Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Adam wakefield from The Voice Season 10 released his debut album, Gods & Ghosts in 2018.

Here’s how he sums up “Gods & Ghosts:” “I picked 12 of my best songs, called up three of my favorite musicians, and recorded the album I have been waiting my whole life for.

“This is the first time I’ve had complete freedom to record the songs I wanted, in whatever way I wanted. The process was scary, but so rewarding … This record represents the truest version of me.”

It’s also easily one of the best post-Voice albums of 2018, thanks largely to Adam’s distinct, plaintive vocals, which certainly sound like he’s lived through everything he’s singing about.

Highlights include lead single “As Good as It Gets,” “Dry Days,” “Cheap Whiskey & Bad Cocaine” and “Shoot Me Where I Stand.”

In the third verse title track, he sings about the loss of his brother to a drug overdose, a story he shared on The Voice. They performed r and released two albums together as part of Baltimore-based “Old Man Brown.”

“I asked myself what gods and ghosts had in common, and the most obvious thing for me was that people talk to both gods and ghosts about things they sometimes can’t talk about with living people. The poor man’s therapist, if you will,” Adam told CMT.com.

Adam just released “Gods & Ghosts” at the end of November and The Voice Season 10 runner-up already has some dates set for 2019 to promote the album, including a late-January show at the Rockwood Music Hall in New York.

Here are some highlights from “Gods & Ghosts.”

Editor’s Note: By my count, former contestants from The Voice released more than 70 albums or EPs, more than 90 music videos and more than 800 original songs in 2018.

This week, I’m featuring my favorites, spotlighting what I’m calling the Top 5 music videos, Top 20 songs and Top 5 albums/EPs.

I hesitate to call them the best because that’s very subjective. Besides, I easily could have made each of these lists five times as long and still omitted lots and lots of great music.

That’s why I grit my teeth when Marshmellow or Ann-Marie or even a coach or advisor winds up with a guest performance spot on The Voice. I’ll never understand why the show doesn’t do more to promote its alumni.

Ah, but this isn’t a time for griping. It’s time to celebrate the accomplishments of talented artists.

I’ve also posted a complete list of post-Voice singles, albums and EPs, with links for your listening pleasure. And a blog with all 90-plus music videos. Please, check them out. Find your own favorites.

And if I’ve missed anyone, let me know. Stage names change. Side projects are created. Tracking the output of 600 post-Voice artists … well, I’ll be shocked if I didn’t miss someone. Just let me know by commenting below or emailing [email protected]. In terms of singles, my goal is to list any where the former contestant is the primary vocalist.

Coming tomorrow: The Top 5 post-Voice albums of 2018.

Happy listening.

Top albums

1. Adam Wakefield, “Gods & Ghosts”
2. Jordy Searcy, “Dark in the City”
3. Jordan Smith, “Only Love”
4. 2Steel Girls, “The Real Thing”
5. Red Marlow, “Country as Cornbread”

Top songs (not ranked)

Adanna Duru, “Doll”
Amanda Brown, “Take a Pill”
Amy Vachal, “Wait”
Austin Jenckes, “In My Head”
Brian Nhira, “‘Til Death Do Us Part”

Cartelli, “Last Night’s Mascara”
Chloe Kohanski, “Come This Far”
Christiana Danielle, “Resignation”
Darby, “Save a Thought for Me”
Domo, “Currency”

D.R. King & Jackie Foster, “Love is a Drug”
Jamie Lono, “New Orleans”
Johnny Gates, “Brooklyn Nights”
Koryn Hawthorne, “Down Goes Rome”
Loren Allred, “Never Enough”

Matt McAndrew, “Game Over”
Natalie Stovall, “Making Out in Cars”
RaeLynn, “Queens Don’t”
Riley Biederer, “Heartbreak Back”
We McDonald, “Head Up High”

Top Videos

1. Faultlines (Ashley Morgan), “Rain”
2. Sawyer Fredericks, “Hide Your Ghost”
3. Darby, “Play Pretend”
4. Brian Nhira, “Is This Love?”
5. Dawson Coyle, “Saturn”

All 2018 music videos
All 2018 albums and EPs
All 2018 singles