02. Lauren Jauregui - Expectations

01. Lady Gaga - Always Remember Us This Way

A fairly lacklustre top ten, this year, I feel. Note that I only included the actual singles that came from the ASIB OST, so I'll Never Love Again couldn't count. I know some of you will be really put out by the inclusion of Maroon 5 and Chainsmokers and normally I would be too but I've just got to be totally real and when I hear a good song, I can't deny it. Quite a few surprises in the good song list this year and you can see I'm really loving the new Latin pop trend with even actual Spanish lyrics!

 

 

Worst singles of 2018

40. Ariana Grande - Thank U, Next

39. Cheryl - Love Made Me Do It

38. Christina Aguilera feat. 2 Chainz & Ty Dolla $ign - Accelerate

37. Justin Timberlake - Man Of The Woods

36. Meghan Trainor - No Excuses

35. Justin Timberlake - Filthy

34. George Ezra - Shotgun

33. Eminem - Venom

32. DJ Khaled feat. Justin Beiber, Chance The Rapper & Quavo - No Brainer

31. Imagine Dragons - Machine

30. Nine Inch Nails - God Break Down The Door

29. Janelle Monae - Pynk

28. Years & Years - If You're Over Me

27. Quavo - Lamb Talk

26. Bhad Bhabie - Both Of Em

25. Post Malone - Wow

24. Quavo - Workin Me

23. 6ix9ine feat. Fetty Wap & A Boogie - Keke

22. Quavo feat. 21 Savage - Pass Out

21. 6ix9ine feat. Anuel AA - Bebe

20. Childish Gambino - This Is America

19. 6ix9ine feat. Bobby Shmurda - Stoopid

18. Post Malone feat. Ty Dolla $ign - Psycho

17. The 1975 - TooTimeTooTimeTooTime

16. Quavo - Bubblegum

15. Lil Pump - ESSKEETIT

14. Drake & Lil Baby - Yes Indeed

13. 6ix9ine - Gotti

12. N.E.R.D (with Kendrick Lamar) - Don't Don't Do It!

11. xxxTentacion - BAD!
 

Spoiler

 

10. Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj - The Light Is Coming

09. Bhad Bhabie feat. Lil Yachty - Gucci Flip Flops

08. xxxTentacion - SAD!

07. 6ix9ine feat. Nicki Minaj & Murda Beatz - Fefe

06. Lil Pump - Drug Addicts

05. xxxTentacion - Moonlight

04. 6ix9ine feat. DJ SpinKing - Tati

03. The Carters - Apes**t

02. Lil Pump (with Kanye West) feat. Adele Givens - I Like it

01. Bella Thorne - Bitch I'm Bella Thorne

Note that the many inclusions of xxxTentacion is not a show of disrespect now he's dead, I was already ranking all this stuff before it happened and regardless of the situation, I must record best and worst, so just look at it as music reviewing and nothing personal. I'm sure most of you are delighted to see umpteen inclusions of 6ix9ine, though the highest ranked one wasn't the one you expected, I'm sure (Fefe wasn't as bad without knowing the story behind the singer). Honestly, as tempted as I was to make him #1, Bella Thorne was just too awful to ignore. I only found out once completing this list that she did a bunch of other songs last year too but even then, I had to draw a line seeing as none of them were successful anyway. I'm sure the #1 is enough to get my views across.

 

 

Best albums of 2018

20. Little Mix - LM5 - 2.5/5

19. The Chainsmokers - Sick Boy - 2.5/5

18. Eminem - Kamikaze - 3/5

17. Jake Shears - Jake Shears - 3/5

16. The Fratellis - In Your Own Sweet Time - 3/5

15. Kylie Minogue - Golden - 3/5

14. Judas Priest - Firepower - 3/5

13. Jorja Smith - Lost & Found - 3/5

12. Kacey Misgraves - Golden Hour - 3/5

11. MØ - Forever Neverland - 3/5
 

Spoiler

 

10. Zayn - Icarus Falls - 3/5

09. Rita Ora - Phoenix - 3/5

08. Rosalía - El mal querer - 3/5

07. Camila Cabello - Camila - 3.5/5

06. Halestorm - Vicious - 3.5/5

05. Elle King - Shake The Spirit - 3.5/5

04. Christina Aguilera - Liberation - 3.5/5

03. Cardi B - Invasion Of Privacy - 3.5/5

02. Carrie Underwood - Cry Pretty - 4/5

01. Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper - A Star Is Born - 4.5/5

See what I mean about very low scores despite being the best albums of the year? Worst year on record, just so many albums failing to reach the upper echelons. Christina's and Cardi's were very close to 4 stars, by the way. Note that it's possible to be on the best singles list and worse albums list and vice versa, it's just that some singers choose to release their worst material as singles but the album's ok and vice versa. But for what it's worth, there were so many artists on this list that I never thought would be included, so many surprises there.

 

 

Worst albums of 2018

20. Justin Timberlake - Man Of The Woods - 2/5

19. Ariana Grande - Sweetener - 2/5

18. Twenty One Pilots - Trench - 2/5

17. Lil Yachty - Lil Boat 2 - 2/5

16. Jack White - Boarding House Reach - 2/5

15. Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer - 2/5

14. Nicki Minaj - Queen - 1.5/5

13. Charlie Puth - Voicenotes - 1.5/5

12. The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships - 1.5/5

11. Years & Years - Palo Santo - 1.5/5
 

Spoiler

 

10. Post Malone - Beerbongs & Bentleys - 1.5/5

09. Kanye West - Ye - 1.5/5

08. xxxTentacion - Skins - 1.5/5

07. Nine Inch Nails - Bad Witch - 1.5/5

06. Robyn - Honey - 1.5/5

05. xxxTentacion - ? - 1/5

04. Imagine Dragons - Origins - 1/5

03. The Carters - Everything Is Love - 1/5

02. Quavo - Quavo Huncho - 0.5/5

01. 6ix9ine - Dummy Boy - 0.5/5

Eek, lots of bad albums this year although so many mediocre ones that I actually had to import in some 2/5's. Again, dominated by really bad rap albums, it needs another 90's renaissance soon. I know some of you will be outraged by my inclusion of Ariana, Janelle and Robyn but again, just my opinion, sorry. It was nice to know, however, that there will be no disagreements over the #1. Please, 2019, please do better than this!

 

So, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed reading that. Agree? Disagree? Let me know (nicely, of course).

Now, feel free to make your own lists and come up with something completely different.

Take care and happy music listening!

[MaryJaneHolland 77,348]

1 minute ago, StrawberryBlond said:

02. Quavo - Quavo Huncho - 0.5/5

01. 6ix9ine - Dummy Boy - 0.5/5

snap on 'em

[Amidana 4,207]

TASTE!!! Your mind is SO POWERFUL 

[Ladey Gaygay 9,321]

I agree with everything except for Queen having a 1.5 and sweetener having 2 personally( I give queen a 3.5 and sweetener a 3)

[barnabesk 1,230]

I like more albums and songs from your list of dislikes 

[RodeckDanny 1,944]

LOL It works for me if I invert most of the critiques (except for Gaga and some other exceptions).

I hope Dirty Computer wins best album Grammy cause it's a 5/5 to me and it deserves it, but yeah we're veeery different. To me, I like it is a 1/5 song and Palo Santo is a 4/5 hahaha

[AndiGaga 5,120]

Palo Santo 1.5 / 5 ?! 😂😂😂

Love that album 

[funkyhaus 7,697]

Where is High as Hope? 

[2School4Cool 5,348]

I feel like the only person who absolutely loves Man Of The Woods from start to finish 

 

[youandi 2,110]

A Brief Enquiry Into Online Relationships is my favourite album from last year  It's incredible. Imo it was the best, along with 

High As Hope

Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

A Star Is Born 

also I can't agree with This Is America being one of the worst singles 

[Irrelevant 20,273]

Icarus Falls and Sour Diesel snapped 

Poor trench tho 

[FlopSlurper 34,336]

Lmao imagine putting Honey in the worst albums of 2018 when it out reviews every single Gaga album

[ObezyankaNol 2,928]

1 hour ago, StrawberryBlond said:

 

18. Twenty One Pilots - Trench - 2/5

 

Spoiler

I ****ING LOVE THAT ALBUM

 

[Fingerella 3,170]

You really have poor taste in music. Avril Lavigne & Girls. Really? Sis....

 

Spoiler

This is just my opinion on this sis don't get pressed

 

 

[GypsyPrincesss 615]

2 hours ago, StrawberryBlond said:

29. Janelle Monae - Pynk