@icculus26 Thanks for the shout-out! We tried really hard to make something that would stand the test of time. The fact that people actually like it is awesome!
1/2way thru ‘26. There’s been a lot of awesome new music released so far! I’ve listened to a lot of new music. I don’t get paid to. I’m not with any label. I just really like to do this. Here are my top 50 new albums this year: non-industry driven alt/indie/cowboy/reddirt/country/swamp/rock/funk/bluegrass and all the things that make music Americana. Feel free to comment, that’s the fun in these!
Honorable Mentions- because it’s fun to listen to new music and sounds. If you haven’t heard any of these, give them a listen, they’re all worth it!
(in no particular order):
Cordova’s, Back to Life
The Kruse Brothers, Heartbreak and Honky Tonk
Sophie Gault, Unhinged
Kashus Culpepper, Act I
The Delines, The Set Up
The Hanging Stars, Just A Day
Paul Cauthen, Book of Paul
*49 Winchester, Change of Plans
*Reverend Stomp, Mescalero Ranger
Ovven, Gnawing At The Cord
Ratboys, Singin’ to an Empty Chair
Jackson Pines, Wheel
Steinza, Steinza Was Here!
Noah Kahan, The Great Divide: The Last Of The Bugs
Kenny Hotopp, The South Looks Good On You
*The Olympians, In Search of a Revival
Garrett Boys, It Runs Deep
Southall, Kinfolk
Benjamin Tod, Vengeance and Grace
William Clark Green, Watterson Hall
The Brook and The Bluff, Werewolf
Kiki Cavazos, Goodbye Blues
Kip Moore, Reason To Believe
Aubrie Sellers, Attachment Theory
Velvet Daydream, Smoke and Mirrors
Champagne Bubblebath, Mixtape: Volume One
Yarn, Saturday Night Sermon
Bella White, A Sign In The Weather
Rick Shea, Smoke Tree Road
Rodney Crowell, Then Again
Flatland Cavalry, Work of Heart
Red Clay Strays, Grateful
Courtney Marie Andrews, Valentine
Sad Daddy, Ozark Shine
Doc Lewis, Between The Lovin’ And The Leavin’
*Oklahoma Space Program, Oklahoma Space Program
Jason Eady, Tulsa Turnaround
SUSTO & SUSTO String Band: Susto Stringband (Volume 2)
Telander, This Rules
Enjoyed all of these, some I need more time with, some I wanted more from, but on the whole, it’s been a solid year and I know a lot of these are high on my friends lists, so I’ll give them all more plays. I’m sure there are tons I haven’t heard yet and though this isn’t all, it’s only a drop in the hat.
The next 50 really piqued my interest. Probs had either more time, or they instantly jived with my mood/time and places I listened to them. Always makes for a good debate…
*Top 4 Album Covers, non Ai generated, from this entire group- I’ll do a post on top 50 album covers soon too!
#newmusic
#indiecountry
#altcountry