2018 made for a fascinating year in pop: it was the year BTS conquered America, the year we saw the emergence of queer stars in the making like Troye Sivan and Christine and the Queens, and featured the returns of Robyn, Rae Morris, and Rita Ora.
![A Star Is Born [2018] [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0004940726/front/400/qKpqIAE9uyBzn0XOiTjwrR_TZlp6n_cq-Emr2zx15tU=.jpg)
Bradley Cooper / Lady Gaga
A Star Is Born [2018] [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
The soundtrack to the Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga remake of the Hollywood classic is filled with expertly executed music.
BTS
Love Yourself: Answer
Third and final installment of the love-and-loss narrative arc finds the K-pop group at the top of its game.
Camila Cabello
Camila
The debut album from the former Fifth Harmony singer is a vibrant production, buoyed by several Latin-influenced pop tracks inspired by her Cuban roots.
Capital Cities
Solarize
Sun-washed set of irresistibly catchy, futuristic synth-disco from the funky Los Angeles duo.
Christine and the Queens
Chris
The singer/songwriter's triumphant second album borrows from '80s R&B and questions gender roles, engaging minds, hearts, and bodies along the way.
Clean Bandit
What Is Love?
Hit-filled effort that finds the trio leaning more into dance grooves than the classical crossover sound of their breakthrough.
Confidence Man
Confident Music for Confident People
Irrepressibly fun debut from the Australian party-starting quartet that takes cues from Scissor Sisters and LCD Soundsystem.
Daphne & Celeste
Daphne & Celeste Save the World
Delightfully cheerful and weird outing from the failed turn-of-the-century teen pop duo and eccentric electronic whiz Max Tundra.
David Guetta
7
Celebratory seventh set from the French DJ marries another stacked roster of guests with his propulsive pop-house confections.
Dita Von Teese
Dita Von Teese
The burlesque icon's collaboration with Sebastien Tellier delivers sparkling fantasy pop that's equally evocative and provocative.
Dreams
No One Defeats Us
Long-rumored electronic dance-funk project from Luke Steele and Daniel Johns.
Hearts Hearts
Goods/Gods
The Austrian band's arty and kinetic sophomore album mixes electronics, synths, and horns to atmospheric effect.
James Bay
Electric Light
James Bay ditches handsome classicism for brightly colored pop on his excellent second album.
Kimbra
Primal Heart
The singer's consistently winning third album hits the sweet spot between imagination and accessibility.
Little Mix
LM5
The foursome delivers a sophisticated fifth album of edgy R&B with a strong feminist message.
Panic! At the Disco
Pray for the Wicked
The band's sixth studio album is a flamboyant collection of pop anthems infused with R&B, hip-hop, and Rat Pack swagger.
Perfume
Future Pop
Sixth set of synth-washed digital dance confections from the Japanese techno pop trio.
Rae Morris
Someone Out There
A bright, reinvigorated return from a singer who twists the confines of pop to match her personality.
Rita Ora
Phoenix
After a six-year limbo, the English pop singer returned triumphant with this effervescent sophomore effort.
Robyn
Honey
Returning from years of grief and healing, the pop mastermind delivers some of her most satisfying and innovative music.
Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes dives deeper into slick, soulful pop on this bright, shiny record.
The Neighbourhood
The Neighbourhood
Flourescent '80s synths color the Los Angeles band's icy yet pop-savvy third album.
Troye Sivan
Bloom
The budding LGBT icon comes into his own on this brave and unapologetic set celebrating queer love.
Years & Years
Palo Santo
Themes of religion, sex, and devotion elevate this hooky sophomore album from the lauded British electronic outfit.
