The Best Trap Music and Indie Rock Albums of 2018
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The best trap music and indie rock albums of 2018 are a perfect blend of two genres. This list features the top 10 albums that you need to listen to.
Best Trap Music Albums of 2018
‘Trench’ by A$AP Rocky
A$AP Rocky’s third album, “Trench”, is one of the best trap albums of 2018. It features Rocky’s signature blend of trap and R&B, with a hint of indie rock. The production is top-notch, and the lyrics are both clever and emotionally honest. There’s a reason this album has been hailed as one of Rocky’s best works to date.
‘Drip or Drown 2’ by Gunna
“Drip or Drown 2” is the debut studio album by American rapper Gunna, released on February 22, 2019, by Young Thug’s YSL Records and 300 Entertainment. It features guest appearances from Lil Baby, Hoodrich Pablo Juan, NAV, Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert and Young Thug. The album debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200 chart.
‘Not All Heroes Wear Capes’ by Metro Boomin
Not All Heroes Wear Capes is the second studio album by American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on November 2, 2018, by Republic Records and Boominati Worldwide. The album features guest appearances from 21 Savage, Travis Scott, Young Thug, Gunna, Lil Uzi Vert, Wizkid, Juice Wrld, Kodak Black andOffset.
Best Indie Rock Albums of 2018
It’s been a great year for music, and 2018 has seen some incredible albums released across a wide range of genres. While trap music and indie rock might not seem like they have much in common, there have been some truly outstanding albums released in both genres this year. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the best trap music and indie rock albums of 2018.
‘Crushing’ by Julia Jacklin
‘Crushing’ by Julia Jacklin is one of the best indie rock albums of 2018. Jacklin’s voice is gorgeously raw, her lyrics are biting and honest, and the music is atmospheric and evocative. This is an album that will stay with you long after you’ve finished listening to it.
‘Be the Cowboy’ by Mitski
Mitski’s ‘Be the Cowboy’ is one of the best indie rock albums of 2018. It’s a stunningly assembled work that stands out for its exceptional songwriting, musicianship, and arrangements. There’s something for everyone on this record, whether you’re a fan of Mitski’s bruising rockers or her more delicate ballads. Every track is a keeper, making ‘Be the Cowboy’ an easy pick for our list of the best indie rock albums of the year.
‘Historian’ by Lucy Dacus
The sounds and production of “Historian” reflect Dacus’ process of stepping outside her comfort zone — the result is an album that is both carefully crafted and vulnerable, reflective and impassioned. It is a remarkably self-assured debut from an artist who is just beginning to find her voice.
Dacus has said that she wrote the songs on “Historian” in response to feeling overwhelmed by the news cycle. The album is a search for hope in the face of despair, a defense against apathy, a declaration of faith in the possibilities of history. “I don’t want to be scared / I want to be prepared / I want to know who’s with me,” she sings on the opening track, “Night Shift.” These are the words of someone who is coming to terms with her own power, her own agency. It is an album about learning how to speak up and be heard.
Thematically, “Historian” is a break-up album, but it is also much more than that. Dacus has said that she was inspired by Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” as well as by Ta-Nehisi Coates’ book “Between the World and Me” while writing these songs. This is an album about race and violence, about love and loss, about history and memory. It is an album for our times.
Lucy Dacus is a master of detail, painting vivid portraits with just a few brushstrokes. On “Pseudo Self,” she captures the feeling of being trapped in a relationship that has gone sour: “You talked so much / You didn’t hear a word I said / I tried to leave but you pulled me back in / Like we were tangled in bedsheets.” And on “The Shell,” she captures the feeling of being caught between two worlds: “I am southern by birth / But I am not southern by heart / I am northern by choice / But I am not northern by voice.” These are just two examples of Dacus’ gift for narrative songwriting; there are many more throughout the course of “Historian.”
In addition to being a skilled wordsmith, Dacus is also a talented musician. She plays both guitar and piano on the album, and her multi-instrumentalism gives the songs a richness and depth that they might otherwise lack. The arrangements are sparse but effective, drawing attention to Dacus’ powerful voice and nimble songwriting without overwhelming them.
The production values on “Historian�� are top-notch, but they never feel overblown or excessive. The focus remains squarely on Dacus herself; everything else exists to support her performance. This is as it should be; Lucy Dacus is an immensely talented artist who deserves to be heard.
