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The Best Albums of 2018 — A Subjective List
(Mike Luoma is the Programming Coordinator for WBKM.org in Burlington, Vermont — “Burlington’s Kinda Music” — and a long-time Music Director in the “Triple A” or “Adult Alternative” radio format. Before it went away, he was also a long-time Music Director in the “AOR” or “Album Oriented Rock” radio format).
Always feel a bit arrogant writing “The Best…” when it’s just, like, my opinion, man… And yet, the Dude Abiding aside, folks seem to like my choices. Some even asked when I’d be doing my list, so… here we go. My Top Ten Albums for 2018 — stuff I thought was real good this year, personal and subjective…
In the past, putting my album list together, I’ve lamented the “demise” of the album. There is a single-track mentality amongst the general public that can be overwhelming. In fact, the first year-end “Best of” album list I came across this year, over at PASTE magazine, began with that same sort of lamentation. But? For some reason, I’m not so worried anymore. Don’t feel the same threat to the album as a form of musical, artistic expression that I have previously — like the album is now more appreciated, somehow.
It’s instinctual, don’t have hard data. Maybe I’ve just finally come to be at peace with the idea that albums, singles, even EPs, can all coexist in harmony, simultaneously. Or maybe albums have finally come…
