J. Cole’s KOD won’t be included in this roundup because I’ve got more to say about it than would be appropriate for these brief snippets.

It joins Kendrick Lamar’s Black Panther as the only two albums I’ve listened to this year that I haven’t gotten around to writing about. One day soon, dear reader, I swear!

Oh, and lest you think I’m saving the best for last, that sentiment only applies to one of the albums. You’ll have to wait to read whose!

(Spoiler alert: It’s not J. Cole’s).

To make up for this crushing disappointment, here’s a MONUMENTAL announcement: I shall now include my updated rankings of 2018 albums at the bottom of each of these music-themed pieces. That’s right; I indeed keep a running order of every album that’s passed through my ear canals. One caveat: I’m free to change where an album appears on the list upon further re-listens and reconsiderations.

Scroll to the bottom of this page to find which of 2018’s 72 albums I enjoyed the most!

But first, an R&B-dominant week’s worth of releases, ranked — as always — in order of personal preference:

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The Color of You — Alina Baraz

Seductively sung and produced R&B, an early contender for the best of the genre this year. She’s basically a less funky Syd. Given his two features here, I just want to note that Khalid’s album would’ve been one of last year’s best if it was this perfectly brief (only 9 songs, all equally gorgeous).

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Vacation in Hell — Flatbush Zombies

Unclassifiably-diverse hip-hop.

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44/876 — Sting & Shaggy

Have you ever wondered what a collaboration between Shaggy and Sting would sound like? Yeah, me neither. But for all you outside-the-box thinkers, or for those just curious what such an unlikely duo could produce, look no further than this album. Spoiler alert: it sounds exactly like a merging of their signature styles…and it somehow works?

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Isolation — Kali Uchs

I’m running out of glowing adjectives to describe every new entry in the current, electro-infused R&B renaissance. For a point of comparison, the album is poppier than Alina’s slow jams.

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Fate — Tammy Rivera

There’s so much fire R&B released every week, in fact, that the onslaught makes perfectly fine but derivative examples like this look that much worse in comparison.

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My Favorite Albums of 2018

1. Black Panther — Kendrick Lamar
2. Man of the Woods — Justin Timberlake
3. Culture 2 — Migos
4. The Color of You — Alina Baraz
5. Bobby Tarantino II — Logic
   
6. My Dear Melancholy, — The Weeknd
   
7. ? — XXXTENTACION
8. DAY69 — 6ix9ine
9. Vacation in Hell — Flatbush Zombies
10. GANGIN — SOB X RBE
11. Sex & Cigarettes — Toni Braxton
12. Isolation — Kali Uchs
13. D6: Reloaded — Lil Wayne
14. KOD — J. Cole
15. Little Dark Age — MGMT
16. Blue Madonna — BØRNS
17. 44/876 — Sting & Shaggy
18. Common Ground — Above & Beyond
19. Amen — Rich Brian
20. Five Five — Pouya
    
21. For My Fans — Fetty Wap
22. It’s Complicated — Wale
23. California — Diplo
    
24. Punken — Maxo Kream
25. When We (Remix) — Tank
26. 2.23 — Blac Youngsta
27. Invasion of Privacy — Cardi B
28. Cosmic — Bazzi
29. As She Pleases — Madison Beer
    
30. By the Way, I Forgive You — Brandi Carlile
    
31. The Big Pescado — Berner
32. P2 — Dave East
33. Life of a Dark Rose — Lil Skies
34. Camila — Camila Cabello
35. I Like It Loud — Tiesto
36. M A N I A — Fall Out Boy
37. Victory Lap — Nipsey Hussle
    
38. MEMORIES DON’T DIE — Tory Lanez
39. Bless Yo Trap — Smokepurpp & Murda Beatz
40. The Longshot — The Longshot
41. Fate — Tammy Rivera
42. The World is Yours — Rich the Kid
43. Kolorblind — DJ ESCO
44. Edgewood — Trouble & Mike WiLL Made-It
45. Hurtin’ Me — Stefflon Don
46. Rearview Town — Jason Aldean
47. Obsessed: Hedwig and the Angry Inch — Lena Hall
48. Lil Boat 2 — Lil Yachty
    
49. November — SiR
50. The Chocolate Box — Jeremih
51. Heart Break Kodak — Kodak Black
    
52. Glock Bond — Key Glock
53. Drip Season 3 — Gunna
54. Spiritual Conversations — Mozzy
    
55. The Play Don’t Care Who Makes It — 2 Chainz
    
56. Humble Beast (Deluxe) — G Herbo
    
57. Rich As In Spirit — Rich Homie Quan
58. Pain and Pleasure — Tink
59. Golden Hour — Kacey Musgraves
60. Dex Meets Dexter — Famous Dex
61. Ray Ray from Summerhill — YFN Lucci
    
62. Freda’s Son — YFN Lucci 
63. We Beefin? — at Wendys
64. Just Cause Y’all Waited — Lil Durk
65. Sick Boy…Everybody Hates Me — The Chainsmokers 
66. Hear No Evil — Young Thug
67. 2 Heartless — Moneybagg Yo
    
68. Grow God — Money Man
    
69. Don Talk — Don Q
70. N****S Get Shot — Young Dolph
    
71. Rich Hood — HoodRich Pablo Juan
72. The Leek 4 — Chief Keef

UNRANKED

Scary Hours — Drake (not long enough to be considered an album)

Revamp & Restoration — Elton John & Co. (I disqualify all cover-albums)