My Top 20 Albums of 2018

So now that the countdown show on New Year's Eve has come and gone and the loyal UMFM listeners got to hear it spoiler-free, I can finally post my Top 20 Albums of 2018.

20 Zhen Chen and Lin Ma - On & Between [Navona]



19 Leila Abdul-Rauf - Dimunition [Malignant]



18 Ben Pirani - How Do I Talk To My Brother [Colemine]



17 Witch Prophet - The Golden Octave [Independent]



16 Safia Nolin - Dans le noir [Bonsound]



15 Khalab - Black Noise 2084 [On the Corner]



14 Dirty Projectors - Lamp Lit Prose [Domino]



13 Kadhja Bonet - Childqueen [Fat Possum]



12 Zaki Ibrahim - The Secret Life of Planets [Independent]



11 Molly Burch - First Flower [Captured Tracks]



10 Kamasi Washington - Heaven & Earth [Young Turks]



09 Bear Grass - LEFT [Five Kill]



08 GoGo Penguin - A Humdrum Star [Blue Note]



07 V.V. Lightbody - Bathing Peach [Independent]



06 Maribou State - Kingdoms in Colour [Counter]



05 Khruangbin - Con Todo El Mundo [Fat Possum]



04 Renata Zeiguer - Old Ghost [Northern Spy]



03 Makaya McCraven - Universal Beings [International Anthem]



02 Rhye - Blood [Last Gang]



01 Jeremy Dutcher - Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa [Independent]

2018 Year End Longlist, Part 4

Neko Case - Hell-On [Anti-]



Marisa Anderson - Cloud Corner [Thrill Jockey]



Rosehardt - Songs in the Key of Solitude [Independent]



Shawn Lee & the Soul Surfers - Shawn Lee & the Soul Surfers [Independent]



Hilary Woods - Colt [Sacred Bones]



Oracle Hysterical - Hecuba [National Sawdust Tracks]



Natalie Evans - Better At Night [Small Pond]



Kamaal Williams - The Return [Black Focus Records]



Blood Wine or Honey - Fear & Celebration [Do Right! Music]



Chancha Via Circuito - Bienaventuranza [Wonderwheel Recordings]



Makaya McCraven - Where We Come From [International Anthem]



Boyhood - Bad Mantras [Independent]



Remember Sports - Slow Buzz [Father/Daughter]



Alekesam - Sound Proof Heart [Alpha Pup]



Hop Along- Bark Your Head Off, Dog [Saddle Creek]

Makaya McCraven - "Mantra"

IT'S UNIVERSAL BEINGS RELEASE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally. Thanks to the fine folks at International Anthem, I've been absorbing the second release from Chicago's Makaya McCraven for a little while now and waiting for the opportunity to feature it on my radio show. Tonight I'll finally get to spin the track below but more importantly, the record is now available to listen to in its entirety on Bandcamp and to purchase. The entire record is a stunner and has a solid spot on my 2018 Longlist, but "Mantra" continues to stand out on multiple listens because that interpolation of harp and bowed bass dancing atop the snapping percussion. It creates a mood and a groove that I just want to luxuriate in.

ADaD - "Holdin' On ft. Black Thought, Yaw & Khari Lemuel"

Just got tipped off to this new ADaD cut thanks to its producer, Tensei (who you need to be following!) and this cut bounces like no one's business. If your head isn't bobbing or you don't have a strut in your step while you play this cut, call the coroner. PLUS Black Thought! A Makaya McCraven sample! GET ON IT!!!