Metacritic Aggregate: 2021 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. Kacey Musgraves: Star-Crossed (MCA Nashville) {73}: 45:31, Al:17, AV:+, BB:13, BS:16, C:41, Cl:+, Cmp:22, Cos:18, Di:28, DIY:+, EW:+, Fld:10, G:28, GC:37, Gg:19, GMA:45, LBF:45, MO:+, Ms:34, ND_r:35, NME:48, NPR_l:19, P:+, PB:18, Pf_35, PM:7+, PO:+, RS_c:25, Sg:28, Sl:+, TL:9, U:+, Up:+, UPC:46, Zf:37; av_cs:20, av_gs:15, cl:9, do:+, hpo:+, key:+, nst:+, nyl:++, p:10, pm_p:8, tv:+, up_p:+, vmp:+, vu:9, wp:10, wsj:+, wwl:+, xsm:10 -- RC:**, TH:**
  2. James McMurtry: The Horses and the Hounds (New West) {71}: EWi:14, Gl:+, JDC:5, ND:13, ND_r:2, Pf:+, PJ:15, PO:+, Rf:28, RS:49, RS_c:4, Rx:25, Sl:27+, TL:10, U:+, UPC:60; am:+, am_f:+, hc_d:3, do:+, js:6, pi:2, rsjh:4, scm:+++, st_r:4, tbm:8, xbw:+, xci:51, xco:10, xhs:2, xjd:17, xjdc:5, xjlu:8, xjsp:2, xmb:+, xscw:20, xwb:1 -- RC:A-, TH:A-
  3. Brandi Carlile: In These Silent Days (Low Country Sound/Elektra) {66}: Al:67, AS:+, BB:23, Bt:8, Cos:24, DJ:31, EW:+, FO:49, Gg:45, GMA:18, IR:+, Mc:22, Mj:+, Mx:12, ND_r:3, NPR_l:10, P:+, PM:18+, Rf:4, RS_c:17, RS_D:7, S:8, Sg:49, TL:12, UPC:52, YF:23+; am:+, am_s:+, bh:+, cl:3, men:8, p_c:+, scm:+++, sg_c:2, ust_m:1, v_cw:2, wyep:2 -- TH:B
  4. Yola: Stand for Myself (Easy Eye Sound) {62}: 25:9, Al:+, BS:17, Bt:3, CS:47, DaB:50, Fld:23, Gl:++, Mg:6, Mj:30+, MO:+, ND:7, ND_r:15, Ne:28+, P:+, PM:44+, Rf:1, RS:38+, RS_c:11, TL:4, U:+, UPC:36; am:+, am_f:+, ap:+, av_cs:14, bg:+, do:+, e:+, ec:+, key:+, mw:6, npr_lh:6, ns:6, pm_s:9, scm:+, so_k:19, wyep:15 -- TH:B
  5. Carly Pearce: 29: Written in Stone (Big Machine) {60}: BB:35, Bt:11, EWi:4, HV:10, IR:+, JDC:20, PJ:38, PO:+, RS:25, RS_c:5, Rx:48, UPC:+; am_c:+, dw:3, js:3, npr_oh:3, ny_c:16, scm:++, sg_c:10, sr:10, st_b:10, vce:8, vjo:5, xbl:1, xbw:++, xci:3, xjd:5, xjl:4, xmb:+, xwb:2 -- RC:A-, TH:A-
  6. Kalie Shorr: I Got Here by Accident (Tmwrk -EP) {40}: DW:1, EWi:7, JDC:2, PJ:41, PO:+, Rx:23, TL:22, UPC:+; js:7, xbl:5, xci:7, xjd:2, xjdc:3, xsc:+, xscw:2, xsm:25, xtw:+, xwb:14 -- RC:A, TH:A-
  7. Mickey Guyton: Remember Her Name (Capitol Nashville) {39}: EW:+, EWi:49, JDC:52, NPR:23, PO:14+, RS:41+, RS_c:12, Rx:43, TL:5; cw:+, hc_g:8, ny_c:20, p:6, p_c:+, p_p:+, pf_u:+, pm_c:4, sg_c:3, sl:+, st_b:9, vew:+, vmp:+, xci:40 -- RC:A-, TH:***
  8. Jack Ingram/Miranda Lambert/Jon Randall: The Marfa Tapes (RCA Nashville) {33}: BB:49, Bt:4, HV:15, LAT:9, P:+, Rf:101, RS_c:7, TL:8, U:+, UPC:78; am:+, am_c:+, bg:+, do:+, e:+, p_c:+, scm:+, st_b:8, ti:6, xjd:+ -- TH:***
  9. Morgan Wade: Reckless (Ladylike) {33}: Bt:26, EWi:+, ND_r:24, RS:13, RS_c:1, Rx:22, Sl:+, TL:46; bg:+, rsjh:5, scm:+, sg_c:4, sjm:3, sr:8, st_b:7, xci:+ -- RC:A, TH:A-
  10. Hayes Carll: You Get It All (Dualtone) {31}: AS:+, Bt:31, EWi:34, JDC:23, ND_r:5, PJ:88, PM:52, Rx:37, TL:17, U:+; am_c:+, js:+, scm:++, sg_c:6, xci:28, xjlu:3, xpb:8 -- RC:A-, TH:A-
  11. Sierra Ferrell: Long Time Coming (Rounder) {23}: Bt:6, Gl:++, ND:12, ND_r:19, PM:40, PO:+, TL:40; npr_ap:8, pm_c:2, scm:++, sdu:+, vrj:9 -- TH:A-
  12. Emily Scott Robinson: American Siren (Oh Boy) {21}: Bt:2, ND_r:44, RS_c:16, Spk:42, TL:57, UPC:+; npr_st:3, scm:++, sg_c:8 -- RC:***, TH:***
  13. Billy Strings: Renewal (Rounder) {21}: AS:+, BS:12, Bt:14, Gl:++, ND:19, ND_r:7; am_c:+, gw:15, scm:+++, vrj:8, wyep:20 -- TH:**
  14. Steve Earle & the Dukes: JT (New West) {20}: AD:+, AS:+, Bt:30, Cl:+, Mj:+, ND_r:8, PO:+, RT:91, TL:23, U:+, YW:25; am_f:+, do:+, xjl:10 -- TH:A-
  15. Loretta Lynn: Still Woman Enough (Legacy) {20}: AD:+, AS:+, G:+, JDC:43, Mj:68+, PO:+, Rx:59, T:+, YW:75; scm:+, xci:44 -- RC:A-, TH:A-
  16. Sturgill Simpson: The Ballad of Dood & Juanita (High Top Mountain -EP) {20}: Bt:34, Mj:37+, ND_r:6, RS_c:8, Sbd:73, TL:16, U:40+; am_f:+, scm:+, sg_c:7, vmp:+ -- TH:**
  17. Lori McKenna: Christmas Is Right Here (CN -EP) {18}: DW:35, JDC:18, Rx:19, TL:65; xci:20, xjd:9, xscw:14, xtw:+ -- RC:A, TH:***
  18. Lainey Wilson: Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' (Broken Bow) {18}: Bt:42, HV:3, RS_c:10, TL:52, YW:22; cw:+, rsch:6, scm:+, sl:+, xmb:+ -- TH:***
  19. Margo Cilker: Pohorylle (Loose) {17}: Bt:38, Gl:++, Mj:+, ND:10, U:+; g_e:10, scm:++, sg_c:5 -- TH:A-
  20. Eric Church: Heart & Soul (EMI Nashville) {15}: HV:24, Rf:68, RS_c:3, TL:80; am_c:+, pm_c:3, rsjh:3, sg_c:9 -- TH:**
  21. Charley Crockett: Music City USA (Son of Davy) {15}: Bt:10, ND_r:12, RS_c:15, TL:20, U:+; pm_c:10, scm:+ -- TH:***
  22. Asleep at the Wheel: Half a Hundred Years (Home) {12}: JDC:35, PO:+, Rx:49, TL:71 -- RC:A-, TH:A-
  23. The Flatlanders: Treasure of Love (Rack 'Em) {12}: AS:+, Mc:60, Mj:+, ND_r:49, PM:+, TL:83, U:+; am_c:+, bg:+ -- TH:***
  24. John R Miller: Depreciated (Rounder) {12}: ND:16, ND_r:39; scm:++ -- RC:B+, TH:A-
  25. Blackberry Smoke: You Hear Georgia (3 Legged) {10}: MO:+, PM:+, SoT:27, Trk:28, UCR:14; scm:+++ -- TH:*
  26. Miko Marks & the Resurrectors: Our Country (Redtone) {10}: IR:+, TL:11; pm_c:1 -- TH:A-
  27. Carly Pearce: 29 (Big Machine -EP) {10}: DW:70, Rx:11, TL:29; xsc:+, xsm:15, xtw:+ -- TH:***
  28. Rodney Crowell: Triage (RC1) {9}: AS:+, Bt:37, Mj:+, ND_r:26, RS_D:26, TL:21 -- TH:***
  29. Mike & the Moonpies: One to Grow On (Prairie Rose) {9}: RS_c:13, TL:69; pm_c:5, scm:+++ -- TH:*
  30. Joshua Ray Walker: See You Next Time () {9}: Bt:19, RS_c:6; do:++, scm:+, vmp:+
  31. Vincent Neil Emerson: Vincent Neil Emerson (La Honda) {8}: scm:+++, vmp:+ -- TH:A-
  32. Natalie Hemby: Pins and Needles (Fantasy) {8}: Al:60, Bt:44, HV:18, Mx:30, TL:28; sci:34 -- TH:*
  33. Alan Jackson: Where Have You Gone (EMI Nashville) {8}: HV:35; am_c:+, pm_c:8, scm:++ -- TH:***
  34. Sarah Jarosz: Blue Heron Suite (Rounder) {8}: AS:+, ND:6, ND_r:22; p_c:+, pm_f:4
  35. Mac Leaphart: Music City Joke (self-released) {8}: pm_c:7, scm:+++ -- TH:A-
  36. Adeem the Artist: Cast Iron Pansexual (self-released) {7}: BS:20, Bt:21 -- TH:A-
  37. Garrett T Capps: I Love San Antone (Vinyl Ranch) {7}: pm_c:9, scm:+++ -- TH:***
  38. Melissa Carper: Daddy's Country Gold (self-released) {7}: YW:87; scm:+++ -- TH:***
  39. Rory Feek: Gentle Man (Gaither Music Group) {7}: Bt:5 -- TH:***
  40. Bela Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart (Renew) {7}: Gl:+, ND_r:21; scm:++, ysp:+ -- TH:*
  41. Wanda Jackson: Encore (Big Machine -EP) {7}: AS:+, Bt:50, Mj:+, PM:+, U:+; e:+ -- TH:*
  42. Miko Marks & the Resurrectors: Race Records (Redtone -EP) {6}: Bt:18, TL:11 -- TH:**
  43. Ashley Monroe: Rosegold (Mountainrose Sparrow) {6}: Bt:25, TL:72; am_c:+, vdh:7, vfk:2 -- TH:B
  44. Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real: A Few Stars Apart (Fantasy) {6}: AS:+, Mj:+, MO:+, ND_r:33, U:+; am_f:+
  45. Connie Smith: The Cry of the Heart (Fat Possum) {6}: Bt:29; am_c:+, pm_c:6, scm:+ -- TH:**
  46. Riddy Arman: Riddy Arman (La Honda) {5}: Gl:+; p_c:+ -- TH:***
  47. Charlie Marie: Ramble On (self-released) {5}: bg:+, scm:++ -- TH:**
  48. American Aquarium: Slappers, Bangers, and Certified Twangers (Losing Side) {4}: Bt:35, ND_r:34, TL:58; scm:+
  49. Tre Burt: You, Yeah, You (Oh Boy) {4}: npr_ap:3, pm_f:3
  50. Kiely Connell: Camulet Queen (self-released) {4}: scm:++ -- TH:**
  51. Charley Crockett: 10 for Slim: Charley Crockett Sings James Hand (Son of Davy) {4}: PM:+; scm:+ -- TH:**
  52. Charles Wesley Godwin: How the Mighty Fall (self-released) {4}: scm:+++ -- TH:*
  53. Rob Leines: Blood, Sweat, and Beers (self-released) {4}: scm:++ -- TH:**
  54. Willie Nelson: That's Life (Legacy) {4}: AD:+, AS:+, Mj:+; am_c:+ -- TH:B
  55. RaeLynn: Baytown (Round Here) {4}: TL:42 -- TH:***
  56. Elvie Shane: Backslider (Wheelhouse) {4}: RS_c:23, TL:85; rsjh:10 -- TH:*
  57. Gary Allan: Ruthless (EMI Nashville) {3}: RS_c:24, TL:84 -- TH:*
  58. Chapel Hart: The Girls Are Back in Town (self-released) {3}: Bt:22; scm:+ -- TH:*
  59. Flatland Cavalry: Welcome to Countryland (self-released) {3}: scm:++ -- TH:*
  60. Walker Hayes: Country Stuff (Monument -EP) {3}: HV:31 -- TH:**
  61. Cody Johnson: Human: The Double Album (Cojo Music/Warner Nashville) {3}: am_c:+, ny_c:+, scm:+
  62. Bill MacKay & Nathan Bowles: Keys (Drag City) {3}: Mj:+, U:+; aqd:+
  63. Shannon McNally: The Waylon Sessions (Compass) {3}: Mj:+, U:+; scm:+
  64. Willie Nelson: The Willie Nelson Family (Legacy) {3}: AD:+, Bt:43; am_c:+ -- TH:B
  65. Old Dominion: Time, Tequila & Therapy (Arista Nashville) {3}: RS_c:20; am_c:+
  66. Jason Ringenberg: Rhinestoned (Courageous Chicken) {3}: AS:+ -- TH:**
  67. Maggie Rose: Have a Seat () {3}: RS_c:19; rsjh:7
  68. The Steel Woods: All of Your Stones () {3}: scm:+++
  69. Tony Joe White: Smoke From the Chimney (Easy Eye Sound) {3}: Mj:54+, U:+
  70. Angela Autumn: Frontiers Woman (self-released -EP) {2}: Bt:39 -- TH:*
  71. Leah Blevins: First Time Feeling (Crabtree) {2}: Bt:23 -- TH:*
  72. Jason Boland and the Stragglers: The Light Saw Me () {2}: bg:+, scm:+
  73. Dillon Carmichael: Son of A (Riser House) {2}: Bt:17
  74. Jesse Daniel: Beyond These Walls () {2}: scm:++
  75. Bobby Dove: Hopeless Romantic () {2}: scm:++
  76. Hope Dunbar: Sweetheartland () {2}: scm:++
  77. Hope Dunbar: You Let the Light In (self-released) {2}: -- TH:**
  78. Erin Enderlin: Barroom Mirrors EP (Black Crow Productions -EP) {2}: -- TH:**
  79. Dori Freeman: Ten Thousand Roses (Blue Hens Music) {2}: Bt:49; xph:9
  80. Cody Jinks: Mercy (Late August) {2}: TL:66; scm:+
  81. Jim Lauderdale: Hope (Yep Roc) {2}: AS:+; am_c:+
  82. Lucero: When You Found Me () {2}: IR:25; scm:+
  83. Parker McCollum: Gold Chain Cowboy () {2}: Bt:40; scm:+
  84. Bones Owens: Bones Owens (Black Ranch/Thirty Tigers) {2}: AS:+, YW:35
  85. Pistol Annies: Hell of a Holiday (RCA Nashville) {2}: TL:54; am_c:+
  86. Amy Speace With the Orphan Brigade: There Used to Be Horses Here (Proper/Wind Bone) {2}: AS:+, Mj:+
  87. Morgen Wallen: Dangerous: The Double Album (Big Loud/Republic) {2}: HV:30, Rf:108
  88. The Barlow: Horseshoe Lounge () {1}: scm:+
  89. Pony Bradshaw: Calico Jim () {1}: scm:+
  90. Bridge City Sinners: Unholy Hymns () {1}: scm:+
  91. The Burner Band: Signs and Wonders () {1}: scm:+
  92. Cole Chaney: Mercy () {1}: scm:+
  93. Dan + Shay: Good Things () {1}: RS_c:22
  94. Summer Dean: Bad Romantic () {1}: scm:+
  95. Bo DePena: It's About to Get Western () {1}: scm:+
  96. Silas J Dirge: The Poor Devil () {1}: scm:+
  97. The Divorcees: Drop of Blood () {1}: scm:+
  98. Jason Eady: To the Passage of Time () {1}: scm:+
  99. Kathleen Edwards: Total Freedom (Dualtone -20) {1}: TL:60 -- TH:[B]
  100. Conrad Fisher: Homemade () {1}: scm:+
  101. Brock Gonyea: Where My Heart Is EP () {1}: scm:+
  102. Courtney Hartman: Glade (Reckoner) {1}: pm_f:10
  103. Addison Johnson: Dark Side of the Mountain () {1}: scm:+
  104. Hannah Juanita: Hardliner () {1}: scm:+
  105. Katie Jo: Pawn Shop Queen () {1}: scm:+
  106. Toby Keith: Peso in My Pocket (Show Dog Nashville) {1}: am_c:+
  107. Tim Kelly: Ride Through the Rain () {1}: Bt:36
  108. Vivian Leva/Riley Calcagno: Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno () {1}: scm:+
  109. Lilli Lewis: Americana () {1}: Bt:45
  110. Triston Marez: Triston Marez () {1}: scm:+
  111. Michigan Rattlers: That Kind of Life () {1}: scm:+
  112. Drake Milligan: Drake Milligan EP () {1}: scm:+
  113. Parker Millsap: Be Here Instead () {1}: AS:+
  114. Dallas Moore: The Rain () {1}: scm:+
  115. Jennifer Nettles: Always Like New () {1}: AS:+
  116. Elijah Ocean: Born Blue () {1}: scm:+
  117. Dag Erik Ogsvold: Back Then () {1}: scm:+
  118. Caroline Parke: Pause and Pine (self-released) {1}: -- TH:*
  119. Jeremy Parsons: Things to Come () {1}: scm:+
  120. The Royal Hounds: A Whole Lot of Nothin' () {1}: scm:+
  121. John Schneider: Truck On () {1}: scm:+
  122. H Self: Broken Live On () {1}: scm:+
  123. Red Shahan: Javelina () {1}: scm:+
  124. Amanda Shires: For Christmas (Silver Knife/Thirty Tigers) {1}: TL:56
  125. The Shootouts: Bullseye () {1}: scm:+
  126. Nick Shoulders: Home on the Rage () {1}: scm:+
  127. Nick Sizemore: Where the Lonesome Roam () {1}: scm:+
  128. Canaan Smith: High Country Sound () {1}: scm:+
  129. Storey Boys: Patterns () {1}: scm:+
  130. Swamptooth: B-Flat Earth () {1}: scm:+
  131. Travis Tritt: Set in Stone () {1}: scm:+
  132. Tylor and the Train Robbers: Non-Typical Find () {1}: scm:+
  133. Hailey Whitters: Living the Dream () {1}: scm:+
  134. Mose Wilson: Mose Wilson () {1}: scm:+
  135. Jon Wolfe: Dos Corazones () {1}: scm:+
  136. Charlie Worsham: Sugarcane (Warner Nashville) {1}: Bt:33