Twangville’s Official Best Album of 2018: Brandi Carlile

Official Twangville Best New Album of 2018:

Brandi Carlile, By The Way, I Forgive You

The Twangville pick for Best New Album of 2018 is By The Way, I Forgive You by Washington-based singer-songwriter,Â Brandi Carlile. This list combines best of year picks from our Twangville authors plus the Readers’ Tops which you helped us create. Congrats to all the finalists. Bring on 2019!

Official Twangville Top 50 of 2018:

1. BRANDI CARLILE, By The Way, I Forgive You (127 points)
2. JOHN PRINE, The Tree of Forgiveness (101)
3. KEVIN GORDON, Tilt and Shine (69)
4. DAVE ALVIN & JIMMIE DALE GILMORE, Downey To Lubbock (63)
5. AMERICAN AQUARIUM, Things Change (62)
6. BRENT COBB, Providence Canyon (47)
7. GLORIETTA, Glorietta (45)
7. GREGORY ALAN ISAKOFF, Evening Machines (45)
7. AMANDA SHIRES, To the Sunset (45)
10. RUBY BOOTS, Don’t Talk About It (44)
11. SARAH BORGES AND THE BROKEN SINGLES, Love’s Middle Name (42)
12. ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES, Young Sick Camellia (41)
13. LARKIN POE, Venom & Faith (39)
13. HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER, Virgo fool (39)
13. COURTNEY MARIE ANDREWS, May Your Kindness Remain (39)
16. LOVE CANON, Cover Story (38)
17. THE MARCUS KING BAND, Carolina Confessions (37)
18. I’M WITH HER, See You Around (36)
18. BRENT COWLES, How to Be OK Alone (36)
18. KASEY MUSGRAVES, Golden Hour (36)
21. SAM MORROW, Concrete and Mud (35)
21. ANDERSON EAST, Encore (35)
23. LUCERO, Among the Ghosts (34)
24. OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW, Volunteer (33.5)
25. COLTER WALL, Songs of the Plains (33)
25. WILLIE NILE, Children of Paradise (33)
27. THE WAR AND TREATY, Healing Tide (32)
28. JOHN OATES, Arkansas (29)
29. LADY GAGA & BRADLEY COOPER, A Star Is Born (Soundtrack) (28)
30. DAMIEN JURADO, The Horizon Just Laughed (27)
31. MARIE/LEPANTO, Tenkiller (26)
31. THE STRAY BIRDS, Let It Pass (26)
33. THE REVIVALISTS, Take Good Care (25)
34. JAIMEE HARRIS, Red Rescue (24)
34. MICHAEL FLYNN, Pretend Like (24)
34. THE BOTTLE ROCKETS, Bit Logic (24)
34. PAUL THORN, Don’t Let the Devil Ride (24)
34. ERIC BIBB, Global Griot (24)
34. BILL BLOOMER, Jubilee (24)
40. ANDREW DUHON, False River (23)
40. BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, Wrong Creatures (23)
40. RY COODER, Prodigal Son (23)
40. THE YEARLINGS, Skywriting (23)
44. PARQUET COURTS, Wide Awake! (22)
44. KHRUANGBIN, Con Todo El Mundo (22)
44. AL BASILE, Me & the Originator (22)
47. LAKE STREET DIVE, Free Yourself Up (21)
47. FRANK TURNER, Be More Kind (21)
47. STEEP CANYON RANGERS, Out In the Open (21)
47. SPEEDBUGGY USA, Kick Out the Twang (21)
47. BUDDY GUY, The Blues is Alive & Well (21)
47. THE JAYHAWKS, Back Roads and Abandoned Motels (21)
47. CHRIS SMITHER, Call Me Lucky (21)

Additional Twangville Best of 2018 lists:

Twangville Hall of Fame
Finally to celebrate our 13th year,Â the Twangville Hall of Fame. Here’s our #1 picks from as many years back as we can recall.

2018:Â BRANDI CARLILE, By The Way, I Forgive You
2017:Â JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, The Nashville Sound
2016:Â LYDIA LOVELESS, Real
2015:Â JASON ISBELL, Something More Than Free
2014:Â JOE FLETCHER, Youâ€™ve Got The Wrong Man
2013: JASON ISBELL,Â Southeastern
2012:Â I SEE HAWKS IN L.A., New Kind of Lonely
2011:Â JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, Here We Rest
2010:Â JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, Harlem River Blues
2009:Â LUCERO,Â 1372 Overton Park
2008:Â DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, Brighter Than Creationâ€™s DarkÂ &Â THE HOLD STEADY, Stay PositiveÂ (tie)
2007:Â JASON ISBELL, Sirens of The Ditch
2006: JACKIE GREENE,Â American Myth
2005:Â KATHLEEN EDWARDS, Back to Me

About the author: Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.