Albums of the Year – 2018 – by Killian Laher

Always a struggle to distil the year’s releases into a concise ranking of 10 albums, but here goes:

10. Yo La Tengo – There’s A Riot Goin On
It’s been a year where established bands have released a curveball, and Yo La Tengo certainly did that with this woozy, hazy album which is quite far away from their NYC roots.

9. Duke Garwood and Mark Lanegan – With Animals
Mark Lanegan has a way with the blues, the dark-voiced singer goes stripped back on this collaboration with Duke Garwood.

8. Dakota Suite – What Matters Most
Chris Hooson and co produce exquisite music that comforts and challenges in equal measure.

7. Low – Double Negative
The most out-there and difficult Low album in their catalogue, but possibly the most well-received.

6. No Age – Snares Like A Haircut
A great belter of an album which bursts out of the speakers, a band who might occupy the same place that Sonic Youth vacated.

5. Snail Mail – Lush
Gorgeous guitar based songs from an indie throwback to the early nineties.  What seem like slight, insubstantial tunes at first worm their way into your brain.

4. Mogwai – Kin OST
There is no such thing as a bad Mogwai album, and though they are coming thick and fast these days, this full soundtrack is as good if not better than any of their recent albums.

3. Cowboy Junkies – All That Reckoning
A real return to form, with the title track in both its forms showcasing both sides of this band.

2. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Hope Downs
Hotly anticipated, maybe the most exciting album of the year, with thrilling guitar interplay.

1. The Hedge Schools – Magnificent Birds
Pat Barrett and Joe Chester’s final album in a trio of exceptional Hedge School releases.  This one may be the finest yet.