Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Ashley Morgan of The Voice Season 8 with Faultlines colleagues John Flanagan and Todd McCool

And in March, that group, called Faultlines, released a single called “Rain” and an accompanying music video that’s both one of the year’s most powerful and politically-charged.

The group also includes Todd McCool and John Flanagan, and here’s how Flanagan describes the group’s approach to songwriting.

“2017 was a difficult year for America. Things have gotten ugly,” he writes on the Faultlines website. “A lot of songwriters have chosen to write distracting tomes to better times — and of course we crave escapism — but it’s the job of good creators to also hold up a mirror to society and say ‘Look at what we’re doing; see how hatred is affecting people.’

“Folk music is the music of the masses. It’s about people, not just pretty words. It should say ‘This is how we feel’.”

Watch the music video and there’s little doubt about what the members of Faultlines think about the politics dividing the country.

But Faultlines also came back with a second single later in the year, “Love is All We Own,” encouraging listeners to put aside their differences, to come together and celebrate what they have in common.

Faultlines also released the album “Bittersweet Revival” that’s currently available through its website, but not yet through digital music sites.

Here’s “Rain,” my favorite post-Voice music video of 2018.

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 20 post-Voice singles of 2018.

Happy listening.

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