Dr Gonzo's 2018: The Good, Bad and Disappointing
It's been a weird year for music, but largely positive. Here's a list of my best, worst and disappointing albums of 2018 -- in no particular order. |
| 1 |  | Dir En Grey
The Insulated World
THE DISAPPOINTING
Bad by absolutely no means. It is however a record with a significant crux attached to it: by giving into their desires of simply “having fun”, the pressures of their label and/or fanbase, or simply, and trivially, giving us an album because it marks their twentieth year (choose your theory) they have effectively tarnished the impeccably perfect trilogy before it. Arche felt like the closing chapter to the band and an unprecedented high-note that utilised every ounce of their skill set and craft. This album sounds like a ham-fisted echo of its predecessor that would have never lived up to their previous vision anyway but is certainly telling that the band didn’t know where to go with this one. It still captures some of DIR EN GREY’s magic, but it’s an album I wish never saw the light of day. |
| 2 |  | Muse
Simulation Theory
THE DISAPPOINTING
It could have been a lot worse, but then again, it could have actually been something interesting. Instead, Simulation Theory uses the 80s theme to its most superficial level, allowing the band more time to shoehorn more of Matt’s terribly stagnant ballads and crooning vocal work. |
| 3 |  | Don Broco
Technology
THE DISAPPOINTING
A good album that's as equally frustrating as it is enjoyable – failing to, once again, focus and deliver on coherent songwriting. |
| 4 |  | Crossfaith
Ex_Machina
THE DISAPPOINTING
By all accounts this should be in the bad section of the list, as it is unquestionably awful, but in all fairness, I’m as equally disappointed by this album as I am repulsed. The EP they released in January showed a surprising promise for the album’s lead up, but alas Ex_Machina opts for mainstream tropes and horrendously amateur genre breeding. |
| 5 |  | Deafheaven
Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
THE DISAPPOINTING
An album that misses the point of what made the band’s previous work so engaging. A valiant effort for trying to progress their sound, but one I think ultimately fails. |
| 6 |  | The Glitch Mob
See Without Eyes
THE DISAPPOINTING
The Glitch Mob have created one of 2018’s most indifferent releases. |
| 7 |  | Scars on Broadway
Dictator
THE BAD
It was written 8 years ago, and God help us does it sound like it. |
| 8 |  | Tenacious D
Post-Apocalypto
THE BAD
Animated series or not, Post-Apocalypto sounds like a running gag that’s been repeatedly beaten to an inch of its life this past 17 years. |
| 9 |  | Good Charlotte
Generation Rx
THE BAD
After their clumsy pop-punk return in 2016, they’ve now shifted their attentions onto the same Bring Me The Horizon template many have been imitating this year. |
| 10 |  | Bullet For My Valentine
Gravity
THE BAD
Like Good Charlotte, BFMV unabashedly reveal a derivative sound so close to Bring Me The Horizon’s That’s The Spirit it borders on parody. |
| 11 |  | Disturbed
Evolution
THE BAD
The most blatant case of trying to capitalise on a trending event since Machine Gun Kelly, Disturbed egregiously sh-t in the face of their fanbase in an attempt to attain the same level of mainstream success their terrible cover of “The Sound of Silence” brought them. Your memory will feel like a sieve by the time you’ve finished it, forgetting every flat composition Evolution has to offer you along the way. |
| 12 |  | Machine Gun Kelly
Binge
THE BAD
Riding on the success of his diss-track, “Rap Devil”, to Eminem, MGK quickly shovelled out an EP to commemorate the event. In an interview with Kelly, he showed hostility towards Eminem’s reply and his calling him out as a mumble rapper. The irony here is Binge solidifies Mathers’ case; literally being a short collection of trash mumble rap songs with zero development to them. “Rap Devil” is a good song that clearly had thought put into it, the rest of the work here is just to make some quick money. |
| 13 |  | Jonathan Davis
Black Labyrinth
THE BAD
An inconsistent mess with so many dated ideas and cringey performances it’s up there as one of 2018’s worst albums. |
| 14 |  | David Duchovny
Every Third Thought
THE BAD
Soulless and generic folk music made worst by Moulder’s monotone performances. |
| 15 |  | Justin Timberlake
Man of the Woods
THE BAD
Experimentation gone wrong. |
| 16 |  | Lil Xan
TOTAL XANARCHY
THE BAD
I’d rather listen to Binge on repeat for a week than hear this one more time. |
| 17 |  | Thirty Seconds to Mars
America
THE BAD
A once promising alt-rock band gone terribly wrong. Tomo’s departure is indicative of the mess that came from America. You won’t find a single attribute from their past here; only hollow songwriting devoid of emotion and purpose, hellbent and catered for Youtube likes and the Radio Top 10. |
| 18 |  | Greta Van Fleet
Anthem of the Peaceful Army
THE BAD
The torchbearers of a movement that is trying dearly to send rock ‘n roll’s future to creative purgatory, Anthem of the Peaceful Army is the embodiment of plagiarism in its most sinister and cynical form. |
| 19 |  | Architects
Holy Hell
THE GOOD
It isn’t earth shattering creatively, but what it lacks in innovation it makes up for in emotion. |
| 20 |  | Behemoth
I Loved You at Your Darkest
THE GOOD
An excellent successor to Behemoth’s best album. |
| 21 |  | Interpol
Marauder
THE GOOD
Initially homogenous, repeated listens reward you with various nuances nestled under a surprisingly raw and vulnerable production. |
| 22 |  | Nine Inch Nails
Bad Witch
THE GOOD
Hearkening back to their old sound is always good in my books. |
| 23 |  | A Perfect Circle
Eat the Elephant
THE GOOD
There’s some weird sh-t on here for sure, but for the most part this is an excellent return for the band. |
| 24 |  | Mike Shinoda
Post Traumatic
THE GOOD
A somewhat cryptic presentation of Shinoda’s healing process from the untimely death of Chester Bennington, Post Traumatic can be somewhat irksome when you hear contrived influences over the majority of the work here. But it can be easily overlooked when it comes to Mike’s performances, which nail a lot of the anguish he’s been feeling this past year. |
| 25 |  | Corrosion of Conformity
No Cross No Crown
THE GOOD
A stellar return from the stoner outfit. |
| 26 |  | Thought Gang
Thought Gang
THE GOOD
An archived David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti album, this 25-year-old LP hears the duo at their most hostile and disturbed. An engaging journey that’ll push even the most patient of listeners. |
| 27 |  | Our Place of Worship is Silence
With Inexorable Suffering
THE GOOD
A concise death metal album with a punishing production and great guitar work. |
| 28 |  | On Thorns I Lay
Aegean Sorrow
THE GOOD
A great metal album that isn’t afraid to admit its influences and use them to their fullest. |
| 29 |  | Caroline Rose
Loner
THE GOOD
Indie rock-meets-pop with this excellent sophomore offering from Caroline Rose. Instrumentally there’s a few surprises to be had, but the bulk of praise goes to her satirical lyrics that primarily rip into the fabric of American’s culture. |
| 30 |  | Charlie Puth
Voicenotes
THE GOOD
Frankly, the best pop album of 2018 in my book. This record amalgamates contemporary pop stylings with R&B and a welcoming embodiment to 90s boy bands, as well as a subtle peppering of jazz and soul for good measure. |
| 31 |  | Arctic Monkeys
Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino
THE GOOD
Not to everyone’s tastes, and certainly a record you have to be in the mood for, Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino embraces subtly and tone more than anything else. It’s flamboyant themes, homages and social commentaries are what make this record so engaging – having Turner spin a yarn over playing the guitar, and for many I can see the frustrations. But its wordy lyrics, artwork and vintage soundscapes more than make up for the high-octane Arctic Monkeys many yearn for. |
| 32 |  | Leeched
You Took The Sun When You Left
THE GOOD
An unbelievable debut album that terrorises hardcore and takes great pleasure in fu-king around with it. It’s slow, atmospheric and punishing but can hightail it and be as unpredictable and primal as it capriciously sees fit. |
| 33 |  | John Carpenter
Halloween (2018)
THE GOOD
The Carpenter’s continue to prove their worth as musicians with this awesome soundtrack that supports a great return to one of horror’s most beloved franchises. |
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