Soft Science
Maps
I've covered shoegaze pretty extensively so before we close out this year's list, we need to cover dream pop as well. And yes the terms do go interchangeably quite a lot, but there is a difference between the two, albeit subtle. To listen to Soft Science's debut 'Maps' is to fully understand and comprehend what dream pop is, instead of some moron on his couch with no plans on Thanksgiving "telling you" what dream pop is. This is it, and it's about as close to perfect as you can get. There are shades of everything here: Curve, Lush, My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, M83, even some Pale Saints. And the best/worst part is its a short, concise album that leaves you begging for more. OK - less time reading this, more time listening to it. Get going!
2018 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
aphex twin collapse EP blood orange negro swan clairo diary 001 EP courtney barnett tell me how you really feel crozet running time daniel avery song for alpha dead sea colorate​ ​domenique dumont miniatures de auto rhythm dream wife dream wife gas rausch ​geniuser i am ​george clanton slide gum the underdog hana vu how many times have you driven by? jay glass dubs plegnic jex opolis ravines kristin hersh possible dust clouds kurt vile bottle it in lou rebecca lou rebecca EP lusts call of the void m. geddes gengras hawaiki tapes magic shoppe in parallel metropolis metropolis part time spell #6​ ​ride​ ​tomorrow’s shore EP ​shamir resolution skee mask compro sudan archives sink EP swirlpool camomile EP tanners tanners EP tanukichan​ ​sundays the field infinite moment the orielles silver dollar moment thought gang thought gang u.s. girls​ ​in a poem unlimited wild nothing indigo wooden shjips v. ​yuno moodie EP
HONORABLE MENTIONS
