Best Music of 2018 Around the World
The world is composed of 195 countries, and yet, the year-end lists of the most respectable websites are mostly only comprised by albums and songs from English speaking countries. If that music is actually the best or if it's only a matter of marketing and accessibility (or even laziness from music curators) can give us hours of a good debate, but doing some research we were able to find big gems from all over the globe and in an effort to share some of them, we divided the world in 12 regions (very debatable division, but it works for a fair global representation) and selected 10 great albums for each one of them.
SOUTH AMERICA
(Comprises the whole of South America, excluding Colombia and Venezuela)
10. Alex Anwandter - Latinoamerica
From: Chile
Genre: Pop
Selected track: Axis Mundi
9. Las Luces Primeras - Forestal Tape
From: Argentina
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Paisajes en mi mente
8. Linda Martini - Linda Martini
From: Brazil
Genre: Garage Rock
Selected track: Boca de Sal
7. Francisco Victoria - Prenda
From: Chile
Genre: Pop
Selected track: Todo lo que tengo
6. Niños del Cerro - Lance
From: Chile
Genre: Folk Rock
Selected track: Flores, labios, dedos
5. Elza Soares - Deus é Mulher
From: Brazil
Genre: Música popular Brasileira
Selected track: Banho
4. Bandalos Chinos - Bach
From: Argentina
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Demasiado
3. The Holydrug Couple - Hyper Super Mega
From: Chile
Genre: Psychedelic Rock
Selected track: Waterfalls
2. Babasónicos - Discutible
From: Argentina
Genre: Rock
Selected track: La Pregunta
1. Against All Logic - 2012-2017
From: Chile
Genre: Electronic
Selected track: Cityfade
CENTRAL AMERICA
(Comprises Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia and Venezuela)
10. Girl Ultra - Adios
From: Mexico
Genre: R&B
Selected track: Llama
9. Balún - Prisma Tropical
From: Puerto Rico
Genre: Tropical Electronic
Selected track: El Espanto
8. Andrea Lacoste - En la Boca del
From: Venezuela
Genre: Industral Pop
Selected track: Hass
7. Monsieur Periné - Encanto Tropical
From: Colombia
Genre: Tropical pop
Selected track: Bailar Contigo
6. Exploded View - Obey
From: Mexico
Genre: Krautrock
Selected track: Sleepers
5. Anthony Joseph - People of the Sun
From: Trinidad & Tobago
Genre: Jazz
Selected track: dig out your eye
4. Centavrvs - Somos Uno
From: Mexico
Genre: Electronic Folk
Selected track: Quebrar las Ventanas
3. Mint Field - Pasar de las Luces
From: Mexico
Genre: Shoegaze
Selected track: Quiero Otoño de Nuevo
2. Clubz - Destellos
From: Mexico
Genre: Synthpop
Selected track: Popscuro
1. Kali Uchis - Isolation
From: Colombia
Genre: Tropical R&B
Selected track: After the Storm
NORTH AMERICA
(Comprises Canada and the United States)
10. Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy
From: United States
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Nervous Young Inhumans
9. Noname - Room 25
From: United States
Genre: Rap
Selected track: Blaxploitation
8. Yves Tumor - Safe in the hands of Love
From: United States
Genre: Experimental Electronic
Selected track: Lifetime
7. Amen Dunes - Freedom
From: United States
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Blue Rose
6. Parquet Courts - Wide Awake!
From: United States
Genre: Punk Rock
Selected track: Wide Awake!
5. MGMT - Little Dark Age
From: United States
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Me & Michael
4. Low - Double Negative
From: United States
Genre: Experimental Rock
Selected track: Always trying to Work it Out
3. U.S. Girls - In a Poem Unlimited
From: United States
Genre: Art Pop
Selected track: Rosebud
2. Beach House - 7
From: United States
Genre: Dream Pop
Selected track: Lemon Glow
1. Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer
From: United States
Genre: R&B
Selected track: Make me feel
AFRICA
(Comprises the whole African continent, except Egypt and the Maghreb)
10. Muthoni Drummer Queen - She
From: Kenya
Genre: Hip Hop
Selected track: Lover
9. Black Motion - Moya Wa Taola
From: South Africa
Genre: Electronic
Selected track: The Journey
8. Bombino - Deran
From: Niger
Genre: Tishoumaren
Selected track: Deran Deran Alkheir
7. Blinky Bill - Everyone's Just Winging it and Other Fly Stories
From: Kenya
Genre: Hip Hop
Selected track: Atenshan
6. Fatoumata Diawara - Fenfo
From: Mali
Genre: Wassoulou
Selected track: Nterini
5. Baloji - 137 Avenue Kaniama
From: Congo
Genre: R&B
Selected track: Soleil de Volt
4. Okzharp & Manthe Ribane - Closer Apart
From: South Africa
Genre: Dubstep
Selected track: Tide
3. Nakhane - Clairvoyant
From: South Africa
Genre: Synthpop
Selected track: Clairvoyant
2. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 - Black Times
From: Nigeria
Genre: Afrobeat
Selected track: Black Times (feat. Carlos Santana)
1. Farai - Rebirth
From: Zimbabwe
Genre: Experimental electronic
Selected track: This is England
MIDDLE EAST
(Comprises Western Asia, Egypt and the Maghreb)
10. Dina El Wedidi (دينا الوديدي) - Slumber (من)
From: Egypt
Genre: Electronic folk
Selected track: Alive (عايشة)
9. Gaye Su Akyol - Istikrarli Hayal Hakikattir
From: Turkey
Genre: Rock Folk
Selected track: Istikrarli Hayal Hakikattir
8. Postcards - I'll be here in the Morning
From: Lebanon
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Bright Lights
7. Liron Amram (לֹירון עמרם) - Halom Yashan (חלום ישן)
From: Israel
Genre: Folk Rock
Selected track: Lean (לאן)
6. Hila Ruach (הילה רוח) - Musika Lepirsomot (מוסיקה לפרסומות)
From: Israel
Genre: Garage Rock
Selected track: Advert Music (מוסיקה לפרסומות)
5. Sevdaliza - The Calling
From: Iran
Genre: Trip-Hop
Selected track: Human Nature
4. Deena Abdelwaher - Khonnar
From: Tunisia
Genre: Electronic
Selected track: Tawa
3. Ammar 808 - Maghreb United
From: Tunisia
Genre: Electronic Folk
Selected track: Ain Essouda
2. Ah! Kosmos - Beautiful Swamp
From: Turkey
Genre: Electronic
Selected track: Wide
1. Imarhan - Temet
From: Argelia
Genre: Tishoumaren
Selected track: Ehad Wa Dagh
WESTERN EUROPE
(Comprises Iberia, France, Benelux, Italian Peninsula, Germany, Switzerland and Austria)
10. Whispering Sons - Image
From: Belgium
Genre: Shoegaze
Selected track: Alone
9. Zeal & Ardor - Stranger Fruit
From: Switzerland
Genre: Rock
Selected track: Gravedigger's Chant
8. The Blaze - Dancehall
From: France
Genre: Electronic
Selected track: Queens
7. Mouse on Mars - Dimensional People
From: Germany
Genre: Experimental Electronic
Selected track: Dimensional People Part III (feat. Bon Iver)
6. Leyya - Sauna
From: Austria
Genre: Indie Pop
Selected track: Heat
5. The Limiñanas - Shadow People
From: France
Genre: Shoegaze
Selected track: Dimanche (feat. Bertrand Belin)
4. Melody's Echo Chamber - Bon Voyage
From: France
Genre: Dream Pop
Selected track: Breathe In, Breathe Out
3. DJ Koze - Knock Knock
From: Germany
Genre: Techno
Selected track: Pick up
2. Christine and the Queens - Chris
From: France
Genre: indie Pop
Selected track: Damn dis-moi (feat. Dam-Funk)
1. Rosalía - El Mal Querer
From: Spain
Genre: Flamenco
Selected track: Malamente
UNITED KINGDOM
(Comprises the United Kingdom and Ireland)
10. Jon Hopkins - Singularity
From: England
Genre: Techno
Selected track: Singularity
9. Sons of Kemet - Your Queen is a Reptile
From: England
Genre: Jazz
Selected track: My Queen is Harriet Tubman
8. Years & Years - Palo Santo
From: England
Genre: Pop
Selected track: Sanctify
7. The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry Into Online relationships
From: England
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Love it if We Made it
6. Young Fathers - Cocoa Sugar
From: Scotland
Genre: R&B
Selected track: In my View
5. Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
From: England
Genre: Psychedelic Rock
Selected track: Four out of Five
4. Sophie - Oil of Every Pearl's un-Insides
From: Scotland
Genre: Industrial Pop
Selected track: Faceshopping
3. Let's Eat Grandma - I'm all Ears
From: England
Genre: Synthpop
Selected track: Falling into me
2. Blood Orange - Negro Swan
From: England
Genre: R&B
Selected track: Charcoal Baby
1. Idles - Joy as an Act of Resistance
From: England
Genre: Punk Rock
Selected track: Colossus
SCANDINAVIA
(Comprises Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Faroe Islands)
10. Örvar Smárason - Light is Liquid
From: Iceland
Genre: Dream Pop
Selected track: Photoelectric
9. Amnesia Scanner - Another Life
From: Finland
Genre: Experimental Electronic
Selected track: AS Too Wrong
8. Lykke Li - So Sad, so Sexy
From: Sweden
Genre: Indie Pop
Selected track: Deep End
7. Hanna Järver - So long
From: Sweden
Genre: Indie Pop
Selected track: Jävla 80-tal
6. Jaakko Eino Kalevi - Out of Touch
From: Finland
Genre: Synthpop
Selected track: People in the Center of the City
5. Neneh Cherry - Broken Politics
From: Sweden
Genre: Art Pop
Selected track: Kong
4. Smerz - Have Fun
From: Norway
Genre: Industrial pop
Selected track: Have Fun
3. Viagra Boys - Street Worms
From: Sweden
Genre: Punk Rock
Selected track: Sports
2. Iceage - Beyondless
From: Denmark
Genre: Punk Rock
Selected track: Under the sun
1. Robyn - Honey
From: Sweden
Genre: Pop
Selected track: Honey
EASTERN EUROPE
(Comprises the European Countries within the territory between Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia to the west, Russia to the North and East, and Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan to the south)
10. Svemirko - Tunguzija
From: Croatia
Genre: Synthpop
Selected track: 34,5
9. SoundQ - Ambient Pressure
From: Poland
Genre: Techno
Selected track: Crowds
8. Vagina Lips - Generation Y
From: Greece
Genre: Garage Rock
Selected track: This is a Good Life
7. Zè Džozers (Зэ Джозерс) - Složnye Mašinnye Bity (Сложные машинные биты)
From: Ukraine
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Ne Vljubljajsja Nikogda (Не влюбляйся никогда)
6. The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices - BooCheeMish
From: Bulgaria
Genre: Folk
Selected track: Rano Ranila
5. The Qualitons - Echoes Calling
From: Hungary
Genre: Psychedelic Rock
Selected track: Echo
4. Stereo Nova (Στέρεο Νόβα) - Uranos (Ουρανός)
From: Greece
Genre: Electronic
Selected track: Nea Moda (Νέα Μόδα)
3. Sýček - I.
From: Czech Republic
Genre: Shoegaze
Selected track: Rozcestí
2. Kan Wakan - Phantasmagoria Vol. 1
From: Bulgaria
Genre: Trip Hop
Selected track: Molasses
1. Lolina - The Smoke
From: Russia
Genre: Experimental Electronic
Selected track: The River
OCEANIA
(Comprises Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands)
10. Parcels - Parcels
From: Australia
Genre: Indie Pop
Selected track: Tieduprightnow
9. Jonathan Bree - Sleepwalking
From: New Zealand
Genre: Art Pop
Selected track: You're so Cool
8. Marlon Williams - Make Way for Love
From: New Zealand
Genre: Art Pop
Selected track: What's Chasing You?
7. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Sex & Food
From: New Zealand
Genre: Psychedelich Rock
Selected track: American Guilt
6. Confidence Man - Confident Music for Confident People
From: Australia
Genre: Pop
Selected track: Better Sit Down Boy
5. The Beths - Future Me Hates Me
From: New Zealand
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Future Me Hates Me
4. Courtney Barnett - Tell Me How You Really Feel
From: Australia
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: nameless faceless
3. Camp Cope - How to Socialise & Make Friends
From: Australia
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: The Opener
2. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - Hope Downs
From: Australia
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Talking Straight
1. Troye Sivan - Bloom
From: Australia
Genre: Pop
Selected track: My My My!
SOUTH ASIA
(Comprises South Asia and South-East Asia)
10. Sharesprings - Paraparlor
From: Indonesia
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Something soon
9. Bayangan - Bersendirian Berhad
From: Malaysia
Genre: Folk Rock
Selected track: Cagaran Mimpi
8. Charlie Lim - Check-Hook
From: Singapore
Genre: Pop
Selected track: Welcome Home
7. Unique - Grandma
From: Philippines
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Ozone (Itulak Ang Pinto)
6. Folk9 - Chinese Banquet
From: Thailand
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: แว่นกันแดด (Sunglasses)
5. Sobs - Telltale signs
From: Singapore
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Telltale signs
4. Subsonic Eye - Dive into
From: Singapore
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Come Around
3. Lo! Peninsula - AKA Lo Peninsula
From: India
Genre: Psychedelic Rock
Selected track: Another Divine Joke
2. Bedchamber - Geography
From: Indonesia
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Natural
1. Fauxe - Ikhlas
From: Singapore
Genre: Electronic Folk
Selected track: Gaut
NORTH ASIA
(Comprises Central Asia and East Asia)
10. 水曜日のカンパネラ (Wednesday Campanella) - ガラパゴス (Galapagos)
From: Japan
Genre: Pop
Selected track: マトリョーシカ (Matryoshka)
9. Sunset Rollercoaster 落日飛車 - Cassa Nova
From: Taiwan
Genre: Art Pop
Selected track: Oriental
8. 莫西子詩 (Moxizishi) - 月光白得很 (Moonlight is very white)
From: China
Genre: Folk Rock
Selected track: 知了只叫了三天 (I only told it for three days)
7. サニーデイ・サービス (Sunny Day Service) - The City
From: Japan
Genre: Indie Pop
Selected track: 卒業 (Sotsugyo)
6. Joji - Ballads 1
From: Japan
Genre: R&B
Selected track: Yeah Right
5. 아슬 (Aseul) - Asobi
From: South Korea
Genre: Indie Pop
Selected track: 모래성 (Sandcastles)
4. 春ねむり (Haru Nemuri) - 春と修羅 (Harutosyura)
From: Japan
Genre: Noise Pop
Selected track: ゆめをみよう (Yume wo miyou)
3. 세이수미 (Say Sue Me) - Where We Were Together
From: South Korea
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: B Lover
2. P.K. 14 - 当我们谈论他的名字时我们在谈论什么 (What we Talk About When we Talk About his Name)
From: China
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: 空气中雨的味道 (The taste of Falling rain)
1. Mitski - Be the Cowboy
From: Japan
Genre: Indie Rock
Selected track: Nobody
