BEST OF 2018 – Part 2 of 2

Closing out the year with Part 2 of our Best of 2018 list. What did we miss? Hit us up at @theowlmag using #OwlBest18 and let us know. See you in 2019 with more of our favorite Tracks of the Week, Discovery features, live photos, and more goodies we’ve got up our sleeves…err…wings? Happy listening, friends.

Lake Jons
Lake Jons

Finnish trio @LakeJons self-titled debut album grabs the listener in the first three seconds with its robust vocals and addictive rhythms. #OwlBest18
-Trina (@NDBNE)

Leon Bridges
Good Thing

Soulful grooves and hip-swaying funk @leonbridges graced 2018 with not only a “Good Thing” but his best album thus far. #OwlBest18
-@NDBNE

Lord Lu C N
The U Album

#USZN @lordlucn’s The U Album is a brilliant synthesis of so-called traditional & modern hip-hop production, overflowing with beautiful, confident, & filthy verses from @denzelcurry @JKtheReaper @Nyyjerya @YoshiThompkins & more (y’all should form a group). #OwlBest18
-Sean (@saneiscrazy)

Lykke Li
so sad so sexy

Queen @LykkeLi reigns supreme in 2018 w/ #sosadsosexy the ultimate sexy sad girl soundtrack that is as dark as it is beautiful. What is Jaguars in the Air actually about? #wedontknowbutweloveit #OwlBest18
-Mayumi (@myyoume_moto)

Mimicking Birds
Layers of Us

A mesmerizing swirl of words and music, @MimickingBirds third album Layers of Us asks to be looped over and over. #OwlBest2018
-Anna (@awwnuh)

Parquet Courts
Wide Awake!

On their sixth album, the NYC quartet gets funkier and goes deeper, delivering an album about keeping your eyes open and all the anxiety that comes with it. #OwlBest2018
-Jason (@jason4breakfast)

Post Malone
Beerbongs & Bentleys

What @postmalone lacks in subtlety, he makes up for in sincerity in the fun, yet low-key depressing Beerbongs & Bentleys. #OwlBest18
-Dustin (@dragusauce)

Pusha T
Daytona

@PUSHA_T Daytona is easily the most complete record of a storied career, and was by far the best @Ye project of the year. 7 excellent songs, in a masterfuly efficient 21 minutes, Pusha spits drug dealer tales and luxury raps like it’s the 90’s. #OwlBest2018
-J. Bracco (@braccafella)

Saba
Care for Me

Is it tragic? Beautiful? Raw? Honest? @sabaPIVOT’s #CAREFORME is all of the things. Make way for one of the strongest storytellers we’ve heard in a ridiculously long time. #OwlBest2018
-Julie (@peacelovejuly)

Say Sue Me
When We Were Together

Channeling the ups and downs of the last few years into the bittersweet and moving debut LP “When We Were Together”, South Korea’s @SaySueMe put Busan firmly on the map. #OwlBest18 @damnably
-Wayne (@waj1)

Screaming Females
All At Once

@Screamales continue to evolve from hardcore to hard rock, crafting crushing hard rock gems with flourishes of keyboard, xylophone, and heartache. #OwlBest2018
-@jason4breakfast

Snail Mail
Lush

@snailmailband create a heavy album about being an adult in a world where love and life can be soul crushing. #OwlBest2018
-@dragusauce

Travis Scott
Astroworld

#Astroworld @trvisXX and several inspired feature combos infuse an ambient trap carnival with Dirty South classics and hair metal energy, achieving the impossible feat of getting me to like a Drake song. #OwlBest18
-@saneiscrazy