Author: Adam Wilson

Radio presenter with a taste for folk, americana, alt-country, world and blues. Broadcasts a fortnightly show called The Quiet Revolution, on HFM Radio, the local community radio station for Market Harborough, South Leicestershire and North Northamptonshire in the UK East Midlands.

Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes A portrait of the artist as a middle aged man from Some girls (quite) like country music (2018 Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes)

www.lachlanbryanandthewildes.com 

Kai Kater New Collossus from Grenades (2019 Smithsonian Folkways)

www.kaikater.com 

The Willows Coda from Through the wild (2018 Elk Records)

www.thewillowsband.com

Willard Grant Conspiracy Saturday with Jane from Unthethered (2018 Loose Music)

Bella Hardy I would give you the moon single (2013 Noe Records)

www.bellahardy.com

The Kimberleys Elsie Marley from The Kimberleys (2018 Pop la disque)

www.thekimberleys.org

Austin Lucas My mother and the devil from Immortal Americans (2018 Cornelius Chapel Records)

www.austinlucas.com 

Ed Harcourt Wolves change rivers from Beyond the end (2018 PIAS Records)

www.edharcourt.com

Katherine Priddy Wolf from Wolf EP (2018 Katherine Priddy)

facebook.com/katherinepriddy

David Berkeley Wolves in the wings from The Faded Red and Blue EP (2018 David Berkeley)

www.davidberkeley.com

Lera Lynn featuring Shovels and Rope Wolf like me from Plays well with others: a duets album (2018 Single Lock Records)

www.leralynn.com 

Rosanne Cash The only thing worth fighting for from She remembers everything (2018 Blue Note Records)

www.rosannecash.com 

Jess Morgan Christmas Eve digital download single (2014 Amateur Boxer Records)

www.jessmorgan.co.uk

Tom McRae Wonderful Christmastime from Word of Mouth: 15 quality new tracks for winter 2004 from Word magazine

www.tommcrae.com 

Jeff Tweedy Bombs above from Warm (2018 dBpm Records)

www.wilcoworld.net

Daniel Romano Empty husk from Finally Free (2018 New West Records)

www.danielromanomusic.com

Rachel Baiman Thanksgiving from Thanksgiving EP (2018 Free Dirt Records)

www.rachelbaiman.com 

Will Varley All those stars from Spirit of Minnie (2018 Xtra Mile Recordings)

www.willvarley.com

Peter James Millson Better than before from Low Key (to be released May 2019)

www.peterjamesmillson.com

B.D Harrington Out of reach from Then All Was Still EP (2018 

www.bdharrington.bandcamp.com 

The Howard Hughes Suite Lost and found from Stereodrome (2016 The Howard Hughes Suite)

www.thehowardhughessuite.bandcamp.com 

The Trials of Cato Gloria from Hide and Hair (2018 Water Records)

www.thetrialsofcato.com

William the Conqueror The curse of friends from Bleeding on the soundtrack (2019 Loose Music)

www.williamtheconqueror.net 

Yvonne Lyon I believe in Christmas single with Dear December (2018 Yvonne Lyon)

www.yvonnelyonmusic.com 

Trevor Moss and Hannah Lou Everything you need from Fair Lady London (2018 Maiden Voyage Recording Co)

www.trevormossandhannahlou.com 

Over the Rhine Blood oranges in snow from Blood oranges in snow (2014 Great Speckled Dog)

www.overtherhine.com 

Me for Queen Snow on snow from Loose End (2018 Me for Queen)

www.facebook.com/meforqueenmusic 

Sam Baker Snow from Cotton (2009 Music Road Records)

www.sambakermusic.com 

Show of Hands The Preacher from Where we’re bound: the setlist album (2018 Hands on Music)

www.showofhands.co.uk 

Kitty MacFarlane Wrecking days from Namer of clouds (2018 Navigator Records)

www.kittymacfarlane.com 

Grace Petrie Baby Blue from Queer as folk (2018 Robot needs a home)

www.gracepetrie.com 

Dan Rauchwerk Tears shaped liked islands  featuring Caitlin Mahoney from We are move than what we leave behind (2018 Dan Rauchwerk)

www.danrauchwerk.com 

Luluc Genius from Sculptor (2018 Sub Pop Records)

www.lulucmusic.com 

Laura Gibson Slow joker grin from Goners (2018 City Slang Records)

www.lauragibsonmusic.com 

Loudon Wainwright III Christmas morning from Social Studies (1999 Rykodisc)

www.danrauchwerk.com 

I’m with Her See you around from See you around (2018 Rounder Records)

www.imwithherband.com 

 

It’s that time of the year again. The music magazines are already publishing albums of the year from their perspective. Over recent times I’ve made it slightly easier on myself by dividing the year into two. So back in June I posted in three separate instalments the standout albums for me up to that point. And now here are the my favourites from the second half of 2018.

Before I post any further, I recognise there is always a risk, whenever you post a list like this, that another fantastic album or EP is just around the corner. I’ve got that covered anyway, I will post an addition in a few weeks from now should I stumble upon a few brilliant new releases that are too good to leave out.

Oh, and one other thing. I’ve always struggled with brevity, if you listen to the show regularly and my conversation between tracks you’ll understand I’m sure. So this is not a lovely neat list of 10 or 20 records. That’s just impossible to slim all the great records to that small number. And finally it’s not a list that is in any sort of order. It’s simply a random posting up of the records that have meant something to me with wherever possible a video of a track I like from the album or EP. I’ll filibuster no more, here’s the list…. Enjoy exploring and please feel free to post up any comments and indeed recommendations you may have for me for releases that are your favourites from 2018.

Jess Morgan – And I can’t keep still EP

Eliza Gilkyson – Secularia

Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus – Boygenius EP

Katherine Priddy – Wolf EP

Kristian Kjellvander – Faux Guernica

Rab Noakes – Welcome to Anniversaryville

The Milk Carton Kids – All the things that I did and all the things that I didn’t do

Jess Morgan – Blue Jay single

Steve Tilston – Distant days

Robby Hecht and Caroline Spence – Two People

Alden Patterson and Dashwood – By the night

Jason McNiff – Joy and Independence

Lera Lynn – Plays well with others

The Innocence Mission – Sun on the square

Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes – Some girls quite like country music

Amanda Shires – To the sunset

Drew Morrison and the Darkwood – Electric-Notes Wild

Elephant Micah – Genericana

Lori McKenna – The Tree

Kerry Devine – Away from the mountains

The Cowboy Junkies – All that reckoning 

M G Boulter and the Free – Blood Moon EP

Dan Webster – Devil Sky

Vanessa Peters – Foxhole Prayers

Grace Petrie – Queer as folk

Treetop Flyers – Treetop Flyers

Tunng – Songs you make at night

Drew Morrison and the Darkwood – Electric Notes Wild

Curse of Lono – As I fell

Me for Queen – Loose end

Gilmore and Roberts – A problem of our kind

Annie Dressner – Broken into pieces

Austin Lucas – Immortal Americans

Glorietta – Glorietta

The Willows – Through the wild

Ciara O’Neill – Arrow 

Martyn Joseph – Here come the young

Sinnober – Projection

David Berkeley – The Faded Red and Blue

Ed Harcourt – Beyond the end

Kitty MacFarlane – Namer of clouds

Phillip Henry – True North

Jesse Matas – Tamarack

Kelly Oliver – Botany Bay

John Smith – Hummingbird

Marc Ribot – Songs of Resistance 1942-2018

Nathan Bell – Love bones and stars

Trevor Moss and Hannah-Lou Fair Lady London

Cam Penner – At war with reason

Karine Polwart, Steven Polwart and Inge Thomson – Laws of motion

William Fitzsimmons – Mission bell

Benjamin Folke Thomas – Modern man

Laura Gibson – Goners

Jess Vincent – Lions

Ben Kunder – Better human

 

Eliza Gilkyson In the name of the lord from Secularia (2018 Red House Records)

www.elizagilkyson.com 

Simone Felice featuring Four Tet Puppet digital download single (2018 New York Pro)

www.simonefelice.com 

The Willows Better days from Through the wild (2018 Elk Records)

www.thewillowsband.co.uk

Gilmore and Roberts Just a piece of wood from A problem of our kind (2018 Gilmore Roberts Records)

www.gilmoreandroberts.co.uk

Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage Way over yonder in the minor key from Awake (2018 Sungrazing Records)

www.hannahandbenmusic.com 

Jess Morgan Chinatown from And I Can’t Keep Still EP (2018 Drabant Music)

www.jessmorgan.co.uk

Kitty MacFarlane Dawn and dark from Namer of clouds (2018 Navigator Records)

www.kittymacfarlane.com

Jesse Matas Walking human from Tamarock (2018 StoNote)

www.jessematas.com 

Austin Lucas Immortal Americans from Immortal Americans (2018 Cornelius Chapel Records)

www.austinlucas.com

Talisk Montreal from Beyond (2018 Talisk Records)

www.talisk.co.uk

David Berkeley This be dear to me from The Faded Red and Blue EP (2018 David Berkeley)

www.davidberkeley.com 

Laura Gibson Goners from Goners (2018 City Slang Records)

www.lauragibsonmusic.com 

Peter James Millson Getting there from Low Key (as yet unreleased new album)

www.peterjamesmillson.com 

Ciara O’Neill Arrow from Arrow (2018 Ciara O’Neill)

www.ciaraoneillmusic.com

Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus Me and my dog from Boy Genius EP (2018 Matador Records)

www.julienbaker.com 

www.lucydacus.com

Afel Bocoum, Damon Albarn, Toumani Diabate and Friends Tennessee Hotel from Mali Music (2002 Honest Jons Records)

Phillip Henry Reverence Revisited from True North (2018 Dragonfly Roots Records)

www.philliphenryandhannahmartin.co.uk 

The Band of Love Love don’t live here anymore from Folk Fever (2018 Mighty Village Records)

Grace Petrie Farewell to welfare from Queer as folk (2018 Robot Needs Home)

www.gracepetrie.com

Lau She put on her headphones digital download double AA single with It’s hard to seem ok when you’re not (2018 Reveal Records)

www.lau-music.co.uk

Christian Kjellvander Strangers in Northeim  from Faux Guernica (2018 Tapete Records)

www.christiankjellvander.com 

Martyn Joseph Collateral from Here Come The Young (2018 Pipe Records)

www.martynjoseph.net

Nathan Bell Metal from Love Bones and Stars (2018 Angry Stick Recording Company)

www.nathanbellmusic.com 

India Electric Co In absence from Tablelands (2018)

www.indiaelectricco.com 

Dan Whitehouse The places we have been from That’s where I belong (2016 Reveal Records)

www.dan-whitehouse.com 

Lau single It’s hard to be OK when you’re not digital download single with She put on her headphones (2018 Reveal Records)

www.lau-music.co.uk

Kristian Kjellvander Faux Guernica from Wild Hxmans PRONOUNCED WILD HUMANS (2018 Tapete Records)

www.christiankjellvander.com

Jess Morgan All I want to do is tell you what to do from And I Can’t Keep Still EP (2018 Drabant Music)

 www.jessmorgan.co.uk  

Martyn Joseph Here come the young from Here come the young (2018 Pipe Records)

www.martynjoseph.net

Karine Polwart with Steven Polwart and Inge Thomson Cassiopiea from Laws of Motion (2018 Hudson Records)

www.karinepolwart.com

Grace Petrie Pride from Queer as Folk (2018 Grace Petrie)

www.gracepetrie.com 

Rachel Baiman Times like these (with Josh Clark) from Thanksgiving EP (2018 Free Dirt Records)

www.rachelbaiman.com 

David Berkeley The Faded red and blue from The Faded Red and Blue EP (2018 David Berkeley)

www.davidberkeley.com

Sam Amidon and Fay Victor with Marc Ribot How to walk in freedom from Songs of Resistance 1942-2018 (2018 Anti Records)

www.marcribot.com

Glorietta Golden lonesome from Glorietta (2018 Bread and Butter Records)

www.gloriettamusic.com 

Julia Jacklin Head alone digital download single (2018 Transgressive Records)

www.juliajacklin.com 

Laura Gibson Thomas from Goners (2018 City Slang Records)

www.lauragibsonmusic.com 

Robert Vincent Dancing with devils from I’ll make the most of my sins (2018 At The Helm Records)

www.robvincentmusic.com

Trevor Moss and Hannah-Lou We should’ve gone dancing from Fair Lady London (2018 Maiden Voyage Recording Co)

www.trevormossandhannahlou.com

Benjamin William Pike single Someone else’s tears (2018 Benjamin William Pike)

www.bwpike.com 

Bennett Wilson Poole Find your own truth from Bennett Wilson Poole (2018 Aurora Records)

www.bennettwilsonpoole.com 

The Dreaming Spires Searching for the super truth from Searching for the supertruth (2015 Clubhouse Records)

www.thedreamingspires.net

Sarah McQuaid If we dig any deeper it could get dangerous from If we dig any deeper it could get dangerous (2018 A Shovel and a Spade Records)

www.sarahmcquaid.com 

Gilmore and Roberts Average Joe from A problem of our kind (2018 Gilmore Roberts Records)

www.gilmoreandroberts.co.uk

Benjamin Folke Thomas One day from Modern Man (2018 Aveline Records)

www.benfolkethomas.com

Sinnober Angels of fire and snow from Projection (2018 Indefra Records)

www.sinnober.com 

Cam Penner Ain’t nobody round here from At war with reason (2018 Cam Penner)

www.campenner.com 

Vanessa Peters What you can’t outrun from Foxhole Prayers (2018 Idol Records)

www.vanessapeters.com