Best of 2018 ALBUMS
28. GLEN HANSARD BETWEEN TWO SHORES January 19 Mr Hansard follows up his 2015 Grammy-nominated album Didn’t He Ramble, with Between Two Shores. The teaser tracks Time Will Be The Healer and Wheels On Fire reveal him to be in fine fettle.
29. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE MAN OF THE WOODS February 2 A rockier effort from the Memphis man but lead track Filthy is a dancefloor banger. He is the Super Bowl interval act two days after its release, so watch that comeback album hit the top spot worldwide the following week.
30. FRANZ FERDINAND ALWAYS ASCENDING February 9 The Scottish art-rockers hooked up with Sparks to form a supergroup for their FFS album in 2015, and it was an inspired coupling. The title track is a grower and you can catch them in Galway Leisureland and Dublin’s Olympia on the Saturday and Sunday after its release.
31. WYVERN LINGO WYVERN LINGO February 23 The Bray trio cut their teeth supporting Hozier. I Love You
Sadie, one of the best Irish singles of 2017, was a pop gem.
Other big Irish releases expected this year, but with no release dates confirmed, include albums from Snow Patrol, Villagers, Delorentos, HamsandwicH, The Blizzards and Chasing Abbey