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. Gillian Welch/David Rawlings: Woodland (Acony) {48}: BPM:45, Gl:++, IT:*, LBF:34, Mj:4*, NPR:+, O:*, P:22*, Pf:*, PM:33*, RC:*, RS:28*, Sl:31, TL:5, Tr:27, U:2*, WM:7, WX:8; am:*, bv_f:+, g_e:1, tr_f:+, xjdc:*, ybw:8 -- A:82/11, TH:***
  2. Johnny Blue Skies [aka Sturgill Simpson]: Passage Du Desir (High Top Mountain) {47}: AV:16, BPM:*, BV:18, CS:4, Fld:34, Gl:++, Mj:57*, NR:38, O:*, P:5*, Pf:*, PM:15, Rf:21, RS:24*, Sg:42, Sl:28*, Spk:*, TL:16, Tr:25, U:17*, Up:+; am:+*, bv_c:+, e:5, scm:*, sg_c:+ -- A:85/10, TH:**
  3. Kacey Musgraves: Deeper Well (MCA Nashville) {45}: Al:+*, BB:12, Ch:30, Cos:+, CS:8, D:*, G:26, HP:32, I:*, IT:*, LAT:20, MO:*, P:*, Pap:+, PM:*+, S:+++, Sp:*, Spk:*, T:*, TL:10, U:*, V:+; hpo:+, p:5, v_cw:10, vg:+, xwb:9, ysp:* -- A:77/23, MT:**, TH:A-
  4. Carly Pearce: Hummingbird (Big Machine) {32}: BB:+, DW:84, TL:9, XCL:**, XJS:5; am:*, js:5, xbw:+, xjc:8, xjd:6, xjdc:*, xsp:*, xtj:10, ysp:* -- A:80/1, MT:A-, RX:A, TH:***
  5. Zach Bryan: The Great American Bar Scene (Belting Bronco/Warner) {24}: Al:+, BB:24, BV:14, Ch:21, CS:42, Ne:*, Rf:35, RS:12*, TL:21, XCI:**; bv_c:+, ny_c:14, scm:*, xtw:10, xwb:+ -- A:72/6, MT:B+, TH:**
  6. Swamp Dogg: Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St (Oh Boy) {21}: DW:52, Mj:*, PM:*, PO:+, U:*, XCI:*, XJS:+; am:*, xhs:+, ysp:* -- A:81/5, MT:***, RX:A-, TH:***
  7. Sierra Ferrell: Trail of Flowers (Rounder) {20}: PM:25, RS:60, S:*, TL:2, V:+; am:*, bv_c:+, e:+, sg_c:+, v_cw:5, xco:5, ysp:* -- A:79/3, TH:***
  8. Willi Carlisle: Critterland (Signature Sounds) {18}: BPM:33, P:39, PM:*, Sg:48, Sl:12*, TL:37, XCI:**; bv_c:+, xjdc:*, xwv:1, ysp:* -- A:82/3, TH:**
  9. Willie Nelson: The Border (Legacy) {18}: AD:*, BB:+, Mj:*, MO:*, SC:*, U:33*, XCI:**; xeb:8, xjdc:* -- A:79/6, RX:***, TH:A-
  10. Corb Lund: El Viejo (New West) {17}: PO:1, XCI:*; sg_c:+, xem:4, xhs:5, xpb:7, xrt:++, ysp:* -- TH:***
  11. Chris Smither: All About the Bones (Signature Sounds) {16}: XCI:**, XJS:+; xde:3, xjdc:10*, ysp:* -- RX:A-, TH:A-
  12. Miranda Lambert: Postcards From Texas (Republic Nashville) {14}: AD:*, NME:*, TL:7, XCI:**, XJS:13; xjdc:* -- A:75/3, TH:A-
  13. Megan Moroney: Am I Okay? (Columbia Nashville) {13}: DW:17, RS:92, XJS:8; am:*, e:10, xjd:8, xme:8 -- A:73/3, TH:***
  14. Willie Nelson: Last Leaf on the Tree (Legacy) {13}: AD:*, Mj:*, T:*, TL:18, U:*; am:*, vrt:20, xrw:+ -- A:83/6, RX:**, TH:**
  15. Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore: TexiCali (Yep Roc) {12}: Mj:*, SC:*, U:74*; xrt:++, xjc:7, xjdc:* -- A:78/4, TH:A-
  16. Charley Crockett: $10 Cowboy (Son of Davy) {12}: AS:*, AV:19, Gl:+, RS:89, S:*, TL:32, XCI:*; am:+* -- A:83/4, TH:**
  17. Adeem the Artist: Anniversary (Four Quarters) {11}: PO:+, RS:79, SC:*+; am:*, bv_c:+, sg_c:+, xjdc:*, ysp:* -- A:77/4, TH:**
  18. John Moreland: Visitor (Old Omens/Thirty Tigers) {11}: AD:*, PM:*+, RC:*, TL:31, U:*; bv_c:+, ysp:* -- A:85/4, TH:***
  19. Morgan Wade: Obsessed (Ladylike/RCA Nashville) {11}: XCI:*, XJS:+; pi:13 -- RX:A-, TH:A-
  20. Jake Xerxes Fussell: When I'm Called (Fat Possum) {10}: Mj:*, Pf:*, SC:*, Sg:31, U:28*; am:+*, n_ap:13, xjdc:* -- A:81/6
  21. Lainey Wilson: Whirlwind (BBR) {10}: BB:36, RS:47*, XCI:*, YW:22; am:*, atw:+ -- A:75/3, TH:***
  22. Merce Lemon: Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild (Darling) {9}: BPM:*, fld:32, GB:29, LBF:41, NR:35, P:41*, UR:*; ybw:9 -- A:80/5
  23. The Mavericks: Moon & Stars (Mono Mundo) {9}: BB:+, TL:4; am:* -- A:80/1, TH:***
  24. Katie Pruitt: Mantras (Rounder) {9}: HV:+, XCI:**; ysp:* -- MT:***, TH:**
  25. Post Malone: F-1 Trillion (Mercury/Republic) {8}: BB:17, Ch:9, I:*, XCI:*, T:* -- A:67/11
  26. Shaboozey: Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going (Republic/Empire) {8}: BB:20, RS:55*, Up:+, XCI:* -- A:79/2, TH:*
  27. Sarah Shook & the Disarmers: Revelations (Abeyance) {8}: AS:*, LW:76, P:+*; am:*, xjdc:* -- A:79/4, TH:**
  28. Billy Strings: Highway Prayers (Reprise) {8}: Gl:++, Mj:*, RS:*, SC:*, TL:14; am:* -- A:80/5
  29. Kelsea Ballerini: Patterns (Black River) {7}: Ch:1; atw:+, p:9 -- A:70/1
  30. Melissa Carper: Borned in Ya (Mae Music) {7}: Gl:++; scm:* -- TH:A-
  31. Jeff Evans Porkestra: Willow Pillow (self-releaed -EP) {7}: -- RX:A-, TH:***
  32. Dwight Yoakam: Brighter Days (Thirty Tigers) {6}: IT:*; am:+*, xeb:5, xpb:+ -- A:77/3
  33. Ernest: Nashville, Tennessee () {5}: BB:+, LAT:5
  34. Mickey Guyton: House on Fire (Capitol Nashville) {5}: TL:22, XCI:**; xjdc:* -- TH:*
  35. Lizzie No: Halfsies () {5}: AD:*, Mg:18, SC:*; sg_c:+ -- A:85/2
  36. Orville Peck: Stampede (Warner) {5}: FO:*, O:*, SC:*; sg_c:+, xrt:+ -- A:73/8
  37. Secret Sisters: Mind, Man, Medicine (New West) {5}: TL:20 -- TH:***
  38. Zach Top: Cold Beer & Country Music (Leo33) {5}: TL:36; am:*, ny_c:7 -- A:80/1, TH:**
  39. Kelsey Waldon: There's Always a Song (Oh Boy) {5}: PM:*+ -- A:80/1, TH:***
  40. Kelly Willis/Melissa Carper/Brennen Leigh: Wonder Women of Country (Brooklyn Basement -EP) {5}: TL:29, XCI:*; ysp:* -- TH:**
  41. Hayes Carll/Band of Heathens: Hayes & the Heathens (BOH) {4}: xwv:6 -- TH:***
  42. Charley Crockett: $10 Cowboy Chapter II: Visions of Dallas (Son of Davy) {4}: scm:* -- TH:***
  43. Claudia Gibson: The Fields of Chazy (self-released) {4}: -- RX:**, TH:**
  44. The Gringo Pistoleros: The Rise and . . . Subsequent Fall of the Texas Alien (self-released) {4}: -- RX:**, TH:**
  45. Outfit [Daniel Romano]: Too Hot to Sleep (You've Changed) {4}: Sp:*; am:+*, ysp:* -- A:90/2
  46. Red Clay Strays: Made by These Moments (RCA) {4}: Ex:*, Mj:*, RS:63; scm:* -- A:74/5
  47. Brittney Spencer: My Stupid Life (Elektra) {4}: RS:*+, SSt:+, TL:23 -- A:75/2
  48. Billy Strings: Live: Vol. 1 () {4}: Up_h:7; am:* -- A:79/2
  49. Twisters: The Album (Atlantic) {4}: BB:22, DW:48 -- MT:**
  50. Brown Horse: Reservoir (Loose Music) {3}: Mj:*, U:39* -- A:85/2
  51. The Castellows: A Little Goes a Long Way (Warner Music Nashville -EP) {3}: XCI:* -- TH:**
  52. George Dearborne: Lotta Honky Tonkin' Left in Me (Wingate) {3}: scm:* -- TH:**
  53. Lola Kirke: Country Curious (One Riot -EP) {3}: xjdc:*, ysp:* -- TH:*
  54. Gurf Morlix: In Love at Zero Degrees (Rootball) {3}: xjdc:* -- TH:**
  55. Connie Smith: Love, Prison, Wisdom and Heartaches (Fat Possum) {3}: ysp:* -- TH:**
  56. The Dead South: Chains & Stakes (Six Shooter/DevilDuck) {2}: AD:*, XSN:* -- A:80/3
  57. The Deslondes: Roll It Out (New West) {2}: WM:32; sg_c:+
  58. Hataalii: Waiting for a Sign (Dangerbird) {2}: FO:21* -- A:90/1
  59. Jason Isbell: Live From the Ryman Vol. 2 (Southeastern) {2}: XCI:**
  60. Sarah Jarosz: Polaroid Lovers (Rounder) {2}: PM:79, U:* -- A:73/3
  61. Jelly Roll: Beautifully Broken (Stoney Creek/Republic) {2}: BB:41, I:* -- A:69/5
  62. Karen Jonas: The Rise and Fall of American Kitsch (self-released) {2}: scm:* -- TH:*
  63. Ella Langley: Hungover (Sawgod/Columbia) {2}: ny_c:4
  64. Sam Outlaw: Terra Cotta (Black Hills) {2}: XCI:* -- TH:*
  65. 49 Winchester: Leavin' This Holler () {1}: scm:*
  66. Jeremie Albino: Out Timein the Sun (Easy Eye Sound) {1}: Gl:+
  67. American Aquarium: The Fear of Standing Still () {1}: scm:*
  68. Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams: All This Time (Royal Potato Family) {1}: ysp:*
  69. Matt Castillo: Pushing Borders () {1}: scm:*
  70. Jeff Crosby: Another Petal Falls Off of the Rose () {1}: scm:*
  71. Alejandro Escovedo: Echo Dancing (Yep Roc) {1}: ysp:*
  72. Jim Lauderdale: My Favorite Place (Sky Crunch) {1}: ysp:*
  73. Cassandra Lewis: Lost in a Dream (Elektra) {1}: xpb:9
  74. Scotty McCreery: Rise & Fall (Triple Tigers) {1}: BB:+
  75. Medium Build: Country (Island) {1}: atw:+
  76. Nicolette & the Nobodies: The Long Way () {1}: Ex:21
  77. Charlie Parr: Little Sun (Smithsonian Folkways) {1}: Gl:+
  78. Leslie Stevens: Leslie Stevens (Lyricland) {1}: HV:+
  79. Alice Wallace: Here I Am () {1}: scm:*
  80. Lauren Watkins: The Heartbroken Record (Big Loud/Songs & Daughters/Mercury/Republic) {1}: sg_c:+
  81. Jesse Welles: Hells Welles () {1}: scm:*
  82. Koe Wetzel: 9 Lives (Columbia) {1}: RS:96 -- A:60/1