Official Twangville Best New Album of 2017:
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, The Nashville Sound
It’s official—we have a Jason Isbell problem. Isbell has topped our list every other year for the past 7 years—a well deserved honor.
The Twangville pick for Best New Album of 2017 is The Nashville Sound by Nashville-based Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit. This list combines best of year picks from our Twangville authors plus the Readers’ Tops which you helped us create. Congrats to all the finalists. Let 2018 begin!
Official Twangville Top 50 of 2017:
- 1. JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, The Nashville Sound (175)
- 2. JOHN MORELAND, Big Bad Luv (101)
- 3. DAVID RAWLINGS, Poor David’s Almanack (80)
- 4. RYAN ADAMS, Prisoner (76)
- 5. DAVID RAMIREZ, We’re Not Going Anywhere (67)
- 6. JOSH RITTER, Gathering (57)
- 7. JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, Kids In the Street (57)
- 8. BAND OF HEATHENS, Duende (52)
- 9. ROBERT FRANCIS, Indian Summer (48)
- 10. OLD 97’S, Graveyard Whistling (47)
- 11. NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS, Prayer For Peace (46)
- 12. THE MAVERICKS, Brand New Day (45)
- 13. WILL HOGE, Anchors (43)
- 13. STEVE EARLE, So You Wannabe an Outlaw (43)
- 15. EILEN JEWELL, Down Hearted Blues (41)
- 16. MARTY STUART, Way Out West (40)
- 17. JD MCPHERSON, UNDIVIDED HEART & SOUL (38)
- 18. NIKKI LANE, Highway Queen (37)
- 19. THE WAIFS, Ironbark (35)
- 19. COLTER WALL, Colter Wall (35)
- 21. RAY WYLIE HUBBARD, Tell The Devil I’m Gettin’ There As Fast As I Can (34)
- 21. SON VOLT, Notes Of Blue (34)
- 21. TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS, A Long Way From Your Heart (31)
- 24. CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD, Barefoot In The Head (25)
- 24. BASH & POP, Anything Could Happen (25)
- 24. THE CONTENDERS, Laughing with the Reckless (25)
- 24. IRON & WINE, Beast Epic (25)
- 28. THE DUSTBOWL REVIVAL, The Dustbowl Revival (24)
- 28. PHOEBE HUNT & THE GATHERERS, Shanti’s Shadow (24)
- 28. THE WAR ON DRUGS, A Deeper Understanding (24)
- 28. INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS, Laws of Gravity (24)
- 32. MATTHEW RYAN, Hustle Up Starlings (23)
- 32. TAJ MAHAL & KEB’ MO’, TajMo (23)
- 32. RON GALLO, Heavy Meta (23)
- 35. HANNAH ALDRIDGE, Gold Rush (22)
- 35. RUTHIE FOSTER, Joy Comes Back (22)
- 35. GREGG ALLMAN, Southern Blood (22)
- 35. RHIANNON GIDDENS, Freedom Highway (22)
- 35. THE AFGHAN WHIGS, In Spades (22)
- 40. MIKE ERRICO, Minor Fits (21)
- 40. A.J. CROCE, Just Like Medicine (21)
- 40. OTIS TAYLOR, Fantisizing About Being Black (21)
- 40. NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS, Who Bulit the Moon (21)
- 40. HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER, Hallelujah Anyhow (21)
- 45. WHITNEY ROSE, Rule 62 (20)
- 45. GOOD OLD WAR, Part of Me (20)
- 45. GUY DAVIS & FABRIZIO POGGI, Sonny & Brownie’s Last Train (20)
- 45. BLACKIE & THE RODEO KINGS, Kings And Kings (20)
- 45. SPOON, Hot Thoughts (20)
- 45. ROMANTICA, Shadowlands (20)
Additional Twangville Best of 2017 lists:
- Readers’ Pick: Best Album of 2017
- Mayer’s Picks – Best of 2017
- Mayer’s Picks – More Favorites from 2017
- Mayer’s Picks – Best Albums of 2017, Boston/Dallas Edition
- Tom’s Picks: Best of 2017
Twangville Hall of Fame
Finally to celebrate our 12th year, the Twangville Hall of Fame. Here’s our #1 picks from as many years back as we can recall.
- 2017:Â JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, The Nashville Sound
- 2016:Â LYDIA LOVELESS, Real
- 2015:Â JASON ISBELL, Something More Than Free
- 2014: JOE FLETCHER, You’ve Got The Wrong Man
- 2013: JASON ISBELL, Southeastern
- 2012:Â I SEE HAWKS IN L.A., New Kind of Lonely
- 2011:Â JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, Here We Rest
- 2010:Â JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, Harlem River Blues
- 2009: LUCERO, 1372 Overton Park
- 2008: DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark & THE HOLD STEADY, Stay Positive (tie)
- 2007:Â JASON ISBELL, Sirens of The Ditch
- 2006: JACKIE GREENE, American Myth
- 2005:Â KATHLEEN EDWARDS, Back to Me
About the author: Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.