The 25 Best Electronic Albums of 2018
Electronic music is one of the broadest-reaching genres by design, and 2018 highlights that as well as any other year on record. These are the 25 best albums.
best music of 2018
The Best Jazz of 2018
The definition of "jazz" has never been broader, and the music has never been brighter. Two PopMatters critics pick their favorites in four modern jazz categories.
The 10 Best Pop Albums of 2018
In a year when we wanted the radio star to have an opinion on the political divide, leave it to these ten exemplary pop records to slip in -- largely unnoticed -- and leave a lasting legacy all their own.
The Best Music of 2018
Catch up on all of PopMatters' year-end best music features, including our deep and rich genre lists. Check back each weekday for new additions through to the holidays.
The 10 Best Ambient/Instrumental Albums of 2018
A great ambient album can provide a space to step into, or make the trees on your morning walk seem a little taller and the light a little more vivid or the world seem a little more like a dream.
The Best Indie Pop of 2018
What's here, on our 13th annual attempt to showcase and define indie pop, through celebration and exclusion, are brand-new acts, fairly new acts, and a longtime favorite or two.
The Best Metal of 2018
Amidst all the global socio-political unrest and the personal trials of 2018, metal has had a noticeably strong and positive year.
The Best Progressive Rock/Metal of 2018
This year provided introspective appreciation for creators and listeners alike for the sights and sounds of progressive music, as well as the more universal yet personal hardships and growths we all face.
The Best World Music of 2018
Here they are, soft-spoken and hard-edged alike: a rich slice of some of this year's best musical offerings from across a wide and increasingly well-connected world.
The 20 Best Folk Albums of 2018
Folk music in 2018 has kept the poignant storytelling elements so intimately knit into its fabric while introducing layers of new sonic and global influences.
The 50 Best Albums of 2018 So Far
As we head into a brief summer publication break to enjoy the summer sun for a few days, it's the perfect time to take stock of the year in music so far.