December 9, 2018

100 best albums of the year

From Arctic Monkeys to Rachmaninov, via Cardi B and Melody Gardot, our critics select their favourite albums of 2018

Here we go, then — it’s our top 100 records of the year. There’s been fierce debate among our critics, and a few big names have been left off the list entirely. (Where are you, Mumford and Sons?) Still, they say arguments are the best thing about getting together at Christmas…

The outright winner in pop, though, is Damon Albarn’s Merrie Land, with his the Good, the Bad & the Queen project; while in classical, we went for the electrifying pianism of Daniil Trifonov, playing Rachmaninov.

Other acts in the pop top 10 who have featured in the interview pages of Culture this year include Christine and the Queens and Camila Cabello; and don’t miss out on the world/roots favourites. Kandace Springs and Nesrine Belmokh…

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ISANG YUN
Sunrise Falling 
Matt Haimovitz, Bruckner Orchester Linz, cond. Dennis Russell Davies 
Pentatone
This two-disc box showcases the unjustifiably little-known South Korean-born composer (1917-95), whose passion for reunification had harrowing consequences for him.

Read more at: The Times