1) Silverada – Texas 42. A love letter to the Lone Star State, from the title track to the drinking song to the closer with the armadillo. With some slight changes of lyrics it’s also a requiem for living just about anywhere in southern and/or western rural America.
2) I’m With Her – Wild And Clear And Blue. Their first album was good, but this one substantiates the idea of a super-group. The three women have now spent enough time together writing and performing that their three part harmonies seem effortless, and at times unmatchable.
3) Sierra Hull – A Tip Toe High Wire. Just like Sarah Jarosz a few years ago, the native Tennessean has pushed past her mandolin-shredding comfort zone and is showing her skills as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist.
4) Caitlin Cannon – Love Addict. Set to retro country sounds from Bakersfield twang to Nashville countrypolitan, this is a record about being your own person even if it makes others uncomfortable.
5) Damn Tall Buildings – The Universe Is Hungry. A good example of how bluegrass is being embraced by a new group of musicians who use it in a myriad of ways, some traditional, some not. And perhaps the best cover of the year on Blue Bayou.
6) Tony Kamel – We’re All Gonna Live. One of the flag-bearers for twang from Austin, Kamel also comes with a full bucket of stories he sets to music.
7) Margo Price – Hard Headed Woman. Despite being embraced by the wider country music community, Price is maintaining her roots in the raw tales of blue collar America.
8) Cristina Vane – Hear My Call. She has a guitar sound that’s uniquely hers and a litany of friends who want to sing with her.
9) Shelby Means– Shelby Means. Hard to believe this is her debut album. After stints with Della Mae and Molly Tuttle she’s showing off her own music.
10) John Francis O’Mara – Forbidden Hymns. A spiritual album that’s not religious, set to a variety of Americana music styles.
11) Chuck Prophet – Wake the Dead
12) The Shootouts – Switchback
13) Brennen Leigh – Don’t You Ever Give Up On Love
14) West Texas Exiles – 8000 Days
15) Rosie Flores & the Talismen – Impossible Frontiers
16) Rosy Nolan – Main Attraction
17) The Wood Brothers – Puff Of Smoke
18) Jason Isbell – Foxes In the Snow
19) Paul Thorn – Life Is Just A Vapor
20) The Brothers Comatose – Golden Grass
21)East Nash Grass – All God’s Children
22) Jesse Daniel –Son Of the San Lorenzo
23) Joshua Ray Walker – Stuff
24) The Far West – Everything We Thought We Wanted
25) Taylor Rae – The Void
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.