The brand new year, 2019, is here; and, in the spirit of the celebration, we’ve decided to take a look back on the albums released in 2018 and give them one last chance to shine. There may be a few that you totally missed – ones that you need to listen to right now.
There have been many albums released these last 12 months that we’ve all come to love. Some in this list skyrocketed up on charts all around the world; whereas others are treasured albums that ought to be heard by everyone.
2018 wouldn’t be the same without the release of all these LPs. So, as you say goodbye to that year, take a look at what made our list, and our writers’ thoughts on their favourite albums.
Kyan Palmer – Burn Mona Lisa / Chosen by Jonathan Currinn (CelebMix Editor)
“This year, I said to myself I was going to pick an album from an internationally-known artist, however, after receiving a copy of Burn Mona Lisa for review from Kyan Palmer’s PR representative, I fell in love with the songs after the first few seconds. This album is incredible, filled with a futuristic pop sound that is bound to be popular in 2019. Kyan Palmer proves himself as an artist, songwriter, and vocalist. Soulful, emotional, and gritty, this LP has a track for everyone whilst Kyan Palmer deserves a massive amount of credit for this, alone. I’m excited to see what 2019 brings him.”
Check out our album review of Kyan Palmer’s Burn Mona Lisa.
BTS – Love Yourself: Tear / Chosen by Michele Mendez (CelebMix Editor)
“BTS’ Love Yourself: Tear album is a continuation of the group’s ‘Love Yourself’ series, which is about self-love and acceptance. Apart from its meaningful message, the album is packed with a variety of genres, from Latin, to soul, to R&B, to hip hop, to ballads, that each exemplifies the group’s versatility and talent. The album was also a turning point for the group’s career since it was their first album to claim the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart.”
Check out our album review of BTS’ Love Yourself: Tear.
Little Mix – LM5 / Chosen by Kelly McFarland (CelebMix Editor)
“When Little Mix announced LM5, fans were rightly very excited. The promo for this album was spot on and it did not disappoint when released. After a few listens I was hooked. The album showcases just how the band has grown as artists, and are more comfortable with who they are as a band. Both Jade and Leigh-Anne have written a lot on this album, Jade having co-written one of my favourite tracks, ‘Wasabi’.”
Check out our album review of Little Mix’s LM5.
Take That – Odyssey / Chosen by Katrina Rees (CelebMix Editor)
“I have spent 97% of 2018 listening to The Greatest Showman soundtrack, however, because it was released in 2017 I’m going to pick Take That’s Greatest Hits album, Odyssey, as my favourite. As greatest hits albums go, Odyssey is a literal work of art. Each song has been reworked or reimagined for the occasion and have been woven together by snippets of voice notes, taking you on a beautiful journey through Take That’s 30-year career. The album makes me feel so proud to be a Thatter.”
Ariana Grande – Sweetener / Chosen By Ashley Gale (CelebMix Writer)
“Sweetener was probably one of the most anticipated albums of 2018 and it is by far one of my favorites. I cannot wait to see her perform all her hits from the album on her Sweetener world tour.”
Check out our album review of Ariana Grande’s Sweetener.
The Vamps – Night & Day (Day Edition) / Chosen by Nicola Craig (CelebMix Writer)
“In 2017, The Vamps’ Night & Day (Night Edition) instantly became one of my most listened to albums of the year. I just knew from the start of 2018 that the Day Edition would be a contender for my album of the year, upon its release it exceeded all of my boyband expectations. There’s a track for every occasion on the album from sassy ‘Just My Type’ to feel-good summery vibes in ‘For You’ and even a club-worthy track in ‘Cheap Wine’. I’ll be honest, I truly cannot wait to hear some of the new material on the Four Corners tour in 2019 so I know this’ll be on repeat well into the new year.”
Check out our album review of The Vamps’ Night & Day (Day Edition).
5 Seconds Of Summer – Youngblood / Chosen by Georgia Brown (CelebMix Writer)
“Youngblood is my favourite album of 2018 because of the growth 5SOS have shown from their previous albums to now. This album has an aesthetic and a vibe that 5SOS hadn’t delved into much before. I love that there isn’t one specific genre on Youngblood and that all the songs are completely different, yet they co-exist perfectly together on the album. Some favourites of mine from the album are ‘More’, ‘Why Won’t You Love Me’, ‘Monster Among Men’, and of course the title track ‘Youngblood’.”
Shawn Mendes – Shawn Mendes / Chosen by Brittany Sims (CelebMix Writer)
“Shawn Mendes has been on repeat for me since it came out. This made me a Shawn Mendes stan. I am so proud of him.”
Check out our album review of Shawn Mendes’ Shawn Mendes.
Eminem – Kamikaze / Chosen by Isla Williams (CelebMix Writer)
“After the lacklustre reception previous album Revival got, Eminem came back with an unexpected and surprise new release back in August. Kamikaze is a stronger and more aggressive follow up to Revival that sees the rapper hitting back at those that have criticised him – and also sees him diss fellow rappers such as Tyler the Creator, Lil Pump, and, most notably, Machine Gun Kelly. The album features some incredible lyricism in songs such as ‘The Ringer’ and ‘Lucky You’, the album also features ‘Venom’, which was the theme song to the Marvel movie of the same name.”
Olly Murs – You Know I Know / Chosen by Rachel Dempster (CelebMix Writer)
“2018 was filled with great album releases from a range of artists, but for me, Olly Murs’ You Know, I Know album truly represents a great release from him. All these years on and he’s showing that he still has ‘The X Factor’. I feel that this album represents one of his best releases over the years and is extremely personal and of course, there are some timeless classics!”
Ben Haenow – Alive / Chosen by Mark Willis (CelebMix Writer)
“Without a shadow of a doubt, I can comfortably say that Alive by Ben Haenow was my favourite album to be released in 2018. The stunning record is worthy of all the praise it has received and more. As well as showcasing his faultless vocals, Ben proves that he’s an incredibly talented songwriter. We’d go as far as saying that ‘Getaway’ is potentially the best song he has ever written. The inspirational track features the empowering lyric: ‘It’s never too late, don’t ever give up on those dreams that we made’ which is something everyone should live their life by. Other highlights include the: delightfully dark ‘Up So High’, lustful ‘Give Me Your Love’ and ethereal ‘Time Stands Still’. Following votes from readers all over the world, Alive was named as CelebMix’s ‘Album Of The Summer’ in 2018 and we can totally understand why. It really is perfect from start to finish.”
Lily Allen – No Shame / Chosen by Dominic Beck (CelebMix Writer)
“After the flop of her previous 2014 album, Sheezus, Lily Allen wanted to take back creative control of her music and that’s exactly what she did with her 2018 album, No Shame. The album takes you back to Allen’s Alright, Still days with her stubborn honesty and witty lyrics. It’s quite the versatile album too with ballads, pop, and even lead single, ‘Trigger Bang’, stood out with it’s grime influences and a feature from rapper Giggs. Although, it hasn’t matched the commercial success of her previous work, it’s her most critical acclaimed album to date including a 2018 Mercury Prize nomination.”
The 1975 – A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships / Chosen by Ellie Nicholas (CelebMix Writer)
“For me, this is by far the standout album of not only The 1975’s career, but of 2018 in general. The 1975 experimented with multiple genres such as jazz, trap, ballads, and pure radio pop yet somehow made this work on a single album. In a world riddled with so much anxiety surrounding the current political spectrum and the online world, the band complied all of these fears into one incredible record that demands to be listened to.”
Check out our album review of The 1975’s A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships.
Twenty One Pilots – Trench / Chosen by Annemarie Cutruzzola (CelebMix Writer)
“This album was my most anticipated release of 2018, and it definitely came through. It’s a very versatile album, with lighter moments like ‘Smithereens’ and ‘Legend’ and powerful ballads like ‘Neon Gravestones’ and ‘Bandito’, with a cohesive theme throughout. While there is so much hidden meaning packed into the lyrics that’s fun to analyze and read theories about, I also love simply putting it on shuffle for an hour of great music. Tyler and Josh did not disappoint with Trench, and I can’t wait to see them live later this year!”
As It Is – The Great Depression / Chosen by Charlotte Freeman-Coates (CelebMix Writer)
“There have been so many amazing albums in 2018, but for me, there’s no competition, for The Great Depression by As It Is. The album is a perfect mix of energetic punchy songs and slower moments. It explores society’s views on mental health in a refreshing way and is something I feel everyone needs to hear.”
Check out our album review of As It Is’ The Great Depression.
Panic! At The Disco – Pray For The Wicked / Chosen by Azra (CelebMix Writer)
“While 2018 blessed us with many amazing albums, Pray For The Wicked is without a doubt my absolute favourite in 2018. It’s the only one that I can listen to on repeat for weeks (which I’ve done a few times since it came out). I’ve recently discovered my love for upbeat music, and Brendon Urie really delivered on those vocals.”
Emily Warren – Quiet Your Mind / Chosen by Toby Bryant (CelebMix Writer)
“Emily Warren stepping out from behind the song-writing credits to release her own debut album made my 2018. Warren’s talent with the pen in her hand is no secret, but I was never expecting the record to be just this good. The 11 tracks are all carefully crafted little stories in their own right – there’s something so tangible in the way Warren sings. Since Quiet Your Mind’s release in October, I’ve followed Warren’s journey ‘about love; wanting love, fearing love, finding, learning, living in and losing love’ so many times. Quiet Your Mind is a joy.”
Check out our album review of Emily Warren’s Quiet Your Mind.
Sinead Burgess – Damaged Goods / Chosen by Lynn Macgillivray (CelebMix Writer)
“I saw Sinead support The Shires back in May and she was incredible. Her music, her voice, and her story just gave me goosebumps and as soon as her set was finished, I went and bought her album from the merchandise stand. Have listened to it so many times since and it brings back the magic I felt that night.”
Ella Mai – Ella Mai / Chosen by Evelin Mercedes (CelebMix Writer)
“For my favorite 2018 album, I chose Ella Mai’s debut album. Since the release of ‘Boo’d Up’ I knew she was going to be a huge star and her first album was going to be very special. Every song felt like a page out of her diary, as she was incredibly real about her emotions.”
Check out our album review of Ella Mai’s Ella Mai.
Lauv – I met you when I was 18. (the playlist) / Chosen by Sofia Esposito (CelebMix Writer)
“My favourite album of 2018 has been Lauv’s album, I met you when i was 18. I love to relate to songs and when I listened to this album I truly felt like I could. His voice is amazing and fits the lyrics perfectly.”
With Confidence – Love And Loathing / Chosen by Katherine Jiang (CelebMix Writer)
“To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this album – but it absolutely wowed me. There wasn’t a single song on the album that I didn’t like, and it’s absolutely impossible to pick just one favourite song from it. It was jam-packed with so much energy and the songs flowed so well into each other without being too similar. I loved it from beginning to end.”
Check out our album review of With Confidence’s Love And Loathing.
The Black Eyed Peas – Masters Of The Sun Vol.1 / Chosen by Byaregal (CelebMix Writer)
“This record is a goldmine and criminally underrated. The Peas’ have made some of their most impressive work on this release which pays homage to their earlier sound. The group may be more commercially known for pop songs. but for me, their style of jazzy’ hip hop combined with the social consciousness of their lyrics is what makes them stand out, amongst their peers.”
Pentatonix – Christmas Is Here! / Chosen by Kay Simpson (CelebMix Writer)
“Although coming out in late October, I believe this album is still quite a stand out. Using complete a capella to cover some very famous Christmas songs including ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ and a very unique version of ‘Jingle Bells’, the unique layers and mixes of voices, makes even the grumpiest of Scrooges want to listen to this wonderful album.”
Sabrina Carpenter – Singular Act I / Chosen by Ashley Bulayo (CelebMix Writer)
“I’m obsessed with Sabrina Carpenter ever since I started watching ‘Girl Meets World’ on Disney Channel. (RIP to the show) Sabrina has released a few albums prior but this one tops it all. It shows her growth; the realization that she’s no longer a Disney darling. I’m so upset this album was so short but I’m so ready for what’s to come. I still have Singular Act I on repeat.”
Check out our album review of Sabrina Carpenter’s Singular Act I.
We don’t expect you to have listened to them all, but if you have we applaud you! There may have been many great albums in 2018 but they weren’t the only favourites of ours. Check out our 2018 favourite EPs, Singles, Music Videos, Debut Artists, Films, TV Series‘, YouTube Videos, Events, Celebrity Moments, Memories,Success Stories, and CelebMix Articles; all chosen by our writers.