Best Albums of 2018 Bracket

[atooloftheboss]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #4: Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy
#2: Snail Mail - Lush vs. #3: Beach House - 7

#1: Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts vs. #5: JPEGMAFIA - Veteran
#2: Pusha-T - Daytona vs. #3: Noname - Room 25

#1: Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour vs. #4: U.S. Girls - In a Poem Unlimited
#7: Lucy Dacus - Historian vs. #3: SOPHIE - OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES

#1: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer vs. #5: Rosalía - El mal querer
#2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs vs. #3: Julia Holter - Aviary

[Quinctilius Varus]

Here are the results from the second round:

Mitski over Car Seat Headrest, 19-3
Snail Mail over Beach House, 11-9

Kids See Ghosts over JPEGMAFIA, 14-9
Pusha-T over Noname, 14-9

Kacey Musgraves over U.S. Girls, 15-8
Lucy Dacus over SOPHIE, 12-10

Janelle Monae over Rosalia, 13-10
Earl Sweatshirt over Julia Holter, 14-9

Will Lucy Dacus continue her Cinderella run and topple country superstar Kacey Musgraves? Who will in between collaborators Kanye and Push in the Battle for Wyoming? Will voters ever pick the more experimental album to win? Find out in the quarterfinals! This round will end Monday evening.

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Snail Mail - Lush
#1: Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona

#1: Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour vs. #7: Lucy Dacus - Historian
#1: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

[Jason Puncheon]

Lush
Kids See Ghosts
Historian
Some Rap Songs

[vinteuil]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Snail Mail - Lush
#1: Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona

#1: Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour vs. #7: Lucy Dacus - Historian
#1: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

We haven't had much discussion yet. Now that we've settled on a bunch of albums that probably everybody has actually heard, I'd like to announce my campaign to send Snail Mail to the top. (I don't think it was this year's best album, but here we are.) Lush has probably the best side A I've heard in years, and the rest of the album seems to flow naturally from it. It's not perfect, but it's wonderfully cohesive, and has 4 or 5 truly outstanding songs.

(This is as a gigantic Be the Cowboy fan! I think I said when it came out that Mitski has clearly shown the potential to produce one of the absolute all-time greatest albums if she wants to.)

[Auroni]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Snail Mail - Lush - This was hard as hell for me to decide. Be the Cowboy has peaks that are more sublime than the peaks on Lush (for me, the bop-like nature of "Remember My Name," the ending of "Nobody," the transition from the opening exasperation to the really beautiful vocals on "Blue Light," the sad power of "Two Slow Dancers"). And it's absolutely the more ambitious record imbued with more symbolic power. But the album also has a lot of songs that feel like fragments or ideas, and it takes some time to get going. Whereas barring "Intro," Lush is packed front-to-back with amazing songs that rock and at the same time are very affecting. The consistent pleasing guitar work and the narrative arc charting the progression from a falling out of love up to the singer's culmination that she's okay on the underrated track "Full Control" really tie the record together.
#1: Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona - no paragraph for this one, I just like the sound of Kids See Ghosts more (though the rapping on Daytona is probably better)
#1: Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour vs. #7: Lucy Dacus - Historian
#1: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs - I've listened to Some Rap Songs around four times and really don't get what's remarkable about it; it's got some interesting samples and musical effects, but the whole album flashes by in 24 minutes.

[hydrocephalitic listlessness]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Snail Mail - Lush
#1: Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona

#1: Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour vs. #7: Lucy Dacus - Historian
#1: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

[AKKOLADE]

Dirty Computer

[Quinctilius Varus]

Dirty Computer

Thank you Fred, very cool!

[A Dim-Witted Saboteur]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy
#2: Pusha-T - Daytona

#7: Lucy Dacus - Historian
#1: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer

[Wynaut]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Snail Mail - Lush
#1: Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona

#1: Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour vs. #7: Lucy Dacus - Historian
#1: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

[Harpie's Feather Duster]

Mitski
Pusha T

Lucy Dacus
Janelle Monae

[AKKOLADE]

Dirty Computer

Thank you Fred, very cool!

It's the only 2018 album I've listened to this year and it's a masterpiece, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Apocolocyntora]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Snail Mail - Lush --- was inspired by Jacob and Auroni's comments above to give Lush another chance, and I think its win here would be well-deserved. Be the Cowboy is not Mitski's best.
#1: Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona --- abstain; I don't really like either of these albums and my vote would basically amount to a coin flip.

#1: Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour vs. #7: Lucy Dacus - Historian --- both are good. Golden Hour just feels more fresh, although Historian was slightly more cohesive.
#1: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs --- Dirty Computer is probably the best contender left.

[Steeve Ho You Fat]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Snail Mail - Lush
#1: Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona

#1: Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour vs. #7: Lucy Dacus - Historian
#1: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

[women, fire and dangerous things]

Mitski
Kids See Ghosts

Kacey Musgraves
Janelle Monae

[34 + P.J. Dozier]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Snail Mail - Lush
This matchup was very difficult to make up my mind on, and subjectively, I still like Be the Cowboy ever so slightly more, but I have to give it to Lush.

#1: Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona

#1: Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour vs. #7: Lucy Dacus - Historian

#1: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

[VSCOelasticity]

Mitski
Kids See Ghosts

Lucy Dacus
Janelle Monáe

[Sylvia Pankhurst]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Snail Mail - Lush
#1: Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona

#1: Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour vs. #7: Lucy Dacus - Historian
#1: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

[heterodyne]

Mitski
KSG

Lucy Dacus
Earl

[tpmorrison]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Snail Mail - Lush
#1: Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona

#1: Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour vs. #7: Lucy Dacus - Historian
#1: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

[Panayot Hitov]

Lush
Daytona
Golden Hour
Some Rap Songs

[atooloftheboss]

1. Lush

2. Kids See Ghosts (Cudi humming carried this to AOTY)

3. Historian

4. Some Rap Songs

[El Salvadoreno]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Snail Mail - Lush
#1: Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona

#1: Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour vs. #7: Lucy Dacus - Historian
#1: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

[Quinctilius Varus]

I edited it in late, so I’m giving y’all a heads up that votes are due once 2019 begins!

[Quinctilius Varus]

Mitski and Snail Mail are tied at 9-9. Singer-songwriter Mitski Miyawaki returns for her most buzzed about album yet, Be the Cowboy. I really enjoy a good portion of individual songs on the project, especially "Nobody", "Me and My Husband", and "Two Slow Dancers." However, I don't think the album is very cohesive and I don't think it's best consumed as a whole, a step down from the her fantastic 2016 release Puberty 2. Snail Mail's album Lush is the debut album of 19 year-old Lindsey Jordan. This is the only album on the whole bracket I don't really "get", no matter how many times I try to listen to it. On my tenth or so attempted listen, it's starting to become more appealing, but I don't think the lyricism is that great and the album is just so-so indie rock. Realistically, both of these albums should have lost their first round match-ups to Parquet Courts and IDLES, respectively. I'm picking Mitski.

Pusha-T beats Kanye and Kid Cudi 9-8 in a close battle between GOOD Music labelmates.

Kacey Musgraves and Lucy Dacus also tied 9-9. Kacey blends country with pop in Golden Hour, an album inspired by her marriage. Many of the songs, especially the outstanding "Butterflies," are absolutely beautiful to listen to. However, Golden Hour lacks the edge and wit of earlier tracks like "Follow Your Arrow" and "Pageant Material," and Kacey's lyrics are not up to par with what she's capable of, although the album sounds amazing. Lucy Dacus attended noted quizbowl high school Maggie Walker and recently became a member of the supergroup Boy Genius with Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker. There are some great lyrics on this album, my personal favorite example being the opening to "Nonbeliever." Standout tracks include tearjerker opener "Night Shift" and the relatively intense track "Timefighter." The album is not very catchy or memorable - I dare you to remember one refrain after a listen or two. Historian isn't breaking any new musical ground, and it's not going to blow anyone away, but it's a decent indie rock record. Even though Golden Hour has the word Golden in it, Lucy Dacus is going to continue her Cinderella run. This could have been SOPHIE, y'all.

Janelle Monae and Earl Sweatshirt are both tied at 9-9 too. (Thanks for making this easy, guys.) I was looking forward to these albums and listened to both a bunch of times when they came out, and enjoy them a lot. I have a lot of good memories with Dirty Computer, since I first listened to it on the D.C. metro on the Friday morning it came out on my way to the U.S. History Bee. "Screwed" and "Make Me Feel" are fun, danceable anthems, and in songs like "Django Jane", Janelle exudes confidence and pride. Unfortunately, the closer track "Americans" is incredibly corny and a lackluster way to end the album. Although it is a very good album, this album is less ambitious, both sonically and thematically, than The Electric Lady and her masterpiece and one of the decade's best albums, The ArchAndroid. Former hip-hop wunderkind Earl Sweatshirt followed up nearly three years of silence with Some Rap Songs, an album that packets a lot into its brief running time. With claustrophobic production and vivid lyricism, Earl communicates his depression after the loss of his father, South African poet laureate Keorapetse Kgositsile. A lot of the songs blend together, but a standout is "The Mint", with catchy bars and an excellent chopped piano beat. This was tough for me to decide, but I have to give it to Earl Sweatshirt.


tl;dr: Semi-finals bracket

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona

#7: Lucy Dacus - Historian vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs


The deadline is Friday evening, and the finals will last until Tuesday.

[vinteuil]

mitski
earl

[women, fire and dangerous things]

Mitski
Lucy Dacus

[Ndg]

Kacey Musgraves and Lucy Dacus also tied 9-9. Kacey blends country with pop in Golden Hour, an album inspired by her marriage. Many of the songs, especially the outstanding "Butterflies," are absolutely beautiful to listen to. However, Golden Hour lacks the edge and wit of earlier tracks like "Follow Your Arrow" and "Pageant Material," and Kacey's lyrics are not up to par with what she's capable of, although the album sounds amazing. .... Even though Golden Hour has the word Golden in it, Lucy Dacus is going to continue her Cinderella run.

Well shoot, this is what I get for being late. Didn't realize this round was only going to last three days. Could've broken all those ties for ya

If you're disappointed by Golden Hour not being another round of Pageant Material, you're in the wrong mindset. I was put off by this album, too, until I stopped wanting it to be what I was expecting it to be. Yes, this is a very different album. No, that's not a bad thing. It's true that you don't get the same caustic wit, but the album would sound ridiculous if you tried to shoehorn the lyrics of something like "Merry Go 'Round" or "Biscuits" into these compositions.

I have nothing whatsoever against Lucy Dacus -- hers was possibly my second-favorite album in this bracket -- but I've never encountered an album where every dimension -- melody, vocals, instrumentals, lyrics, album artwork -- fits together so perfectly as Golden Hour.

[Apocolocyntora]

Mitski
Lucy Dacus

[Jason Puncheon]

Push
Earl

[VSCOelasticity]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona

#7: Lucy Dacus - Historian vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

[34 + P.J. Dozier]

Mitski
Lucy Dacus

[Sylvia Pankhurst]

mitski
earl

[Auroni]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona

#7: Lucy Dacus - Historian vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

[A Dim-Witted Saboteur]

Mitski
Lucy Dacus

[Steeve Ho You Fat]

Push
Lucy Dacus

[Smuttynose Island]

Pusha T
Earl Sweatshirt

[tpmorrison]

Mitski
Earl Sweatshirt

[El Salvadoreno]

Pusha T
Earl Sweatshirt

I wish to cast these same votes

[Wynaut]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Pusha-T - Daytona

#7: Lucy Dacus - Historian vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

[Quinctilius Varus]

Going into the finals, there's another tie! I don't feel like writing a paragraph explaining my decision, so I'm just going to choose Earl Sweatshirt over Lucy Dacus. Be the Cowboy beat Daytona pretty handily in the other match-up.

Here's the finals, which will end on Monday at 11:59 p.m.:

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

[Auroni]

#1: Mitski - Be the Cowboy vs. #2: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

[Jason Puncheon]

E A R L

[34 + P.J. Dozier]

Mitski

[women, fire and dangerous things]

Mitski

[tpmorrison]

Mitski

[vinteuil]

Mitski

[VSCOelasticity]

Mitski

[Zealots of Stockholm]

Earl Hooded Sweater

[A Dim-Witted Saboteur]

Mitski