The 10 best pop albums of 2018

Multifaceted instrumentalist Tom Misch may be a young musician, but he’s defining pop his own way. His debut album “Geography” is a blend of electropop and jazz that showcases his inspiration from a classic genre and puts a modern twist to it. He even blends hip-hop into the mix with collaborations from artists like Goldlink and De La Soul. The music is so vast that it’s hard to put Misch into just one genre. He leaves minds to wander on his jazz instrumentals like “Tick Tock” and his cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely.” But he also keeps the party going on house grooves like “Disco Yes” and “Cos I Love You.” From the party-goer to the infatuated lover, “Geography” has music for just about anyone. All around, the album is a feel-good project that is set to brighten any mood if needed.

Panic! At the Disco, "Pray For the Wicked"

Listeners can always count on Panic! At the Disco to release the ultra-hype, yet emo-pop tracks that jump through speakers. PATD has had a number of lineup changes over the years and is currently a one-man band, but that hasn't stopped vocalist Brendon Urie to taking the music into his own hands. He prides himself on a unique sound that blends bold melodies with strong theatrics, which is evident on the album's instrumentation and Urie attempting to hit higher notes. On singles like “High Hopes,” Urie sings about the importance of dreaming for something better, even when times seem hard. On “(F— A) Silver Lining,” it’s all about letting go the of the "look on the bright side" mentality and wanting the best out of any situation. The album is a bit different from previous PATD projects; instead of the former guitar-driven rock style, Urie focuses on bringing more electronic and Big Band styles.

Years & Years, "Palo Santo"

Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander is fully in tune with his sexuality and wants to encourage others to do the same. The group’s second album “Palo Santo” is filled with dance-driven anthems that could be heard in clubs, gyms and malls across the world. Alexander shows off this outlandish and unapologetic attitude that is sure to ring true for many listeners. On the single "All for You," Alexander sings about seeing the potential growth in a relationship, but ultimately gets hurt in the end. “Karma” is also a standout, as Alexander tells about family members who didn’t believe in him and disowned his beliefs, but he’s coming into his own and knows he can win with his confidence and sensuality.

BTS, "Love Yourself 結 'Answer'"

K-pop has crossed over to the United States, and the biggest band to reap the benefits is BTS. Let’s just say, if BTS goes on tour, they can easily sell out a show within minutes. Not to mention, fans will line up for hours just to get into the venue. After major success in Asia with their second album “Wings” in 2016 and gaining more exposure after performing at the 2017 American Music Awards, people were starting to see the reach and power of K-pop. The band is known for releasing albums mixed with Korean, Japanese and English dialects. Their album “Love Yourself 結 'Answer'” is a compilation of songs from their previous albums “Love Yourself: Her” and “Love Yourself: Tear,” along with seven new tracks. It’s fused with dance-heavy, electro-pop sound, with elements of hip-hop that is easily heard on tracks like “Trivia: Just Dance” and “Her.” One of the album’s standouts is “Fake Love,” a music video that reached over 35 million views on YouTube within just 24 hours after its release. If a listener isn’t familiar with the Korean language, the album’s production is equally enticing to keep one on the dance floor.

Bebe Rexha, "Expectations"

After being in the industry as a songwriter for artists like Selena Gomez, Rihanna and David Guetta, Bebe Rexha had to prove she was more than an artist with a pen. Over the summer, she released her debut album “Expectations,” a proper title for a new artist who was trying to break away from the mold. Whether she’s going through relationship woes on "I'm a Mess" or her desire for love on the Quavo-assisted track, “Two Souls on Fire,” Rexha is letting listeners into her life filled with passion and self-worth, along with sadness and heartache. Throughout the project, Rexha blends her pop vocals with alternative, trap and country genres that makes it an easy listen for vast audiences.

Charlie Puth, "Voicenotes"

Singer-songwriter Charlie Puth has come a long way since releasing covers back in his early YouTube days. His sophomore album “Voicenotes” was released a year after the first single “Attention” caught airplay. Puth was looking to push himself musically on this album, as he strayed from a lot of the love ballads but included more mid-tempo grooves dealing with a wild love life. “Attention” is all about dealing with a heartbreak, while “How Long” calls out his lover on infidelity. The album’s first track and final single “The Way I Am” is where listeners hear Puth confidently telling people they need to accept him as he is, whether they love it or not. The singer is inspired by ‘80s pop-rock and R&B as he recruits artists like Kehlani on “Done For Me” and Boyz II Men on “If You Leave Me Now” to help elevate his sound. Cohesively, “Voicenotes” focuses on the ups and downs of relationships. If a listener is going through life’s lows, Puth’s production and falsettos can lighten any mood.

Bazzi, "Cosmic"

Bazzi is a newcomer to the pop scene, and his debut album “Cosmic” takes listeners into the stratosphere. Earlier this year, Apple Music featured Bazzi as part of its “Up Next” class of rising talent, and his breakout single “Mine” soon became a viral hit. He then joined Camila Cabello as an opener on the singer’s Never Be The Same Tour. Bazzi uses his love of astronomy on song titles such as “Star” and “Fantasy,” but the songs tell more about his infatuation with a lover’s beauty and how he wants to push a special someone to their fullest potential. Although the album focuses on love and sex, Bazzi references drugs and alcohol that unsurprisingly have an effect on his relationships. With Bazzy’s lyrical focus and smooth mix between pop and R&B, “Cosmic” is a project with all the feels.

Twenty One Pilots, "Trench"

Although Twenty One Pilots have been releasing music for nearly a decade, the band didn’t see major success until their 2015 album “Blurryface.” Three years later and they're back with their fifth album “Trench” to much anticipation. Twenty One Pilots are known for exploring topics of insecurity, death and mental health on their previous albums, and they continue to keep those themes throughout “Trench.” On “Nico and the Niners,” the band sings about the awareness of depression and attempts to escape internal struggles. Whereas “Morph” questions on what happens after death. There’s no doubt that they have dark themes in their music, but “Trench” shows how artists can use even the most fearful topics to help someone who may be struggling. 

Camila Cabello, "Camila"

When Fifth Harmony announced that Camila Cabello would no longer be a part of the group, some people questioned if the singer could hold her own going solo. However, Cabello secured collaborations with artists like Machine Gun Kelly and Major Lazer, along with a dedicated fan base that wanted to see her win. Cabello released her solo debut “Camila” at the top of the year, and the album’s lead single “Havana” was heating up the charts. “Camila” showcased who the singer is authentically, as she added sounds from her Latin roots across dance tracks and love ballads. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and could possibly be a sign that Cabello is doing just fine on her own.

Ariana Grande, "Sweetener"

Pop sensation Ariana Grande is known for elevating her image and sound on each album. The former Nickelodeon star is all grown up, and while her previous album “Dangerous Woman” was more of her coming-out party, “Sweetener” shows how much Grande has upped her game. Pharrell Williams was a key producer, as he worked on nearly half of the album, and it featured collaborations with Nicki Minaj and Missy Elliott. Some of the singles were “No Tears Left to Cry” and “God is a Woman.” With Pharrell behind the boards on this album, he helped Grande deepen her palette between pop, R&B and a little hip-hop.