Al's Review of 2018 in Music

Listening to music in 2018 has not been quite as eventful as I wished it would have been. I've collected my fair share of music, including a lot of new soundtracks (films, games, etc), some new bands, and new stuff from old favorites. And yet, I haven't found much time to explore it all. If anything, I keep circling back to old favorites time and again.

Many of my usual favorite bands have pumped out some new music--NIN, Jack White, Saliva, Shinedown, Therion, Leaves' Eyes--but none of these albums were high points for me. At best, they delivered more of the same. At worst, I just couldn't get into them as deeply as I could their previous albums.

Few have surpassed my expectations though: new albums by Moby, A Perfect Circle, Klayton, and Muse are quite consistent and awesome. Wish I could comment on the modern pop scene, but my only glimpses of it have been with some occasional VA albums. The only single I can really name is the Chainsmoker's "Side Effects," which struck me as a nice, old-fashioned dance track, but like most other dance tunes it'll be forgotten pretty shortly I think.

There's been some superb rock put out, and the more I listen to the more I can hear the soul put into the vocals and lyrics. It's especially hard-hitting in Greta Van Fleet's work, which continues to impress. I've also been quite enamored by the new albums from Halestorm, Monster Magnet, and A Perfect Circle. It's also intriguing how the retrowave fad continues, not only through Scandroid, but now with Muse tapping into the style. Some folks probably hate the fad, but I welcome moar.

Been pretty happy with the latest electronica too, although very little of it hooked me as strongly as the rock. Was happy to get some more of The Prodigy and Juno Reactor, but the excitement faded when I heard the music and it didn't really stand out as strongly as their older works. Biggest electronic standout for me is Moby--his latest album delivered just what I expected and wanted.

Next best thing has been soundtracks, of which there are plenty. Video game music from Assassin's Creed: Odyssey is really nice. Plenty of film scores to choose from (including some nice, rhythmic works that went into Aquaman, Peppermint, Pacific Rim: Uprising, the Halloween remake, and more). Of course, you can't go wrong with the classy orchestral scores for the latest Star Wars or Avengers flick.

If there is anything that really stood out above-and-beyond all others, it's actually the film score for Annihilation. The movie itself is an unforgettable experience that I couldn't stop obsessing over--the music accentuated the experience, and on its own it managed to creep under my skin. It takes a lot for an instrumental piece of music to scare me--this one managed to do just that, and it's stirred my imagination with dark, disturbing visions of otherworldly things. The perfect inspiration for some of the weirdest stories in my head. As unconventional and eerie the music is, I can't help but to regard it as the best work of musical art in 2018.

Although, I will give the edge to A Perfect Circle's album as my favorite of the year. Heavy where it needs to be, but surprisingly mellow for most of its songs--it's such a moody listening experience, but the lyrics speak to me on a more fundamental level and it can be fairly inspiring in its own right.

So, that's all I really have to say about this year. Found a few good rock, techno, and soundtrack albums, but the rest fell a little flat.

Al's Favorite 2018 Albums

Generally in order from most-favorite onwards. Only listing the ones I've heard in full and really loved.

01: A Perfect Circle - Eat the Elephant

Man, how long has it been since APC put out anything? Few of their new songs have some good oomph to them, but surprisingly it's the slower songs I find most compelling. Songs like "Eat the Elephant," "Disillusioned," and "The Contrarian" strike a slow, steady beat, but with haunting lyrics that evoke strong themes anybody can draw inspiration from. It's a consistent, well-structured album that sticks. Go ahead, take the bite.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

02: Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barlow - Annihilation Film Score

Annihilation haunted me throughout 2018. The music is one of the reasons why it crept under my skin--tracks like "The Alien" ooze with an unearthly sound, courtesy of rhythmic pulses, sliding strings, and ungodly vocals. Few acoustic riffs provide some pleasant cues for the more grounded scenes, but they offer little respite from the atmospheric terror the rest of the sounds invoke. The movie inspired many things for me this year, and its music inspired some of the scariest things I've come up with. I think this makes the soundtrack a work of art in itself.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

03: Halestorm - Vicious

This is the first time I can say I enjoyed a Halestorm album all the way through, with hardly any tracks I'd want to skip. Maybe a few at the end, but Vicious offers a wealth of rock full of energy, tempo, and spectacular hooks. Lizzy Hale's voice exudes power that might just outmatch the rip-roaring guitars. Easily the funnest rock album of 2018.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

04: Muse - Simulation Theory

This might be the first Muse album I've appreciated in full. Big part of it is the retrowave angle, which gives all their songs a slick neon vibe. And yet, the band's signature style remains, thanks to Matt Bellamy's unique voice and the band's confident guitar work. A fair amount of catchiness makes songs like "The Dark Side" stick. "Dig Down" has a surprisingly Queen-like quality to its structure and vocals. The album overall is full of surprises--who would have thought that a mere simulation of the 80s would result in an album that feels like real, compelling music? I may have found a new muse.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

05: Moby - Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt

Not all of Moby's albums are palatable, but I do feel that this is some of the guy's best work in a while. The album is a consistent blend of beat, rhythm, airy synths, and lightweight vocals. The melodies and harmony are solid enough to make the album flow as one continuous experience--one that's rather mournful, but also full of soul and beauty.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

06: Greta Van Fleet - Anthem of the Peaceful Army

Greta Van Fleet's EPs from previous years blew me away with how fundamentally primal and classy their brand of rock was. Fortunately, those qualities remain. It still feels like I'm hearing a blast from the past, but the fresh instruments and vocal talents breathe life into catchy new tunes. Maybe the music scenes needs more bands like this--I know my collection does, and I welcome our new rock overlords.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

07: Various Artists - Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams Soundtrack

Haven't seen this show yet, but I had a good feeling that this brand of sci-fi would have the quality music to match. And it does. There are some odd cues here and there, but it gives variety to an anthology that covers all different moods and styles. A lot of it sounds nice and classy, and chances are good I'll be drawing inspiration from this whole album for many different ideas of my own.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

08: Circle of Dust - alt_Machines

The year just wouldn't be complete without a bunch of FiXT remixes, now would it? Circle of Dust's resurgence was a powerhouse as it was, but this remix album adds more oomph to the beats and electronic aspects. Nothing necessary, but quite welcome as many songs are given a power boost (and the remixed versions of "Deviate," "Nothing Sacred," and "Bed of Nails" I'd argue are better--if you haven't heard them from the remastered CoD albums, better pick this album up and give them a spin!).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

09: The Glitch Mob - See Without Eyes

Not quite as hard-hitting as their last album, not as catchy as their first, but their third full-length album still has some charm to it. The beats are strong, the songs are well-structured, and the vocals are gorgeous. It alternates smoothly between pleasant ambience and thumping dance. Regardless of the tempo, the mood is consistently uplifting.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10: Entropy Zero - Star A War

As it is with the occasional Celldweller project, this is like a blend of score music and industrial metal. The guitars are really rockin' and there's a lot of impact in between the swells. Pretty cool stuff--perfect fodder for gamers or weirdos like me trying to write futuristic war stories.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11: Monster Magnet - Mindf*cker

Ironically, this album didn't really blow my mind. But if you crave more of Monster Magnet's hard rock sound, this will satisfy. The guitars are nice and crisp, each song rocks really hard, and the vocals add a good amount of soul. Especially in the song "Soul," which exudes the very spirit that makes all great rock music awesome.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12: Flight - Assassin's Creed: Odyssey Game Soundtrack

If you've played the game, you know what to expect. There's thunderous drums and rhythm during the battles, and softer ambience as you explore ancient Greece. All the soundtracks in this game series offers powerful standouts, and the latest offers a lovely old-world flavor with some modern instruments and embellishments. It's soothing when it needs to be, exciting other times. And if you get the companion world music album, your ears will be blessed with a small wealth of sea shanties. They are seriously catchy.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

13: Simon Franglen - Peppermint Film Score

 Still haven't seen the movie--I am a sucker for action movie scores like this though. In the same vein as John Wick or The Equalizer, this soundtrack offers swells of guitar and crescendos, presumably to match whatever fury occurs in the movie. Everything in between the action beats are nice though, thanks to the subtle beats and strings that suggest intrigue and drama. Occasional piano adds some class at times. There are also cues that feel like they belong in a spy movie--maybe that's intentional, but I find it smooth and slick.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

14: Various Artists - Ninjawerks Vol. 1

Happened across this compilation on Amazon by chance, and it turned out to be a nice little bento box of electronica. There's one or two I can do without, but most of the tracks are solidly-built with pleasant instruments and beat. There's a few lovely ambient tracks, some more upbeat dance tracks, and uplifting pop vocals. I like what I hear and I'm ready for another volume already.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15: The Anix - Shadow_Movement

A slick combination of rock and electronica, which genuinely exudes a style that feels at home in our 21st century world. Even though the beats and guitars run hard, the vocals and melodies keep the songs surprisingly mellow. It makes the album even-paced and pleasant, while the occasional hooks keep my ears glued to the futuristic lyrics.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

16: Ministry - AmeriKKKant

Never was a Ministry fan, given their extraordinarily high tempos. Few parts of their latest album are still quite aggressive, but the overall industrial sound achieves a depth and heaviness I can appreciate. Beat and guitars appeal to me. It hammers in political rants in each song, and I'm not entirely sure I find it compelling or not--I'm just digging the sound.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

17: Juno Reactor - The Mutant Theater

A fair selection of fast, hard-hitting anthems that offer dance-able beats with a taste of the otherworldly. "Return of the Pistolero" is a nice variation on an old favorite, and it seems to be where the bulk of the stylistic fusions are heard. The rest of the album has a few uncanny undertones, but comes off as rather standard fare. It's solid for the non-discerning techno fan, but I've heard better from them.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

18: Scandroid - The Darkness

Klayton continues on his retro kick, and the latest Scandroid album offers a fresh helping of 80s-themed synthwave. The beats are still nice and hard, the synths are still beautiful, and Klay's voice is still harmonious. The Darkness rocks a little harder than previous albums, with "Phoenix" shredding the guitar spectacularly. The one disappointing thing is the length--18 tracks really only gets you 6 new songs, a few remixes, and instrumentals of each. I find it strange that previous singles ("Time Crime," "New York City Nights") are not included. Despite those gripes, the album's still pretty rad.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

19: Mike Shinoda - Post Traumatic

This is one from the heart--after Chester Bennington's passing, Shinoda channels grief and pain into this stirring collection of alternative music. It's easy to see where songs like "Promises I Can't Keep" and "Crossing a Line" come from, as these lyrics exude pure expression in the wake of loss. Some tracks I find less palatable or relatable. But, "Nothing Makes Sense Anymore" stands out as one of my favorite songs of the year--it's one of many that simultaneously achieves an uplifting tone despite the mournful vocals. The album overall is rather impressive for a debut solo act.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

20: The Gorillaz - The Now Now

Can't say that Humanz really stuck with me, but maybe I just haven't listened to it enough times. The Now Now doesn't feel quite as fully fleshed-out, and not nearly as well-marketed. Even if Albarn whipped this out on the fly, it does manage to hook me with its steady beats, luscious vocals, and a smooth sense of groove. It's an even and pleasant listening experience, plain and simple.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

21: The Prodigy - No Tourists

The Prodigy still delivers a sound I crave--hard, heavy, deep electronica with pounding beats, disjointed vocals, and rhythmic noise. This album has its fair share of shouting and screeching, to the point where melodies and hooks come up a little dry. This stuff will push your speakers to the limit, but if it's real power and soul you want, The Day Is My Enemy still resonates.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

22: Various Artists - Black Panther Motion Picture Soundtrack

A little bit of rap, and little bit of R&B, all in support of the Marvel movie that rocked our culture the hardest this year. Despite some rough spots, the album flows rather well in spite of the smooth, steady beats and the fusion of African instruments and vocals, which fills most songs with soul. Easily one of the best soundtracks of its kind.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

23: Saliva - 10 Lives

As much as I enjoy the occasional Saliva song, I lost touch with their work after Josey Scott left the band. It's good to hear that they still pump out some kick-ass jams--although I find most of their albums to be a hit and a miss, I think their latest effort is consistent and palatable. The hooks are decent, the guitars are great, and everything here is on-par with their other work.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

24: Therion - Beloved Antichrist

Therion was once my favorite band, and I used to listen to their songs relentlessly. For some odd reason, I barely touched their latest album. Maybe it's daunting--it's not an album where songs can be cherry-picked, it's a rock opera spanning three discs (46 digital tracks) that's best heard in one continuous sitting. It tells a story--not sure entirely what, but it's based on some old Russian novel. The best I can say right now is that the album delivers what I usually love from the band--crisp, catchy guitar work, boisterous choir and operatic vocals, beat and rhythm, and a touch of the occult that gives their music an old-world feeling. It's still quite the classy rock act.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

25: Leaves' Eyes - Sign of the Dragonhead

The band's work has been consistently solid, and this album is no exception. Good vocals, intense guitars, and a strong Nordic flavor--everything necessary to invoke a deep sense of epic adventure with serious edge.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

26: Leah - The Quest

Yep, I backed the Kickstarter for this album to get the instrumentals and swag. Definitely got my money's worth, and once the album dropped I was rather pleased. Leah's voice is lovely, the guitar work is spectacular at times, and the overall mood and tone is spot-on. A solid listening experience for anybody wanting metal with an epic, celtic flair. The only reason I don't rank this higher is that I would have appreciated stronger melodies or hooks.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

27: Smashing Pumpkins - Shiny and Oh So Bright

Despite the notoriety of Smashing Pumpkins, I bought this CD more on the merits of the songs I sampled. They generally don't disappoint, but I can see how they'd disappoint longtime fans. Nothing here will surpass their hits from the 90s. What I do like is the sheer amount of soul and structure pumped into "Knights of Malta," which I find purely uplifting. Everything else is fine.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

28: Imagine Dragons - Origins

After hearing "Radioactive," Imagine Dragons is a band I want to like and enjoy, but find a lot of their songs a little too saccharine for my tastes (although I did manage to get my mom hooked on them). Origins is no exception, but I have to give it credit to "Natural," which is a real kick-ass single. The rest of the album softens, but it's not a total meltdown--a lot of these songs strike a pleasant balance between style, rhythm, and melody that even I can appreciate. Maybe I'm warming up to them more.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

29: Jack White - Boarding House Reach

I love Jack White's brand of rock and I love the fact he keeps making it. His solo work never really stuck with me, and his latest one does have its share of noise that keeps me from loving it outright. Do like the beat, guitar, and overall spirit of the work--it's good rock, I just wish some aspects were toned down a bit.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

30: Nine Inch Nails - Bad Witch

I love NIN,but I'm not sure I love their recent rounds of EPs. I can't fault them for much though--Bad Witch does aim for a different, more artistic sound. It's especially surprising to hear a track like "Play the G*ddamned Part," which sounds like Reznor's attempt at jazz. To my ears, it sounds like pure noise...and not the good kind. But, I can still dig the album for tracks like "Ahead Of Ourselves" and "God Break Down the Door,"which offers a fairly catchy hook and lyrics I can appreciate. Everything else is pure atmosphere.

Other Listenings

Alan Silvestri - Avengers: Infinity War Film Score: Pretty much variations on the Avengers theme, with occasional emotional surges. If you've seen the movie, you know what it sounds like. It's pretty nice at times, but I'm more partial to the first movie's score.

The Coup - Sorry To Bother You Film Soundtrack: Was mostly hoping for actual score music from the movie, but this is the best we have--a collection of upbeat pop, dance, and rap songs. They're pretty catchy.

John Massari - Killer Klowns From Outer Space Reimagined: Gotta love how this ridiculous 80s B-movie has received so much love lately, as the film itself was rereleased by Arrow with top-notch quality and a crap-ton of extras. So too does the soundtrack get a rerelease, only redone with sharper quality. A lot of the movie's themes are rather bland, but it's the punkish guitars that stand out, and those awesome rock tracks are given a nice makeover on the Reimagined album. Worth it for fans.

John Powell - Solo: A Star Wars Story Film Score: It's Star Wars, we all know what it sounds like. I'll be listening to this soundtrack once in a while for the things that don't sound like Star Wars, and there are a few surprising flourishes.

Jonathan Davis - Black Labyrinth: I wish I could get behind Davis' solo album, not only in appreciation of his work with KoRn, but also because I dug some of this other solo works (like "Silent Hill"). Unfortunately, I found this album tonally weird, melodically bland, and a little whiny at times. I mean, moreso than usual. There are a couple of tracks worth listening to, but the rest left me lost in the dark.

Klayton - Red Zone and Weapons of War: Love Klayton's work, but I find it hard to get excited over some of these solo releases sometimes. These albums collect a lot of the work he's done for TV, commercials, video games, and the like--they're purposefully mixed with sound effects and other odd things, which probably fit many specific projects. The tracks are very sharply and precisely edited, so they're great to hear in short bursts. As full albums, it can get rather old fast.

Lacuna Coil - Rarities and B-Sides: You can find this disc in the complete Lacuna Coil box set, released this year. The set itself is a must for fans, since it's stuffed not only with the band's main albums but also the bonus discs for Comalies and Shallow Life. As a bonus, the Rarities and B-Sides disc offers some rare tracks that are absolutely vital: "Virtual Environment" being a huge standout for its haunting melody and mood, "Dark Adrenaline" for its urgent beat and ethereal vocals, "Soul Inmate" for its sheer catchiness, and a small wealth of alternate mixes and versions of certain singles. Most of these are tracks I never owned before and never knew about--for one of my all-time favorite bands, getting a hold of this disc was a real treasure.

Lorne Balfe - Pacific Rim: Uprising Film Score: If it's pulsing, throbbing score music you crave, this should satisfy. Might not break new ground, but the variations and remixes of the Pacific Rim themes are exciting at times.

Ludwig Göransson - Black Panther Film Score: Pretty standard movie music, but with the added oomph of African folk sounds and some modern electronica. Pretty cool at times.

POD - Circles: Often achieves the same spirit and sound that defined their original hits. Some songs I don't care for though. Solid effort regardless.

Shinedown - Attention Attention:  Used to love these guys, and I still rank their first three albums rather highly. Their latest album offers a different sound--something that seems less raw and more commercialized. Uplifting perhaps, but I find these melodies/hooks bland. Might take a few more spins to sink in, but this album will never outshine Leave a Whisper or anything.

Tenacious D - Post-Apocalypto: I'm probably missing out on some big joke, given that I've never seen Tenacious D's sketches or TV work. Post-Apocalypto seems to support one of these things, so listening to it on its own is a rather strange and humorless affair. The rock is solid, but surprisingly short. That is all.

Various Artists - Ready Player One Soundtrack: Not to be confused with the Alan Silvestri score, the soundtrack offers a small helping of tracks I've heard everywhere else. Prince, Tears for Fears, Springsteen, Blondie, New Order, and more. It's a fair compilation, except it is missing some key tracks from the movie (like Van Halen's "Jump," which set the tone for the movie in the opening credits and feels like it should be the overall theme song, so what the hell?). The only really new thing here is the pop update on "Pure Imagination," which is kinda nice.

Al's Favorite 2018 Songs