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 :)

Waxahatchee w/MJ Lenderman / "Right Back to It" / The Late Show

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

New Video / Waxahatchee / "365"

New Video / Waxahatchee / "Bored"

New Video / Waxahatchee (ft. MJ Lenderman) / "Right Back To It"

New Video / Plains / "Hurricane"

From the excellent new album I Walked With You a Ways.

Best Songs of 2020 Spotlight / Waxahatchee / "Lilacs"

Top Albums of 2020: First Half Report

1. Futurebirds - Teamwork

2. Mike & The Moonpies - Touch of You

3. Katie Pruitt - Expectations

4. Brandy Clark - Your Life is a Record

5. Gabe Lee - Honky Tonk Hell

6. Hill Country - s/t

7. Ashley McBryde - Never Will

8. Rookie - s/t

9. Jesse Daniel - Rollin’ On

10. Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud

11. American Aquarium - Lamentations

12. Will Hoge - Tiny Little Movies

13. Hailey Whitters - The Dream

14. Reckless Kelly - American Jackpot/American Girls

15. Run the Jewels - RTJ4

16. The Secret Sisters - Saturn Return

17. John Baumann - Country Shade

18. Randy Rogers/Wade Bowen - Hold My Beer 2

19. Aubrie Sellers - Far From Home

20. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Reunions

21. Jaime Wyatt - Neon Cross

22. Caitlyn Smith - Supernova

23. Caleb Caudle - Better Hurry Up

24. Kyle Nix - Lightning on the Mountain

25. Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters

26. John Anderson - Years

27. Rich O’Toole - New York

28. Dalton Domino - Feverdreamer

29. Caitlin Cannon- The Trash Cannon Album

30. Steve Earle - Ghosts of West Virginia

*there are a few recent and forthcoming albums I haven't listened to enough to rank yet

**this is just Trailer's top 30 - year end list will include all FTM contributors

Top Albums of 2020 - First Quarter Report

1. Futurebirds - Teamwork

2. Katie Pruitt - Expectations

3. Brandy Clark - Your Life is a Record

4. Gabe Lee - Honky Tonk Hell

5. Ashley McBryde - Never Will

6. Rookie - s/t

7. Marcus King - El Dorado

8. Jesse Daniel - Rollin’ On

9. Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud

10. Hailey Whitters - The Dream

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*there are a few recent and forthcoming albums I haven't listened to enough to rank yet

**this is just Trailer's top 10 - year end list will include all FTM contributors