The Best Country & Roots Albums of 2023 So Far

As we reach the halfway pole of the musical year, it’s time to reflect back on the best albums that have been released so far.
As we reach the halfway pole of the musical year, it’s time to reflect back on the best albums that have been released so far.
Amanda Fields, Drayton Farley, Marty Stuart, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Pony Bradshaw, Sundy Best, The Malpass Brothers, The War and Treaty, Ward Davis, Whitney Rose
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right now in country music.
Dierks Bentley, Hot Country Knights, Joe Stamm Band, Lainey Wilson, Marty Stuart, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Miles Miller, Tommy Prine, Ward Davis, Whitney Rose
“Rosie” marks perhaps Whitney Rose’s top contribution to traditional country music, and one that may go on to be considered one of the top releases in country music in 2023.
Dave Biller, Lisa Pankratz, Michael McKeown, Review, Rich Brotherton, Rosie, Warren Hood, Whitney Rose
Attention all you card carrying members of the country music community, by the power invested in me, I am officially declaring May 19th, 2023 an official country music holiday.
Ben Danaher, Brandi Carlisle, Brandy Clark, Chapel Hart, Jesse Dayton, Layng Martine Jr., Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Nicholas Jamerson, Samantha Fish, Sean McConnell, Ward Davis, Whitney Rose
‘Bad Romantic’ is the kind of country record you wished some of your favorite women of country would cut, but never do. It’s got that denim and bell-bottom 70’s honky tonk country vibe going on strong, unabashedly twangy and country, with a dash of funky energy and attitude.
Bonnie Montgomery, Brennen Leigh, Colter Wall, Matt Hillyer, Simon Flory, Summer Dean, Whitney Rose
One thing was clearly evident after traveling to Whitefish, Montana to experience the massive Under The Big Sky Festival with its incredible lineup and expansive grounds: the independent country and roots music we all enjoy has officially arrived. This is no longer a boutique subgenre.
Badger Hound, Billy Strings, Brothers Osborne, Charley Crockett, Colter Wall, Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris, Evan Felker, Hannah King, Hogslop String Band, Jade Bird, James Hand, Jason Isbell, Jesse Daniel, Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, Lilly Hiatt, Mary Meyer, Michelle Rivers, Nikki Lane, Orville Peck, Paul Cauthen, Ryan Bingham, The White Buffalo, Tyler Childers, Under The Big Sky Fest, Whitney Rose, Yellowstone
Helping to introduce Summer Dean to the world outside of the traditional country circles in Texas is Colter Wall, who has featured Summer as an opener for him before, and now does something that he’s never done before—both co-writing and dueting on a song with another artist.
Bonnie Montgomery, Brennen Leigh, Colter Wall, Robert Ellis, Simon Flory, Summer Dean, Whitney Rose
A honky tonk sweetheart and certified heartbreaker originally from Canada, for the second record in a row, Whitney Rose has eased off her original traditional country sound that pegged the honky tonk meter at “10” to add a little more old school rock ‘n roll flavor and fervor to her music.
Gurf Morlix, Paul Kolderie, Review, Rich Brotherton, We Still Go To Rodeos, Whitney Rose
When looking to assemble a draft class of strong and talented country music women to return some balance to the genre, you better not let your gaze shoot over the head of Canadian-born, and Austin-forged singer/songwriter Whitney Rose. They don’t just hand out residencies at Austin’s legendary Continental Club to anyone.
Brad Fordham, Gurf Morlix, Lisa Pankratz, Paul Kolderie, Rich Brotherton, We Still Go To Rodeos, Whitney Rose
Country music is also one of the few constants in a world of change. The onslaught of technology and the incursion of automation into our lives hasn’t made country music less relevant, it’s made it even more imperative. These are the themes and reminders you will find throughout the latest record from Noel McKay and Brennen Leigh.
Brennen Leigh, Charley Crockett, Drew Kennedy, Lee Ann Womack, McKay & Leigh, Noel McKay, Review, Sunny Sweeney, Whitney Rose
In 2019, an interesting new destination festival popped up just outside of Whitefish, Montana called Under The Big Sky. With acts such as Dwight Yoakam, Cody Jinks, Whitey Morgan, and Amanda Shires on the bill, it got the attention of true country fans, but the question was if it would be worth the trek.
20 Grand, Archertown, Badger Hound, Billy Strings, Brothers Osborne, Charley Crockett, Colter Wall, Corb Lund, Emmylou Harris, Jason Isbell, Johnny Shockey, Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, Lukas Nelson, Nick Spear, Snowghost, Swagar and Company, The Lil Smokies, Tyler Childers, Under The Big Sky Festival, Whitney Rose
What is “Ameripolitan”? It’s an effort to support artists and bands that are too country for country, and that carry a prominent roots music influence. The nominees for the 2020 Ameripolitan Award have been announced in 13 separate categories. One shakeup for the awards in 2020 is there will be no “Outlaw” categories.
Ameripolitan, Big Cedar Fever, Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys, Charley Crockett, Dale Watson, Dorris Mayday, Duane Eddy, Grace Adele, Jaime Wyatt, Jesse Daniel, Jimmy Dale Richardson, Justin Trevino, Kathryn Legendre, MIke and the Moonpies, Summer Dean, Tammi Savoy, Two Tons of Steel, Whitney Rose, Zephaniah OHora
Memphis, Tennessee was overrun this weekend with throwback hillbillies, Outlaw roughnecks, and Rockabilly Daddy-O’s/Susie Q’s as part of Dale Watson’s 6th Annual Ameripolitan shindig and awards show. The event culminated in the 6th Annual Ameripolitan Awards.
Ameripolitan Awards, Dale Watson, Jesse Daniel, Jim Heath, Larry Collins, MIke and the Moonpies, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Summer Dean, Tammi Savoy, The Reverend Horton Heat, Whitney Rose
The 6th Annual Ameripolitan Awards will be transpiring on Monday, February 25th, 2019, but with 50 acts playing over four total days involving six separate venues, it’s become like its own festival, with many opportunities to see your favorite performers with a prominent roots influence.
Ameripolitan, Big Sandy, Billy Matta, Brennen Leigh, Caroline Sills, Cheryl Desere'e, Cindy Walker, Dale Watson, Dallas Moore, Gary P. Nunn, James Hand, Jesse Daniel, Jim Heath, Larry Collins, Pat Reedy, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Roger Alan Wade, Rosie Flores, Roy Head, Sophia Johnson, Teri Joyce, The Reeves Brothers, Tommy Ash, Wayne 'The Train' Hancock, Whitney Rose, Zephaniah OHora
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Netflix has released the 5th Season of their hit original series The Ranch, and as per usual, the episodes are textured with lots of great songs from often overlooked and deserving country music artists, hand selected to help set the mood and theme of each scene.
Amanda Shires, Ashton Kutcher, BoDeans, Cactus Blossoms, Corb Lund, Dolly Parton, Dwight Yoakam, Eilen Jewell, Jeff Hahn, John Moreland, Mandi Collier, Merle Haggard, Ramsay Midwood, Sam Elliott, Sam Outlaw, The Ranch, Whitney Rose
The playlist is the most current and up-to-date resource of Saving Country Music’s top recommendations of songs, albums and artists. Jon Pardi has just released the song “She Ain’t In It” as the latest single from his album California Sunrise, and it leads the newest editions to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Streaming Playlist.
Ira Wolf, JD McPherson, Jon Pardi, Left Arm Tan, Whitney Rose
Whitney Rose’s “Rule 62″ (which by the way is “Don’t Take Yourself Too Damn Seriously”), is fun and fashionable in that throwback sort of way that’s the rage of independent roots circles at the moment, while also being bolstered by quality songwriting framed within a vintage era that still appeals to the modern perspective.
"Cousin" Kenny Vaughan, Chris Scruggs, Raul Malo, Review, Rule 62, The Mavericks, Whitney Rose
“Rule #62” which states, “Don’t Take Yourself Too Damn Seriously,” is something the Canadian-born and Austin-dwelling honky tonk throwback singer Whitney Rose steadfastly adheres to, and it’s also the theme behind her upcoming new album of the same name.
Aaron Till, Chris Scruggs, Kenny Vaughan, Niko Bolas, Paul Deakin, Raul Malo, Rule 62, Whitney Rose
The biggest takeaway from SXSW 2017 will be that for the first time since the very inception of the idea over 30 years ago, the annual music gathering experienced a palpable draw down in attendance and industry participation to a degree that it fundamentally changed many of the dynamics and rigors one must endure to attend.
A. Michael Uhlmann, Alice Wallace, All My Exes Live in Texas, Beth Lee and The Breakups, Billy Joe Shaver, Brennen Leigh, Brent Cobb, Brooklyn Country Cantina, Cale Tyson, Cary Baker, Croy and the Boys, Elle King, G&S Lounge, Giddy Ups, High Plaines Jamboree, Jenni Finlay, Jimmy Samon, John Conquest, Kelsey Waldon, Kem Watts, Leo Rondeau, Luck Reunion, Lukas Nelson, Lustre Pearl, Margo Price, Nate Boff, Noel McKay, Not SXSW, Parker Millsap, Paul Cauthen, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Sarah Shook, Shinyribs, Simon Flory, Spring Fling, Sunny Sweeney, SXSW, Teri Joyce, The Defibulators, The Wild Reeds, Threadgill's, Whitney Rose, Wide Open Country, Willie Nelson
Whitney Rose has relocated to Austin and can be regularly seen playing the famous haunts in the heart of Texas such as Austin’s Continental Club, and Luckenbach. Whitney Rose’s new EP ‘South Texas Suite’ finds her standing on her own two feet as producer, not just songwriter, and putting together what is tantamount to a love letter to her newfound home.
Austin, Earl Poole Ball, Luckenbach, Raul Malo, Redd Volkaert, South Texas Suite, The Mavericks, Whitney Rose
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Just what 2017 has in store for us in the country music department remains to be seen. But we do know about what to expect in the release department for at least the first quarter of the year, while rumors abound about the big projects that could come to light later in 2017. Here’s a run down of what we know, what we think we know, and what we would like to believe.
Aaron Watson, Ags Connolly, Alison Krauss, Casey James Prestwood, Charlie Worsham, Chris Knight, Chris Stapleton, Colter Wall, Curtis McMurtry, Dale Watson, Dan Auerbach, Dave Cobb, George Jones, Guy Clark, Holly Williams, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Jaime Wyatt, Jason Isbell, JB Beverley, Justin Townes Earle, Marty Stuart, MOderna Mal, Nikki Lane, Old Crow Medicine Show, Otis Gibbs, Phoebe Hunt, Ray Benson, Ray Scott, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Rhiannon Giddens, Robbie Fulks, Scott H. Biram, Shinyribs, Son Volt, Steve Earle, Sunny Sweeney, The Gibson Brothers, The Sadies, The Secret Sisters, Tift Merritt, Valerie June, Whitney Rose
I don’t know what they’re lacing the Canadian municipal water supplies with these days that allows the great frozen north to churn out authentic country and roots artists worthy of ears in bumper crop fashion, but they better import some of that concoction down here to the States post haste because Canada is kicking our ass in cool new country artists per capita.
Hank Williams, Heartbreaker of the Year, Raul Malo, Review, Tami Neilson, The Mavericks, Whitney Rose