Vinyl Reviews Reviewers Choose Their Best of 2018
Year-end “best of” lists are as traditional and fun as spinning vinyl itself. And since no single human can possibly hear every new album released in a calendar year, consider our reviewers’ choices the equivalent of strongly endorsed favorites. Our five regular contributors honored three albums for each of three separate categories: Music, Packaging, and Sound. The only rules? Music entries needed to be new albums released in 2018, while Packaging and Sound candidates had to have been vinyl released in 2018—reissues included. (An asterisk designates a reissue.)
Suffice it to say the albums—many of which have been reviewed on VinylReviews.com, some of which have not, and some which have reviews forthcoming—do not disappoint. In short, if you haven’t yet heard or held these LPs, get to it!
Bob Gendron, Music Editor
Music
Best: Janelle Monae Dirty Computer (Atlantic)
Runner-Up: Brandi Carlile By the Way, I Forgive You (Elektra)
Honorable Mention: Idles Joy as an Act of Resistance (PTKF)
Packaging
Best: Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction: Locked N’ Loaded Edition (Universal)
Runner-Up: Metallica …And Justice for All: Deluxe Edition(Blackened)
Honorable Mention: Prince Piano & a Microphone 1983: Deluxe Edition (Warner Bros.)
Sound
Best: Gillian Welch Soul Journey (Acony)
Runner-Up: U2 Achtung Baby (Island)
Honorable Mention: Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction(Universal)
Todd Martens, Fiancé of Regrettes Singer Lydia Night
Music
Best: Janelle Monae Dirty Computer (Atlantic)
Runner-Up: Mitsky Be the Cowboy (Dead Oceans)
Honorable Mention: Superchunk What a Time to Be Alive (Merge)
Packaging
Best: Kamasi Washington Heaven & Earth (Young Turks)
Runner-Up: Eric Dolphy Musical Prophet (Resonance)
Honorable Mention: Julia Holter Aviary (Domino)
Sound
Best: Kamasi Washington Heaven & Earth (Young Turks)
Runner-Up: The Beatles The Beatles (White Album) (Capitol)
Honorable Mention: Arctic Monkeys Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino(Domino)
