The 25 Best Albums of 2018 So Far

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – July 3, 2018

Which albums impressed critics during the first half of the year? Find our ranking of 2018's highest-scoring studio albums (so far) in the gallery above. The list includes releases through June 30, 2018 that have received at least 15 reviews from professional critics as of July 2nd. (Re-releases, EPs, and compilations are also excluded, and note that even though you'll see rounded Metascores, the albums are ranked prior to rounding.)

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87 #8: Cocoa Sugar by Young Fathers

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Well, they certainly aren't one-hit wonders. After upsetting better known names to win the Mercury Prize in 2014 for their debut, the Scotland-based hip-hop trio followed with another excellent 2015 album and now, in 2018, their most acclaimed release to date.

“Cocoa Sugar is an invigorating listen from beginning to end, and it's hard to imagine any other band making a musical work of art that's as visceral this year.” —No Ripcord

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