The Freshman 15: 2018's Best Debut Albums
We are still a few weeks away from releasing our final list of 2018's best albums. But our best of 2018 coverage continues now with a look at the year's top newcomers in music.
Above is our list of the 15 best-reviewed debut albums of 2018, ranked by Metascore. Note that albums must have at least 7 reviews—and be a full LP, rather than an EP—to be eligible for inclusion. Albums are ranked by Metascore prior to rounding (based on scores as of December 8, 2018).
(#1) The year's best debut comes from Chicago rapper/poet Fatimah Nyeema Warner. Her self-released debut album Room 25 follows her cult hit 2016 mixtape Telefone and showcases her impeccable—often humorous, introspective, intelligent, and political—lyricism.
“From beginning to end, Room 25 is a testimony to the power of telling your story and the hope that can be found in doing so without apology. Like hearing the chorus of an old spiritual or having a long conversation with a close friend, each song is intimate in a restorative way. An unquestionable balm for uncertain times like these, this album announces Noname’s lyrical coming-of-age.” —A.V. Club
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