Metacritic Aggregate: 2022 New Music: Country/Americana/Folk

Notes

For information on what lists are consulted, and what the various abbreviations and notes mean, click here.

For reissues and compilations, click here.

Sub-Lists

Some breakdowns by genre:

Ranking

  1. Miranda Lambert: Palomino (Vanner/RCA Nashville) {95}: Al:39*, AM:*, BB:31, EWi:4, GTV:83, H:*, HV:2, P:*, PJ:22, PM:+*, PO:*, Rf:60, RS:21*, RS_c:3, Rx:17, Sg:34, SpL:10, TL:2, TomC:65, V:+*, XCI:13, YF:*; am:+, js:3, ny_z:10, pm_r:13, p:5, pi:10, rsch:8, scw:*, sg_c:7, sjm:6, sl:+, ti:+, vce:*+, voh:6, xbp:4, xbw:3, xci:*, xem:5, xgh:+, xgm:5, xhs:+, xjd:11, xjdc:6, xjdo:9, xjl:4, xsp:+, xss:5, xtc:+, xtw:2, xwb:+, yjv:9, ysm:5, ysp:* -- A:(80/8), RC:A, TH:A-
  2. Willie Nelson: A Beautiful Time (Legacy) {76}: AD:*, AM:*, BB:35, EWi:5, H:*, HV:20, IT:*, Mj:*, ND_r:16, PJ:29, PO:2*, RS_c:20, Rx:4, Sbd:89, Sl:40, SpL:11, T:*, TL:21, TomC:89, U:*, XCI:16; js:7, pm_c:15, scw:*, sl:++, txm:+, vce:+, voh:8, xbw:5, xci:*, xde:10, xgh:7, xgm:1, xhs:3, xjdc:7, xjlu:10, xeb:10, xmv:7, xsp:+, xtc:+, xtw:9, yjv:+, ysm:3, ysp:+* -- A:(76/8), RC:A, TH:A-
  3. Amanda Shires: Take It Like a Man (ATO) {71}: Al:13*, AM:*, EWi:14, G:*, Gl:*, GMA:29, H:*, HV:6, Mj:*, Mx:7, ND_r:1, PJ:65, PM:21*, PO:*, Rf:52, Rx:18, Sbd:69, SC:16, TL:3, TomC:71, U:55*, V:*, XCI:7; am:+, atw:+, js:9, ny_z:11, pm_a:8, scw:6, sg_c:4, so_d:7, txm:+, xbw:+, xci:*, xcw:*, xjd:+, xjdc:3, xss:6, xtc:+, yjv:3, ysp:* -- A:(81/10), RC:A, TH:**
  4. Plains: I Walked With You a Ways (Anti-) {65}: AS:*, BPM:34*, BS:8, EW:6, EWi:43, Ex:*, G:*, GB:41, GC:42, H:*, LBF:*, Mg:17, Mj:*, ND:1, ND_r:30, NT:*, Pf:*, PJ:24, PM:*, RM:+, Rx:5, S:11, Sbd:93, TL:78, TomC:60, Up:+, UR:88, XCI:40; js:10, pf_k:+, pm_a:7, rsaw:5, rsjb:8, scw:*, sl:+, st_r:3, xbw:+, xcb:7, xde:6, xjd:15, xwb:+, ybj:9, yjss:+, yjv:+, ysp:* -- A:(79/14), TH:A-
  5. Ashley McBryde: Presents: Lindeville (Warner Music Nashville) {49}: BB:40, EWi:17, NPR:50, PJ:78, PO:*, RS:70, RS_c:5, Rx:6, Sg:14, TL:7, TomC:6, XCI:28; am:+, js:8, pm_c:7, scm:*, voh:7, xbw:+, xci:*, xcw:*, xgm:6, xjd:8, xjdc:4, xjdo:6, xpb:+, xtc:6, xtw:4, yjb:+, yjv:+ -- RC:A, TH:***
  6. SG Goodman: Teeth Marks (Verve Forecast) {44}: AS:+, BS:6, Gl:+*, H:*, HV:15, ND:13, ND_r:15, NPR:11, Pf:*, PM:60*, RS_c:22, Sp:*, TL:12, TN:+, U:36*, YW:9; aqd:+, fa:4, scw:*, sg_c:3, up_sh:5, xci:*, xhs:+, xjd:+, yjc:+, ypg:8 -- A:(81/5), TH:***
  7. Zach Bryan: American Heartbreak (Warner) {36}: BB:49, BS:10, BV:34, CS:5, H:*, Rf:44, RS:33, RS_c:4, Spk:40, TL:22; apn:4, asp:+, ny_c:1, pi:7, pm_c:1, scm:*, sg_c:5, st_b:3, up_sh:8 -- TH:**
  8. Courtney Marie Andrews: Loose Future (Fat Possum) {31}: Al:75, AM:*, AU:17, Fa:50, Gl:*, GMA:44, H:*, LBF:*, Mj:*, No:46, RS:88*, RT:33, RTU:+, STi:6, T:*, Trk:9, U:38*; bv_f:+, hc_d:4, pm_a:15, yjv:+ -- A:(78/7), TH:**
  9. Orville Peck: Bronco (Columbia) {30}: AM:*, AU:11, BB:26, D:*, DIY:*, Gf:30, Jp:18, LBF:*, MO:*, NME:*, PJ:57, Rf:40, Rg:15, RM:+, RTU:+, Sbd:81, Spk:49*, TL:32, UR:*, VLR:46; blw:4, pm_a:4, ysp:* -- A:(80/10), TH:*
  10. Adeem the Artist: White Trash Revelry (Four Quarters) {28}: EWi:37, Ne:18*, PJ:67, PM:*, PO:*, RS_c:7, TL:17; npr_ap:12, pm_c:2, rsjf:2, sg_c:8, xci:*, xbw:+, xmv:2, ysp:+* -- A:(85/2), TH:A-
  11. Maren Morris: Humble Quest (Columbia Nashville) {26}: Al:16*, AM:*, AS:+, BB:+, Esq:+, EW:*, GMA:48, H:*, Pf:*, RS_c:6, TL:53, YF:*; mc:+, pm_c:9, sg_c:1, xci:*, yjv:+ -- A:(82/7), TH:***
  12. Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway: Crooked Tree (Nonesuch) {26}: AS:*, Gl:+, H:*, Mj:*, ND:7, ND_r:4, O:*, PM:77, RM:+, TL:23, U:*; pm_a:1, scm:*, xci:*, ysp:+* -- A:(78/6), TH:***
  13. Lainey Wilson: Bell Bottom Country (Broken Bow) {23}: AS:+, BB:18, HV:18, LAT:7, RS:73*, RS_c:11, TL:14; scw:*, sdu:+, st_b:10, xbw:+, xci:* -- A:(80/1), TH:***
  14. Charley Crockett: The Man From Waco (Son of Davy) {22}: H:*, ND_r:5, RS_c:2, TL:9, WX:23; am:+, apn:9, asp:+, pm_c:6, rsjf:3, txm:+, ysp:* -- TH:**
  15. Ray Wylie Hubbard: Co-Starring Too (Big Machine) {21}: AS:*, ND_r:33, PM:*, PO:*, Rx:56, TL:86; js:+, scm:*, scw:*, txm:+, xjdc:+, xsp:+, ysp:* -- A:(80/1), RC:A-, TH:A-
  16. The Sadies: Colder Streams (Yep Roc) {20}: AS:*, Dus:*, Ex:7*, FB:14, Gl:+*, Mc:17, Mj:*, P:*, PJ:67, U:*; elg:5, vgb:4 -- A:(85/5), TH:B
  17. Hailey Whitters: Raised (Big Loud/Pigasus) {18}: H:*, TL:6, RS_c:1; js:+, rsjh:5, sg_c:9, xci:* -- A:(66/1), TH:A-
  18. Miko Marks and the Resurrectors: Feel Like Going Home (Redtone) {17}: AS:+, ND:5, RS_c:12, TL:4; fa:10, pm_a:3 -- TH:***
  19. Ian Noe: River Fools & Mountain Saints (Thirty Tigers) {17}: BV:+, ND:+, ND_r:13, O:*, RS_c:8, TL:30; scm:*, sg_c:10, xcw:*, xjlu:8 -- A:(75/2), TH:A-
  20. Mary Gauthier: Dark Enough to See the Stars (Thirty Tigers) {16}: AD:*, AS:*, H:*, Mj:*, ND_R:14, PO:*, TL:83, U:*; fa:6, ysp:* -- A:(78/5), RC:**, TH:***
  21. Joshua Hedley: Neon Blue (New West) {16}: AM:*, AV:28, H:*, ND:+, Pf:+, RS_c:19, TL:84; am:+, pm_c:11, rsjh:10, scm:*, sg_c:2 -- A:(72/3), TH:**
  22. Sarah Shook & the Disarmers: Nightroamer (Abeyance) {16}: AM:*, Gl:*, H:*, LW:15*, ND_r:43, NN:*, PM:67*, SC:*; scm:*, so_d:16, ysm:9 -- A:(82/6), TH:**
  23. Tami Neilson: Kingmaker (Outside Music) {15}: AS:*, AD:*, Mj:*, ND:8, O:*, TL:20; pm_a:2, te:+ -- A:(85/4), TH:***
  24. Nikki Lane: Denim & Diamonds (New West) {13}: AM:*, ClR:*, H:*, LBF:*, Mj:*, ND_r:22, RT:70, RTU:+, TL:28; am:+, pm_c:8 -- A:(79/6), TH:**
  25. Lyle Lovett: 12th of June (Verve) {13}: AM:*, NR_r:19, TL:18; hc_d:3, pm_a:13, txm:+, xhs:+, ysp:* -- A:(80/1), TH:**
  26. Tyler Childers: Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? (Hickman Holler/RCA) {12}: AM:*, Esq:+, H:*, ND_r:8, ; am:+, err:8, ny_c:+, xcw:*, ysp:* -- A:(90/1), TH:*
  27. Dolly Parton: Run Rose Run (Butterfly) {12}: Cl:*, Ev:*, I:*, ND_r:39, SMH:*, T:*; ysp:* -- A:(72/11), RC:***, TH:**
  28. Kelsey Waldon: No Regular Dog (Oh Boy) {12}: Al:89, AS:*, H:*, RS_c:13, TL:59; rsjh:7, scm:*, wp:7 -- A:(80/1), TH:***
  29. Terry Klein: Good Luck Take Care (self-released) {11}: AS:*, Rx:31; scw:* -- A:(80/1), RC:A-, TH:A-
  30. Sunny Sweeney: Married Alone (Aunt Daddy) {11}: AS:*, PM:*, TL:26; scm:*, txm:+, xci:*, xcw:*, ysp:* -- A:(80/1), TH:***
  31. Carson McHone: Still Life (Merge) {10}: AM:*, Dus:*, Gl:+*, Mj:*, NT:*, U:48*; xch:+ -- A:(81/4), TH:*
  32. Pillbox Patti: Florida (Monument) {10}: EWi:49, TL:63, TomC:74, XCI:37; rsjf:8, scw:*, xem:7, xjdc:9 -- TH:**
  33. The Whitmore Sisters: Ghost Stories (Red House) {10}: Gl:*, H:*, Mj:*, PM:*, RC:*, TL:35; scm:*, txm:+ -- A:(77/3), TH:**
  34. Live Forever: A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver (New West) {10}: ND_r:42, TL:96, YW:20; scw:*, xjdc:+ -- TH:A-
  35. Priscilla Block: Welcome to the Block Party (InDent/Mercury Nashville) {9}: PO:*, TL:73, VMP:+; ny_c:4, vce:*+, xbw:+ -- TH:*
  36. Kimberly Kelly: I'll Tell You What's Gonna Happen (Show Dog Nashville) {9}: SpL:19, TL:80; scm:*, scw:*, ysp:* -- TH:***
  37. Brennen Leigh: Obsessed With the West (Signature Sounds) {9}: H:*, TL:62; scm:*, txm:+, vce:+, xhs:4 -- TH:**
  38. Corb Lund: Songs My Friends Wrote (New West) {9}: H:*; xci:*, xhs:9, xmr:2 -- A:(60/2), TH:A-
  39. Aaron Raitiere: Single Wide Dreamer (Dinner Time) {9}: TL:33, XCI:17; scm:*, scw:*, ysp:* -- TH:***
  40. Kelsea Ballerini: Subject to Change (Black River) {8}: H:*, PB:18, RS_c:9; p:8 -- TH:*
  41. Melissa Carper: Ramblin' Soul (Mae Music) {8}: AS:*, RS_c:23, TL:44, YW:54; pm_c:4 -- A:(80/1), TH:**
  42. Steve Earle & the Dukes: Jerry Jeff (New West) {8}: AS:*, H:*, Mj:*, RC:*; scw:*, ysp:* -- A:(76/5), TH:**
  43. John Fullbright: The Liar (Blue Dirt/Thirty Tigers) {8}: Ms:47, ND_r:24, PM:*, TL:67, U:*; scm:* -- A:(80/2), TH:**
  44. John Moreland: Birds in the Ceiling (Thirty Tigers) {8}: H:*, ND:18, ND_r:46, PM:*, TL:94, U:* -- A:(80/2), TH:*
  45. Billy Strings: Me/And/Dad () {8}: ND_r:3, RS_c:16, TL:40; rsjh:4
  46. 49 Winchester: Fortune Favors the Bold (New West) {7}: H:*, ND_r:17, RS_c:21; pm_c:10, scm:*, ysp:* -- TH:B
  47. Old Crow Medicine Show: Paint This Town (ATO) {7}: AM:*, AS:*, ClR:*, Gl:*, GTV:*, ND_r:46, U:* -- A:(80/55), TH:B
  48. Pinegrove: 11:11 (Rough Trade) {7}: AM:*, Bin:38, Gl:*, NT:*; mc:+, yrf:3 -- A:(71/11)
  49. The Cactus Blossoms: One Day (Walkie Talkie) {6}: AM:*, AS:*, H:*, Mj:*, TL:97, U:* -- A:(80/4), TH:B
  50. Paul Cauthen: Country Coming Down (Thirty Tigers/Velvet Rose) {6}: H:*, RS_c:14; rsjh:6, txm:+ -- TH:*
  51. Brent Cobb: And Now, Let's Turn to Page . . . (Ol' Buddy) {6}: AM:*, Gl:*, Mj:*, U:* -- A:(74/5), TH:**
  52. Charley Crockett: Lil GL Presents: Jukebox Charley (Son of Davy) {6}: H:*, TL:54; scm:*, ysp:* -- TH:**
  53. Arlo McKinley: This Mess We're In (Oh Boy) {6}: H:*, ND_r:26, TL:15; scm:* -- TH:*
  54. American Aquarium: Chicamacomico (self-released) {5}: H:*, ND_r:9; scm:*
  55. Luke Combs: Growin' Up (Columbia Nashville) {5}: BB:36, Rf:48; atw:+, scw:* -- A:(70/2), TH:*
  56. Steve Earle & the Dukes: Jerry Jeff (New West) {5}: ND_r:10 -- TH:**
  57. Jeremy Ivey: Invisible Pictures (Anti-) {5}: AM:*, Gl:*, H:*, Mj:*; bow:7 -- A:(77/3), TH:B
  58. Something Borrowed, Something New: A Tribute to John Anderson (Easy Eye Sound) {5}: H:*, TL:90; scw:*, ysp:* -- TH:**
  59. Ingrid Andress: Good Person (Warner Music Nashville/Atlantic) {4}: RS:92, RS_c:24; vce:+ -- TH:*
  60. Kaitlin Butts: What Else Can She Do (self-released) {4}: AS:+; scm:*, ysp:* -- TH:*
  61. Randall King: Shot Glass () {4}: BB:+; scm:* -- TH:**
  62. Caroline Spence: True North (Rounder) {4}: H:*; scm:* -- TH:**
  63. Hannah White: About Time (Paper Blue) {4}: H:* -- TH:***
  64. Hank Williams Jr: Rich White Honky Blues (Easy Eye Sound) {4}: AM:* -- A:(80/2), TH:***
  65. The Broken Spokes: Where I Went Wrong (Broken Spokes Music) {3}: scm:* -- TH:**
  66. Sam Bush: Radio John: Songs of John Hartford (Smithsonian Folkways) {3}: ND_r:40, TL:76; pm_a:12
  67. Callista Clark: Real to Me: The Way I Feel (Big Machine) {3}: H:*; xci:* -- TH:*
  68. Lavender Country: Blackberry Rose and Other Songs & Sorrows From Lavender Country (Don Giovanni) {3}: PO:* -- TH:**
  69. Muscadine Bloodline: Dispatch to 16th Ave (Stancaster Music) {3}: pm_c:5, scm:*
  70. Jon Pardi: Mr Saturday Night (Capitol Nashville) {3}: AM:*, H:*; pm_c:14 -- A:(80/1)
  71. Punch Brothers: Hell on Church Street (Nonesuch) {3}: Mj:*, PM:*; ysp:* -- A:(75/5)
  72. Alma Russ: Fool's Gold (self-released) {3}: scm:* -- TH:**
  73. Stacy Antonel: Always the Outsider (self-released) {2}: scm:* -- TH:*
  74. Elles Bailey: Shining in the Half Light (Outlaw) {2}: AM:*, H:* -- A:(80/1)
  75. Benjamin Tod: Songs I Swore I'd Never Sing (Anti-Corp) {2}: scm:* -- TH:*
  76. Mariel Buckley: Everywhere I Used to Be (Birthday Cake) {2}: H:*; cbc:12
  77. Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes: Fore!!!! (Chicago Farmer -EP) {2}: scw:* -- TH:*
  78. Walker Hayes: Country Stuff: The Album (Monument) {2}: AM:*; yjb:+ -- A:(80/1), TH:B
  79. Hellbound Glory: Nobody Knows You (Black Country) {2}: scm:* -- TH:*
  80. The Kernal: Listen to the Blood (Single Lock) {2}: pm_c:3
  81. Gabe Lee: The Hometown Kid () {2}: RS_c:18
  82. Little Big Town: Mr Sun (Capitol Nashville) {2}: AM:*, TL:89 -- A:(80/1)
  83. Maddie & Tae: Through the Madness Vol 2 (Mercury Nashville) {2}: H:* -- TH:*
  84. The Del McCoury Band: Almost Proud (McCoury Music) {2}: H:*; ysp:*
  85. Michaela Anne: Oh to Be That Free (Yep Roc) {2}: Al:47, H:*
  86. David Quinn: Country Flesh (Down Home) {2}: H:*; scm:*
  87. LeAnn Rimes: God's Work (Everle/Thirty Tigers) {2}: H:*; v_cw:9
  88. Rusty: The Resurrection of Rust (Capitol -EP) {2}: ysp:* -- A:(69/6)
  89. Shovels & Rope: Manticore (Dualtone) {2}: Gl:*, H:*
  90. Charlie Sutton: Trout Takes (Chuckwagon -EP) {2}: scm:* -- TH:*
  91. Town Mountain: Lines in the Levee (New West) {2}: H:*; pm_a:11
  92. Carrie Underwood: Denim & Rhinestones (Capitol Nashville) {2}: AM:*, Rf:55 -- A:(80/1)
  93. Dallas Wayne: Coldwater, Tennessee (Audium/BFD) {2}: ysp:* -- TH:*
  94. Whiskey Myers: Tornillo (Wiggy Thump) {2}: ClR:44; scm:*
  95. The Wooks: Flyin' High (Gnar Vector) {2}: H:*; scm:*
  96. Deborah Allen: The Art of Dreaming (BFD) {1}: ysp:* -- TH:B
  97. Wade Bowen: Somewhere Between the Secret and the Truth (Bowen Sounds) {1}: txm:+
  98. Breland: Cross Country (Atlantic) {1}: vce:+
  99. Kane Brown: Different Man () {1}: RS_c:25
  100. Zach Bryan: Summertime Blues (Belting Bronco/Warner Music -EP) {1}: H:*
  101. Matt Castillo: How the River Flows (Texace) {1}: scm:*
  102. Caleb Caudle: Forsythia (Soundly Music) {1}: H:*
  103. The Coffis Brothers: Turn My Radio Up (Blue Rose) {1}: pm_a:9
  104. Cruel Liars: Mightmare (Kill Rock Stars) {1}: H:*
  105. Dailey & Vincent: Let's Sing Some Country () {1}: TL:100
  106. Matt Daniel: All I'll Ever Need (self-released) {1}: scm:*
  107. The Dead South: Easy Listening for Jerks Part 1 (Six Shooter -EP) {1}: H:*
  108. The Dead South: Easy Listening for Jerks Part 2 (Six Shooter -EP) {1}: H:*
  109. Travis Denning: Might as Well Be Me (Mercury Nashville -EP) {1}: H:*
  110. Pat Green: Miles and Miles of You (Pat Green Music) {1}: txm:+
  111. William Clark Green: Baker Hotel (Bill Grease) {1}: txm:+
  112. Patty Griffin: Tape: Home Recordings & Rarities (PGM/Thirty Tigers) {1}: TL:55
  113. IV and the Strange Band: Southern Circus (Black Country Rock) {1}: scm:*
  114. The Ben Jarrell Band: Up and Headed West () {1}: scm:*
  115. Mike Kuster: Better Late Than Never (self-released) {1}: scm:*
  116. The Local Honeys: The Local Honeys (La Honda) {1}: scm:*
  117. Tony Logue: Jericho () {1}: scm:*
  118. Maddie & Tae: Through the Madness (Mercury Nashville -EP) {1}: -- TH:*
  119. Matt Maverick: American Dream () {1}: scm:*
  120. Jamie McDell: Jamie McDell (self-released) {1}: H:*
  121. Aaron McDonnell: Too Many Days Like Saturday Night () {1}: scm:*
  122. Drake Milligan: Dallas/Fort Worth (Stoney Creek) {1}: scm:*
  123. Murder by Death: Spell/Bound (Many Hats) {1}: H:*
  124. Whiskey Myers: Tornillo (Wiggy Thump/Thirty Tigers) {1}: H:*
  125. Emily Nenni: On the Ranch (New West) {1}: H:*
  126. Gretchen Peters: The Show: Live From the UK (Proper) {1}: H:*
  127. Steve Poltz: Stardust & Satellites (Red House) {1}: H:*
  128. The Po' Ramblin' Boys: Never Slow Down (Smithsonian Folkways) {1}: H:*
  129. The Red Clay Strays: Moment of Truth (self-released) {1}: scm:*
  130. Thomas Rhett: Where We Started (Big Machine) {1}: H:*
  131. Peter Rowan: Calling You From My Mountain (Rebel) {1}: H:*
  132. The Slocan Ramblers: Up the Hill and Through the Fog (SloMusic) {1}: H:*
  133. Sophie & the Broken Things: Delusions of Grandeur (Petaluma) {1}: H:*
  134. Teddy & the Rough Riders: Teddy & the Rough Riders (self-released -EP) {1}: ysp:* -- TH:B
  135. Jenny Tolman: Married in a Honky Tonk (Old Sol) {1}: scm:*
  136. Joshua Ray Walker: See You Next Time (State Fair -21) {1}: SpL:29 -- TH:[**]
  137. Wheeler Walker Jr: Sex, Drugs and Country Music (Pepper Hill/Thirty Tigers) {1}: YW:67
  138. The Wilder Blue: The Wilder Blue () {1}: scm:*
  139. Alex Williams: Waging Peace (Lightning Rod) {1}: H:*
  140. Yonder Mountain String Band: Get Yourself Outside (Frog Pad) {1}: H:*