Our Top 20 Albums of 2017 were voted on by all contributors again this year:
Kelcy Salisbury, Robert Dean, Kevin Broughton, Jeremy Harris, Trailer (me), and Matthew Martin
(with friend Chad as a tiebreaker).
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1. Tyler Childers - Purgatory
Appalachia has passed the torch to its
newest great storyteller; welcome to the big time, Tyler Childers. If
anyone has doubts, ask yourself if Sturgill Simpson would produce
this guy if he were anything but the genuine article. Childers has
set himself an incredibly high bar here; but with a couple listens no
one will doubt he’ll raise it higher on the next one. Here is the
real deal, and he’ll be around for a long, long time. - Kevin Broughton
Childers' voice along with the great production on this album were home-runs. Add in the killer lyrics that have just enough humor to break the darkness in the issues plaguing rural America and you have this incredible album. I had not listened to Tyler Childers prior to this year and now I can't get enough of him. - Matthew Martin
2. Turnpike Troubadours - A Long Way From Your Heart
The best country band in the world delivers yet another classic. The sparkling instrumentation, the master-class songwriting, the mythos, everything is here and it's a joy to behold. - Trailer
As I wrote on its debut, this
album is wonderfully more of the same we’ve come to expect from
these champions of the Red Dirt universe. Nobody writes a bittersweet
broken-heart song better than Evan Felker, as evidenced in “The
House Fire.” - Kevin
3. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - The Nashville Sound
Jason Isbell is the best there is in music right now. I don't think it's even close. The voice, the music, and the songs are all perfect. After Isbell's last couple of quieter, more introspective albums, I was really looking forward to hearing Isbell cut loose a little more. This album was not a disappointment on that front and even threw in a couple of tear-jerkers for good measure. This year I got engaged, and hearing 'When We Were Vampires' is a song that crushes me every time. For the rockers, 'Cumberland Gap' and 'White Man's World' are going to go at the top of the Isbell cannon. After listening to these songs and this album all year, I can't even imagine Isbell's shows without these songs. They are some of Isbell's best. I know Southeastern may be Isbell's high water mark, but this album shows that he's not resting on his laurels. He's going to continue to make incredible, hard-hitting music for years to come. - Matthew
If ‘Vampires’ doesn’t make you cry you may be a zombie. - Jeremy Harris
4. Colter Wall - s/t
Granted, producer Dave Cobb has an
inexhaustible Midas touch. But you’d assume in situations
like this
one – producing the debut album from a star in the making from
Canada – he’d largely
just stand back. Listen to Wall’s deep,
dark baritone and tell me he’s 22 years old; great golly,
he is.
Here’s the gold standard for folk albums in the twenty-teens,
featuring the year’s best
murder ballad, “Kate McCannon.” Tyler
Childers’ singing harmony vocals on the traditional
ballad
“Fraulein” is the cherry on top. - Kevin
5. Chris Stapleton - From A Room, Volume 2
This album was everything I want from Stapleton- it's bluesy, it's rowdy, and it's beautiful.
The man can sing a damn song. He makes you feel what he's singing, the way the best of the
soul-singers of yesteryear could do. This is one of the big-hitters of country music and it's completely, unequivocally deserved. - Matthew
This is the best pure country album for
the last two or three years, from the man with hands-down
the best
voice in the genre. I had this playing in the background at work and
a colleague asked,
“Is this Waylon?” Well, yeah, pretty much.
Take note, Nashville: Stapleton’s topping the charts,
no thanks to
you. - Kevin
6. Gregg Allman - Southern Blood
I don’t think he ever made a better
solo album, and it’s so just bittersweet that we get this
one from
beyond the grave. His covers of the Grateful Dead’s “Black Muddy
River” and
Little Feat’s “Willin’” add a sweet touch. Given
all Gregg’s givens, let’s be thankful he was
here for 69 years.
Rest easy, man. - Kevin
7. Jason Eady - s/t
Eady does it again. Another great album. - Jeremy
The album gently grabs your attention
with the song “Barabbas” and holds it throughout with
some of the
best songwriting of the year from a genuine craftsman. This Texan – by way of
Mississippi –
hits full stride with a fine album produced by the legendary Lloyd
Maines and
featuring the backing vocals of Vince Gill. - Kevin
8. John Moreland - Big Bad Luv
From the album cover and title you’d think rap.
From the sound of his voice you’d think awesome. - Jeremy
He writes compelling songs about feelings and situations we are all familiar with.
He's heartbreakingly good and this album is proof that Moreland deserves even more
accolades than he's receiving now. With an incredible voice and lyrics; it's hard to not
feel gut-punched at least 2-3 times per song. - Matthew
9. Shinyribs - I Got Your Medicine
Just a fun album, start to finish.
Adult-size portions of soul, real (as to what is today called)
rhythm & blues, and gospel should keep this record in heavy
rotation. - Kevin
Even a non-dancing, non-fun-having dude like me feels the desire to tap a foot every time I hear this album. It's soulful, funny, real, and my favorite thing Kevin Russell has done since the Gourds.
- Trailer
10. Travis Meadows - First Cigarette
There’s some real sad stuff on this one. If Isbell makes you feel weird and emotional,
Travis Meadows will bring you down even more. - Jeremy
11. The Steel Woods - Straw in the Wind
A perfect balance of country and rock, and with some fine storytelling. Check your mirror,
Blackberry Smoke; these guys are on your heels. - Kevin
I was already impressed by Straw in the Wind. Seeing them live took my appreciation for
this band to a new level. They deserve any and all accolades headed their way. - Trailer
12. JD McPherson - Undivided Heart and Soul
What this country needs is more rockabilly, and this Okie delivers in spades. This is just lots of fun. It’s got a dash of British pub rock, just enough to remind us of Elvis Costello & Nick Lowe. Shake your hips, Daddy-o. - Kevin
13. Chris Stapleton - From A Room, Volume 1
11. The Steel Woods - Straw in the Wind
A perfect balance of country and rock, and with some fine storytelling. Check your mirror,
Blackberry Smoke; these guys are on your heels. - Kevin
I was already impressed by Straw in the Wind. Seeing them live took my appreciation for
this band to a new level. They deserve any and all accolades headed their way. - Trailer
12. JD McPherson - Undivided Heart and Soul
What this country needs is more rockabilly, and this Okie delivers in spades. This is just lots of fun. It’s got a dash of British pub rock, just enough to remind us of Elvis Costello & Nick Lowe. Shake your hips, Daddy-o. - Kevin
13. Chris Stapleton - From A Room, Volume 1
Chris Stapleton continues his career with another solid album of covers and originals. Not quite as good as Volume 2 in my opinion, but worth every bit of accolades it's received. - Matthew
There’s a magic formula that combines the best of 1 and 2 that makes it a much better album.
With this formula 1 tops 2 by a lot. - Jeremy
14. Zephaniah OHora - This Highway
This album is an authentic, organic tribute to the golden years of country music, recalling Hank Snow, Marty Robbins and Ray Price. Another hit for the so-called “neo-traditionalists.” - Kevin
15. Steve Earle - So You Wanna Be An Outlaw
On a scale of 1 to Steve Earle, how do you feel about Trump?
Just kidding, Steve steers clear. - Jeremy
18. Hellbound Glory - Pinball
This may be the best Leroy Virgil or whatever his name is now’s best album yet. - Jeremy