Newest Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#137)
2024 is shaping up to be a bumper crop year for incredible country songs, and ones coming from a wide array of performers in a myriad of different approaches to the country genre. Keeping your ear to the ground has become even more imperative as tracks churn through this playlist faster than they ever have before.
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming formats (see below), or you can just use the song, artist, and album recommendations to find something new to listen to. New songs just added.
Newest Additions:
Pat Reedy – “Make It Back Home” – Pat Reedy is the kind of cool and real every other country artist wishes they could be. A traveling musician and a blue collar hero, he puts his real life experiences into songs that speak to us all, underscored by the super compelling melody of the title track from his brand new album.
ERNEST feat. Lukas Nelson – “Why Dallas” – It continues to be harder and harder to call Ernest a poser just because he’s one of Morgan Wallen’s primary songwriters. As he proves with “Why Dallas,” his pivot to traditional country—and in this case, Western Swing—is no phase. Throw Lukas Nelson in the mix and “Why Dallas” is a winner. New album Nashville, Tennessee out April 12th.
Taylor Hunnicutt – “Alabama Sound” – Taylor Hunnicutt is already one of the fastest-rising performers on the live circuit, burning down stages with her Southern rock band and blowing people away with her howitzer of a voice. The title track to her new album captures that heavy, gritty, greasy sound.
Kimmi Bitter – “Vagabond Blues” – Kimmi Bitter just keeps on churning out songs that give you chills in how transportive they are to a better time in music and life. This one is autobiographical in how she’s become a vagabond to spread her vintage sound. New album Old School is out March 29th.
Cody Jinks – “What You Love” – It’s still early, but here in March, Cody Jinks might be the leader in the clubhouse for Song of the Year with this fine specimen of songwriting with an assist from Tennessee Jet. Bolstered by piano and a lush string arrangement, this is a full-hearted, full-throated effort by Jinks to convey what he’s learned through persevering through adversity and rising to the top.
Sierra Ferrell – “Chittlin’ Cookin’ Time in Cheatham County” – With the first new addition to the playlist from Sierra Ferrell, we find her capturing the whimsy that makes her live show so magical with this old-time tune originally written by Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith. It’s from Ferrell’s new album Trail of Flowers out now.
Sierra Ferrell – “Wish You Well” – Ferrell shows off her songwriting brilliance in a song that conveys the truth that the easiest path to overcoming heartbreak is not revenge, avoidance, distraction, or even time, but forgiveness. It’s the poetic and compelling ways Ferrell conveys this fact that makes you actually listen and heed this adage as opposed to just hear it.
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The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist primarily lives on Spotify, but is also available for those who use Amazon Music, YouTube, Apple Music, and Tidal. For those who don’t stream music, you can still find the song recommendations in list form below.
CLICK HERE to follow Saving Country Music on Spotify, and/or follow the Spotify Top 25 Playlist.
Please Note: The songs on this playlist are curated for listening pleasure and flow. Otherwise, they are not in any specific order.
Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist:
- “Make It Back Home” – Pat Reedy – Make It Back Home
- “Vagabond Blues” – Kimmi Bitter – Old School (3/29)
- “Use Me” – Zach Top – Cold Beer & Country Music (4/5)
- “The Deep End” – Blaine Bailey – Home
- “$10 Cowboy” – Charley Crockett – $10 Cowboy (4/16)
- “Chittlin’ Cookin’ Time in Cheatham County” – Sierra Ferrell – Trail of Flowers
- “Single Threat” – Chad Greene with Anna Nalick – The Iceman Cometh
- “Why Dallas” – ERNEST feat. Lukas Nelson – NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (4/12)
- “What You Love” – Cody Jinks – Change The Game
- “Young, Wild & Free” – Ellis Bullard – Honky Tonk Ain’t Noise Pollution
- “Alabama Sound” – Taylor Hunnicutt – Alabama Sound
- “Cecilia” – Conrad Fisher – (single)
- “Fly Ya To Hawaii” – Wonder Women of Country – Willis, Carper, Leigh
- “Waitin’ on the World to End” – Addison Johnson – Dangerous Men
- “Blue Over You” – Mason Ramsey – (single)
- “I Know It’ll Never End” – The Castellows – A Little Goes A Long Way EP
- “Bandwagon” – Larry Peninsula – (single)
- “The Only One” – Rachel Brooke – (single)
- “First Snow” – Colby T. Helms – Tales of Misfortune
- “Two-Faced” – Stephanie Lambring – Hypocrite (4/19)
- “Redneck Rehab” – Corb Lund – El Viejo
- “Never Love Again” – Sentimental Family Band – Sweethearts Only (3/29)
- “Nothing But A Shadow” – The HawtThorns – Zero Gravity (4/5)
- “Don’t Mind If I Do” – Blackberry Smoke – Be Right Here
- “Old School” – Kimmi Bitter – Old School (3/29)
- “Not Letting Go” – William Michael Morgan – (single)
- “Right Back To It” – Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood (3/24)
- “Wish You Well” – Sierra Ferrell – Trail of Flowers
Harris
March 26, 2024 @ 10:12 am
Was gonna comment on my surprise at no Wish You Well when I saw it was the second one. Two songs from one album added at once a big trigger endorsement! Well deserved I’m loving the album and so thrilled I got tickets this weekend to see her in Charlotte. Same weekend I’m seeing Daniel Donato in Charleston gonna be a great live music weekend. Not sure I can bring myself to give ERNEST a chance though
Coat
March 26, 2024 @ 10:46 am
Endured part of an Ernest set at the Greenville Country Music Festival a couple of years ago. Terrible would be understating how bad it was.
Trigger
March 26, 2024 @ 11:15 am
Has anyone actually listened to this Ernest track, or are we just giving our opinion based off a name? I wouldn’t be surprised if a live show from him a few years ago was bad, but recently he’s clearly made a dramatic shift to very traditional country.
Coat
March 28, 2024 @ 6:20 am
“ recently he’s clearly made a dramatic shift to very traditional country”
https://youtu.be/IAGAnA-Ue1M?si=tlZA74Fn3aLrHCB-
https://youtu.be/ftVtl5Sb_rk?si=6kwru3dd_4sbqtId
Are we talking about the same person?
Trigger
March 28, 2024 @ 2:03 pm
I have never seen Ernest live, am not recommending anyone see him live, and am not promoting his tour dates. Had a lot of folks reach out about his new songs being super country after the deluxe edition of his latest album clearly showed a significant change in direction. All I am endorsing here is his song with Lukas Nelson. If it’s not your speed, I understand.
Coat
March 28, 2024 @ 4:20 pm
Thanks for the reply. Seeing Pony Bradshaw for the first time next Thursday, and I’m super excited for that show. Appreciate you for exposing him to me on this very fine blog.
Brian
March 26, 2024 @ 12:59 pm
I was there too. I think he was sandwiched between Charles Wesley Godwin and Zach Bryan. I was trying to keep an open mind because “Flower Shops” had recently come out and I liked it, but he really sucked!
I listened to the song. It’s fine. I really like Lukas Nelson, but don’t really like Western Swing. Definitely not bro country.
Re: Pat Reedy…he’s awesome, but haven’t these singles been out for a long time? I was very excited to see “new album” but I feel like I’ve heard a lot of these.
Tom
March 27, 2024 @ 7:06 pm
Ernest definitely did not suck. I was also at the same festival. I’ve seen Ernest live a whole bunch of times and he’s been great every time.
JT
April 4, 2024 @ 4:01 pm
Hey Brian! The pandemic put his album on hold for several years and he decided to self release this year – some of the singles had been recorded by Western AF or had videos made intended to accompany original release plans. I hope you give the full album a go, there are some good ones on it.
Tom
March 27, 2024 @ 7:04 pm
I was at that exact same festival, and Ernest was fantastic
George
March 26, 2024 @ 4:01 pm
really pumped for Kimmis record this Friday. Can’t come soon enough
Cyrus Waugh
March 26, 2024 @ 10:12 am
Can we expect a deeper well review? Love your negative album reviews.
Trigger
March 26, 2024 @ 10:14 am
I’m sure I will have a “Deeper Well” review at some point. There is a lot going on right now. Thanks for the interest.
PeterT
March 26, 2024 @ 10:27 am
Not worth your time. Its the definition of the term ‘mid’. Its the ‘Dave Matthews’ of female singer songwriter countryish albums.
Much better to highlight the excellent Waxahatchee album
JB
March 26, 2024 @ 10:49 am
Re Dave Matthew’s Band
I was once at a bar in Brooklyn and overheard a conversation about a creative project two people were working on that was going to be very country and Appalachian inspired.
I asked them about it and they said it was going to sound like the Dave Matthews Band.
Awkward.
PeterT
March 26, 2024 @ 11:03 am
For the avoidance of doubt, I don’t envoke DMB to say she sounds like him. But, for me, DMB represents archetypical inoffensive averageness (to the point where it is offensive) .
DB
March 26, 2024 @ 3:43 pm
I’d rather you review Lance Rogers new album. It’s pretty darn good. Surprised you haven’t reviewed yet but there’s tons of good stuff out there.
Greg M
March 26, 2024 @ 11:23 am
I hope you might consider a review of Hunnicut’s album in the near future. I saw a lot of people recommend it and it really is a great album.
JB
March 26, 2024 @ 11:43 am
Really digging Wonder Women of Country. I think Kelly Willis’ “Easy” album is about as perfect as a country album can get (not saying “best”, just perfect) and looking forward to becoming more familiar with Carper and Leigh.
Also, Trig, I promise if it doesn’t make the upcoming playlists I won’t bring this up again, but Ashley Monroe’s cover of Fred Eaglesmith’s “I Love Trains” comes out Friday 🙂 (not only do I think it sounds good from what I’ve heard, but also it sounds like something that could make its way onto a tv show or miniseries, which as a fan of both Monroe and Eaglesmith would be welcome).
Dennis
March 26, 2024 @ 1:38 pm
Kimmi Bitter keeps on churning out great tunes. Caught her band on this recent tour through Texas and am super impressed!
JB-Chicago
March 26, 2024 @ 3:50 pm
You know what Trig, thanks for making me go listen to that Ernest song I like it. I know we all don’t wanna deal with the fact that, for better or worse, he’s a very versatile writer, and, Joey Moi did a great job on it. I absolutely love Sierra Ferrell’s Wish You Well, one of my favorites on the album, as well as Taylor Hunnicutt’s entire record.
I’m not going to sit here and pretend to be a know it all, and unlike Zach and Casey, I don’t remember everything. So when Megan put up that her and The Wheelers were opening for Pat Reedy on April 11, I only vaguely remembered the name, and you saying he influenced Luke Bell etc…..I had to go back and listen to the old, and be ready for the new which I’ve been spinnin since Friday. Make It Back Home sounds great, as does the whole thing! They’re a good pairing, and The Lawrence Peters Outfit is on the bill as well. A lot of Steel that evening!!
Kimmi said she’d sign a CD for me so I ordered that, and looking forward to hearing it Friday as well. Saw an interview she did a couple weeks ago where she sang Vagabond Blues and her voice blew me away!!!
Euro South
March 26, 2024 @ 5:21 pm
I hear shades of Brandi Carlile on “Wish You Well” (as well as on “American Dreaming”). I find that, somewhat unexpectedly, they suit Sierra well.
Michael
March 26, 2024 @ 9:23 pm
On a positive note, I watched Shane Smith and The Saints debut at the Opry tonight and I won’t lie I shed a tear. Three songs, The Greys Between, All the Way and All I See Is You. I think they made some new fans tonight.
A band I first saw play in a restaurant patio 7 years ago has been on Yellowstone, sold out the Ryman and Redrocks and now an Opry debut.
Couldn’t happen to a nice group of people who genuinely seem thankful to everyone who comes to a show and give all out effort for all of their shows. Incredibly proud of them.
Stringbuzz
March 26, 2024 @ 10:38 pm
Ellis Bullard has really put out an enjoyable album. Keep him on the playlist. I see Sarah shook as a future add. Her song’s released so far are dynamite
Tom
March 27, 2024 @ 1:35 am
…true, the stream of remarkable songs keeps continuing. some of my multiple clicks at the moment seem to be:
emily nenni – changes
cody johnson – dirt cheap
catie offerman – barely a two lane road
wyatt flores – wish i could stay
brittney spencer – desperate
cody jinks – sober thing
kelsey waldon and s.g. goodman – hello stranger
sierra ferrell – money train
lainey wilson – wildflowers and wild horses
kaitlin butts – how lucky am i
priscilla block – good on you
Jeff R
March 27, 2024 @ 5:34 am
Trig–,some great adds, have enjoyed listening!
Hope the next adds, you might consider Few Mile’s South’s brand new song just released “Hey Jo”.
https://youtu.be/Nv9Fs1hKQ00?si=AXy5HDML6It87-wf
Me Me
March 28, 2024 @ 7:26 pm
I knew years ago when I started watching Sierra on Gems that she was going to be big, but not the type of big that she would be on CBS mornings.