FTM's Top 20 Albums from Each Year of its Existence

I collected these lists for my own interests earlier this week and realized it might

be something good to post, in case anyone wants to easily (without having to dig through the archives)

look over FTM's Top 20 Albums lists since our inception.

No links, no pretty album covers, just lists. Who knows? 

Maybe you'll see something you've been forgetting to check out.

2014
1. Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
2. The War on Drugs - Lost In the Dream
3. Adam Faucett - Blind Water Finds Blind Water
4. Hiss Golden Messenger - Lateness of Dancers
5. Old 97's - Most Messed Up
6. Lydia Loveless - Somewhere Else
7. Run the Jewels - RTJ2
8. Kelsey Waldon - The Goldmine
9. Pallbearer - Foundations of Burden
10. Lee Ann Womack - The Way I'm Livin'
11. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires - Dereconstructed
12. Stoney Larue - Aviator
13. Tami Neilson - Dynamite!
14. Cory Branan - The No-Hit Wonder
15. Fire Mountain - All Dies Down
16. St. Paul and the Broken Bones - Half the City
17. Don Williams - Reflections
18. Matt Woods - With Love From Brushy Mountain
 19. Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives - Saturday Night/Sunday Morning
20. Jimbo Mathus - Dark Night of the Soul

2013
1. John Moreland - In the Throes
2. Jason Isbell - Southeastern
3. Sturgill Simpson - High Top Mountain
4. Arliss Nancy - Wild American Runners
5. Drew Kennedy - Wide Listener
6. Run the Jewels - RTJ
7. Brandy Clark - 12 Stories
8. Austin Lucas - Stay Reckless
9. Fifth on the Floor - Ashes and Angels
10. Ashley Monroe - Like a Rose
11. The National - Trouble Will Find Me
12. Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer, Different Park
13. Shooter Jennings - The Other Life
14. Queens of the Stone Age - …Like Clockwork
15. Ha Ha Tonka - Lessons
16. Son Volt - Honky Tonk
17. Guy Clark - My Favorite Picture of You
18. Possessed by Paul James - There Will Be Nights When I'm Lonely
19. Vince Gill and Paul Franklin - Bakersfield
20. Todd Farrell Jr. and the Dirty Birds - All Our Heroes Live in Vans

2012
1. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires - There is a Bomb in Gilead
2. Marty Stuart - Nashville, Vol. 1 Tear The Woodpile Down
3. Chris Knight - Little Victories
4. The Pollies - Where the Lies Begin
5. Turnpike Troubadours - Goodbye Normal Street
6. The Departed - Adventus
7. Dwight Yoakam - 3 Pears
8. Uncle Lucius - And You Are Me
9. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, M.A.A.D. City
10. The Trishas - High, Wide and Handsome
11. John D. Hale Band - More Than I Can Handle
12. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
13. Lindi Ortega - Cigarettes & Truckstops
14. Shooter Jennings - Family Man
15. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
16. Arliss Nancy - Simple Machines
17. Darrell Scott - Long Ride Home
18. Jason Eady - AM Country Heaven
19. Matt King - Apples and Orphans
20. Lucero - Women and Work

2011
1. The Damn Quails - Down the Hatch
2. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest
3. Hellbound Glory - Damaged Goods
4. Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO
5. Jimbo Mathus - Confederate Buddha
6. Cary Anne Hearst - Lions and Lambs
7. Butch Walker and the Black Widows - The Spade
8. The Black Keys - El Camino
9. Adele - 21
10. Ponderosa - Moonlight Revival
11. Austin Lucas - A New Home, In the Old World
12. Kasey Anderson and the Honkies - Heart of a Dog
13. Stoney Larue - Velvet
14. Drew Kennedy - Fresh Water in the Salton Sea
15. Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire
16. Pistol Annies - Hell on Heels
17. Wilco - The Whole Love
18. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears - Scandalous
19. Mastodon - The Hunter
20. Will Hoge - Number Seven

2010
1. Jamey Johnson - The Guitar Song
2. Cee-Lo Green - The Lady Killer
3. Two Cow Garage - Sweet Saint Me
4. Austin Collins & The Rainbirds - Wrong Control
5. Big Boi - Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
6. Joe Pug - Messenger
7. Trampled by Turtles - Palomino
8. Kasey Anderson - Nowhere Nights
9. Rodney Hayden - Tavern of Poets
10. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - I Learned the Hard Way
11. Paul Thorn - Pimps and Preachers
12. Truth & Salvage Co. - s/t
13. Dirty Sweet - American Spiritual
14. The Black Crowes - Croweology
15. Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
16. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis
17. Randy Houser - They Call Me Cadillac
18. Hellbound Glory - Old Highs and New Lows
19. The Black Keys - Brothers
20. Drive-by Truckers - The Big To-Do

2009
1. Charlie Robison - Beautiful Day
2. Ben Nichols - Last Pale Light in the West
3. Buddy and Julie Miller - Written in Chalk
4. Magnolia Electric Company - Josephine
5. Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
6. BettySoo - Heat Sin Water Skin
7. Wrinkle Neck Mules - Let the Lead Fly
8. Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
9. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Tell 'em What Your Name Is
10. Drew Kennedy - An Audio Guide to Cross Country Travel
11. The Black Crowes - Before the Frost...Until the Freeze
12. Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies
13. Son Volt - American Central Dust
14. The Devil Makes Three - Do Wrong Right
15. Slaid Cleaves - Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away
16. Joshua James - Build Me This
17. Switchfoot - Hello Hurricane
18. Miranda Lambert - Revolution
19. Krizz Kaliko - Genius
20. Mastodon - Crack the Skye

2008 

1. Drive-by Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark

2. Jamey Johnson - That Lonesome Song

3. Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson - Rattlin' Bones

4. Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers

5. Hayes Carll - Trouble in Mind

6. Sun Kil Moon - April

7. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive

8. The Felice Brothers - s/t

9. Two Cow Garage - Speaking in Cursive
10. Fleet Foxes - s/t
11. NQ Arbuckle - XOK
12. Blitzen Trapper - Furr
13. Chris Knight - Heart of Stone
14. Metallica - Death Magnetic
15. Reckless Kelly - Bulletproof
16. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
17. Justin Townes Earle - The Good Life
18. Bruce Robison - The New World
19. The Steeldrivers - s/t
20. Drag The River - You Can't Live This Way

Best Albums of 2013: 3/4 Report

1. John Moreland - In the Throes

2. Jason Isbell - Southeastern

3. The National - Trouble Will Find Me

4. Drew Kennedy - Wide Listener

5. Austin Lucas - Stay Reckless

6. The Band of Heathens - Sunday Morning Record

7. Run the Jewels - s/t

(free if you click "Get It Now")

8. Ashley Monroe - Like a Rose

9. Shooter Jennings - The Other Life

10. Fifth on the Floor - Ashes & Angels

Best Albums of 2013: Halfway Report

1. John Moreland - In The Throes

2. Jason Isbell - Southeastern

3. The National - Trouble Will Find Me

4. Sturgill Simpson - High Top Mountain

5. Shooter Jennings - The Other Life

6. Ashley Monroe - Like a Rose

7. Son Volt - Honky Tonk

8. William Clark Green - Rose Queen

9. Fifth on the Floor - Ashes & Angels

10. Quaker City Night Hawks - Honcho

Honorable Mentions: Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer Different Park, Run the Jewels - s/t, JJ Grey and Mofro - This River, Jimbo Mathus - White Buffalo, QOTSA - ...Like Clockwork, Water Liars - Wyoming.

Favorite Albums of 2013 So Far (1/3 Report)

1. Shooter Jennings - The Other Life

2. Son Volt - Honky Tonk

3. JJ Grey & Mofro - This River

4. Fifth on the Floor - Ashes & Angels

5. Ashley Monroe - Like a Rose

6. Quaker City Night Hawks - Honcho

7. Jimbo Mathus - White Buffalo

8. Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer Different Park

9. Water Liars - Wyoming

10. Javi Garcia - The Great Controversy

Best Albums of 2012 So Far: September

New to the chart this month: The Pollies, Chris Knight, Uncle Lucius and the John D. Hale Band.

1. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires - There is a Bomb in Gilead

2. Marty Stuart - Nashville, Vol. 1 Tear The Woodpile Down

3. The Pollies - Where the Lies Begin (Release Date: Oct. 2)

4. Chris Knight - Little Victories

5. Turnpike Troubadours - Goodbye Normal Street

6. Uncle Lucius - And You Are Me

7. Arliss Nancy - Simple Machines

8. The Trishas - High, Wide and Handsome

9. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

10. Shooter Jennings - Family Man

11. Blackberry Smoke - The Whippoorwill

12. Darrell Scott - Long Ride Home

13. John D. Hale Band - More Than I Can Handle (Release Date: Sept. 25)

14. Jason Eady - AM Country Heaven

15. Kellie Pickler - 100 Proof

Best Albums of 2012 So Far: August

There's no change towards the top of FTM's "best of" list but a lot of upheaval down below, with Arliss Nancy, Killer Mike and others jumping onto the list. There are also two big albums waiting in the wings: Jamey Johnson's Hank Cochran Tribute and Chris Knight's new release. Anyway, here's the top 10. Feel free to make any suggestions for great 2012 albums in the comments.

1. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires - There is a Bomb in Gilead

2. Marty Stuart - Nashville, Vol. 1 Tear The Woodpile Down

3. Turnpike Troubadours - Goodbye Normal Street

4. Arliss Nancy - Simple Machines

5. Darrell Scott - Long Ride Home

6. Jason Eady - AM Country Heaven

7. Shooter Jennings - Family Man

8. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

9. Blackberry Smoke - The Whippoorwill

10. The Trishas - High, Wide and Handsome

Favorite Albums of 2012: First Half Report

1. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires - There is a Bomb in Gilead

2. Marty Stuart - Nashville, Vol. 1 Tear The Woodpile Down

3. Darrell Scott - Long Ride Home

4. Turnpike Troubadours - Goodbye Normal Street

5. Alan Jackson - Thirty Miles West

6. Jason Eady - AM Country Heaven

7. Shooter Jennings - Family Man

8. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - The Lion The Beast The Beat

9. Kellie Pickler - 100 Proof

10. Wade Bowen - The Given

11. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls

12. Jack White - Blunderbuss

13. Lucero - Women and Work

14. Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur

15. The Deadfields - Dance in the Sun

16. fun. - Some Nights

17. Willie Nelson - Heroes

18. Bonnie Raitt - Slipstream

19. Ray Wylie Hubbard - The Grifter's Hymnal

20. Bob Wayne - Till the Wheels Fall Off

21. Paul Thorn - What the Hell is Going On?

22. The Shins - Port of Morrow

23. Wrinkle Neck Mules - Apprentice to Ghosts

24. Jackson Taylor & The Sinners - Bad Juju

25. The White Buffalo - Once Upon a Time in the West

Favorite Albums of 2012 So Far: March

I was originally going to call this the "first quarter report," but since two of these will be released in the 2nd quarter, but they're too good to exclude... that wouldn't do.

Favorite Albums of 2012 (So Far)

1. Darrell Scott - Long Ride Home $5.00 at this link!

2. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires - There is a Bomb in Gilead (Due out in May)

3. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls (Due Out April 10)

4. Lucero - Women and Work $5.99 at this link!

5. Shooter Jennings - Family Man $5.99 at this link!

6. Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur

7. The White Buffalo - Once Upon a Time in the West

8. Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker & Yim Yames - New Multitudes

9. The Deadfields - Dance in the Sun

10. Kellie Pickler - 100 Proof

Strong new releases that I've not had time to completely digest yet: 

Ray Wylie Hubbard - The Grifter's Hymnal

Justin Townes Earle - Nothing's Going to Change the Way You Feel About Me Now

Cary Hudson - Mississippi Moon

Sons of Bill - Sirens

(Way Too Early) Best Albums of 2012 So Far

1. Darrell Scott - Long Ride Home

2. Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur

3. Shooter Jennings - Family Man (3/13/12 release: cool pre-order packages at this link)

4. Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth

5. Kellie Pickler - 100 Proof

6. Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes

7. Gretchen Peters - Hello Cruel World

8. Punch Brothers - Who's Feeling Young Now?

9. Lincoln Durham - The Shovel vs. The Howling Bones

10. Heartless Bastards - Arrow

FTM 101 Best of 2011: 76-101

Maybe 101 albums is too many for a "Best of" list. Some may think it's indulgent or that I'm showing off how much music I listened to ....but that's not the case. I just love music so much and it needs to be seen that good music is still being put out in this day and age of disposable songs. I listened to many, many, many new albums in 2011 and passed on dozens more after previewing them. The FTM 101 includes all the albums I heard and think are most worthy of mention. Here's the first installment (higher up the chart will include write-ups).

76. Cage the Elephant - Thank You Happy Birthday

77. Mt. Moriah - s/t

78. Chris Young - Neon

79. The Jayhawks - Mockingbird Time

80. Mike McClure - Fifty Billion

81. 2 Steps Back - Lovers & Fighters

82. Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers - Unida Cantina

83. Trombone Shorty - For True

84. Too Slim and the Taildraggers - Shiver

85. Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - Soul Time!

86. Middle Brother - S/T

87. Blind Boys of Alabama - Take the High Road

88. Black Spiders - Sons of the North

89. The V-Roys - Sooner or Later

90. Rachel Brooke - Down in the Barnyard

91. A Pale Horse Named Death - And Hell Will Follow…

92. Switchfoot - Vice Verses

93. Childish Gambino - Camp

94. Deer Dick - Divine Providence

95. Hank III - Ghost to a Ghost/Guttertown

96. Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers - Starlight Hotel

97. Trent Dabbs - Southerner

98. R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now

99. The Gourds - Old Mad Joy

100. My Morning Jacket - Circuital

101. Black Stone Cherry - Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea

Best of 2011 So Far...

Alright, this is the final "Best of 2011…" before the year end list. As you may notice, there's been a great deal of upheaval since the last update. New albums I can't get enough of have rocketed to the top (Quails, Hellbound) and some that were previously high in the rankings have grown tiresome (Blitzen Trapper, Ha Ha Tonka). See what you think and tell me what I've missed (and there are some I just haven't heard enough yet - Boland's new album for one).

1. The Damn Quails - Down the Hatch

2. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest

3. Hellbound Glory - Damaged Goods

4. Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO

5. Jimbo Mathus - Confederate Buddha

6. Cary Anne Hearst - Lions and Lambs

7. Butch Walker and the Black Widows - The Spade

8. Austin Lucas - A New Home, In the Old World

9. Kasey Anderson and the Honkies - Heart of a Dog

10. Ponderosa - Moonlight Revival

11. Adele - 21

12. Stoney Larue - Velvet

13. Drew Kennedy - Fresh Water in the Salton Sea

14. Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire

15. Pistol Annies - Hell on Heels

16. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears - Scandalous

17. Mastodon - The Hunter

18. Will Hoge - Number Seven

19. Miranda Lambert - Four the Record

20. Bad Meets Evil - Hell (The Sequel)

21. Scott H. Biram - Bad Ingredients

22. Larry Hooper - Between Here and the Stars

23. Left Lane Cruiser - Junkyard Speed Ball

24. Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin'

25. Centro-matic - Candidate Waltz

26. Eli Young Band - Life at Best

27. Adam Hood - The Shape of Things

28. Glossary - Long Live All of Us

29. Mike Ethan Messick - The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday

30. Blitzen Trapper - American Goldwing

31. Cody Canada and The Departed - This is Indian Land

32. George Strait - Here for a Good Time

33. Robyn Ludwick - Out of These Blues

34. Ha Ha Tonka - Death of a Decade

35. Childish Gambino - Camp

Best of 2011: 3/4 Report

There are a ton of new releases that I'm just getting around to hearing, so this list is far far from steady, but these are my favorite releases of the year so far. Right now... this day, this moment. It will change. (new additions in bold)

1. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest

2. Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO

3. Jimbo Mathus - Confederate Buddha

4. Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire

5. Austin Lucas - A New Home, In the Old World

6. Kasey Anderson and the Honkies - Heart of a Dog

7. Ha Ha Tonka - Death of a Decade

8. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears - Scandalous

9. Ponderosa - Moonlight Revival

10. Centro-matic - Candidate Waltz

11. Blitzen Trapper - American Goldwing

12. Stoney Larue - Velvet

13. Drew Kennedy - Fresh Water in the Salton Sea

14. Mastodon - The Hunter

15. Will Hoge - Number Seven

16. Justin Haigh - People Like Me

17. Cary Anne Hearst - Lions and Lambs

18. Left Lane Cruiser - Junkyard Speed Ball

19. Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin'

20. Wilco - The Whole Love

Best of 2011 So Far: July

Been a while since I've updated my "best of the year so far" list and there have been several additions, including Jimbo Mathus, Centromatic, Justin Haigh and more. There are a few new ones I haven't had time to digest yet like Joe Ely and Gillian Welch so they may appear soon. Some of the entries on the chart have links where you can go check out the artists.

1. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest

2. Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO

3. Austin Lucas - A New Home, In the Old World

4. Kasey Anderson and the Honkies - Heart of a Dog

5. Jimbo Mathus - Confederate Buddha

6. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears - Scandalous

7. Ponderosa - Moonlight Revival

8. Centro-matic - Candidate Waltz

9. Justin Haigh - People Like Me

10. Robyn Ludwick - Out of These Blues

11. Left Lane Cruiser - Junkyard Speed Ball

12. Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin'

13. Adele - 21

14. Bad Meets Evil - Hell (The Sequel)

15. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

16. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

17. Ha Ha Tonka - Death of a Decade

18. Sam Sliva and the Good - And the People Say

19. Nick 13 - s/t

20. The Deep Dark Woods - The Place I Left Behind

21. Amos Lee - Mission Bell

22. Black Spiders - Sons of the North

23. Cage the Elephant - Thank You Happy Birthday

24. Social Distortion - Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes

25. Fifth on the Floor - Dark and Bloody Ground

26. Michael Ethan Messick - The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday

27. Jason Fratesi and the Dirt Road Jam Band - Cryin' Out Loud

28. F*cked Up - David Comes to Life

29. Brad Paisley - This is Country Music

30. Blind Boys of Alabama - Take the High Road

31. Big K.R.I.T. - Return of 4Eva

32. Steve Earle - I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive

33. Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones

34. Cody Canada and the Departed - This is Indian Land

35. The Felice Brothers - Celebration, Florida

Best of 2011 So Far: May

Best of 2011 (as of May 31)

1. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest

2. Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO

3. Austin Lucas - A New Home, In the Old World

4. Kasey Anderson and the Honkies - Heart of a Dog

5. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears - Scandalous

6. Ponderosa - Moonlight Revival

7. Robyn Ludwick - Out of These Blues

8. Left Lane Cruiser - Junkyard Speed Ball

9. Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin'

10. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

11. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

12. Ha Ha Tonka - Death of a Decade

13. Amos Lee - Mission Bell

14. Black Spiders - Sons of the North

15. Cage the Elephant - Thank You Happy Birthday

16. Social Distortion - Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes

17. Brad Paisley - This is Country Music

18. Blind Boys of Alabama - Take the High Road

19. Big K.R.I.T. - Return of 4Eva

20. Steve Earle - I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive