Another year is winding down, which means that it is time for the ubiquitous best of year lists. Without further ado, here are my picks for the best albums of 2018.
Key Tracks: Gimme a Week, Joni, Sweet Shame, Mystery, Livin’ to Fly, Little Red Hen (With Apologies to Chicken Little), Broken Bell
Featured Twangville coverage of Kirby Brown: Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2018, Part 3.
Key Tracks: Walk In Circles, King of Catastrophes, Scared Stiff, The Wilderness, Another Another Then Boom, Totally You Gunslinger, History Has Their Number
Featured Twangville coverage of Grant-Lee Phillips: Mayer’s Playlist for Winter 2018, Part 1, Mayer’s Picks – Best Albums of 2016 and Monday Morning Video – Grant-Lee Phillips “Cry Cry”.
Key Tracks: It’s So Cruel, Don’t Talk About It, Easy Way Out, Break My Heart Twice, I’ll Make It Through, Infatuation, Don’t Give a Damn
Featured Twangville coverage of Ruby Boots: Mayer’s Playlist for Winter 2018, Part 2, SXSW 2018 – The Sounds, Part 2, Folk Alliance 2018 – Mayer’s Picks, Part 2 and Readers’ Pick: Don’t Talk About It by Ruby Boots.
Key Tracks: Fire at the End of the World, Saint on a Chain, Right on Time, Drunkest Man in Town, Rest Your Head, Get It Together
Featured Twangville coverage of Kevin Gordon: Mayer’s Playlist for Summer 2018, Part 1, Kevin Gordon – Tilt and Shine, Monday Morning Video – Kevin Gordon Rocks in a Car and Kevin Gordon – Long Gone Time.
Key Tracks: Coming Home, Good Ole Days, Heartbreak Man, Paid By the Mile, Quick Fix, Skinny Elvis, The Weight of a Stone
Featured Twangville coverage of Sam Morrow: Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2018, Part 2, Monday Morning Video – Sam Morrow “Paid By the Mile”, SXSW 2018 – The Sounds, Part 3 and Monday Morning Video – A Premiere from Sam Morrow.
Key Tracks: Loser’s Lament, Golden Lonesome, Friends, Hard Way, Sinking Ship, Lincoln Creek
Featured Twangville coverage of Glorietta: Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2018, Part 2.
Key Tracks: The World Is On Fire, Crooked + Straight, Tough Folks, One Day At a Time, Things Change, Shadows of You
Featured Twangville coverage of American Aquarium: Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2018, Part 2, Readers’ Pick: American Aquarium – Things Change and Monday Morning Video: American Aquarium and Chip Robinson.
Key Tracks: Comin’ Around, Heart of a Man, They Don’t Make ’em, No Man’s Land, Let You Down, Gotta Know, Still Holding On, Easy Ways
Featured Twangville coverage of Andrew Duhon: Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2018, Part 3 and Readers’ Pick: Andrew Duhon – False River.
Key Tracks: Damn Right, Depressive State, Creatures, Catch It Now, Red Rescue, Hurts As Good As It Feels, Forever, Snow White Knuckles
Featured Twangville coverage of Jaimee Harris: Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2018, Part 1, SXSW 2018 – The Sounds, Part 3 and Folk Alliance 2018 – Mayer’s Picks, Part 2.
Key Tracks: The Fold, Tequila Train, Keep Moving, Gina Joon, Places, How to Be OK Alone
Featured Twangville coverage of Brent Cowles: Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2018, Part 1, SXSW 2018 – The Sounds, Part 1, Monday Morning Video – Brent Cowles “The Fold”, and Monday Morning Video – Brent Cowles.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.