20 From 2020 (Albums)

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