Best New Music of 2018

Cornfed Hick

Ancient Mariner
We usually do this at the end of the year but I thought it might be fun for folks to share their favorite NEW music of the year. Can be metal, hard rock, pop, classical, jazz, whatever...if you like it, post it, and preferably write a sentence or two explaining what you like about it. People always introduce me to music I like in threads like this, so I hope you enjoy this as much as I will.

I have a few choices myself but I thought I'd let others post their favorites first.
 
2016 has had some solid releases so far, but I've been taking a break from new music to focus on the survivors and the Yearly Metal thread.

Here's a few favorites:

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Submotion Orchestra - Colour Theory (Electronic)
Great jazzy electronic music with an awesome female vocalist. A cool blend of instrumental and vocal driven tracks with the electronics embellished by horns. Really great stuff.

Favorite song: In Gold (https://submotionorchestra.bandcamp.com/track/in-gold)

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Anderson Paak - Malibu (Hip hop)

Every year there's one hip hop album that manages to dominate my listening time and make it to my top 3 favorites for the year. This year, it was the first album I listened to. Totally inappropriate time to release this album, the summery sounds and California themed lyrics were especially jarring when listening during a snow storm, I think the album would've had a larger impact if it was released in the summer. Either way, it's awesome. There's a similar appreciation for the roots of hip hop that's present on Kendrick Lamar's last album, but in a different way. A bit more straight blues flavor on this that I love. Anderson Paak also blends singing and rapping more. Also a very uplifting album.

Instead of posting a track from the album, here's a medley he did on Colbert that still blows my mind:

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Headspace - All You Fear Is Gone (Progressive Metal)
Big fan of this band, with Damian Wilson (one of the best Metal vocalists out there right now) and Rick Wakeman's son on keys. The album sort of dips in the middle, but the first and last thirds are really some of the best prog metal I've heard in some time.

Favorite song: Secular Soul

Have to go to work so I don't have much time to post. A few others I like:

Borknagar - Winter Thrice: Great metal band that @Night Prowler turned me on to a few years ago. Really cool album

Amon Amarth - Jomsviking: I've tried many times to get into this band and they've never quite stuck with me, but this album really clicked. Possibly my favorite Metal album of the year so far and has inspired me to go back and try their other albums again.

Charli XCX - Vroom Vroom EP: Some really weird electronic pop. Great collaboration with Sophie.

Steven Wilson 4.5: Leftovers from Hand Cannot Erase and mostly sounds that way, but this EP is worth checking out for Book of Regrets and the rerecording of Don't Hate Me.
 
I'll be honest, other than the new DT album.. I don't think I've listen to a new album this year. Possibly the only new thing I've heard was Machine Heads new song which was pretty cool and directed at Phil Anselmo.

 
Well, as far as metal goes, RAGE released an ok EP this year called My Way in February:


Their new album The Devil Strikes Again came out in June, but I haven't heard it and I haven't been reading spectacular reviews of it. Vektor's new album Terminal Redux is suppose to be insanely good and I had my local CD shop order it for me. I also want to hear Motörhead's final live album Clean Your Clock. The previews on YouTube look surprisingly promising:


The setlist they played on the live album is awesome. It was their 40th anniversary tour so there's plenty of goodies in there like Rock It and The Chase is Better Than the Catch. Overkill is suppose to have a new album in October and live DVD sometime soon. Need to hear the new EP's from both Voivod and Candlemass. Destruction's newest album probably isn't bad, but it doesn't seem all too interesting. New albums soon from Sodom, Inquisition, and Grim Reaper all have my interests piqued too.


On the pop side of things, Charli XCX's newest EP blew me away. Her grimy electropop is infectious to say the least:


I'm looking forward to hearing the newest album from Drake as well.
 
On the pop side of things, Charli XCX's newest EP blew me away. Her grimy electropop is infectious to say the least:

Nice! :p

I've been listening to new stuff, for me; but not much actually released this year besides Buckethead. Bucket released 15 albums in the first three months of this year before going out on tour in April. He genuinely isn't all about shredding & guitar nonsense. If you've never listened to him, give one of these a listen. They're pretty atmospheric...

Pike #224 Buildor (January)

Pike #231 Drift (March)
 
Hmmm, that's two independent recommendations for Charlie XCX, may have to check more of that out. Song didn't grab me on first listen, but she does have a sort of, um, charisma.
 
No, it's the grand artistry of the musician you should be focused on.
 
For some reason that's exactly what I'd expect of a Japanese Furby commercial. I half expected Babymetal to appear.
 
New Witherscape album is amazing. Dan Swanö on the album's epic 13-minute long title track:

Swanö explains the stylistic approach as follows: “I would say that the main influence was some of the tracks for the 1st WITHERSCAPE album! I wanted to expand on the styles of "Dead For A Day”, "Astrid Falls" and "Math Of The Myth", also adding new vibes. This album has more of a traditional song structure, except for the epic 13-minute title track, which was the last song made. That one was actually a reaction to a ‘social media’ comment that said "Stop playing it so safe!", which pissed me off and challenged me to write one of the most "unsafe" compositions I have ever been a part of…”.

And Swanö further elaborates: “I actually wanted the title track to have a similar character as the "Halloween" song from Helloween or "Suite Sister Mary" from Queensryche, and so be a great balance to the other stuff on the album."

And here's the song in question :)

 
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