Albums are dead. You can buy many of them - including some classic releases by famous artists - for less than the price of a fast-food value-meal. And it’s still tough sledding to sell albums. Sales for physical unit albums (CDs, vinyl, etc.) plummeted 36 percent from the first-half of 2017 to first-half 2018, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Album downloads sank 26 percent. Meanwhile, singles and playlists driven streaming-service paid-subscriptions are zooming in the other direction, up about 46 percent during the same period. So yeah, for all but ne plus ultra artists, albums are (at least commercially) damn near done. For now, at least. But there’s a reason kids born three decades after Bon Scott was found dead in the backseat of a Renault 5 are still rocking-out to “Highway to Hell.” There’s a reason new vinyl-album sales (a small piece of the overall financial pie, but still) have risen every year since 2008. A vibrant, cohesive multi-song release offers satisfaction and transport listeners just can’t get from a single track or algorithm-derived playlist. As your hippie uncle might, say, “It’s like a journey, man.” Below are 35 notable full-length albums and EPs from 2018 with strong Alabama connections. They each take can you somewhere - some to the very center of your soul, others to a throbbing dance-club or sweaty rock-bar. Long live albums.
Taylor Hunnicutt “Flower in a Drought”
Alabama connection: Birmingham-based artist
Country-rocker’s bluesy vocals can be a kiss or a fist - and induce chills on the regular. The lyrics are real and raw. If you like Margo Price, you’ll love Taylor Hunnicutt.
Cedric Burnside “Benton County Relic”
Alabama connection: Florence label Single Lock Records released Mississippi-music royalty Burnside's latest
Grammy-nominated LP captures Hill Country blues' gritty, joyous essence, while the indie-style production fits seamlessly into post-genre playlists. If you prefer blues that evokes a legit juke-joint instead of a McRib commercial, here you go.
Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires “Live at The Nick”
Alabama connection: Atlanta-based frontman Bains is a Birmingham native, The Glory Fires' Eric Wallace, Blake Williamson and Adam Williamson are still based there
Onstage woke-wallop, cranked to “11.”
The Sunsets “Heartbeat Massacre”
Alabama connection: Band founded in Jacksonville
If those “Stranger Things” child-actors ever have a coked-out post-stardom phase, this should be their soundtrack. Dramatic neon synth-rock with a post-punk underbelly.
Belle Adair "Tuscumbia"
Alabama connection: Florence-based band
If there was a better indie-rock album released this year - by a band from Alabama or beyond - I haven’t heard it. And I’ve heard A LOT of those albums. A moody, chiming beauty.
Paul McDonald “Modern Hearts”
Alabama connection: Huntsville native
Handmade-yet-sleek song-cycle. At the center: McDonald’s scruffy-nimble vocals and lyrics that feel like they’re cribbed from his personal text-messages.
Various artists: “Muscle Shoals: Small Town, Big Sound”
Alabama connection: Classic Shoals hits rebooted during new, mostly Shoals sessions featuring mostly famous singers
Come for Steven Tyler shaking his sweet sassafrassy through The Stones' “Brown Sugar.” Stay for Grace Potter’s stirring take on the immortal Etta James torch ballad “I’d Rather Go Blind.”
The Ladies of … “Slinging Beauty”
Alabama connection: Tuscaloosa and Birmingham alterna-era all-stars, including Johnny Blade, Jack Massey and Roman Glick, back veteran Atlanta singer James Hall
Nocturnal, post-Bowie dance-rock.
Hayden Crawford “Bloomed”
Alabama connection: Florence-based artist
Belle Adair bassist recorded his Shins-ish solo EP - including live drums - using only an iPhone, that device’s internal mic and the GarageBand app. The resulting natural sonics and bittersweet tunes are impressive.
G-Side “The 2 Cohesive”
Alabama connection: Huntsville-based rap duo
Proof not all reunion albums suck. Sativa production, ST 2 Lettaz’s street-cerebral wordplay and Yung Clova’s downhome charisma still make for tasty ear-eats
Caroline Says “No Fool Like an Old Fool”
Alabama connection: Huntsville native
Blog-famous watercolor-pop auteur Caroline Sallee deserves her acclaim.
Sex Clark Five “Sex Clark Five Live!”
Alabama connection: Huntsville-based band
Underground heroes' “new” live album was sourced from their classic era. This 1991 New York show recording displays SC5′s gift for zip-filing melodic British Invasion bang into mini-song marvels. (Please note: Since this album isn’t currently on streaming services, follow the link in band’s Facebook post below to listen.)
Captain Kudzu "Arboretum"
Alabama connection: Birmingham-based project
A budding song-scape mastermind for the hoodie nation.
Will Stewart “County Seat”
Alabama connection: Birmingham-based artist
Plays like a book full of bruised-honeysuckle story-songs.
Mia Dyson “If I Said Only So Far I Take It Back”
Alabama connection: Florence’s Single Lock Records issued Dyson’s LP
Dynamic-organic alt-rock that’s on the same level as fellow Aussie Courtney Barnett’s.
The Burning Peppermints “Glittervomit”
Alabama connection: Birmingham-based band
Garage, grunge and glam collide and corrode on this aptly titled disc.
729 “Greetings."
Alabama connection: Birmingham-based rap duo
The first of four sonic-collage EPs OZU and Erthling released together this year as 729 was also their most tuneful.
Lamont Landers “Lamont Landers”
Alabama connection: Decatur-based artist
Sinewy funk, velvet croon, spacesuit R&B, country-soul and even skinny-jeans rock on this strong self-titled EP.
Hollywood Horses “FunnySexyCool”
Alabama connection: Birmingham based project
Imagine if “Beauty and the Beat” vinyl melted onto a “Last Splash” CD.
Wlbnks “Calm”
Alabama connection: Birmingham-based artist
“Fns f The Weeknd wll prbbly njy Wlbnks.”
Adam Hood "Somewhere in Between"
Alabama connection: Opelika native
Sturdy tight set of every-man Americana tunes.
Elley Duhe “Dragon Mentality”
Alabama connection: Dauphin Island native
Digital-exotica chanteuse totally owns it on this potent EP.
The Pollies "Transmissions"
Alabama connection: Muscle Shoals-area based band
Atmospheric quartet finally rocks in-studio as much as they do onstage.
Kate Kelly "The Wonder of It All"
Alabama connection: Mobile native
Latte-sipping, sugar-voiced comfort-music with heart.
Rayed R “Can I Breathe”
Alabama connection: Huntsville-based artist
A streaming-era rap record that’s refreshingly more man than machine.
JP Harris "Sometimes Dog Bark at Nothing"
Alabama connection: Montgomery-born Nashville singer
Lyrically striking and musically interesting roots-tunes, anchored by Harris' mahogany vocals.
53 Judges “53 Judges”
Alabama connection: Decatur based group
Social-justice-warriors are trying to neuter rock-music into Nerf-soft beige-ness. But what the universe needs right now is actually more young bands that sound like they’d shag your date, steal your car and put cigs out on the family dog. In other words, more bands like 53 Judges.
Lera Lynn “Plays Well with Others”
Alabama connection: Nashville singer Lynn released album via Florence's Single Lock Records
Noir-duets collection includes cameos from Shoals standouts John Paul White and Dylan LeBlanc.
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit “Live from the Ryman”
Alabama connection: Grammy winning Nashville artist Isbell is a Green Hill native
The Southern Springsteen’s latest live album traverses the Les Paul peaks and Martin valleys of this decade′s most-revered catalog.
Bishop Gunn "Natchez"
Alabama connection: Includes tracks recorded at Sheffield studio Muscle Shoals Sound
Talented Tennessee-via-Mississippi group brings sanctified vocals and youthful energy to their Southern rock and close their album with the memorable dark-gospel dirge “Alabama.”
Watch the Duck “Delayed Adulthood”
Alabama connection: Los Angeles duo Jesse Rankins and Eddie Smith are Montgomery natives
Polished, poppy R&B delivered with hot-sauce swagger.
Waxahatchee “Great Thunder”
Alabama connection: Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield is a Birmingham native
Masterful handmade minimalism.
The Underhill Family Orchestra "Tell Me That You Love Me"
Alabama connection: Mobile-based band
An effective and often effervescent hipster-busker hybrid.
Lady Legs “Holy Heatwave”
Alabama connection: Birmingham-based band
Guitar-music to spread artisanal-mayonnaise or scroll Instagram to.
B. Snipes "My Mountain Home"
Alabama connection: Birmingham-based artist
A compelling mix of sparse folk-songs and field-recording interviews with Snipes' father about their family’s rural roots.
St. Paul & The Broken Bones “Young Sick Camelia”
Alabama connection: Birmingham-based band
Cosmos-tinged “now” R&B shows singer Paul Janeway and co. don’t need to retreat back to “retro."
Rob Aldridge & The Proponents "Rob Aldridge & The Proponents"
Alabama connection: Shoals/Huntsville based band
Finds a honey-hole between classic-rock familiarity and outsider-art oddity, with some fearless Aldridge vocals and ex-Drive-By Trucker Rob Malone’s guitar knots.
Adam’s House Cat “Town Burned Down”
Alabama connection: Muscle Shoals founded band
A Drive-By Truckers prequel superior to some of DBT’s now-classic twang-punk output.
The Mulligan Brothers "Songs for the Living and Otherwise
Alabama connection: Mobile-based band
Gypsy-jazz and parlor-music touches help differentiate the best material here from the Americana masses.
Dee White “Southern Gentleman (Side A)”
Alabama connection: White is a Holtville/Slapout native
A welcome detour through Twitty City croon, featuring guitar and production by The Black Keys singer Dan Auerbach.
