The new Q, out on Tuesday 18 December, is our special review issue of 2018, including interviews with many of the artists who made the records in our huge Top 50 Albums Of The Year feature.
There’s an extensive interview with cover stars Arctic Monkeys. Niall Doherty joins the quartet on the road in Seattle for merry drinks and the lowdown on how making Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino changed everything for them. “Arctic Monkeys is something I keep reminding myself has been around for half my lifetime,” says Alex Turner. “It’s never really not there.”
In Q’s 50 Albums Of The Year feature, we count down what has been an embarrassment of riches in 2018, with modern classics arriving from Arctic Monkeys, Let’s Eat Grandma, The 1975, IDLES and more. Our tips continue with the best books and top 20 tracks of 2018.
Dave Everley meets Panic! At The Disco’s sole member Brendon Urie and finds that the ex-Mormon and one-time party-animal has faced anxiety on his way to making the group’s chart-topping recent record.
Aussie singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett tells Rachel Aroesti that 2018 wasn’t just the year that she rose another rung on the fame ladder, but also marked the period when she became more comfortable in her own skin.
This month’s Q Maverick is Low. Victoria Segal meets the Minnesotan trio who’ve inspired cult worship, digging into the story behind Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker, the couple at the centre of the group who’ve made minimal, monastic music for 25 years.
Sylvia Patterson talks to one-time Moloko singer Roisin Murphy to hear how she made the run of excellent pop-house singles she’s put out this year.
Also in the issue, we get a report on the new album from Southend duo These New Puritans. The Barnett brothers tell Niall Doherty all about how their first record in six years came together.
Matty Healy speaks to us about how it feels for his band The 1975 to score another Number 1 album and what’s in store for their arena tour next year.
This month’s Cash For Questions is Spiritualized. Jason Pierce reveals he’s been asked to play in space amongst other revelations.
Swedish synth-pop pioneer Robyn shares her 10 Commandments for living.
Also in the issue, we go Out To Lunch with living legend Shaun Ryder, comedian James Acaster tells us about the Albums That Changed His Life. and Anna Calvi takes our call for Where Are You Right Now. In the Q Review, Chris Catchpole speaks to Damon Albarn as his other, other band The Good, The Bad & The Queen make their live comeback, and we review new records from Sharon Van Etten, Deerhunter, Lost Under Heaven and more.