Twangville’s 2021 Favorites are…

The Horses and the Hounds by James McMurtry

The Twangville pick for Best New Album of 2021 is The Horses and the Hounds by Austin-based singer-songwriter, James McMurtry. This list combines best of year picks from our Twangville critics plus the Readers’ Picks which you helped us create from our polls throughout the year. Congrats to all the finalists. Bring on 2022!

Official Twangville Top 50 of 2021:

1. James McMurtry – The Horses and the Hounds (172 pts)
2. Yola – Stand For Myself (84)
3. Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T. (77)
4. Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days (76)
5. Hiss Golden Messenger – Quietly Blowing It (73)
6. Jason Isbell – Georgia Blue (65)
7. Drive By Truckers – Live at Plan 9 Records (53)
8. The War On Drugs – I Don’t Live Here Anymore (43)
9. Mando Saenz – All My Shame (41)
10. Hayes Carll – You Get it All (39)
11. Natalie Hemby – Pins & Needles (37)
11. Ryan Adams – Big Colors (37)
11. The Hold Steady – Open Door Policy (37)
14. Allison Russell – Outside Child (36)
15. John Mayer – Sob Rock (35)
15. The Black Keys – Delta Kream (35)
15. Ward Hayden & the Outliers – Free Country (35)
18. Caleb Stine – The Life and Times of a Handyman (34)
19. Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia (31)
20. Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Barn (29)
20. The Flatlanders – Treasure of Love (29)
22. Gov’t Mule – Heavy Load Blues (26)
23. Billy Strings – Renewal (25)
23. Corey Harris – Insurrection Blues (25)
23. Maggie Rose – Have a Seat (25)
23. Sufjan Stevens & Angelo DeAugustine – A Beginniner’s Mind (25)
23. Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, Jack Ingram – The Marfa Tapes (25)
28. Christopher Paul Stelling – Forgiving It All (24)
28. Joe Troop – Borrowed Time (24)
28. Jose Gonzalez – Local Valley (24)
28. Shannon Clark & The Sugar – Marks on the Wall (24)
32. Drayton Farley – A Hard Up Life (23)
32. Isla, Josh Rouse – The Mediterranean Gardner (23)
32. Jeremy Pinnell – Goodbye LA (23)
32. John Hiatt with the Jerry Douglas Band – Leftover Feelings (23)
32. Leftover Salmon – Brand New Good Old Days (23)
32. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – The Future (23)
32. Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Dance Songs for Hard Times (23)
32. Selwyn Birchwood – Living In a Burning House (23)
32. Todd Snider – First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder (23)
41. Son of the Velvet Rat – Solitary Company (22)
41. Son Volt – Electro Melodier (22)
41. Tre Burt – You, Yeah, You (22)
44. AJ Lee & Blue Summit – I’ll Come Back (21)
44. Charley Crockett – 10 For Slim (21)
44. Guy Davis – Be Ready When I Call You (21)
44. Jackson+Sellers – Breaking Point (21)
44. Jesse Malin – Sad and Beautiful World (21)
44. Kevin Daniel – Been Here Before (21)
50. John R. Miller – Depreciated (20)
50. The Diving Sun – Joe Pug (20)
50. Watchhouse – Watchhouse (20)

Additional Twangville Best of 2020 lists:

Twangville Hall of Fame
Finally to celebrate our 16th year, the Twangville Hall of Fame. Here’s our #1 picks starting from 2005.

2021: JAMES MCMURTRY, The Horses and the Hounds
2020: JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, Reunions
2019: JOSH RITTER, Fever Breaks
2018: BRANDI CARLILE, By The Way, I Forgive You
2017: JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, The Nashville Sound
2016: LYDIA LOVELESS, Real
2015: JASON ISBELL, Something More Than Free
2014: JOE FLETCHER, You’ve Got The Wrong Man
2013: JASON ISBELL, Southeastern
2012: I SEE HAWKS IN L.A., New Kind of Lonely
2011: JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, Here We Rest
2010: 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: JASON ISBELL, Sirens of The Ditch
2006: JACKIE GREENE, American Myth
2005: KATHLEEN EDWARDS, Back to Me

We hope you’ll follow us for more music reviews, interviews, and playlists throughout the year. Be sure and vote for your favorites in our Readers’ poll every week.

About the author: Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.