Since other folks and publications have already decided to put out some of their mid-year favorite movies and albums, I’ve decided to follow along with the trend. First, albums! I still have a lot of albums that I need to get around to, but for the most part, I’ve listened to all of my highest priorities (given the limited time I have between my other challenges). Unlike a lot of lists I tend to do, I won’t be writing about these albums just yet. Consider this more of a thread of recommendations than anything else – as well as a sneak-peek of what to possibly expect from my year-end list.

To date, I have listened to about 115 albums and EPs from 2018; these are my favorite thirty-three. These are not ranked in any particular order, but rather arranged in roughly the order in which I listened to them, from first to most recent. To be frank, though, Dirty Computer and 7 are in a close tie for best album of the year so far…

Ephorize – Cupcakke

Punken – Maxo Kream

Phantom Thread OST – Jonny Greenwood

Little Dark Age – MGMT

Semicircle – The Go! Team

By the Way, I Forgive You – Brandi Carlile

Twin Fantasy – Car Seat Headrest

In a Poem Unlimited – U.S. Girls

Make Way For Love – Marlon Williams

Crush EP – Ravyn Lenae

Transangelic Exodus – Ezra Furman

Musas Vol. 2 – Natalia Lafourcade

Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves

Historian – Lucy Dacus

Now Only – Mount Eerie

Cocoa Sugar – Young Fathers

May Your Kindness Remain – Courtney Marie Andrews

Dirty Computer – Janelle Monae

Isolation – Kali Uchis

Bark Your Head Off, Dog – Hop Along

Everything’s Fine – Jean Grae x Quelle Chris

Freedom – Amen Dunes

7 – Beach House

Mirror Might Steal Your Charm – The Garden

Miserable Miracles – Pinkshinyultrablast

Tell Me How You Really Feel – Courtney Barnett

Hundreds of Days – Mary Lattimore

Oil of Every Pearl Un-Insides – SOPHIE

God’s Favorite Customer – Father John Misty

Lost & Found – Jorja Smith

KIDS SEE GHOSTS – KIDS SEE GHOSTS

The Future and the Past – Natalie Prass

Childqueen – Kadhja Bonet