01. Jamey Johnson - That Lonesome SongHead and shoulders above every other mainstream country album that has come out, not just this year, but almost as far back as I can recall. Reminiscent of the sonic textures of the better known Waylon Jennings albums, That Lonesome Song is a nearly unrelentingly dark trip through the hell of heartache and regret. Somewhere between Jennings and Jones, Jamey chisels his own persona hewn from hard living and hard times. A modern classic.
02. Reckless Kelly - BulletproofIt's a shame this group hasn't struck it big... yet. Everything about them screams "big time superstar band" but their hard rocking side leaves radio programmers at a loss as to where or even if to slot them. They may not fit into Clearchannel's ideal of country right now, but they're closer to the real deal than many of the top 40's pop leaning acts. RK's writing is strong and varied, and as musicians, they are noted to be among the cream of the "Texas music" crop. Bulletproof is their strongest release to date, bringing the rock and the ballads in enough measure to satisfy the male and female demographic alike. Even their throwaway songs stay with you because of the big melodies, and the deeper tracks will punch you right in the gut. I've been a fan since last millennium, so it gives me great selfish personal satisfaction to see them catching on. The sky's the limit for Reckless Kelly.
Standout: Ragged as the Road
03. Lee Ann Womack - Call Me CrazyWhen Jamey Johnson thinks you're the best country artist going today, you're doing something right. Lee Ann could have kept pushing toward the pop country of her smash hit "I Hope You Dance" but has instead opted for real tear-in-your-beer country with her two most recent releases. This one's even better than "There's More Where That Came From" which landed on many "Best of" lists.
Standout: Solitary Thinkin'
04. Randy Rogers Band - s/tSee #2
Standout: Didn't Know You Could
05. Trent Willmon - Broken InTrent has a distinctive Texas drawl and a unique perspective on commercial country. He also picks and co-writes great material. He's a vastly underrated and under-appreciated artist.
06. George Strait - TroubadourThe King just keeps right on rolling, sounding better than ever on somewhat above average material. That's not a slight against him; the songs just aren't all up to snuff this go round. He's still wonderful at performing them.
Standout: West Texas Town
07. Alan Jackson - Good TimeA welcome return to straightforward country, but something of a bloated release. Trim this down to a svelte 12 song package and it's probably 3 places higher on the list. Normally, I wouldn't penalize an album for too many songs, but the fact that there are so many weak songs (I'm looking at you "Country Boy") really pull down the overall product. Mix in an outside writer or two, AJ.
Standout: Right Where I Want You
08. Ashton Shepherd - Sounds So GoodsA great new voice in the country world, Ashton's nasal twang takes some getting used to but it grows on you after a bit. It's nice to hear someone who sounds different from what we're used to on the radio, and it's surprising (though well deserved) to see her finally getting some airplay with the very endearing title track. She's definitely someone to watch in coming years. Here's hoping she gets the continued push she deserves.
Standout: Whiskey Won the Battle
09. Blake Shelton - Startin' FiresBlake leans toward more soulfulness on this record to nice effect. If he'd mix some grittier material in with the smooth R&B (with the right track sequencing of course), this would be a more satisfying effort, but it's nice nonetheless. The hooks are sharp as an X-acto blade.
Standout: Startin' Fires
I see you, BSers :)
Yes, I am weird, but hey, I liked the album at least.
10. Randy Travis - Around the BendStandout: Dig Two Graves
