If anything can be said of 2020, anything at all is that there was an amazing output of music. It was challenging to keep your finger on its pulse. At times it seemed as if it was racing out of control with surprise traditional country infusions from mainstream artists such as Caylee Hammack, Josh Turner, and Jon Pardi!
But it was the insurgent force of independent country that kept us company, entertained, and hopeful. Narratives of social unrest, and equity were heard through the voices of Tyler Childers, and American Aquarium. While Hayden Haddock, and Scott Southworth kept us on the dance floor, if only in our minds..sigh..
Tyller Gummersall, Paul Bogart, and Skip Ewing delivered a fresh western feel to time tested themes of love, loss, and life. While James Dupre reminded us why Randy Travis tapped him to be his voice on tour.. Why indeed.. All in all, 2020 was a mammoth of a year for music from Nashville, Texas, and generally speaking The South.
Probably the biggest surprise for me was Sturgill Simpson's "Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 1". I was not familiar with Mr. Simpson's music catalog. I had always heard Metamodern was a great album, but never sat down to listen to it.
What follows is a list not numbered or ranked of albums and EPs we feel are worth adding to your music library. This collection ranges from Traditional sounds with a few forays into Alt Country, Red Dirt, and Mainstream Country. Did we miss one of your favorites? You might be interested in joining our Music Listening Panel. You can find the details of that membership feature and more here.
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Sturgill Simpson Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 1
Hayden Haddock Red Dirt Texas
Tyller Gummersall Self-Titled
Jon Pardi Rancho Fiesta Sessions
Paul Bogart Won't Have Far to Go
Skip Ewing Wyoming
The Tender Things How You Make a Fool
DocFell & Co. Revelations
James Dupre Home and Away
Dom Flemons Prospect Hill: The American Songster Omnibus
Pokey LaFarge Rock Bottom Rhapsody
Scott Southworth These Old Bones
Carson Jeffrey Heart of This Man
Steve Earle Ghosts of West Virginia
Jonathan Parker Broken Hearts and Broken Bones
Dean Miller 1965
Eleven Hundred Springs Here 'Tis
Anderson Elswick Relic
American Aquarium Lamentations
The Desert City Ramblers Self-Titled