Best Albums of 2018 – Final Round

40 became 20 became 10, now we roll the dice one final time and get down to my supposed…. Top Five Albums of 2018.

Final Round Contenders

1 . Amy Shark – Love Monster
2 . Car Seat Headrest – Twin Fantasy
3 . Confidence Man – Confident Music for Confident People
4 . Gaz Coombes – World’s Strongest Man
5 . Habibi – Cardamom Garden
6 . Mastersystem – Dance Music
7 . Matt Maltese – Bad Contestant
8 . Soccer Mommy – Clean
9 . Sunflower Bean – Twentytwo in Blue
10 . Viagra Boys – Street Worms

FINAL FOUND

Match One

3 . Confidence Man – Confident Music for Confident People

vs

9 . Sunflower Bean – Twentytwo in Blue

It’s weird that it’s the amount of polish on Twentytwo in Blue that keeps me from totally loving it when that exact sort of computer polish is part of what makes Confident Music for Confident People so much fun. The message here might be to aim lower and have more fun.

My friends all think he’s NICE
My friends all think he’s GREAT
but they don’t have a clue
that he won’t reciprocate………..uh-huh

Winner: 3 . Confidence Man – Confident Music for Confident People

Match Two

10 . Viagra Boys – Street Worms

vs

7 . Matt Maltese – Bad Contestant

Yeah, I’m fine with both these, albums but I have to pick one so I’m going with Matt Maltese because he looks like someone I know.

You’re the beauty, the stranger in the grocery store
You’re the highest quality hardwood door
You’re the final wartime piece of bread
You once told me that you hate the shaven head

Winner: 7 . Matt Maltese – Bad Contestant

Match Three

6 . Mastersystem – Dance Music

vs

8 . Soccer Mommy – Clean

I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Soccer Mommy ends up with a great long career and Mastersystem never release another album but I really do find I’m pulled to Mastersystem.

These thoughts won’t change the clocks
Notes on a life not quite lived

Winner: 6 . Mastersystem – Dance Music

Match Four

5 . Habibi – Cardamom Garden

vs

2 . Car Seat Headrest – Twin Fantasy

Habibi are neat and classic and cool and unique but Car Seat Headrest are still making the best new music I’ve heard in a decade.

There’s no devil on one shoulder and angel on the other
They’re just two normal people

Winner: 2 . Car Seat Headrest – Twin Fantasy

Match Five

1 . Amy Shark – Love Monster

vs

4 . Gaz Coombes – World’s Strongest Man

It’s pretty tough to beat the story of a hustling street busker busting her ass for 15 years before finally getting to record her first album and launch her first international tour, Amy Shark was one of the best live shows I saw this year and Love Monster easily makes my final five.

But I had a great night, ’cause you kept rubbing against my arm

Winner: 1 . Amy Shark – Love Monster