A tentative ranking of Country California’s best country albums of January through June 2013, ordered roughly from top to bottom but not numbered because I am a quivering pool of indecision.
Kacey Musgraves – Same Trailer, Different Park
Slaid Cleaves – Still Fighting the War
Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis – Cheater’s Game
The Steeldrivers – Hammer Down
Alan Jackson – Precious Memories, Volume II
Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell – Old Yellow Moon
The Dallas Moore Band – Blessed Be the Bad Ones
Besides the inevitable shifting around of existing entries, there will be many new albums contending for list space in the second half of 2013. A few major Best of 2013 contenders up ahead:
- Brandy Clark and Chris Stapleton albums, whenever they’re officially out
- Guy Clark – My Favorite Picture of You (July 23)
- Vince Gill & Paul Franklin – Bakersfield (July 30)
- Mike Stinson – Hell and Half of Georgia (July 30)
- Robbie Fulks – Gone Away Backward (August 27)
- Brennen Leigh & Noel McKay – Before the World Was Made (September)
- Darrell Scott & Tim O’Brien – Memories & Moments (September 17)
- Jason Eady – Daylight & Dark (October 29)
Prime Cuts: May 2012
Ain’t Dead Yet: 21 Albums That Kept Traditional Country Music Alive in 2012
The Stellas Are Indie-Cool, Mainstream-Friendly
Country California’s Best of 2011 Lists
jason says
no arguments here.
ccdixon says
Great choices. Really happy to see Chris King on the list and glad he’s gotten so much love for this album.
Could AJ make the list twice with his upcoming bluegrass album?
I’m also looking forward to hearing new music from Will Hoge and Lincoln Durham.
Hoge – Never Give In on October 15
Durham – Exodus of the Deemed Unrighteous on October 22
Leeann Ward says
I’ll have to check some of these out. I do love the Monroe, Musgraves, Rimes, Harris/Crowell, Willis/Robison, Williams, Pistol Annies, and SteelDrivers albums. I also enjoy the Mavericks, Patty Griffin, and Kim Richie albums. I love Presious Memories and like second Precious Memories album, but I don’t know if it’ll make it on my final year list. I don’t think it’s as good as the first one for some reason.
Ken Morton, Jr. says
Our tastes are eerily similar. 9 of my 15 top albums match yours. (10 if you consider I included the magical Brandy Clark album early.) Must be something in the Northern California water that imparts good taste…
TX Music Jim says
I’m thrilled to see Chris Wall’s El WEstern Motel on the list. It is a wonderful project. Chris is criminally over looked and underrated.
Brad says
Not sure how Sturgill Simpson has been left off this list. One of the best country albums in the last 10 years in my opinion.
Jeremy says
I will 2nd this !
Ben says
Thank you for taking the time to make this list, C.M. I’m trying very hard to catch up on my 2013 albums so that I can hopefully have a better and more well-rounded Best Of list when that time comes. I’m enjoying going through the list and checking out the albums that I haven’t already heard.
Most of the albums on my working list are on here. Right now the only one I could think to add is the new Mavericks set.
Trailer says
I would also add Sturgill Simpson’s High Top Mountain to this list, but otherwise, excellent choices!
Jonathan Pappalardo says
Wonderful list, CM. Five of these are on my personal list, as well. I’m going to go ahead and add the Vince Gill/Paul Franklin album as one of the top releases this year – I’m not usually excited about covers albums but the sense of imagination they put into selecting the Buck and Merle tracks they recorded elevates the project to a higher level. I appreciate how they aren’t just covering known hits. The musicianship, as well as Vince’s vocals, are top notch. It likely won’t be my favorite release this year (why couldn’t they go a step further and evoke the style through newly written tracks?) but it’s darn good.
Looks like I need to check out the Jason Isbell album. Between it’s placement on many of these mid-year lists and that lengthy feature in the NY Times magazine, do I really need to be hit upside the head to get the message?
Felipe says
Great list, but I’d put Lori McKenna’s Massachusetts on there too!
Renegade in Louisville says
Glad to see that Dallas Moore is FINALLY getting some reconition that they deserve, If you haven’t had a chance yet to hear them in person, then either order his newest CD “Blessed be the Bad Ones”, or go to his website dallasmoore.com and check out one of the hottest groups around, you won’t regret it, I promise !!
ann knouse says
the dallas moore band is a awesome outlaw country band listen to there music you wont be disappointed or better yet check out one of there shows one of my favorite bands from ohio
Annie says
Great list. I need to check out the Slaid Cleeves record.
Derrick says
Thanks for this list, as always. Some of them I have already been enjoying lately. And most of them are available on my Premium Spotify account for sampling.
Anyone found anything new besides the ones mentioned here?
“What are you Listening to?” by Stapleton ought to be a hit single on the radio. Did it get any play?