To welcome the New Year, I here publish the eagerly anticipated and highly coveted 2018 Grampies, identifying my favorite albums from this past year across a variety of genres. I've worked on further refining my categorizations, and (for the time being) I'm fairly settled on what I've come up with. Even so, I have no doubt that some readers might quibble with my classification of certain albums (not to mention disagreeing with my assessments of their quality). So be it. With thanks, as always, to Amazon, Spotify, and my local library, to my children who both share and tolerate my interests in music, and to my friend and colleague, Rev. Erich Fickel, for his willingness to swap suggestions and discuss discoveries from the music world with me. In my estimation, music is alive and well, and I'm grateful that so many of my favorite artists (including some new favorites) released great albums in 2018.
D. Rick’s Album Top Eighty (Across All Genres):
1. Lori McKenna - The Tree
2. Shinedown - Attention Attention
3. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
4. Joe Bonamassa - Redemption
5. Myles Kennedy - Year of the Tiger
6. Ten - Illuminati
7. Judas Priest - Firepower
8. Poets of the Fall - Ultraviolet
9. Eric Church - Desperate Man
10. Greta Van Fleet - Anthem of the Peaceful Army
11. Brian Fallon - Sleepwalkers
12. The Poodles - Prisma
13. Phillip Phillips - Collateral
14. Parker Millsap - Other Arrangements
15. Brandi Carlile - By the Way, I Forgive You
16. Tremonti - A Dying Machine
17. Wade Bowen - Solid Ground
18. Black Veil Brides - Vale
19. The Devil Makes Three - Chains Are Broken
20. Devin Dawson - Dark Horse
21. Mayday Parade - Sunnyland
22. Ashley McBryde - Girl Going Nowhere
23. Mat Kearney - Crazytalk
24. Kenny Chesney - Songs for the Saints
25. Rosanne Cash - She Remember Everything
26. The Record Company - All of This Life
27. Sister Hazel - Water / Wind
28. Angra - Omni
29. Saxon - Thunderbolt
30. Cody Jinks - Lifers
31. Treat - Tunguska
32. The Revivalists - Take Good Care
33. Kamelot - The Shadow Theory
34. The Temperance Movement - A Deeper Cut
35. The Night Flight Orchestera - Sometimes the World Ain’t Enough
36. Joe Satriani - What Happens Next
37. The Struts - Young & Dangerous
38. Amorphis - Queen of Time
39. Jesse Kinch - I’m Not Like Everybody Else
40. George Ezra - Staying at Tamara’s
41. Jason Eady - I Travel On
42. Brothers Osborne - Port Saint Joe
43. Disturbed - Evolution
44. Slash - Living the Dream
45. Riot V - Armor of Light
46. Dillon Carmichael - Hell on an Angel
47. State of Salazar - Superhero
48. Owl City - Cinematic
49. The Radio Sun - Beautiful Strange
50. Paul Cauthen - Have Mercy
51. Dierks Bentley - The Mountain
52. Three Days Grace - Outsider
53. Mipso - Edges Run
54. The Clarks - Madly in Love at the End of the World
55. Donovan Woods - Both Ways
56. Breaking Benjamin - Ember
57. Tommy Emmanuel - Accomplice One
58. Of Mice & Men - Defy
59. Good Charlotte - Generation Rx
60. Audrey Horne - Blackout
61. Courtney Marie Andrews - May Your Kindness Remain
62. Beyond the Black - Heart of the Hurricane
63. Ruston Kelly - Dying Star
64. Joshua Hedley - Mr. Jukebox
65. Black Label Society - Grimmest Hits
66. Montgomery Gentry - Here’s to You
67. Ruby Boots - Don’t Talk About It
68. Thrice - Palms
69. Holter - Vlad the Impaler
70. Uriah Heep - Living the Dream
71. Adam Hood - Somewhere in Between
72. The Brother Brothers - Some People I Know
73. Jason Mraz - Know
74. Pistol Annies - Interstate Gospel
75. Imagine Dragons - Origins
76. Black Stone Cherry - Family Tree
77. Carrie Underwood - Cry Pretty
78. Kodaline - Politics of Living
79. Airrace - Untold Stories
80. FM - Atomic Generation
Pop 2018
Phillip Phillips - Collateral
Mat Kearney - Crazytalk
George Ezra - Staying at Tamara’s
Owl City - Cinematic
The Clarks - Madly in Love at the End of the World
Jason Mraz - Know
Kodaline - Politics of Living
Ben Rector - Magic
Elle King - Shake the Spirit
Plain White T’s - Parallel Universe
Matt Nathanson - Sings His Sad Heart
David Cook - Chromance
Kylie Minogue - Golden
Dawes - Passwords
Daughtry - Cage to Rattle
James Bay - Electric Light
RSO - Radio Free America
Lake Street Dive - Free Yourself Up
Rita Ora - Phoenix
Camila Cabello - Camila
Modern Mainline Country
Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
Ashley McBryde - Girl Going Nowhere
Kenny Chesney - Songs for the Saints
Dierks Bentley - The Mountain
Montgomery Gentry - Here’s to You
Pistol Annies - Interstate Gospel
Carrie Underwood - Cry Pretty
Jason Ingriselli - The Miles North
Hilary Williams - My Lucky Scars
Sugarland - Bigger
Maggie Rose - Change the Whole Thing
Jeff Hyde - Norman Rockwell World
Kane Brown - Experiment
LANCO - Hallelujah Nights
Jordan Davis - Home State
The Shires - Accidentally on Purpose
Jason Aldean - Rearview Town
Ashley Monroe - Sparrow
Scotty McCreery - Seasons Change
Morgan Evans - Things That We Drink To
Levi Hummon - Patient
Morgan Wallen - If I Know Me
Jimmie Allen - Mercury Lane
Thompson Square - Masterpiece
Folk and Americana
Lori McKenna - The Tree
Brandi Carlile - By the Way, I Forgive You
The Devil Makes Three - Chains Are Broken
Rosanne Cash - She Remembers Everything
Mipso - Edges Run
Donovan Woods - Both Ways
Courtney Marie Andrews - May Your Kindness Remain
The Brother Brothers - Some People I Know
American Aquarium - Things Change
The Wild Feathers - Greetings from the Neon Frontier
The Black Lillies - Stranger to Me
Jamie Lin Wilson - Jumping Over Rocks
Trampled by Turtles - Life Is Good on the Open Road
The Jayhawks - Back Roads and Abandoned Motels
Lera Lynn - Plays Well with Others
Amos Lee - My New Moon
Passenger - Runaway
Paul Kelly - Nature
John Hiatt - The Eclipse Sessions
Mary Chapin Carpenter - Sometimes Just the Sky
I’m With Her - See You Around
Old Crow Medicine Show - Volunteer
John Prine - The Tree of Forgiveness
Joan Baez - Whistle Down the Wind
First Aid Kit - Ruins
Retro and Traditional Country
Wade Bowen - Solid Ground
Cody Jinks - Lifers
Jason Eady - I Travel On
Dillon Carmichael - Hell on an Angel
Paul Cauthen - Have Mercy
Joshua Hedley - Mr. Jukebox
Adam Hood - Somewhere in Between
Sam Morrow - Concrete and Mud
Brent Cobb - Providence Canyon
Carson McHone - Carousel
Whitey Morgan and the 78s - Hard Times and White Lines
Casper McWade - Hello Lonesome
Shooter Jennings - Shooter
Stryker Brothers - Burn Band
Willie Nelson - Last Man Standing
Loretta Lynn - Wouldn’t It Be Great
Colter Wall - Songs of the Plains
Kyle Park - Don’t Forget Where You Come From
Alternative & Edgy Country - Folk - Americana
Eric Church - Desperate Man
Parker Millsap - Other Arrangements
Devin Dawson - Dark Horse
Sister Hazel - Water / Wind
Brothers Osborne - Port Saint Joe
Ruston Kelly - Dying Star
Ruby Boots - Don’t Talk About It
William Clark Green - Hebert Island
Hawks and Doves - From a White Hotel
Ben Danaher - Still Feel Lucky
Amanda Shires - To the Sunset
Becky Warren - Undesirable
Blackberry Smoke - Find a Light
Frank Turner - Be More Kind
David Nail and the Well Ravens - Only This and Nothing More
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats - Tearing at the Seams
Davisson Brothers - Fighter
Ray LaMontagne - Part of the Light
Mumford & Sons - Delta
Lindi Ortega - Liberty
Neko Case - Hell-On
Caitlyn Smith - Starfire
The Decemberists - I’ll Be Your Girl / Traveling On
Belle & Sebastian - How to Solve Our Human Problems
Erin Rae - Putting on Airs
Classic Rock
Greta Van Fleet - Anthem of the Peaceful Army
Brian Fallon - Sleepwalkers
The Record Company - All of this Life
The Temperance Movement - A Deeper Cut
Jesse Kinch - I’m Not Like Everybody Else
Black Label Society - Grimmest Hits
Uriah Heep - Living the Dream
Black Stone Cherry - Family Tree
Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa - Black Coffee
The Magpie Salute - High Water I
Rod Stewart - Blood Red Roses
Nazareth - Tattooed on My Brain
Walking Papers - WP2
Paul McCartney - Egypt Station
John Mellencamp - Other People’s Stuff
Retro Radio Rock
The Poodles - Prisma
The Night Flight Orchestra - Sometimes the World Ain’t Enough
State of Salazar - Superhero
The Radio Sun - Beautiful Strange
Airrace - Untold Stories
FM - Atomic Generation
W.E.T. - Earthrage
Gioeli - Castronovo - Set the World on Fire
Sunstorm - The Road to Hell
DeVicious - Never Say Never
Steve Perry - Traces
Bonfire - Temple of Lies
Modern Rock
Shinedown - Attention Attention
Myles Kennedy - Year of the Tiger
Treat - Tunguska
Disturbed - Evolution
Three Days Grace - Outsider
Breaking Benjamin - Ember
Audrey Horne - Blackout
Red Sun Rising - Thread
Nordic Union - Second Coming
Voodoo Circle - Raised on Rock
Smash Into Pieces - Evolver
Alice in Chains - Rainier Fog
Halestorm - Vicious
Clutch - Book of Bad Decisions
Red Dragon Cartel - Patina
Godsmack - When Legends Rise
Beartooth - Disease
Stone Temple Pilots - Stone Temple Pilots (2018)
Progressive Rock / Symphonic Metal
Ten - Illuminati
Angra - Omni
Kamelot - The Shadow Theory
Amorphis - Queen of Time
Beyond the Black - Heart of the Hurricane
Holter - Vlad the Impaler
Borealis - The Offering
Last Union - Twelve
Redemption - Long Night’s Journey
Stratovarius - Enigma: Intermission II
Spock’s Beard - Noise Floor
A Perfect Circle - Eat the Elephant
Temperance - Of Jupiter and Moons
Riverside - Wasteland
The Sword - Used Future
Sirenia - Arcane Astral Aeons
Royal Hunt - Cast in Stone
Dynazty - Firesign
Seventh Wonder - Tiara
Ghost Ship Octavius - Delirium
Leah - The Quest
Haken - Vector
Kingcrow - The Persistence
Visions of Atlantis - The Deep & The Dark
Visigoth - Conqueror’s Oath
Ashes of Ares - Well of Souls
Kalidia - The Frozen Throne
The Pineapple Thief - Dissolution
Shattered Skies - Muted Neon
Jon Schaffer's Purgatory - Purgatory
Hard Rock / Heavy Metal
Judas Priest - Firepower
Black Veil Brides - Vale
Saxon - Thunderbolt
Riot V - Armor of Light
Of Mice & Men - Defy
Primal Fear - Apocalypse
Striker - Play to Win
Praying Mantis - Gravity
All That Remains - Victim of the New Disease
Bullet for My Valentine - Gravity
Amaranthe - Helix
Dream Child - Until Death Do We Meet Again
Alternative (Pop - Rock - Metal)
Poets of the Fall - Ultraviolet
Mayday Parade - Sunnyland
The Revivalists - Take Good Care
The Struts - Young & Dangerous
Good Charlotte - Generation Rx
Thrice - Palms
Imagine Dragons - Origins
Houndmouth - Golden Age
Thirty Seconds to Mars - America
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - The Awakening
You Me at Six - VI
Alkaline Trio - Is This Thing Cursed
Dashboard Confessional - Crooked Shadows
Clean Bandit - What Is Love?
Twenty One Pilots - Trench
Florence + The Machine - High As Hope
Panic! At the Disco - Pray for the Wicked
The Smashing Pumpkins - Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1
Fall Out Boy - M A N I A
U.S. Girls - In a Poem Unlimited
Lucy Dacus - Historian
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - Rocket
AWOLNATION - Here Come the Runts
blessthefall - Hard Feelings
Muse - Simulation Theory
Guitarists
Joe Bonamassa - Redemption
Tremonti - A Dying Machine
Joe Satriani - What Happens Next
Slash - Living the Dream
Tommy Emmanuel - Accomplice One
Michael Schenker Fest - Resurrection
Gus G - Fearless
Lindsay Ell - The Continuum Project
Impellitteri - The Nature of the Beast
Paul Gilbert - Behold Electric Guitar
Andy James - Arrival
Al Di Meola - Opus
Ana Popovic - Like it on Top
Billy F. Gibbons - The Big Bad Blues
Ace Frehley - Spaceman
Jason Becker - Triumphant Hearts
Mark Knopfler - Down the Road Wherever
Keith Urban - Graffiti U
Jack White - Boarding House Reach
Kurt Vile - Bottle It In
18 Live Albums of Note from the Past 18 Months
Linkin Park - One More Light Live
Alter Bridge - Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Volbeat - Let’s Boogie (Live from Telia Parken)
Accept - Symphonic Terror - Live at Wacken 2017
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Live from the Ryman
Black Sabbath - The End (Live)
Joe Bonamassa - British Blues Explosion (Live)
Kenny Chesney - Live in No Shoes Nation
John Mellencamp - Plain Spoken - From the Chicago Theater
Iron Maiden - The Book of Souls: The Live Chapter
Mr. Big - Live from Milan
Amon Amarth - The Pursuit of Vikings: Live at Summer Breeze
Electric Light Orchestra - Jeff Lynne’s ELO - Wembley or Bust
Jeff Beck - Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Opeth - Garden of the Titans (Live at Red Rocks Amphitheater)
Beth Hart - Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Alice Cooper - A Paranormal Evening at the Olympia Paris
Bruce Springsteen - Springsteen on Broadway
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