Favorite Albums of 2025: First Quarter Report

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Check 'em out if you haven't!

1. Justin Wells - Cynthiana

2. Tobacco City - Horses

3. Jason Isbell - Foxes in the Snow

4. The Wilder Blue - Still in the Runnin'

5. Lola Kirke - Trailblazer

6. Jason Boland & The Stragglers - The Last Kings of Babylon

7. Charley Crockett - Lonesome Drifter

8. JD Clayton - Blue Sky Sundays

9. Will Stewart - Moon Winx

10. Juliet McConkey - Southern Front

11. Patterson Hood - Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams

12. Nolan Taylor - s/t

13. Them Coulee Boys - No Fun in the Chrysalis

14. Horsebath - Another Farewell

15. Sierra Hull - A Tip Toe Highwire

Others I Dig

(in no particular order)

Matt Daniel - The Poet

Bonnie Prince Billy - The Purple Bird

Ryan Sambol - Friend of the Show

Olivia Wolfe - Silver Rounds

Jason Scott & The High Heat - American Grin

Caylee Hammack - Bed of Roses

Ty Myers - The Select

Willow Avalon - Southern Belle Raisin' Hell

Joe Ely - Love and Freedom

Jesse Welles - Middle

Courtney Patton - Carry You With Me

Tony Logue - Dark Horse

The War and Treaty - Plus One

Alison Krauss & Union Station - Arcadia

Favorite Albums of 2024: Third Quarter Report

 As usual, there are no summaries or reviews, just covers and titles.

1. Futurebirds - Easy Company

2. Red Clay Strays - Made by These Moments

3. Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood

4. Johnny Blue Skies - Passage Du Desir

5. The Droptines - s/t

6. 49 Winchester - Leavin’ This Holler

7. Sierra Ferrell - Trail of Flowers

8. John Moreland - Visitor

9. Kaitlin Butts - Roadrunner!

10. Pony Bradshaw - Thus Spoke the Fool

11. American Aquarium - The Fear of Standing Still

12. Shane Smith & The Saints - Norther

13. Taylor Hunnicutt - Alabama Sound

14. Jonathan Peyton - Nothing Here’s The Same

15. Zach Top - Cold Beer & Country Music

16. MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks

17. Billy Strings - Highway Prayers

18. Silverada - s/t

19. Mindy Smith - Quiet Town

20. Charley Crockett - $10 Cowboy

Favorite Albums of 2024: First Half Report

The top 4 remains unchanged from the first quarter report, but there are big shakeups down the list.

1. The Droptines - s/t

2. Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood

3. Jonathan Peyton - Nothing Here’s The Same

4. Sierra Ferrell - Trail of Flowers

5. John Moreland - Visitor

6. Shane Smith & The Saints - Norther

7. Taylor Hunnicutt - Alabama Sound

8. Josh Meloy - Where You Came From

9. Zach Top - Cold Beer & Country Music

10. Sarah Jarosz - Polaroid Lovers

11-20

11. Blackberry Smoke - Be Right Here

12. Wyatt Flores - Half Life

13. Kelsey Waldon - There’s Always a Song

14. Swamp Dogg - Blackgrass

15. Jesse Daniel - Countin’ the Miles

16. Old Heavy Hands - Small Fires

17. Taylor McCall - Mellow War

18. Kimmi Bitter - Old School

19. Red Shahan - Loose Funky Texas Junky

20. Lost Dog Street Band - Survived

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More 2024 releases I really like:

Willi Carlisle - Critterland

The Secret Sisters - Mind, Man, Medicine

The Mavericks - Moon & Stars

Adeem the Artist - Anniversary 

Rob Leines - Headcase

Bronwyn Keith-Hynes - I Built a World

Blaine Bailey - Home

The Black Crowes - Happiness Bastards

Stephanie Lambring - Good Mother

Amigo the Devil - Yours Until the War is Over

Cody Jinks - Change the Game

Emily Nenni - Drive & Cry

The Avett Brothers - s/t

Charley Crockett - $10 Cowboy

Pearl Jam - Dark Matter

Katie Pruitt - Mantras

Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well

The Montvales - Born Strangers

Lizzie No - Halfsies

Ellis Bullard - Honky Tonk Ain’t Noise Pollution

Mery Steel - She’s Back!

Willie Nelson - The Border

JJ Grey & Mofro - Olustee

Kim Richey - Every New Beginning

Sam Morrow - On the Ride Here

Jordan Lee King - By and By

Casper McWade - Something for the Pain

and there are many many more, Rich :)

Favorite Albums of 2024: First Quarter Report

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 Someday I won’t be too lazy to write some short review blurbs, but for now, here are my early favorites of 2024.

1. The Droptines - s/t

2. Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood

3. Jonathan Peyton - Nothing Here’s The Same

4. Sierra Ferrell - Trail of Flowers

5. Sarah Jarosz - Polaroid Lovers

6. Old Heavy Hands - Small Fires

7. Shane Smith & The Saints - Norther

8. Taylor Hunnicutt - Alabama Sound

9. Blackberry Smoke - Be Right Here

10. Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well

11. The Black Crowes - Happiness Bastards

12. Taylor McCall - Mellow War

13. Willi Carlisle - Critterland

Some other early favorites in no particular order:

Amigo the Devil - Yours Until the War is Over

Cody Jinks - Change the Game

The Montvales - Born Strangers

Lizzie No - Halfsies

Ellis Bullard - Honky Tonk Ain’t Noise Pollution

Mery Steel - She’s Back!

JJ Grey & Mofro - Olustee

Schoolboy Q - Blue Lips

Sam Morrow - On the Ride Here

Luke Grimes - s/t

Hurray for the Riff Raff - The Past is Still Alive

Jordan Lee King - By and By

Casper McWade - Something for the Pain