Metacritic/EOY Aggregate: 2024 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. Johnny Blue Skies [aka Sturgill Simpson]: Passage Du Desir (High Top Mountain) {75}: AV:16, BPM:*, BV:18, CS:4, Fld:34, Gl:++, Mj:57*, NR:38, O:*, P:5*, Pf:*, Pf_r:45, PM:15, Rf:21, RS:24*, RS_c:2, Sg:42, Sl:28*, So:4, Spk:*, TL:16, Tr:25, U:17*, Up:+, UPC:32; am:+*, am_c:+, bv_c:+, e:5, nod:6, pm_a:2, scm:++*, sg_c:+, vaha:4, vcr:1, vej:4, vjfc:2, vmjm:4, vsia:7 -- A:85/10, TH:**
  2. Gillian Welch/David Rawlings: Woodland (Acony) {70}: BPM:45, BS:4, EWi:37, Gl:++, IT:*, LBF:34, Mj:4*, NPR:+, O:*, P:22*, Pf:*, PM:33*, RC:*, RS:28*, RS_c:6, Sl:31, So:16, TL:5, Tr:27, U:2*, WM:7, WX:8; am:*, am_f:+, bv_f:+, fa:4, g_e:1, nod:2, pm_a:3, tr_f:+, vaha:9, vwh:9, vsso:5, xjdc:*, xwm:42, ybw:8 -- A:82/11, TH:***
  3. Kacey Musgraves: Deeper Well (MCA Nashville) {69}: Al:+*, BB:12, BS:1, CE:126, Ch:30, Cos:+, CS:8, D:*, EWi:+, G:26, HP:32, I:*, IT:*, LAT:20, MO:*, P:*, Pap:+, Pf_r:56, PM:*+, PO:21, S:+++, Sp:*, Spk:*, T:*, TL:10, U:*, UPC:31, V:+; hpo:+, hr:9, nod:8, p:5, pm_p:19, v_cw:10, vasr:3, vdch:8, vg:+, vha:7, vik:10, vjbj:3, vji:8, vkd:6, vkpa:6, vmjm:6, xwb:9, ysp:* -- A:77/23, MT:**, TH:A-
  4. Carly Pearce: Hummingbird (Big Machine) {45}: BB:+, CE:110, DW:84, EWi:23, SpL:14, ST:12, TL:9, XCL:12**, SG:25, XJS:5; am:*, am_c:+, js:5, scm:+, scm_m:10, xbw:+, xjc:8, xjd:6, xjdc:*, xsp:*, xtj:10, ysp:* -- A:80/1, MT:A-, RX:A, TH:A-
  5. Sierra Ferrell: Trail of Flowers (Rounder) {40}: BS:2, EWi:29, PM:25, RS:60, RS_c:1, S:*, TL:2, V:+; am:*, am_f:+, bv_c:+, e:+, fa:15, nex:+, nod:5, pm_a:8, scm:+++*, sg_c:+, v_cw:5, xco:5, ysp:* -- A:79/3, TH:***
  6. Zach Bryan: The Great American Bar Scene (Belting Bronco/Warner) {35}: Al:+, BB:24, BV:14, Ch:21, CS:42, Ne:*, Pf_r:80, Rf:35, RS:12*, RS_c:17, ST:65, TL:21, XCI:72**, XG:60; bv_c:+, ny_c:14, scm:*, scm_m:4, tmr:+, vajd:9, xtw:10, xwb:+ -- A:72/6, MT:B+, TH:***
  7. Swamp Dogg: Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St (Oh Boy) {31}: DW:52, Mj:*, PM:*, PO:15, RS_c:21, ST:47, U:*, XCI:46*, XG:66, XJS:+; am:*, am_c:+, pm_a:4, scm:+, vda:7, xhs:+, ysp:* -- A:81/5, MT:***, RX:A-, TH:***
  8. Megan Moroney: Am I Okay? (Columbia Nashville) {30}: CE:123, DW:17, EWi:20, RS:92, RS_c:11, SpL:3, ST:30, XCI:17, XG:49, XJS:8; am:*, am_c:+, e:10, scm:+, scm_m:11, xjd:8, xme:8 -- A:73/3, TH:A-
  9. Miranda Lambert: Postcards From Texas (Republic Nashville) {25}: AD:*, CE:68, EWi:38, NME:*, RS_c:23, SpL:18, ST:43, TL:7, XCI:47**, XG:27, , XJS:13; scm:+, scm_m:7, tmr:+, xjdc:* -- A:75/3, TH:A-
  10. Willi Carlisle: Critterland (Signature Sounds) {24}: BPM:33, P:39, PM:*, Sg:48, Sl:12*, TL:37, XCI:**; bv_c:+, nod:7, npr_ap:6, scm:+, vti:1, xjdc:*, xwv:1, ysp:* -- A:82/3, TH:**
  11. Willie Nelson: The Border (Legacy) {22}: AD:*, BB:+, Mj:*, MO:*, PO:109, SC:*, U:33*, XCI:68**; scm:+, xeb:8, xjdc:*, xsm:12 -- A:79/6, RX:***, TH:A-
  12. Corb Lund: El Viejo (New West) {21}: EWi:19, PO:1, XCI:*; scm:+, sg_c:+, xem:4, xhs:5, xpb:7, xrt:++, ysp:* -- TH:A-
  13. Charley Crockett: $10 Cowboy (Son of Davy) {20}: AS:*, AV:19, Gl:+, RS:89, RS_c:27, S:*, TL:32, XCI:*; am:+*, am_c:+, scm:+, vda:4, vsia:4, xsm:34 -- A:83/4, TH:**
  14. Chris Smither: All About the Bones (Signature Sounds) {20}: EWi:+, ST:33, XCI:27**, SG:34, XJS:+; xde:3, xjdc:10*, ysp:* -- RX:A-, TH:A-
  15. Adeem the Artist: Anniversary (Four Quarters) {17}: PO:37, RS:79, RS_c:9, SC:+*; am:*, am_c:+, am_f:+, bv_c:+, sg_c:+, vti:7, xjdc:*, ysp:* -- A:77/4, TH:**
  16. Willie Nelson: Last Leaf on the Tree (Legacy) {17}: AD:*, Mj:*, T:*, TL:18, U:*; am:*, am_c:+, nat:6, pm_a:13, vda:9, vrt:20, xrw:+ -- A:83/6, RX:**, TH:**
  17. Lainey Wilson: Whirlwind (BBR) {17}: BB:36, CE:80, RS:47*, RS_c:8, XCI:*, YW:22; am:*, am_c:+, atw:+, vash:4 -- A:75/3, TH:***
  18. Shaboozey: Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going (Republic/Empire) {16}: BB:20, RS:55*, RS_c:24, Up:+, XCI:*; am:*, am_c:+, ess:+, hr:10, vjhw:2, vsea:9 -- A:79/2, TH:*
  19. Zach Top: Cold Beer & Country Music (Leo33) {16}: CE:97, RS_c:13, TL:36; am:*, am_c:+, ny_c:7, scm:+*, scm_m:1, vsea:3 -- A:80/1, TH:**
  20. Morgan Wade: Obsessed (Ladylike/RCA Nashville) {16}: RC:*, RS_c:22, ST:44, XCI:41*, XJS:+, XG:50; pi:13 -- A:72/3, RX:A-, TH:A-
  21. Jake Xerxes Fussell: When I'm Called (Fat Possum) {15}: Mj:*, Pf:*, SC:*, Sg:31, U:28*; am:+*, am_f:+, fa:12, n_ap:13, vsea:7, xjdc:* -- A:81/6, TH:**
  22. Merce Lemon: Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild (Darling) {15}: BPM:*, Fld:32, FN:38, GB:29, LBF:41, NR:35, OC:41, P:41*, UR:*; crk:25, nex:+, vcjs:6, ybw:9 -- A:80/5, TH:*
  23. Billy Strings: Highway Prayers (Reprise) {15}: Gl:++, Mj:*, RS:*, SC:*, TL:14; am:*, am_f:+, fa:2, scm:++* -- A:80/5, TH:*
  24. John Moreland: Visitor (Old Omens/Thirty Tigers) {14}: AD:*, PM:*+, RC:*, TL:31, U:*; bv_c:+, pm_f:9, scm:+*, ysp:* -- A:85/4, TH:***
  25. Dwight Yoakam: Brighter Days (VIA/Thirty Tigers) {14}: CE:114, EWi:+, IT:*, PO:67; am:+*, am_c:+, scm:+, xeb:5, xpb:+, xsm:9 -- A:77/3, TH:**
  26. Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore: TexiCali (Yep Roc) {13}: Mj:*, SC:*, ST:75, U:74*; xrt:++, xjc:7, xjdc:* -- A:78/4, TH:A-
  27. Sarah Jarosz: Polaroid Lovers (Rounder) {13}: PM:79, ST:36, U:*; am:*, am_c:+, nod:1, pm_a:1 -- A:73/3, TH:**
  28. The Mavericks: Moon & Stars (Mono Mundo) {11}: BB:+, TL:4; am:*, am_c:+, scm:+ -- A:80/1, TH:***
  29. Katie Pruitt: Mantras (Rounder) {11}: HV:+, ST:82, XCI:78**; ysp:* -- MT:***, TH:**
  30. Kelsea Ballerini: Patterns (Black River) {10}: Ch:1, RS_c:16; atw:+, p:9 -- A:70/1, TH:*
  31. Kaitlin Butts: Roadrunner! (Soundly Music) {10}: CE:87, RS_c:4; nod:10; scm:++* -- TH:*
  32. Melissa Carper: Borned in Ya (Mae Music) {10}: Gl:++, PO:121; fa:7, scm:+* -- TH:A-
  33. Ernest: Nashville, Tennessee (Big Loud) {10}: BB:+, LAT:5; la_w:5, scm_m:12 -- TH:**
  34. Sarah Shook & the Disarmers: Revelations (Abeyance) {10}: AS:*, LW:76, P:+*; am:*, am_f:+, scm:+, xjdc:* -- A:79/4, TH:**
  35. Brittney Spencer: My Stupid Life (Elektra) {10}: BS:18, RS:*+, RS_c:15, SSt:+, TL:23 -- A:75/2, TH:**
  36. Luke Combs: Fathers & Sons (Columbia Nashville) {8}: am:*, am_c:+, scm:+*, scm_m:2 -- TH:**
  37. Jeff Evans Porkestra: Willow Pillow (self-releaed -EP) {8}: ST:81 -- RX:A-, TH:***
  38. Lizzie No: Halfsies () {8}: AD:*, Mg:18, SC:*; pm_a:15, sg_c:+ -- A:85/2, TH:**
  39. Post Malone: F-1 Trillion (Mercury/Republic) {8}: BB:17, Ch:9, I:*, XCI:*, T:* -- A:67/11, TH:B
  40. Scotty McCreery: Rise & Fall (Triple Tigers) {8}: BB:+, RS_c:12; am:*, am_c:+, scm:+, scm_m:9 -- A:80/1, TH:**
  41. Red Clay Strays: Made by These Moments (RCA) {8}: Ex:*, Mj:*, RS:63, RS_c:18; scm:++* -- A:74/5, TH:B
  42. Secret Sisters: Mind, Man, Medicine (New West) {8}: TL:20; am:*, am_f:+, tmr:+ -- TH:***
  43. Kelly Willis/Melissa Carper/Brennen Leigh: Wonder Women of Country (Brooklyn Basement -EP) {8}: PO:93, TL:29, XCI:*; scm:+, xsm:37, ysp:* -- TH:**
  44. Mickey Guyton: House on Fire (Capitol Nashville) {7}: PO:139, TL:22, XCI:67**; xjdc:* -- TH:*
  45. Emily Nenni: Drive & Cry (New West) {7}: RS_c:19; scm:++* -- A:70/1, TH:**
  46. Chase Rice: Go Down Singin' (Broken Bow) {7}: RS_c:7; scm_m:13 -- TH:***
  47. Silverada: Silverada (Prairie Rose) {7}: RS_c:26; am:*, am_c:+; scm:++* -- A:75/2
  48. Charley Crockett: $10 Cowboy Chapter II: Visions of Dallas (Son of Davy) {6}: scm:+*, up_sh:+ -- TH:***
  49. Karen Jonas: The Rise and Fall of American Kitsch (self-released) {6}: CE:98; nod:9, scm:++* -- TH:*
  50. Billy Strings: Live: Vol. 1 () {6}: Up_h:7; am:*, up_sh:7, vshy:7 -- A:79/2
  51. Kelsey Waldon: There's Always a Song (Oh Boy) {6}: PM:+*; nod:8 -- A:80/1, TH:***
  52. Twisters: The Album (Atlantic) {6}: BB:22, DW:48, RS_c:30; vsea:6 -- MT:**
  53. Kimmi Bitter: Old School (self-released) {5}: scm:++* -- TH:**
  54. Hayes Carll/Band of Heathens: Hayes & the Heathens (BOH) {5}: scm:+, xwv:6 -- TH:***
  55. Kasey Chambers: Backbone (Metropolitan Groove Merchants/Essence Music Group) {5}: am:*, am_c:+, am_s:+ -- TH:**
  56. Lola Kirke: Country Curious (One Riot -EP) {5}: CE:113, XCI:*; xjdc:*, ysp:* -- TH:*
  57. Ella Langley: Hungover (Sawgod/Columbia) {5}: RS_c:20; ny_c:4, scm_m:14 -- A:70/1
  58. Outfit [Daniel Romano]: Too Hot to Sleep (You've Changed) {5}: Sp:*; am:+*, am_k:+, ysp:* -- A:90/2
  59. Orville Peck: Stampede (Warner) {5}: FO:*, O:*, SC:*; sg_c:+, xrt:+ -- A:73/8
  60. Connie Smith: Love, Prison, Wisdom and Heartaches (Fat Possum) {5}: am:*, am_c:+, ysp:* -- TH:**
  61. Koe Wetzel: 9 Lives (Columbia) {5}: RS:96, RS_c:5 -- A:60/1
  62. The Castellows: A Little Goes a Long Way (Warner Music Nashville -EP) {4}: XCI:*; scm:+ -- TH:**
  63. George Dearborne: Lotta Honky Tonkin' Left in Me (Wingate) {4}: scm:+* -- TH:**
  64. Claudia Gibson: The Fields of Chazy (self-released) {4}: -- RX:**, TH:**
  65. The Gringo Pistoleros: The Rise and . . . Subsequent Fall of the Texas Alien (self-released) {4}: -- RX:**, TH:**
  66. Jason Isbell: Live From the Ryman Vol. 2 (Southeastern) {4}: XCI:54**; up_sh:+
  67. Jamey Johnson: Midngith Gasoline () {4}: am:*, am_c:+, scm:++*
  68. Sturgill Simpson: 2024/09/25 St. Paul, MN () {4}: up_sh:3, vshy:3
  69. Keith Urban: High () {4}: RS_c:28; am:*, am_c:+, xsm:48 -- A:80/1
  70. 49 Winchester: Leavin' This Holler () {3}: scm:++*
  71. Ashtyn Barbaree: Sent Through the Ceiling (Artists 3 60) {3}: -- TH:***
  72. Brown Horse: Reservoir (Loose Music) {3}: Mj:*, U:39* -- A:85/2
  73. Jesse Daniel: Countin' the Miles (Die True/Lightning Rod) {3}: CE:134; scm:+*
  74. The Deslondes: Roll It Out (New West) {3}: WM:32; scm:+, sg_c:+
  75. Wyatt Flores: Welcome to the Plains () {3}: RS_c:29; scm:+*
  76. Hataalii: Waiting for a Sign (Dangerbird) {3}: FO:21*; nex:+ -- A:90/1
  77. Cody Jinks: Change the Game (Late August) {3}: am:*, am_c:+, scm:+
  78. Brady Lux: Ain't Gone So Far (6483357 Records DK) {3}: -- TH:***
  79. Gurf Morlix: In Love at Zero Degrees (Rootball) {3}: xjdc:* -- TH:**
  80. Elvie Shane: Damascus () {3}: CE:95, RS_c:14
  81. Shane Smith and the Saints: Norther (Geronimo West) {3}: scm:++*
  82. George Strait: Cowboys and Dreamers () {3}: scm:+, scm_m:5
  83. Shawna Thompson: Lean on Neon (Sun) {3}: CE:89; scm:+*
  84. American Aquarium: The Fear of Standing Still () {2}: scm:+*
  85. Pony Bradshaw: Thus Spoke the Fool () {2}: scm:+*
  86. Ellis Bullard: Honky Tonk Ain't Noise Pollution () {2}: scm:+*
  87. J.R. Carroll: Dark Cloud () {2}: scm:+*
  88. Matt Castillo: Pushing Borders () {2}: scm:+*
  89. Caleb Caudle: Sweet Critters (Baldwin County Public/Missing Piece) {2}: PM:*; pm_a:17 -- A:80/1
  90. Chatham County Line: Hiyo () {2}: am:*, am_f:+
  91. Kenny Chesney: Born () {2}: am:*, am_c:+
  92. Jeff Crosby: Another Petal Falls Off of the Rose () {2}: scm:+*
  93. The Dead South: Chains & Stakes (Six Shooter/DevilDuck) {2}: AD:*, XSN:* -- A:80/3
  94. The Droptines: The Droptines () {2}: scm:+*
  95. Tyler Hubbard: Strong () {2}: am:*, am_c:+
  96. Jelly Roll: Beautifully Broken (Stoney Creek/Republic) {2}: BB:41, I:* -- A:69/5
  97. Hannah Juanita: Tennessee Songbird () {2}: scm:+*
  98. Randall King: Into the Neon () {2}: scm:+, scm_m:6
  99. Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms: Gold in Your Pocket () {2}: fa:8, scm:+
  100. Muscadline Bloodline: The Coastal Plain () {2}: scm:+*
  101. Sam Outlaw: Terra Cotta (Black Hills) {2}: XCI:* -- TH:*
  102. Charlie Parr: Little Sun (Smithsonian Folkways) {2}: Gl:+ -- TH:*
  103. Jonathan Peyton: Nothing Here's the Same () {2}: scm:+*
  104. Pat Reedy: Make It Back Home () {2}: scm:+*
  105. Lance Roark: Tenkiller () {2}: scm:+*
  106. Red Shahan: Loose Funky Texas Junky () {2}: CE:142; scm:+
  107. Ty Smith & the Minor Offenses: Ty Smith & the Minor Offenses () {2}: scm:+*
  108. Joe Stamm: Allegheny (-EP) {2}: scm:+*
  109. Josh Turner: This Country Music Thing () {2}: scm:+, scm_m:8
  110. Ben Vallee: Introducing . . . () {2}: scm:+*
  111. Alice Wallace: Here I Am () {2}: scm:+*
  112. Jesse Welles: Hells Welles () {2}: scm:+*
  113. Cecily Wilborn: Kuntry Gurl Playlist (self-released) {2}: PO:125 -- TH:*
  114. Jeremie Albino: Out Timein the Sun (Easy Eye Sound) {1}: Gl:+
  115. The Cactus Blossoms: Every Time I Think About You (Walkie Talkie) {1}: xsm:21
  116. Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams: All This Time (Royal Potato Family) {1}: ysp:*
  117. Alejandro Escovedo: Echo Dancing (Yep Roc) {1}: ysp:*
  118. Tim Heidecker: Slipping Away (Bloodshot) {1}: up_sh:+ -- TH:B
  119. Rich Henderson: Alive in Alabama () {1}: scm:+
  120. Taylor Hunnicutt: Alabama Sound () {1}: scm:+
  121. Jarrell: A Country Song () {1}: scm:+
  122. Cody Jinks: Cody Jinks Sings Lefty Frizzell () {1}: scm:+
  123. Addison Johnson: Dangerous Men () {1}: scm:+
  124. Tyler-James Kelly: Dream River () {1}: scm:+
  125. Alex Key: Outdated () {1}: scm:+
  126. Jim Lauderdale: My Favorite Place (Sky Crunch) {1}: ysp:*
  127. Cassandra Lewis: Lost in a Dream (Elektra) {1}: xpb:9
  128. The Lowdown Drifters: In Time () {1}: scm:+
  129. Shelby Lynne: Consequences of the Crown (Monument) {1}: PO:122 -- TH:B
  130. Tony Martinez: Everywhere West () {1}: scm:+
  131. Medium Build: Country (Island) {1}: atw:+
  132. Sarah Gayle Meech: Easin' On () {1}: scm:+
  133. Maren Morris: Intermission () {1}: tmr:+
  134. Tris Munsick & the Innocents: Big Medicine Moon () {1}: scm:+
  135. Nicolette & the Nobodies: The Long Way () {1}: Ex:21
  136. India Ramey: Baptized by the Blaze () {1}: scm:+
  137. Reckless Kelly: The Last Frontier () {1}: scm:+
  138. Sentimental Family Band: Sweethearts Only () {1}: scm:+
  139. Leslie Stevens: Leslie Stevens (Lyricland) {1}: HV:+
  140. Brit Taylor: Kentucky Blue Grassed (Cut a Shine) {1}: xsm:38
  141. Benjamin Tod: Shooting Star () {1}: scm:+
  142. Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway: Into the Wild () {1}: fa:13
  143. Tylor and the Train Robbers: Hum of the Road () {1}: scm:+
  144. Lauren Watkins: The Heartbroken Record (Big Loud/Songs & Daughters/Mercury/Republic) {1}: sg_c:+
  145. Chasen Wayne: Strange Places () {1}: scm:+
  146. Hudson Westbrook: Hudson Westbroook () {1}: scm:+
  147. West of Texas: Hot Motel Nights () {1}: scm:+