The library's team of media connoisseurs offer a parting gift to 2018 with a round-up of the albums that accompanied us through the work day, followed us across country on road trips, epitomized new relationships, and became the soundtrack to 2018. See links at the bottom of the list for 2018's best movies, TV, and games, too.
It's been a while since I found an album as gut punching as "Be the Cowboy". The album dazzles with songs such as "Remember My Name", ...Show more
It's been a while since I found an album as gut punching as "Be the Cowboy". The album dazzles with songs such as "Remember My Name", "Me and My Husband", and the outstanding "Nobody". For anyone that feels the pressures of everyday life, this album might be for you.
-Margaret
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It's been a while since I found an album as gut punching as "Be the Cowboy". The album dazzles with songs such as "Remember My Name", ...Show more
It's been a while since I found an album as gut punching as "Be the Cowboy". The album dazzles with songs such as "Remember My Name", "Me and My Husband", and the outstanding "Nobody". For anyone that feels the pressures of everyday life, this album might be for you.
-Margaret
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Bloom may not be as Sivan's pop-addictive Blue Neighborhood was, but it makes up for it with a more mature perspective and sound. At the ripe old age of 2...Show more
Bloom may not be as Sivan's pop-addictive Blue Neighborhood was, but it makes up for it with a more mature perspective and sound. At the ripe old age of 23, Troye Sivan has already had more than enough life experience to get him to this current level, musically. I am eager to see where life takes him on his future albums.
-Ilka
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Bloom may not be as Sivan's pop-addictive Blue Neighborhood was, but it makes up for it with a more mature perspective and sound. At the ripe old age of 2...Show more
Bloom may not be as Sivan's pop-addictive Blue Neighborhood was, but it makes up for it with a more mature perspective and sound. At the ripe old age of 23, Troye Sivan has already had more than enough life experience to get him to this current level, musically. I am eager to see where life takes him on his future albums.
-Ilka
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Everything is Love is a collaborative album from one of the ultimate duos in the music industry, Beyonce and Jay-Z. Clocking in at only 38 minutes long, w...Show more
Everything is Love is a collaborative album from one of the ultimate duos in the music industry, Beyonce and Jay-Z. Clocking in at only 38 minutes long, which may seem not enough for some, but more than enough for this powerhouse couple. It is one of the purest examples of balance and talent in recent years that I can think of. It's intense!
-Ilka
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Everything is Love is a collaborative album from one of the ultimate duos in the music industry, Beyonce and Jay-Z. Clocking in at only 38 minutes long, w...Show more
Everything is Love is a collaborative album from one of the ultimate duos in the music industry, Beyonce and Jay-Z. Clocking in at only 38 minutes long, which may seem not enough for some, but more than enough for this powerhouse couple. It is one of the purest examples of balance and talent in recent years that I can think of. It's intense!
-Ilka
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After a dark year that was 2017, this album came in like it's said title. Musgraves has always had a talent for writing down to earth songs that anyone ca...Show more
After a dark year that was 2017, this album came in like it's said title. Musgraves has always had a talent for writing down to earth songs that anyone can enjoy; regardless if you are a country fan or not. "Golden Hour" really stands out with Musgraves' sincere lyrics about finding love, missing her mother, and people on their high horse. There really isn't a song on here that is weak. My personal favorites are "Slow Burn", "Love is a Wild Thing", "Velvet Elvis", and the bopping "High Horse".
-Margaret
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After a dark year that was 2017, this album came in like it's said title. Musgraves has always had a talent for writing down to earth songs that anyone ca...Show more
After a dark year that was 2017, this album came in like it's said title. Musgraves has always had a talent for writing down to earth songs that anyone can enjoy; regardless if you are a country fan or not. "Golden Hour" really stands out with Musgraves' sincere lyrics about finding love, missing her mother, and people on their high horse. There really isn't a song on here that is weak. My personal favorites are "Slow Burn", "Love is a Wild Thing", "Velvet Elvis", and the bopping "High Horse".
-Margaret
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2018 was not a big music year for me, I re-listened to a lot of old favorites instead. But! This vocal-and-piano only release of St. Vincent completely undid me.
-Centi
2018 was not a big music year for me, I re-listened to a lot of old favorites instead. But! This vocal-and-piano only release of St. Vincent completely undid me.
-Centi
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2018 was not a big music year for me, I re-listened to a lot of old favorites instead. But! This vocal-and-piano only release of St. Vincent completely undid me.
-Centi
2018 was not a big music year for me, I re-listened to a lot of old favorites instead. But! This vocal-and-piano only release of St. Vincent completely undid me.
-Centi
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Olly Alexander's vocal talent has to be one of the more unique and powerful ones in the electronic universe. This alone should be cause enough to look int...Show more
Olly Alexander's vocal talent has to be one of the more unique and powerful ones in the electronic universe. This alone should be cause enough to look into Years & Years albums. Palo Santo is a more subdued release in comparison to 2015's Communion, but still a reliable, dancy time!
-Ilka
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Olly Alexander's vocal talent has to be one of the more unique and powerful ones in the electronic universe. This alone should be cause enough to look int...Show more
Olly Alexander's vocal talent has to be one of the more unique and powerful ones in the electronic universe. This alone should be cause enough to look into Years & Years albums. Palo Santo is a more subdued release in comparison to 2015's Communion, but still a reliable, dancy time!
-Ilka
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It's 50 years old, but it got its first official release this year. It's just an electric show. Everybody's having a great time, and each song feels disti...Show more
It's 50 years old, but it got its first official release this year. It's just an electric show. Everybody's having a great time, and each song feels distinct from their recorded versions. The only thing missing is a rendition of "Streets of Fire."
-Ian
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It's 50 years old, but it got its first official release this year. It's just an electric show. Everybody's having a great time, and each song feels disti...Show more
It's 50 years old, but it got its first official release this year. It's just an electric show. Everybody's having a great time, and each song feels distinct from their recorded versions. The only thing missing is a rendition of "Streets of Fire."
-Ian
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I don't listen to much new music these days, so there is surely other great stuff out there. Of everything new I heard in 2018, this by far surpassed them...Show more
I don't listen to much new music these days, so there is surely other great stuff out there. Of everything new I heard in 2018, this by far surpassed them all. I was a big fan of her previous record, and I might like this one even better. It's not as immediately catchy, but Ms. Barnett sounds much more comfortable to stretch out a bit. Truly great voice and guitar work. Funny, smart lyrics. My pick for 2018. - Brad
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I don't listen to much new music these days, so there is surely other great stuff out there. Of everything new I heard in 2018, this by far surpassed them...Show more
I don't listen to much new music these days, so there is surely other great stuff out there. Of everything new I heard in 2018, this by far surpassed them all. I was a big fan of her previous record, and I might like this one even better. It's not as immediately catchy, but Ms. Barnett sounds much more comfortable to stretch out a bit. Truly great voice and guitar work. Funny, smart lyrics. My pick for 2018. - Brad
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I am a massive fan of Kanye West's Yeezus and wanted his latest, Ye, to be on par with it. Ye is still a decent album, just a bit brief in length, a bit a...Show more
I am a massive fan of Kanye West's Yeezus and wanted his latest, Ye, to be on par with it. Ye is still a decent album, just a bit brief in length, a bit all over the place, and a bit short all around. My fave tracks would have to be "No Mistakes" and "Ghost Town" which also feature Kid Cudi.
-Ilka
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I am a massive fan of Kanye West's Yeezus and wanted his latest, Ye, to be on par with it. Ye is still a decent album, just a bit brief in length, a bit a...Show more
I am a massive fan of Kanye West's Yeezus and wanted his latest, Ye, to be on par with it. Ye is still a decent album, just a bit brief in length, a bit all over the place, and a bit short all around. My fave tracks would have to be "No Mistakes" and "Ghost Town" which also feature Kid Cudi.
-Ilka
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Ultra-dramatic, churn-up-all-the-feels, experimental electronic fare that's meticulous and lush, but that you must be careful to approach in the right fra...Show more
Ultra-dramatic, churn-up-all-the-feels, experimental electronic fare that's meticulous and lush, but that you must be careful to approach in the right frame of mind. To wit: the opening track, "Forty Screams," is an apology about the woeful state of the world from a father to his newborn child. When the mood accommodates, "Brighter Wounds" at least awes and at most inflicts upon its listener a shared dose of raw reckoning. – Leah
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Ultra-dramatic, churn-up-all-the-feels, experimental electronic fare that's meticulous and lush, but that you must be careful to approach in the right fra...Show more
Ultra-dramatic, churn-up-all-the-feels, experimental electronic fare that's meticulous and lush, but that you must be careful to approach in the right frame of mind. To wit: the opening track, "Forty Screams," is an apology about the woeful state of the world from a father to his newborn child. When the mood accommodates, "Brighter Wounds" at least awes and at most inflicts upon its listener a shared dose of raw reckoning. – Leah
Show less