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by Julian Spivey The best country music these days is music that’s very rarely being played on mainstream country radio. I have maintained this stance for many years now ever since country radio began degrading itself with stereotypical topics and poor caliber of lyrics that honestly rarely seem to make a lot of sense. Many have failed to realize that there is a whole entire world of country music out there that’s gone completely ignored by country radio despite its obvious superiority. Because of this I’ve tried for the last few years to have the most extensive list of “best country songs” on the Internet. I want people to hear truly good music and I want people to realize there is a lot more to country music than what they’re forced to hear on their car or truck radios. 25. “Brushy Mountain Conjugal Trailer” by Old Crow Medicine Show Old Crow Medicine Show is bluegrass music on speed. There’s absolutely nothing else like it and may not be anything as enjoyable in all of country music’s many subgenres than seeing it live. “Brushy Mountain Conjugal Trailer” is a fun ramble on the joys of prison conjugal visits that’s heavy on the banjo and harmonica. O.C.M.S. has often been at their best when mixing the seedy side of modern life, like prison sex in a trailer, with old-timey sounds. 24. “Get Out Of My Country” by Daryle Singletary What at first seems like a Donald Trump campaign song based on its title alone is a call to rid the country music industry of the bro-country types who’ve been ruining the genre at least when it comes to the mainstream for many years now. When Singletary sings about today’s bros with the chorus: “Watered down whiskey, don’t get a man drunk/And your citified music’s just honky tonk funk/If you came to Twangtown just for the money/Then pack it up, son, get out of my country” is one type of immigration reform I can get behind. Let’s build that wall around Nashville. 23. “Freight Train” by Aaron Watson The best songs about trains in the history of country music all in some ways seem to actually sound like a train themselves and Aaron Watson’s “Freight Train” is a high-flying runaway train that might run off the rails at any second, but somehow stays connected. The rapidity of Watson’s vocals on the track match this sound – with terrific fast-paced banjo playing – perfectly. It’s one of the most fun songs you’ll hear all year long and I’m honestly slightly surprised it didn’t have some mainstream crossover success, but that proves how bad things in the mainstream have truly gotten. 22. “Winning Streak” by Ashley Monroe Ashley Monroe’s “Winning Streak” is a winner right from the very start with its opening piano showing it’s going to be a great country romp from the beginning. The song is about being down on your luck as the chorus goes “If losing’s a game/I’m on a winning streak.” But, Monroe’s vocal and the backing music makes the whole ordeal seem fun as hell. Monroe is at her best when her music sounds like her performances with the short-lived trio Pistol Annies (with Miranda Lambert and Angaleena Presley) and this one seems like a lost Pistol Annies cut. 21. “Biscuits” by Kacey Musgraves Kacey Musgraves has the rare knack of making cutesy seem like something worthwhile, and not the saccharine tripe that most artists who do similar stuff come out with. It’s probably because she’s saying important things and sprinkling sugar on top for mass consumption. “Biscuits” is one of those examples. It’s incredibly fun, catchy and cute as a button – just like its singer-songwriter – but it’s also about both being yourself and not concerning yourself with the differences of others. What other singer could sing a line like “mind your own biscuits/and life will be gravy” and get away with it. Probably only Loretta Lynn, but her version would be more of a threat than a suggestion. 20. “Take Me to Texas” by George Strait If George Strait recorded vocals to the phonebook it’d probably find its way on a “best of” list. Strait’s surprise 2015 release Cold Beer Conversation wasn’t necessarily on par with some of his best album releases, but included fine vocals on works like “Take Me to Texas,” which was the theme for the History channel miniseries “Texas Rising.” The song, written by hit country songwriters Brandy Clark (one of the absolute best) and Shane McAnally, has “King George” singing about the love of his home state. Strait’s vocals are enough to make a non-Texan wish they were one. 19. “Still a Southern Man” by Will Hoge One of the hot button topics in this country this year was the Confederate flag and whether or not it was time for it to come down over government properties and what the flag really meant and represents. Singer-songwriter Will Hoge was one of a few artists who decided to put their thoughts on the subject to music and came out with the rare for country music protest song “Still a Southern Man.” The song talks about how one can be proud with their Southern heritage without clinging to archaic symbols that few seem to really understand in 2015. I’m proud that there are Southerner singer-songwriters like Hoge speaking their minds through music, even when their opinions may easily cost them listeners. 18. “Too Late to Save the World” by Daryle Singletary Daryle Singletary was a complete blast from the past and the feel-good story of the year for me. He had a couple of top five hits in the mid-‘90s with “I Let Her Lie” and my favorite “Too Much Fun” and then kind of faded into the blue. I never thought he’d be a name I’d ever hear again and he hadn’t released an album in six years when There’s Still a Little Country Left came out this year. He damn sure proved the title to be true with multiple songs bemoaning the state of today’s country music and how on the outskirts of country music there were still people playing it the way it was meant to be played. “Too Late to Save the World” is a country waltz about the whole world going to hell, but country music hasn’t fallen so far as to where it can’t be saved. It may actually be too late when it comes to country radio, but Singletary proves exactly what his album title implies. 17. “Just a Dog” by Mo Pitney Mo Pitney wrote the tear-jerker song of the year with “Just a Dog.” There are a lot of reasons to like Pitney – he’s a traditionalist that has occasionally gotten some radio airplay (mostly with his terrific “Country” from last year), his voice his one of those perfect country music voices and he doesn’t seem to care about becoming famous and trying to record stuff beneath him to achieve fame. “Just a Dog” is probably the finest example of Pitney’s appeal as he goes through a story about picking up a stray dog and the joys and eventual pain that decision brings to his life. It’s something anybody who’s ever truly loved a dog, especially a rescue dog, will instantly love and probably shed a tear over. 16. “But You Like Country Music” by Sunny Sweeney & Brennen Leigh This country is currently at its most divisive that I’ve ever seen. That’s exactly why Sunny Sweeney and Brennen Leigh’s duet “But You Like Country Music” is the perfect song for this time and place. “But You Like Country Music” is a humorous take on how Republicans and Democrats (in the song’s case next door neighbors) can’t get along, but maybe if they had something in common like a love of Merle Haggard and other country music they could get over it and agree on something for just a while. 15. “The Life You Chose” by Jason Isbell Jason Isbell does devastation better than anybody. Something More Than Free, his follow up to the incredibly devastating Southeastern, isn’t as dark and is certainly more optimistic, but still has these terrific moments of sheer devastation and one that really stands out is “The Life You Chose.” Isbell crafts a heartbreaking tale of former lovers bumping into each other and realizing what might have been. The line “Are you living the life you chose?/Are you living the life that chose you?” perfectly encapsulates the moment where our future was almost unbeknownst to us decided. The sound of the track – an acoustic guitar with the perfect pitter-patter on drums from Chad Gamble – really moves the lyrics along gracefully. 14. “S.O.B.” by Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats The first time I heard “S.O.B.” by Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats the song and especially the performance of it frankly knocked me on my ass. It was on an episode of “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” and it was the first time I’d ever heard of this group. It was eye opening; exactly what I needed to hear at the time. “S.O.B.” is not a song I think most would consider “country.” In fact, it’s an Americana song with R&B and doo wop sensibilities, but the similarities between Americana and country are close enough to garner it a spot on this list. Rateliff’s performance on this track is a force to be reckoned, especially when he first lights into the line: “Son of a bitch/give me a drink/One more drink/This can’t be me/Son of a bitch/If I can’t get clean/I’m gonna drink my life away.” Rateliff’s performance, especially in person, makes drunkenness seem like a blast. 13. “Time of Day” by Turnpike Troubadours The Turnpike Troubadours’ “Time of Day” is a top candidate for most infectious song of the year. The chorus of “Well, I make my hay in the sunshine honey/Ain’t nothin’ like you ever come my way/Well, I give you every bit of my spending money/Give me just a minute of your time of day” will stick with you for days on end, and you’ll enjoy every second of it. As always, the Troubadours’ sound brilliantly mixes with the lyrics, especially Kyle Nix’s fiddle playing. The Troubadours are probably the closest country act in sounding on a record the way they do live in person. 12. “Family is Family” by Kacey Musgraves Many would choose “Biscuits” or “Dime Store Cowgirl” as the best track off of Kacey Musgraves’ Grammy nominated sophomore album Pageant Material and both are fine tracks, but “Family is Family” is my favorite from the record. “Family is Family” has the winning combination of humor and truthfulness about it in describing a tight knit group of people who love you regardless of who you are or what you do. At a time when too much of country music is breezy Musgraves can actually make it work, especially with fun lines like the chorus: “Family is family/In church or in prison/You get what you get/And you don’t get to pick ‘em/The might smoke like chimneys/But give you their kidneys/Yeah, friends come in handy/But family is family.” It’s a good thing you won’t mind this stuck in your head for days. 11. “Loud & Heavy” by Cody Jinks I didn’t know who Cody Jinks was coming into 2015. Then I heard “Loud & Heavy” from his album Adobe Sessions and it immediately got stuck in my head. The song allows Jinks’ strong voice to really come to the forefront with sparse instrumentation, that in itself fits this song perfectly. I’m not sure exactly what was going through Jinks’ mind or life when writing this song, but the storm imagery and a line like “thin line between joy and pain” is the kind of stuff that most have felt a time or two in their lives. 10. “Django & Jimmie” by Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard are the living legends of country music. So, when the good friends and songwriting kings got together for their second duet album, and first since 1983’s Pancho & Lefty, it instantly became one of the most anticipated albums of the year – and it didn’t disappoint. The truly standout track on the album is the title track “Django & Jimmie,” which takes its name from the heroes and musical inspirations of each of the living legends – Willie’s hero Django Reinhardt and Merle’s inspiration Jimmie Rodgers. The song explains how a guitar picking gypsy and a blues singing railroad brakeman inspired the two to do what they’ve done for the majority of their lives. Shockingly something so autobiographical wasn’t written by either Willie or Merle, but rather Jimmy Melton and Jeff Prince who really got inside the heart and soul of the legends to craft such a fitting tribute to their heroes. 9. “Bramble Rose” by Don Henley feat. Miranda Lambert & Mick Jagger It shouldn’t be a surprise to many that Don Henley released a country album this year. Unlike many of the rock stars who decide to go country this isn’t a ploy for new fame or fortune in another audience. Henley has always been country, as any fan of the country-rock Eagles sound can attest. He wanted to put his country roots growing up in Cass County, Texas to good use and released the excellent Cass County. The star of the album is “Bramble Rose,” a Tift Merritt cover, with guest vocals from Miranda Lambert, maybe the greatest female voice currently in the genre, and Rolling Stones legend Mick Jagger (who’s proven his country prowess before with songs like “Wild Horses” and “Dead Flowers”). “Bramble Rose,” a tale of a woman’s love grown hard, is stunning through and through. 8. “Standards” by Wade Bowen & Randy Rogers Sometimes the best way to make a point is through humor and red dirt country superstars and friends Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers do this brilliantly with “Standards” from their collaborative Hold My Beer, Vol. 1. It’s no secret to people on the outskirts of mainstream country music that what’s being played on country radio is mostly bullshit designed for mass appeal and not exactly strong in artistic integrity. Bowen and Rogers poke fun at that on “Standards” with the witty line: “I don’t have hits/I’ve got standards.” 7. “Nobody to Blame” by Chris Stapleton Chris Stapleton shocked the country music world in November when he went three-for-three at the CMA Awards winning Male Vocalist, Album of the Year and Best New Artist. It was a shock because those who only know country music from listening to mainstream radio didn’t have the slightest clue who Stapleton was – leading to the both humorous and enraging Twitter trend #WhoIsChrisStapleton. It was the CMAs essentially proving a point that real country music would not be forgotten. Stapleton sings completely from the heart and gut and of all of the many great releases this year none sound better vocally. “Nobody to Blame” is prime example of this with a “done her wrong” story very reminiscent of George Strait’s “Give It Away,” written by Jamey Johnson who Stapleton reminds me of the most. It’s gritty and smooth all at the same time, which pretty much sums up Stapleton’s vocals and appeal. 6. “Three Year Old” by Eric Church Eric Church has the well-earned persona of a musical badass; a modern day outlaw. Some choose to scoff at this persona, but having seen him in concert many times and hearing a huge difference in his songs compared to the other dudes from Nashville I choose to believe in him. The fact that the year’s sweetest country song comes from a man of such persona actually adds to this belief. Church took real-life moments between him and his son and crafted the touching “Three Year Old,” which has possibly the year’s best chorus and shows the world would be better off if we all lived a little more with the innocence of a child. 5. “24 Frames” by Jason Isbell “You thought God was an architect/But now you know/He’s something like a pipe bomb ready to blow/And everything you built that’s all for show/Goes up in flames/In 24 frames” is maybe the most striking lyric of the year and shows the brilliance of Jason Isbell’s songwriting. He truly is the best of his generation. “24 Frames” is an incredibly crafted track about taking advantage of life without regrets because you never know when that pipe bomb will go off. 4. “Second Hand Heart” by Dwight Yoakam For Dwight Yoakam’s 2015 release Second Hand Heart he decided to meld the musical styles of his 2012 critically-acclaimed album 3 Pears with his ‘80s cowpunk and it left fans and critics smiling from ear-to-ear. The title track was the real highlight from the album with its tail of broken hearts not wanting to jump back into the game of love because they’ve been beaten and broken by it too many times. It’s also one of the coolest sounding tracks this year due to Yoakam’s trademark twang. 3. “Mr. Misunderstood” by Eric Church Eric Church is one of the few mainstream country stars worth paying any attention to and he surprised the country music world this November with a surprise album released on the day of the CMA Awards. The album’s title track “Mr. Misunderstood” is a killer track that speaks to an entire generation of misfits who feel like outcasts because they don’t listen to the same music or like the same things that the populous does. The name-drops on this track of Elvis Costello, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Jeff Tweedy are particularly exciting and leave many realizing Church ain’t like the other wannabe badasses in Nashville. He’s the real thing. 2. “Something More Than Free” by Jason Isbell Jason Isbell’s follow up to his 2013 stunner Southeastern turned out to be noticeably more upbeat and optimistic than the somber release that appeared on many “best of” list two years ago, but everybody seemed to love it just as much. The title track “Something More Than Free” showed the world that this Americana darling could write something more country and true-to-life than any of those hacks currently releasing records in Nashville. “Something More Than Free” is a true working man’s anthem and something we should all try to strive for. 1. “The Mercury” by Turnpike Troubadours The Turnpike Troubadours are the best band currently in country music. Period. Not only does their sound perfectly capture a raucous Saturday night jam session, but front-man Evan Felker has proven himself to be something of a William Faulkner-esque songwriter when it comes to capturing the complexities and minute details of small town living. “The Mercury” is prime example of this. Felker captures the tumultuous relationship of Lorrie and Jimmy and somehow finds his narrator right in the middle of a love triangle. The Troubadours are at their best when Felker puts a complete short story to music and his story is driven home hard here with probably the most rocking country song released this year. It’s infectious as hell.
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by Julian Spivey The best country music these days is music that’s very rarely being played on mainstream country radio. I have maintained this stance for many years now ever since country radio began degrading itself with stereotypical topics and poor caliber of lyrics that honestly rarely seem to make a lot of sense. Many have failed to realize that there is a whole entire world of country music out there that’s gone completely ignored by country radio despite its obvious superiority. Because of this I’ve tried for the last few years to have the most extensive list of “best country songs” on the Internet. I want people to hear truly good music and I want people to realize there is a lot more to country music than what they’re forced to hear on their car or truck radios. 40. "Bad on Fords" by Ray Wylie Hubbard 39. "Traveller" by Chris Stapleton 38. "Washed Up Rock Star Factory Blues" by Corb Lund 37. "Dime Store Cowgirl" by Kacey Musgraves 36. "Middle of America" by Will Hoge 35. "Tennessee Whiskey" by Chris Stapleton 34. "The Bird Hunters" by Turnpike Troubadours 33. "Diamond Rings & Old Bar Stools" by Tim McGraw 32. "Here Tonight" by Tim McGraw 31. "If It Takes a Lifetime" by Jason Isbell 30. "Kill a Word" by Eric Church 29. "Dreams of Clay" by Dwight Yoakam 28. "Knives of New Orleans" by Eric Church 27. "Hudson Commodore" by Jason Isbell 26. "I Guess It's Alright to Be an Asshole" by Jason Boland & the Stragglers by Julian Spivey The best country music these days is music that’s very rarely being played on mainstream country radio. I have maintained this stance for many years now ever since country radio began degrading itself with stereotypical topics and poor caliber of lyrics that honestly rarely seem to make a lot of sense. Many have failed to realize that there is a whole entire world of country music out there that’s gone completely ignored by country radio despite its obvious superiority. Because of this I’ve tried for the last few years to have the most extensive list of “best country songs” on the Internet. I want people to hear truly good music and I want people to realize there is a lot more to country music than what they’re forced to hear on their car or truck radios. 60. "American Man" by The Yawpers No video available. Song can be purchased HERE 59. "Burning House" by Cam 58. "Liar" by Dwight Yoakam 57. "Damn Country Music" by Tim McGraw 56. "Whiskey & Whitley" by Josh Ward No video available. Listen to song HERE 55. "Record Year" by Eric Church 54. "Bombshell" by Ashley Monroe 53. "The Cost of Living" by Don Henley & Merle Haggard 52. "There's Still a Little Country Left" by Daryle Singletary 51. "Country Music, I'm Talking to You" by Darrell Scott 50. "While I Was Away" by Pat Green 49. "Praying for Rain" by Don Henley 48. "Down Here" by Turnpike Troubadours 47. "Fire Away" by Chris Stapleton 46. "Weight of the Gun" by Corb Lund 45. "Fuck, Fight & Rodeo" by Jason Boland & the Stragglers 44. "You Got to Me" by James McMurtry 43. "Proud" by Cody Johnson 42. "It's All Going to Pot" by Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard 41. "Copper Canteen" by James McMurtry by Julian Spivey The best country music these days is music that’s very rarely being played on mainstream country radio. I have maintained this stance for many years now ever since country radio began degrading itself with stereotypical topics and poor caliber of lyrics that honestly rarely seem to make a lot of sense. Many have failed to realize that there is a whole entire world of country music out there that’s gone completely ignored by country radio despite its obvious superiority. Because of this I’ve tried for the last few years to have the most extensive list of “best country songs” on the Internet. I want people to hear truly good music and I want people to realize there is a lot more to country music than what they’re forced to hear on their car or truck radios. 80. "Lose Early" by Jason Boland & the Stragglers 79. "Fence Post" by Aaron Watson 78. "Devil in Me" by Anderson East 77. "This Town" by Kacey Musgraves 76. "The Weekend" by Dave Rawlings Machine 75. "Boy & a Girl Thing" by Mo Pitney 74. "I Met a Girl" by William Michael Morgan 73. "Something Going Down" by George Strait 72. "Hang Me in the Tulsa County Stars" by John Moreland 71. "Phone Calls from My Uncle" by J.B. Beverley 70. "Fork in the Road" by Crooks 69. "My Bed" by Sunny Sweeney & Will Hoge 68. "Be My Baby" by Whitney Rose & Raul Malo 67. "Low Down on the Backstreets" by Whitey Morgan & the 78s 66. "The First to Know" by Jason Boland & the Stragglers 65. "Mississippi, It's Time" by Steve Earle 64. "High Time" by Kacey Musgraves 63. "Roots and Wings" by Miranda Lambert 62. "Long Drive Home" by Turnpike Troubadours 61. "Country Love Song" by Sam Outlaw by Julian Spivey The best country music these days is music that’s very rarely being played on mainstream country radio. I have maintained this stance for many years now ever since country radio began degrading itself with stereotypical topics and poor caliber of lyrics that honestly rarely seem to make a lot of sense. Many have failed to realize that there is a whole entire world of country music out there that’s gone completely ignored by country radio despite its obvious superiority. Because of this I’ve tried for the last few years to have the most extensive list of “best country songs” on the Internet. I want people to hear truly good music and I want people to realize there is a lot more to country music than what they’re forced to hear on their car or truck radios. 100. "Shuteye" by Logan Brill 99. "Jesus & Jezebel" by Rachel Potter 98. "Blow Me Away" by Steep Canyon Rangers 97. "Save It for a Rainy Day" by Kenny Chesney 96. "So This Is Life" by Courtney Patton 95. "Bob Wills Is Still the King" by Asleep at the Wheel featuring Randy Rogers, Shooter Jennings & Reckless Kelly 94. "Dress Blues" by Zac Brown Band 93. "Remembering" by Ashley Campbell 92. "Losing Side of Twenty-Five" by American Aquarium 91. "Sticks & Stones" by William Clark Green 90. "Break 19" by Jason Boland & the Stragglers 89. "'52 Vincent Black Lightning" by Robert Earl Keen 88. "Gone Before You Met Me" by Alan Jackson 87. "Alabama Pines" by Jamey Johnson 86. "All Night Long" by The Mavericks 85. "Cold Beer Conversation" by George Strait 84. "Sadr City" by Corb Lund 83. "The Traveling Kind" by Rodney Crowell & Emmylou Harris 82. "Easy" by Cody Canada & the Departed 81. "Don't Own the Right" by Uncle Lucius  by Julian Spivey 10. "There's Still a Little Country Left" by Daryle Singletary Daryle Singletary’s There’s Still a Little Country Left is easily the album on this list that people have heard the least and I’m hoping its position on this list will go a little way in correcting that. Singletary’s first album in six years is exactly as its title implies – full of actual, traditional country music. With songs like the title track, “It’s Too Late to Save the World” and “Get Out of My Country” Singletary is doing his best to keep real country music alive and well while the mainstream seems content on killing it for good.  9. "Cass County" by Don Henley Don Henley’s first solo country effort Cass County really shouldn’t be a surprise to many seeing how the Eagles were country-rock legends. Henley takes his Texas upbringing and puts it to good use on an album filled with terrific guests like Merle Haggard, Mick Jagger, Miranda Lambert, Dolly Parton and Martina McBride. Be sure not to miss “Bramble Rose,” the stunning collaboration with Jagger and Lambert that’s country through and through.  8. "Squelch" by Jason Boland & the Stragglers Jason Boland & the Stragglers have been red dirt country music’s finest group for more than a decade now and their eighth studio album Squelch has shown that there’s no sign of them slowing down anytime soon. In fact, they might even be getting better and Boland’s songwriting is certainly getting more political (almost surprisingly so) and the band’s sound getting heavier. Some of the tracks on Squelch, especially the acid-tongued “I Guess It’s Alright to Be An Asshole,” come off as punk rock mixed with Texas honky tonk. It’s one of the most pleasantly raucous recordings of 2015.  7. "Django & Jimmie" by Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard When it was announced that longtime friends and country music icons Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard would be reuniting for their second duets album and first since 1983’s Pancho & Lefty it instantly became one of the most anticipated country albums of the year and Django & Jimmie certainly didn’t disappoint. The name of the album comes from the musical inspirations of Willie Nelson (Django Reinhardt) and Merle Haggard (Jimmie Rodgers) and the album sees the two legends reminiscing about their icons (on the title track), old friends (“Missing Ol’ Johnny Cash”) and just having a blast (“It’s All Going to Pot”).  6. "Second Hand Heart" by Dwight Yoakam Dwight Yoakam decided to meld the ‘60s rock sound of his critically-acclaimed 2012 album 3 Pears with that of his rockabilly cowpunk sound of the mid-80s on his 2015 release Second Hand Heart and what resulted was one of the most stellar albums of his 30-year career. The album mixes rip-roaring numbers like “Liar” and a terrific cover of “Man of Constant Sorrow” with thought-provoking ballads like “Dreams of Clay” and “Vs of Birds.” It’s everything a Yoakam fan could possibly want from country music’s coolest dude.  5. "Traveller" by Chris Stapleton Chris Stapleton has proven to be the surprise of country music in 2015 going from hit songwriter that few people knew by name to a CMA Awards stunner winning three awards and getting four Grammy nominations. Stapleton is doing his best to bring a little traditional country music into the mainstream and his voice is an absolute stunner on tracks like “Tennessee Whiskey,” “Nobody to Blame” and “Sometimes I Cry.”  4. "Pageant Material" by Kacey Musgraves When you have a debut album as critically beloved as Kacey Musgraves’ Same Trailer, Different Park was (winning the Grammy for Best Country Album) the pressure to match it on the sophomore album is incredibly high. Musgraves’ second effort Pageant Material might even actually be a stronger album with fascinating portraits of small town life throughout like “Dime Store Cowgirl,” “Biscuits,” “Family is Family” and “This Town.” Musgraves has shown she’s no flash in the pan and is here to stay.  3. "Mr. Misunderstood" by Eric Church Eric Church released Mr. Misunderstood in early November and absolutely nobody knew it was coming. Secret album releases have become the “it” thing to do in the world of music over the last few years and Church has brought that fad to country music. But, just because the album was a surprise and seemingly thrown together quickly it doesn’t mean it isn’t great. In fact, Mr. Misunderstood is likely a better complete album than Church’s preceding The Outsiders, which many critics hailed as the singer-songwriter’s best of his career. Church mixes everything from a passionate tale of misfits in the title track to the cutesy “Three Year Old,” about the innocence of life seen through the eyes of a child. It appears Church may be getting better with each passing record.  2. "Turnpike Troubadours" by Turnpike Troubadours The Turnpike Troubadours are the definition of grass roots sensation. The Oklahoma-based red dirt country band has grown quite the fan base for themselves over the last half decade or so with three stellar albums, including their recent self-titled release. The group performs raucously traditional country music with some of the best lyrical pieces in the entire genre thanks to the talented pen, mind and Southern stylings of front-man Evan Felker. The group is an act you certainly don’t want to miss live and have a knack for making their recordings sound the most like their lives shows of any other act in the genre. Don’t miss stellar stories like “The Bird Hunters” and “The Mercury” and infectious tunes like “Down Here” and “Time of Day” from this release.  1. "Something More Than Free" by Jason Isbell
For the second time in the last three years the best album of the year (in country music or any genre for that matter) comes from Alabama singer-songwriter Jason Isbell. Some consider him more Americana than country, but his Something More Than Free did top the Billboard country albums chart (as well as the rock and folk charts) this year with its fascinating tales of real-life stories. Isbell has proven himself to be the best singer-songwriter of his generation with a knack of spinning tales and stories that have him reminding people of legends like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. He has a penchant for absolutely devastating listeners with his songs, but Something More Than Free is certainly more optimistic about life than the preceding and also terrific Southeastern.  by Julian Spivey
December 8 would’ve been the 75th birthday for one of popular music’s greatest legends and icons, John Lennon. In celebration of this milestone birthday and in tribute to a great man a bunch of music’s brightest stars got together for a tribute show in New York City that was broadcast on Saturday, Dec. 19 on AMC. The celebration of Lennon’s music included compositions Lennon wrote both as a member of The Beatles, music’s all-time greatest band according to most music critics, and as a solo artist. Performers during the two-and-a-half-hour special included John Fogerty, Willie Nelson, Steven Tyler, Kris Kristofferson, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Chris Stapleton, Tom Morello, Aloe Blacc, Pat Monaghan of Train, Brandon Flowers of The Killers, Juanes, The Roots and Peter Frampton. The special, hosted by actor Kevin Bacon, provided a night filled with incredible performances. Among the very best were Steven Tyler kicking off the show with “Come Together,” a song his band Aerosmith memorably covered in the ‘70s. Aloe Blacc provided soulful vocals on “Watching the Wheels,” one of my personal favorites from Lennon’s solo career. Sheryl Crow provided a rocking version of “A Hard Day’s Night” and joined Chris Stapleton and Blacc for a spirited version of the Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down.” Rock legend John Fogerty gave two of my favorite performances of the night with “In My Life,” possibly Lennon’s best composition with The Beatles, and “Give Peace a Chance.” Eric Church gave a soulful rendition of “Mind Games” and later joined Steven Tyler for a fantastically rocking performance of “Revolution.” The best pairing of the night was no doubt songwriting legend Kris Kristofferson being joined by Tom Morello for a stunning take on “Working Class Hero,” something I know was meaningful for both artists who, like Lennon, have never shied away from activism in their lyrics. One of the most emotional performances of the evening came from The Roots on “Mother,” with an original rap verse from Roots MC Tariq Trotter or Black Thought who lost both of his parents at a young age and identifies with the emotional impact of the song. Another impactful performance came from legendary Willie Nelson who was tasked with performing Lennon’s most notable composition “Imagine” toward the end of the special and received a big hug from Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono upon completion of the song. The wonderful celebration of Lennon’s iconic songbook ended with a terrific all-star jam, as these such concerts almost always seem to do, with all of the evening’s stars returning to the stage to perform Lennon’s ultimate message song “All You Need Is Love.” Lennon always stood for what he believed in as the night’s many wonderful performances shined a light on, but among the most important was peace and love. There was a lot of that on this spectacular night.  by Aprille Hanson
Somewhere along the way, country morphed into pop country then into bro country and now it’s a weird mash-up of electronic, rap and pop, but still calling itself country. It makes lists like this difficult because there are unfortunately endless choices. The country genre needs to stop being ashamed of itself or thinking it’s uncool to the point of desperately chasing whatever fans like for that moment in time. There were so many great country songs released this year, but you’ll hear very few on country radio. 1. Florida Georgia Line, “Anything Goes” … and “Confession” and “Sun Daze” FGL releases the same song over and over again -- most of their major hits have focused on partying and it’s gotten old after “Cruise.” Ok, sure, this is three songs, but you can really throw in their entire discography and this wouldn’t be just a top 10 list. “Anything Goes” in particular has some of their worst lyrics ever: “Alabama on the boombox, baby / ‘Bout to get a little boondock crazy/ ... Victoria's Secret ain’t a secret no more.” 2. Sam Hunt, “Break Up in a Small Town” Sam Hunt is a pop singer who likes to talk during his songs … rapping would be a stretch. There is nothing country about his music and he needs to find his proper genre. The only thing “country” in this song is the phrase “small town.” 3. Jason Aldean, “Burnin’ It Down” Everything about this song just sounds dirty and skanky; given everything with his divorce, cheating scandal and marriage to his mistress, it just seems like an odd song to release. When he sings “Jammin’ to some old Alabama with you, baby laying right here naked in my bed” it’s just weird. Songs like this that try to be sexy and mimic the magic of “Come a Little Closer” by Dierks Bentley fail miserably. 4. Zac Brown Band “Beautiful Drug” Zac, buddy, what’s happening? Do you need help? Are you being asked to make music against your will? If so, please let your fans know because that’s one of the very few excuses for “Beautiful Drug.” We miss you boys, so please come back home to good music. 5. Old Dominion, “Break Up With Him” Hey Girl. Wassup. … That never bodes well for a song and unless there’s a distinct reason that goes along with the story of the song, you shouldn’t opt to talk rather than sing part of it. It’s chauvinistic as too many songs are on country radio these days. 6. Cole Swindell “Let Me See Ya Girl” There is no point to this song. It’s just another bro-country mess about ultimately taking a girl back to his pickup truck and doing it. How original. 7. Jennifer Nettles “Sugar” Jennifer Nettles attempted to do something of a “enough is enough” about objectifying women in country songs, similar Maddie & Tae’s “Girl in a Country Song.” The result is a massive fail -- it’s a poppy, sickeningly “sweet” song about how guys say “gimme” (repeated 6 times) “some of that sugar” and how “they’re begging for a piece of my cherry pie.” Ick. 8. Brothers Osborne, “Stay a Little Longer” I’m bummed to put B.O. on this list. I loved “Rum” and I had no idea when I was researching and considering what songs to put on this list that this song was one of their’s. Worst lyrics: “One more drink leads to another / You slide up close to me / Tear the t-shirts off each other / Your hands all over me.” 9. Kelsea Ballerini, “Dibs” I hate to put another tomato on the list, but this song is an example of horrible songwriting. It’s particularly bad in the chorus: “I'm calling dibs / On your lips / On your kiss / On your time / Boy, I'm calling dibs / On your hand / On your heart / All mine.” 10. Luke Bryan “Kick the Dust Up” OK, I admit it again -- it’s a catchy song. But the lyrics are atrocious and the fact that “That’s what’s up, up” is a lyric just to rhyme with the lyric before it, which was coincidentally “up,” makes this a true songwriter’s nightmare. What do you think was the worst country song of the year?  by Julian Spivey
Can a music special featuring many of today’s best voices and biggest stars paying tribute to a performer who was maybe the greatest voice in the history of popular music possibly be a disappointment? Well, the CBS “Sinatra 100 – All Star Concert” in tribute to the legendary Frank Sinatra, who’s centennial of his birth will be on December 12, proved that such a thing was in fact possible. Let’s get one thing straight – what appeared on screen during the special wasn’t an issue. The performances were spectacular, but possibly at times a little too sleepy, with stars like Garth Brooks, Usher, John Legend, Carrie Underwood, Zac Brown, Celine Dion, Tony Bennett, Harry Connick Jr., Lady Gaga and others covering many of the songs in the great “Ol’ Blue Eyes” songbook. Among the highlights of the evening were Brooks’ take on Sinatra’s classic “The Lady is a Tramp,” Connick Jr.’s performance of “My Kind of Town” and Adam Levine doing “The Best Has Yet to Come,” the last song Sinatra ever performed in public before his death in 1998. Lady Gaga also gave a memorable performance dressed as Sinatra himself with the show closer of “Theme from New York, New York.” There weren’t really any bad performances throughout the special, but some like Celine Dion’s take on “All the Way” would at times make somebody want to nod off a bit. What the special did well was show photos and clips throughout the two-hour runtime of Sinatra’s career and family and used his beautiful semi-autobiographical “It Was a Very Good Year” during these interludes. So how did this special become a disappointment? The song selection was shockingly bad. I’m not sure if this was due to the performers choosing their own songs or the producers of the show determining what songs did or didn’t make the cut. In my opinion, Sinatra’s five greatest recordings throughout his career are in order: “My Way,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “It Was a Very Good Year,” “Something Stupid” (a duet he did with his daughter Nancy) and “Strangers in the Night.” These five songs are generally considered among Sinatra’s greatest hits by most critics and fans alike. However, not a single one of these songs was performed during the tribute (with, as previously mentioned, Sinatra’s version of “It Was a Very Good Year” being used throughout to show his career timeline). “My Way” was briefly played during the closing credits of the special. I think the omission of these five tunes, or at least the fact that some of them didn’t appear, was one of supreme ineptitude among those in charge of the special. It really kind of ruined the entire evening. I even remarked to my wife, who was watching along with me, that had I known ahead of time that virtually all of Sinatra’s best pieces would be ignored I might have opted to save myself two hours. The “Sinatra 100” not including performances of at least some of these five songs would be akin to a Beatles tribute without somebody doing “Hey Jude,” a Bruce Springsteen special without “Born to Run” or a Johnny Cash tribute without “Ring of Fire” or “I Walk the Line.” It just doesn’t quite make sense. Sinatra is one of the all-time legends of popular music. He’s also incredibly unique in that he transcends so many generations having fans that loved him from his start in the 1940s all the way up to today. He really deserved something a little better than what CBS offered up on Sunday night. |