These days who knows what country music really is anymore. I just want artists who are in it for the music, not the fame or money, because that's what makes a real artist. I want them to make music they are proud of and have it represent who they are. That concept is so lost in today's mainstream pop country music. The list below are some of the best albums I've heard this year. I don't care if it's the "countriest" sounding thing in the world or not. I just want it to be good music. Here are 5 albums that are very different from each other. I guarantee you will find something you like and will not be disappointed.
Like A Rose - Ashley Monroe
Even though Ashley Monroe is best known as a member of the Pistol Annies, she proved that she can do just as well, if not better as a solo artist. The Pistol Annies gave her enough exposure to really reach out to the mainstream country fan base, and they listened. Her video for "Like A Rose" was on CMT Top 20 Countdown and she performed (very briefly) on the ACM awards. It's a start. It was great to see her amidst all of the other "types of music" in mainstream country. This is a short, simple, sweet 9 track classic country sounding album that really hits home. With personal stories being told in the the title track and others it's hard to tell how much is truth and how much is just good songwriting. She has you believing every word that comes out of her mouth that's for sure.
The Other Life - Shooter Jennings
I'll admit to the fact that I don't love everything Shooter Jennings has ever released. Some of his songs are a little too hard edged rock for my taste. He has some really great country songs but asking him for an entire album of them would be crazy, that's not who he is. This album is the perfect combination of country and rock. Mainstream country tries to make country rock work. For the most part it doesn't go over well. (Listen to any Brantley Gilbert song if you need an example) Shooter is one of those people who can successfully defy the genre lines because they can make it work and create unique music that really fits who they are. Unquestionably this is his best album yet in my opinion.
In The Throes - John Moreland
A singer/songwriter from Oklahoma you probably never heard of wrote one of the greatest albums I've listened to this year. The combination of the simple acoustic instrumentation with his Bruce Springsteen-like voice and his heartbreaking lyrics just isn't fair. There isn't one bad song on this album. Every single sentence is beautifully written like lines from a poem. The whole album is the story of broken dreams, lost love, and running low on hope. It will leave you sad and heartbroken but inspired at the same time.
Southeastern - Jason Isbell
Jason Isbell is one of the most talented songwriters I've come across, probably ever. The musical style of this album is definitely in the alt country/Americana category. It's different from his other solo albums and very different from his early days as a member of the southern rock band Drive-By Truckers. The one thing has always remained the same is his hauntingly beautiful songwriting. I don't care if you call it Americana, rock, country, alt country, it doesn't matter it's just good music, music that continues to evolve into something more and more brilliant. It's stuff like this that really made me hate mainstream music. Why are these money driven pop singers getting all the attention when music like this exists? I guess we'll never know. If you are looking for a good way to transition into real music, then look no further than this album.
High Top Mountain - Sturgill Simpson
I love Americana music, I really do, but my all time favorite little sub-genre of country music would have to be from the Waylon, Willie, Billy Joe Shaver, Paycheck, etc. Outlaw Era country. If that existed today this album would be what it would sound like. It's new music that shadows the music I love that was long before my time. This is pure, real, country music. It seems like all the people who want to make actual country music are drifting off into Americana or some other genre. That's okay, but I love the ones that are still doing it this way. There are many great underground singers and bands like Hank 3, Dale Watson, Hellbound Glory, Rachel Brooke, and so many others that are keeping real country alive. People like them give me hope. It just shows that it will be hard to kill country music. There will always be someone out there still doing it right, and for the right reasons. Sturgill's sound is so unique for today's music that I think this is quite honestly the best album of the year so far, it'll be hard to top it. I think there's an Eric Church song that goes "We need a Country Music Jesus to come and save us all." Alright Nashville, I've found him. I can only dream that one day you can accept him.
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