The first track on this album is really good which put me in a hopeful frame of mind for the rest of it. It’s good, but I don’t know that it’s particularly stand-out, just one of those good country albums that you could pop on at any point and enjoy but without being hugely memorable. The last track I think is one of those that could get stuck in your head if you let it, but thankfully that didn’t last too long for me!

Loved this! Was not expecting it at all, since when did Post Malone do country music?? I remember having mixed feelings over his previous work and changing my mind across the years, but I would never have predicted this album and certainly not that it would be so brilliant. Great tunes, incredible guest stars all the way through, and just a joy to listen to. Put it on again!

This is such a good album. The songs themselves are your standard country - perhaps more traditional than more modern country pop and with Carly’s excellent vocals layered on top. Where it really shines though is in the lyrics, the clever twists on sayings and idioms, and the way the stories build and flow. Heels Over Head is genius. Rock Paper Scissors makes me smile every time, and I really like Fault Line and Pretty Please. From start to finish, this is an album that surprises whilst also being gently familiar to listen to.

I was quite enjoying this album, it’s pretty much what you’d expect from Tyler Hubbard - some solid country bops. Then I got to Back Then Right Now which I thought I absolutely knew as a single, except it wasn’t the song I was expecting. I couldn’t figure if it was an album version or a cover and eventually realised it’s a completely different song to the same titled one by Tenille Arts. So a good album really but let down by that oddity.

This is a really good album, it’s almost like sitting around a campfire with a friend - not all the songs are absolutely going to grab you but they’re all from the heart and telling a story. Kacey has strong song-writing skills and it makes you want to listen along. I’m not on board with all of it, The Architect is a bit on the nose for my tastes, but as a whole it’s a strong album.

Keith Urban can pretty much be relied upon to deliver a good relatively modern pop country album. It’s not massively groundbreaking but very enjoyable, and he rocks a good guitar. The one unique selling point he has is his points of reference are different, being Australian, so it’s not all whiskeys and catfish dinners. Can’t go wrong with a bit of bonus Carrie, either!

So. This is a concept album which already puts it on the back foot a bit. There’s a bit too much talking in there to really make it an enjoyable thing. But on the other hand, it’s Johnny Cash and you just listen when he talks and doubly listen when he sings so it still somehow works. It’s not going to be my favourite Cash album by a long shot, but I do respect the effort.

I’ve done it, I’ve decided, phew. It’s taken my a week or two longer than it usually does to decide my top five albums of the year just gone but finally I’m ready to put pen to paper, or pixel to screen, and talk about my finalists. There were only eight albums in the shortlist anyway, which somehow made it harder. I narrowed it down to six but then deciding who to drop and what the order should be… oof! But here goes nothing!

I do think very highly of Chris Stapleton, he’s got an incredible voice and works with a lot of great people. This album didn’t really work for me, unfortunately. It’s fine but it was just a bit dull, the voice is there but the songs don’t really live up to the power that he can produce. So yea, important to say I didn’t dislike this but I have no urge to listen to it again.

This is a perfectly good country album, Old Dominion know what they’re doing by now, and it does have some good songs on there. But if I’m being honest, it just went on a bit long - almost an hour - so that by the end I was just ready for it to end. Also finishing the album with a repeat song featuring Blake Shelton seems unnecessary but hey, artistic choice isn’t it!

I had no expectations going into this album so it was a really pleasant surprise, it’s so good! Great songs, great messages, that nice modern country feel without getting too poppy along the way. It’s a five out of five in a way that, it’s never going to make the top lists of all time, but it’s a really good and listenable album that I enjoyed both times through and will enjoy again.

For someone that’s been in country music for such a long time, Tim McGraw does a great job at adapting himself and rolling with the times. It’s not super duper modern country, and retains a traditional sound, but without sounding like old school country. I’m not sure a lot of it will remain with me but it’s a really pleasant listen.

This was released a little earlier in the year and I overlooked it, but I felt like a nice bit of country music and that’s exactly what this is. Ward Thomas are British, and I liked that they didn’t try to be from Nashville in the same way the Shires do on occasion. It was just nice vocals, good harmonies, and strong country songs - an enjoyable listen.

I always liked Florida Georgia Line so it was a bit of a shame to see them disband and go their separate ways. But having said that, Tyler Hubbard has kept a similar style on his debut solo album and it’s a pretty good one. There’s potentially a bit too much religion on there for my tastes, but there are also some great tunes, so it balances out.

Ah, this is a great album. I feel like I didn’t even know who Jordan Davis was but I did know a couple of the songs and they’re great. Next Thing You Know just drags you along with it, through a well-lived life, and of course Buy Dirt gets stuck right inside your head. But all the other tracks follow the same pattern: great country songs, traditional themes of drinking and looking for love, and ultimately making the most of what you’ve got.

I really liked this album, Dierks doing what he does best with some solid country tracks. Some stand out more than others, the singles and the guest appearance from Ashley McBryde, but it was majority all good. The final track was a bit of a disappointment because it’s just too much noodling, too long, and, for me, an off-key end to what would otherwise be a great album.

Yay Shania! Can’t describe how much I love this woman, and so excited for another album. It’s great, tunes from start to finish, although I don’t think I liked it quite as much as I did Now. She’s a bit more angry this time, and taking a bit more of a stand (Shania swears, gasp!) and spends some time talking about not being underestimated just because she’s a woman. All good messages, set to great pop country as per usual.

I really loved this album, Elle has a great voice and belts out some good tunes - right from the opening moments of Ohio, you’re drawn in to her world. There are a couple of great singles on there, with Dierks and Miranda (although that Miranda one was a single so long ago that it felt a bit odd popping up on a brand new album), but Elle holds her own without the guests too. Definitely worth a listen or two.

The way artists release music is continually changing and evolving and so I keep adapting the ‘rules’ of this album adventure to try and keep up. I don’t think in the past I would have even considered listening to EPs, but these two were branded as the first and second half of a singular album, so I’m saying it counts. In terms of the music, it’s just good solid nice country pop music - nothing hugely groundbreaking and not the big focus on storytelling like some of the other country singers, but enjoyable songs that are nice to listen to.

My seventh year of listening to albums has drawn to a close and it’s that agonising time where I need to decide on a top five. Each year I listen to 100 albums, one new and one old each week for fifty weeks, and they each get two listens to make sure I really get a feel for the sound. Then, at the end of the year, I pull together my top five from the new albums. It’s always a hideous choice and this year’s shortlist of ten albums made it really difficult to decide on the final five. But I’ve done it, so here goes!

I had honestly not even heard of Alan Jackson until he was honoured at one of the country award shows this year, and figured if he was such a classic country artist, it was worth giving him a listen. I was a bit nervous because, you know, it’s proper old school country and that isn’t always my cup of tea - I’m more of a modern country girl. But, actually, it was really good. It was old school but it wasn’t bad, very listenable and just a nice, solid album.

Love, love, loved this! I thought I probably would and I did, so hooray! Kelsea is back, opening up her heart more than ever, but with great country pop tunes that are catchy and moving in equal measure. Heartfirst is a fantastic song, and makes perfect sense to have been the lead single off this album, but you can’t overlook You’re Drunk, Go Home, featuring two fellow hardhitters in the world of country music. Fantastic album and will be one to listen over and over in future.

A good little album from Kane Brown here, I would say it’s not particularly revolutionary, doesn’t move the genre on at all but if you’re after some standard modern country, it’s a really good listen. I liked how clearly Kane enjoys making this music, and some of the standout singles are really catchy. It’s a bit long but ultimately a nice addition to the music library.

Loved this! Allen starts off with a full on country vibe, but then dips into some other genres - particularly going latino with CeeLo Green and then belting it out with Jennifer Lopez. It’s long but it’s so good that you’re on board the whole way through, ending back with the country beats ringing out again. Great stuff.

Ah lovely Carrie doing what she does best. I skipped the last album because it had more of a religious focus but this is back to the traditional country - drinking, bad guys and girls, and of course, lots of falling in love. I felt like there wasn’t quite so much storytelling in this album but I did enjoy the variety of styles. There was a bit of Johnny Cash railway rhythms, excellent Jason Aldean style drinking songs, and Dolly Parton vibes occasionally too. Loved it.

I can’t believe this album. At first, I was enjoying it well enough - it’s that same old Jason Aldean vibe of getting over a heartbreak with as much alcohol as possible. Whiskey Me Away is quite a clever title, you know? But then, we get to track six… God Made Airplanes. OH REALLY? Apparently, God made airplanes, runways, and half price tickets. WTF? What’s so frustrating about this song is that it’s a great premise, got to get on a plane because it’s the only form of transport that won’t turn back, but if he just changed it to ’that’s why I’m on an airplane’ rather than the actual lyrics, it would still scan and he wouldn’t have written off over 100 years of engineering. I couldn’t concentrate on the rest of the album for the rage.

Loved this! It’s the first album in a while that’s really got me revved up and loving it. I’ve found Miranda Lambert a bit hit and miss in the past - she’s brilliant and I love her but sometimes it’s just that bit too country. This one isn’t that. It’s fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously, and has nods to other genres. Geraldene riffs on Jolene, Music City Queen is a baffling mix of styles and features the unique vocals of The B-52’s, plus a Mick Jagger cover. If I Was a Cowboy still stands out but I loved it all from start to finish.

I was going to listen to the latest album from Jason Aldean, released this week, but then realised it was the second part of a double-album style release, and this, Macon, was the first part. So I dipped back to the first part and quite liked it. The song with Carrie Underwood is the highlight, obviously, and I’m not totally sure I’m happy about the live songs padding out the tracklist (the second album has the same, so why not get rid of that and just release all the songs in one go?) But aside from that, it’s a traditional good ol’ country vibe - man tries to get over loved one with lots of alcohol, and I’m intrigued to listen to the second part.

Ooh, I loved this. Peck has such an incredible voice, it’s like a cross between Elvis and Johnny Cash, and combining those two greats into his own interesting style. It’s really old school and yet feels big and fresh and inviting and unlike any other country music coming out at the moment. Peck’s whole mystery-man-in-a-mask thing is fun too, like Sia’s quest for privacy. Just concentrate on the music and forget about the rest.

I really like the first song on this album, a self-referential song with great lyrics and a catchy chorus. The rest of the album can’t quite live up to these heights, but that’s not because it’s a bad album by any stretch - it’s just not superbly standout. It’s a really good, comfortable, modern country album, highly produced and sung well with Maren’s excellent vocals. I’m just not sure it’s going to end up in the country hall of fame.

Yay for Dolly! What a genuine legend she continues to be. This album is full of general Dolly goodness but with a few added extras in there. I love the fire of Woman Up, obviously, but particularly as it follows the soft whisperings of a tragic story like Blue Bonnet Breeze. When Dolly’s whispering in your ear, you’re absolutely listening. I wasn’t so bothered about the guest stars, all men, but overall a good album.

Another step along the Johnny Cash journey, and this was another simple collection of songs that he does so beautifully. What I always find weird about these albums is how many covers there are, or songs that are traditional that I had no idea about… Beach Boys’ Sloop John B is on here in a different format because it’s actually an old school traditional song - who knew??? And My Grandfather’s Clock is just an old kid’s song… but also on a Johnny Cash album?!

I was taking a bit of a risk here because whilst I enjoy country music a lot more than I ever would have anticipated I would, it’s really modern country that floats my boat and not so much the old traditional stuff. But Tim McGraw is such an icon that I wanted to go back to the start of his career, rather than just cherry pick albums.

Somehow another year of music has flown by, I’ve banked another 100 albums, both new and old, and now I have to decide which were the cream of the crop and which weren’t worth the download speeds. Each week, for fifty weeks, I’ve listened to one new album (usually from this year, or 2020 at a push), and one older album (any time before that), and have listened to each twice because I’ve found just one listen through isn’t always enough to full appreciate what’s going on.

Wahey, it’s been a while since I listened to some good country music and that’s exactly what this is - good, solid, modern country pop stacked with guitars and whiskey and broken hearts and wayward lovers. The stand out track is clearly the Miranda Lambert enhanced Drowns the Whiskey, and whilst the rest of it may not stand out on its own, as a whole, it’s a really good listen for country music fans.

It was good, solid country, but with a more rock feel than I was expected. Stick That In Your Country Song is pretty aggressive after all! Good songs, probably not supremely memorable, but let’s wait and see what Soul has to offer next week!

LeAnn Rimes’s debut album is an incredible work to thrust the teenager into the limelight, what a voice she has! It’s some traditional country, not quite reaching the pop-country heights of Shania Twain in the 90s, but plenty of good stuff on there. Also some slightly less good stuff - the Cattle Call song is not my cup of tea. The only real problem with the album though is that despite having a genuinely beautiful voice, at this stage, you know the singer doesn’t have the experience or emotional weight behind the vocals to back up the power of the songs. But that’ll come.

First impressions of this album were that it’s good, if a little bit too Southern country for my tastes. But the second listen through had it growing on me, there were a few moments with great individual riffs and the songs started to individualise. I don’t know if it would still continue to grow on me or not, but I do know that What Would Dolly Do is an exceptional tune. The concept alone is fantastic, the lyrics back it up and it’s all set to a fab tune. So maybe the whole album didn’t work for me, but that song definitely did.

Brilliant album! Honestly I hadn’t heard of Cam before I dived in but I did know some of the singles. I actually thought Diane was by Little Big Town so that was confusing, but I love that it’s on this album - and that it’s the other side of the Jolene story. Lots of good songs on here, great modern country sounds, and Cam has a lovely voice.

Good album, this one. One of those pretty steady country albums that’s very listenable. A couple of the tracks stand out, Kinfolks is good, and Breaking Up is doing the rounds at the moment. I do think that song would be better if he said easier rather than easy. Breaking up is never easy, is it? Also I was rather nervous about a song called Body Like a Back Road but thankfully it was just about knowing it as well as you know all those country roads in your hometown. Phew!

It’s a really good album. Old Dominion are a strong country band, never dipping too far into that deep country sound but also stopping just short of falling into the pop-country genre too. If I’m honest, the songs are all great but perhaps ultimately forgettable, except One Man Band - that is a real stand out song that gets stuck in my head every time I hear it. I also liked Some People Do, although it’s a bit of a downer way to end an album.

Hooray for the dreaded time of year where I pick out the top five albums I’ve listened to over the past twelve months. Each week for 50 weeks, I listen to two albums. One is a new one (this year or the previous year) and one is an older one (from any time previous to that). So I can’t promise to have listened to every album that was released last year but of those I did, I’ve managed to narrow down five of the best.

Really good album, very country of course, but with some proper highlights. I’m Not For Everyone stands out as a meaningful one, Make It A Good One also. However, we can’t ignore the middle of the album where it suddenly goes all twiddly and really, quite annoying. It might have been a 5/5 if not for that.

This is a really good documentary, that tells the story of the cafe from its humble beginnings to being more famous than its capacity can handle, through the journey of new and aspiring songwriters alongside those who have been around for a while. It threw up some really interesting arguments too - people were saying that it’s not about the building, it’s about the songs, but others arguing that you can’t just move the under-threat building to a new location as you’ll be overwriting history. Would a Bluebird Cafe somewhere else in Nashville have the same impact?

I was expecting good things from this album, and I wasn’t disappointed. Really catchy songs right from the get-go, some good messages in there but perhaps not quite so righteous as the last album. There isn’t really a weak point throughout the album, until you get to the last two tracks. For some reason, Keith couldn’t decide between the We Were track by himself, and the We Were track featuring Eric Church… so he put them both on the album, one after the other. It’s really weird to have finished a song and then the exact same song starts over again.

This feels like an album that probably shouldn’t work - The Chicks have been through a lot, have changed their name, and have used the extensive pain and misery of divorce to fuel the songwriting throughout this record. But somehow it does. It’s angry, sure, and if you’re feeling in a zen mood, it’s not going to work for you.

Short and sweet album from Luke Bryan, who does what he does well and rarely falters. Normally I would have said this was an album stacked full of good country songs but without a standout. However, One Margarita is a great song that really sticks in the mind.

I thought this album might be a bit more old-school country but it wasn’t, it was pretty standard modern country stuff. That’s the problem with it, though, it was just pretty standard. I really enjoyed it whilst I was listening to it, bopped along to the tracks, but I couldn’t tell you anything about it now, despite having listened twice.

I always think I like the idea of a Miranda album more than the actual experience of listening, as they often veer a bit too far to old-style country for my tastes, and can sometimes be a bit, dare I say it, whiny. However, this one broke the mould! I really liked it.

Yay! Third album from Kelsea, and she’s still not let us down. Great songs right from the start but there are some stand-outs. Hole in the Bottle is an unapologetic tale of getting through the day the only way you know how.