1. Caylee Hammack - Small Town Hypocrite
This was my favorite song of the year wire-to-wire. I just couldn’t get it out of my head or heart, and didn’t want to. It’s personal and universal at once - the hallmark of a great song, in my book. The vocals, the lyrics, the instrumentation - flawless. A truly fantastic piece of art.
2. Waylon Payne - Shiver
3. Katie Pruitt - My Mind’s a Ship (That’s Going Down)
4. Arlo McKinley - Suicidal Saturday Night
5. Brandy Clark - I’ll Be the Sad Song
5. Flatland Cavalry - War With My Mind
6. Sarah Jarosz - Orange and Blue
7. Futurebirds - Trippin’
8. Taylor Swift ft. Bon Iver - Exile
9. Randy Travis - Fool’s Love Affair
10. The Wilder Blue - The Eagle
11. Rookie - I Can’t Have You But I Want You
12. Hailey Whitters - Janice at the Hotel Bar
13. Marcus King - Wildflowers & Wine
14. Joshua Ray Walker - Voices
15. Gabe Lee - Imogene