Metacritic/EOY Aggregate: 2025 New Music: Country/Americana/Folk

Notes

For information on what lists are consulted, and what the various abbreviations and notes mean, click here.

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Sub-Lists

Some breakdowns by genre:

Ranking

  1. Tyler Childers: Snipe Hunter (Hickman Holler/RCA) {72}: BB:26, BS:10, BV_48, EWi:1, GTV:33, I:9, Ne:19*, P:*, PO:1*, RS:7*, Sl:6*, TL:1, Tr:36, U:*, UR:*, XCI:**, XJD:9; am:*, am_c:+, asp:+, e:+, pi:1, scm:+, sg_c:1, sl:+, usw:+, vew:+, vu:5, xjdc:*, xpb:+ -- A:83/9, RX:A, TH:A-
  2. Jason Isbell: Foxes in the Snow (Southeastern) {46}: AD:*, Al:50, BB:+, BS:13, BV:+, DW:*, EWi:50, Ex:*, Mj:33*+, NT:*, P:*, PM:*+, RT:8, SC:*, Sl:25*, Spk:*, TL:5, TN:*, Tr:29, U:20*, WX:7; am:*, scm:+* -- A:81/14, RX:A-, TH:A-
  3. Margo Price: Hard Headed Woman (Loma Vista) {46}: Al:34, BB:35, BV:49, Cl:*, DW:**, EWi:14, Mj:50*, PM:*, RC:*, Sp:*, TL:5, Tr:32, U:43*, XC:I:**; am:+*, am_c:+, scm:++*, sg_c:2, so_d:17, so_k:24, vew:+, xjdc:* -- A:80/12, RX:A, TH:A-
  4. The Delines: Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom (Decor) {37}: DW:**+, EWi:9, GTV:38, LW:69, Mj:*, PO:2*, RC:*, RT:83, ST:++, U:38*, XCI:**; xde:2, xdr:1, xjdc:* -- A:83/3, RX:A, TH:A-
  5. S.G. Goodman: Planting by the Signs (Slough Water/Thirty Tigers) {30}: BS:6, BV:52, Fld:21, Gl:++, LBF:30, Mj:*, P:*, Pf:*, PM:*, RC:*, Sp:*, StL:*, TL:14, U:12*, Up_sh:18; vgb:7, xjdc:* -- A:83/9, RX:A-, TH:**
  6. James McMurtry: The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy (New West) {25}: CM:+, EWi:25, Gl:++, Mj:*, PM:*, SC:*, TL:13, U:*, XCI:**; pi:7, scm:++*, xjdc:* -- A:82/5, RX:A-, TH:A-
  7. Florry: Sounds Like . . . (Dear Life) {16}: BV:14, Gl:++, P:15*, Pf:*, Sl:37, Up_sh:3, UR:*, WX:24; pi:10 -- A:83/3
  8. Alison Krauss & Union Station: Arcadia (Down the Road) {16}: AD:*, Mj:*+, MO:*, O:*, PM:*+, TL:18, U:*, UR:*; am:*, am_c:+, scm:+ -- A:81/10, TH:**
  9. Ken Pomeroy: Cruel Joke (Rounder) {16}: BS:2; npr_ap:2, scm:+*, sg_c:5, sl:+, vew:+ -- TH:***
  10. Hayes Carll: We're Only Human (Hwy 87) {15}: ClR:*, EWi:+, Gl:*, Mj:*, XCI:**; scm:+* -- RX:***, TH:A-
  11. Hayden Pedigo: I'll Be Waving as You Drive Away (Mexican Summer) {15}: Cl:*, Ni:28, NR:14, NT:*, P:23*, Pf:38*, SC:*, U:*, UR:26; am:+*, am_c:+ -- A:80/9
  12. Jubal Lee Young: Squirrels (Reconstruction) {15}: DW:**, SpL:**, XCI:**; xjdc:* -- RX:A-, TH:A-
  13. Willi Carlisle: Winged Victory (Signature Sounds) {14}: CM:+, DW:**, EWi:48, TL:11; xjdc:* -- RX:A-, TH:***
  14. Kathleen Edwards: Billionaire (Dualtone) {13}: Al:48, PO:*, TL:20, WX:9; am:+*, am_c:+, xjdc:* -- A:75/4, TH:**
  15. Hailey Whitters: Corn Queen (Big Loud/Pigasus) {13}: DW:**, EWi:35, PM:*, XCI:**; scm:+*, xjdc:* -- TH:A-
  16. Charley Crockett: Dollar a Day (Lone Star Rider/Island) {12}: RS:40, TL:12; scm:++* -- RX:B+, TH:***
  17. Fust: Big Ugly (Dear Life) {12}: Alt:47, BPM:*, NT:*, P:13*, Sl:43, Up_sh:8, UR:* -- A:88/3, TH:*
  18. Willie Nelson: Oh What a Beautiful World (Legacy) {12}: BB:*, Mj:*, Sp:*; scm:+, xjdc:* -- A:83/3, RX:***, TH:A-
  19. Eric Church: Evangeline vs. the Machine (UMG Nashville) {10}: BB:50, HV:+, RS:26*; am:+*, am_c:+, sg_c:4 -- A:76/4, TH:*
  20. Rodney Crowell: Airline Highway (New West) {10}: AAJ:*, Mj:*, PM:*, TL:15, U:*; xjdc:* -- A:76/5, TH:***
  21. Friendship: Caveman Wakes Up (Merge) {10}: BV:24, Sg:5, Sp:*, Up_sh:7; am:* -- A:76/4
  22. Zach Top: Ain't in It for My Health (Leo33) {10}: BB:47, LAT:23, Up_sh:17; scm:+*, wp:9, xjdc:* -- A:71/3, TH:**
  23. Molly Tuttle: So Long Little Miss Sunshine (Nonesuch) {10}: Mj:*, PM:*, TL:16, U:*, XCI:*; am:*, am_c:+ -- A:75/6, TH:**
  24. Carter Faith: Cherry Valley (MCA Nashville) {9}: RS:18; scm:+*, sg_c:3, xjdc:* -- TH:**
  25. Gurf Morlix: Bristlecone (Rootball) {9}: PO:* -- RX:A-, TH:A-
  26. Helene Cronin: Maybe New Mexico (self-released) {8}: -- RX:A-, TH:A-
  27. Jeff Evans Porkestra: When Pigs Dance (self-relesed -EP) {8}: XCI:** -- RX:A-, TH:**
  28. Lilly Hiatt: orever (New West) {8}: Mj:*, PM:*+, Sl:*, U:*; am:*, am_c:+ -- A:78/5, TH:*
  29. Brennen Leigh: Don't You Ever Give Up on Love (Signature Sounds) {8}: XCI:*; scm:++* -- TH:A-
  30. Sam Stoane: Tales of the Dark West (Cloverdale) {8}: scm:++* -- TH:A-
  31. Sunny Sweeney: Rhinestone Requiem (Aunt Daddy) {8}: scm:2*, xjdc:* -- TH:A-
  32. Morgan Wade: The Party Is Over (Recovered) (Ladylike/Sony) {8}: AS:*, PO:*, XCI:**; xjdc:* -- A:70/2, TH:***
  33. The War and Treaty: Plus One (Mercury/UMG Nashville) {8}: PO:*, TL:9; am:*, am_c:+, scm:+* -- A:90/1, TH:B-
  34. From the Dirt: Colored Edge of Memory (Partial Lyrics) {7}: -- RX:A-, TH:***
  35. Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson: What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow (Nonesuch) {7}: AD:*, U:39; am:*, am_c:+ -- A:90/2, TH:***
  36. Lola Kirke: Trailblazer (One Riot) {7}: FO:*, Mj:*, RS:+; scm:+ -- A:77/3, TH:***
  37. Maren Morris: Dreamsicle (Columbia) {7}: BB:+; am:*, am_p:+, xpb:10 -- A:76/4, TH:***
  38. Willie Nelson: Workin' Man: Willie Sings Merle (Legacy) {7}: Mj:*; scm:+* -- A:80/3, TH:A-
  39. Cam Pierce: A Thousand Lonely Horses (self-released) {7}: scm:++* -- TH:A-
  40. Turnpike Troubadours: The Price of Admission (Bossier City) {7}: am:*, am_c:+, scm:1* -- A:80/1, TH:*
  41. Kelsey Waldon: Every Ghost (Oh Boy) {7}: RS:70; scm:++* -- TH:***
  42. Morgan Wallen: I'm the Problem (Big Loud/Republic/Mercury) {7}: BB:39, LAT:4; n_ap:9, ny_c:13 -- A:53/6
  43. Sunny War: Armageddon in a Summer Dress (New West) {7}: LBF:*, LW:24, Mj:*, RC:*; sg_c:3 -- A:75/6, TH:*
  44. Charley Crockett: Lonesome Drifter (Lone Star Rider/Island) {6}: BB:+, RS:+; scm:+* -- A:72/3, TH:**
  45. The Devil Makes Three: Spirits (New West) {6}: PM:*+, UR:*; scm:+* -- A:80/2, TH:*
  46. Chandler Dozier: Bakersfield East (self-released -EP) {6}: scm:++* -- TH:***
  47. Olivia Ellen Lloyd: Do It Myself (self-released) {6}: scm:++* -- TH:***
  48. Parker McCollum: Parker McCollum (MCA Nashville) {6}: LAT:8; am:*, am_c:+, scm:+ -- A:80/1
  49. Carson McHone: Pentimento (Merge) {6}: Mj:*, Sp:*, U:57*; am:*, am_s:+ -- A:83/4
  50. Cleo Reed: Cuntry (self-released) {6}: Pf:46, Sg:48, Sl:26; npr_ap:3 -- A:79/1, TH:*
  51. Willow Avalon: Southern Belle Raisin' Hell (Assemble Sound/Atlantic) {5}: Em:*, PM:*+ -- A:78/2, TH:**
  52. Jesse Daniel: Son of the San Lorenzo (Lightning Rod) {5}: scm:++* -- TH:**
  53. Nicholas Jamerson: The Narrow Way (Clover) {5}: scm:++* -- TH:**
  54. Jess Jocoy: Cul-de-Sac Kid (self-released) {5}: scm:++* -- TH:**
  55. Colin Miller: Losin' (Mtn Laurel) {5}: Alt;24, P:*+, PM:*+ -- A:88/2
  56. Elizabeth Nichols: Tough Love (Pulse -EP) {5}: SpL:**; xjdc:* -- TH:**
  57. Rose City Band: Sol Y Sombra (Thrill Jockey) {5}: Mj:*, Sg:+, TN:*, U:*; am:* -- A:80/4
  58. Kalie Shorr: My Type (Pound It Out Loud -EP) {5}: XCI:** -- TH:***
  59. Ringo Starr: Look Up (Roccabella/Lost Highway) {5}: Cl:*, RC:*, Sp:*; am:*, am_c:+ -- A:71/14
  60. Tobacco City: Horses (Scissor Tail Editions) {5}: Mj:*, P:42, Sp:*, Spk:*, U:* -- A:83/5
  61. Colter Wall: Memories and Empties (La Honda) {5}: scm:3* -- TH:**
  62. The Castellows: Homecoming (Warner Music Nashville -EP) {4}: scm:+* -- TH:**
  63. Matt Daniel: The Poet (self-released) {4}: scm:+* -- TH:**
  64. Chris Eckman: The Land We Knew the Best (Glitterhouse) {4}: Mj:*, Spk:*, U:26* -- A:79/4
  65. Patty Griffin: Crown of Roses (PGM/Thirty Tigers) {4}: Mj;*, U:*; am:*, am_c:+ -- A:80/4
  66. Joshua Hedley: All Hat (New West) {4}: scm:+* -- TH:**
  67. Leon Majcen: Making a Livin' (Not a Killin') (Cloverdale) {4}: scm:+*, sg_c:4 --
  68. Juliet McConkey: Southern Front (Soggy Anvil) {4}: scm:++* -- TH:*
  69. Gurf Morlix: A Taste of Ashes (Rootball) {4}: -- XG:**, TH:**
  70. The Third Mind: Right Now! (Yep Roc) {4}: PO:* -- TH:***
  71. Ross Thorn: Ross Thorn Tries Fitting In (Casa De Copas) {4}: -- RX:*, TH:***
  72. Cole Chaney: In the Shadow of the Mountain () {3}: scm:++* --
  73. Grey DeLisle & Friends: It's All Her Fault: A Tribute to Cindy Walker (Brooklyn Basement) {3}: scm:+ -- TH:**
  74. Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country: Horizons () {3}: scm:++* --
  75. Myron Elkins: Nostalgia for Sale () {3}: scm:++* --
  76. Joe Ely: Love & Freedom (Rack 'Em) {3}: -- TH:***
  77. Cody Jinks: In My Blood (Late August) {3}: scm:+* -- TH:*
  78. The Marcus King Band: Darling Blue () {3}: scm:++* --
  79. Jesse Lovelock: & the Velvet Voices () {3}: scm:++* --
  80. Ashley Monroe: Tennessee Lightning (Mountainrose Sparrow) {3}: EWi:+, PM:* -- A:80/1, TH:*
  81. Sam Moss: Swimming (self-released) {3}: PM:*, S:+, Sp:* -- A:76/3
  82. Ty Myers: The Select (Columbia) {3}: am:*, am_c:+, scm:+ -- A:80/1
  83. Tami Neilson: Neon Cowgirl () {3}: scm:++* --
  84. Lukas Nelson: American Romance () {3}: scm:++* --
  85. Case Oats: Last Missouri Exit (Merge) {3}: P:*, RT:97, U:* -- A:73/4
  86. Odeal: The Fall That Saved Us (Ovmbr/Lvrn -EP) {3}: -- A:60/1
  87. Jake Owen: Dreams to Dream (Good Company) {3}: scm:+ -- TH:**
  88. Lance Roark: Bad Reputation () {3}: scm:++* --
  89. Nick Shoulders: Refugia Blues (Gar Hole) {3}: scm:+ -- TH:**
  90. Joe Stamm Band: Little Crosses () {3}: scm:++* --
  91. The Third Mind: Live Mind (Yep Roc) {3}: TN:* -- TH:**
  92. Joshua Ray Walker: Tropicana (Thirty Tigers) {3}: PM:*; scm:+* -- A:80/1
  93. Jake Worthington: When I Write the Song () {3}: scm:++* --
  94. Trisha Yearwood: The Mirror () {3}: am:*, am_c:+, scm:+ --
  95. Colby Acuff: Enjoy the Ride () {2}: scm:+* --
  96. The AMs: Here Comes That Broken Heart () {2}: scm:+* --
  97. Blaine Bailey: Indian Country () {2}: scm:+* --
  98. Hayden Baker: Alive & Well () {2}: scm:+* --
  99. William Beckmann: Whiskey Lies & Allibis () {2}: scm:+* --
  100. Jack Blocker: The Land on Most High () {2}: scm:+* --
  101. Jason Boland & the Stragglers: The Last Kings of Babylon () {2}: scm:+* --
  102. Kane Brown: The High Road (RCA Nashville) {2}: am:*, am_c:+ -- A:80/1
  103. Caitlin Cannon: Love Addict (self-released) {2}: scm:+* --
  104. Mackenzie Carpenter: Hey Country Queen (Big Machine) {2}: xjdc:* -- TH:*
  105. Chaparelle: Western Pleasure () {2}: scm:+* --
  106. Cat Clyde: Live at Rare Bird Farm: A Benefit Album for Western North Carolina (Socan Canada) {2}: -- TH:**
  107. Country Honk: Bad Decision () {2}: scm:+* --
  108. Beau Edmondson: The the End () {2}: scm:+* --
  109. Robbie Fulks: Now Then (Compass) {2}: am:*, am_c:+ -- A:80/1, TH:B
  110. Vince Gill: 50 Years From Home () {2}: scm:+* --
  111. Charles Wesley Godwin: Lonely Mountain Town () {2}: scm:+* --
  112. Wesley Hanna: Magnolia () {2}: scm:+* --
  113. Kat Hasty: Time of Your Life (Jackie Java/Thirty Tigers) {2}: scm:+* --
  114. Tyler Hatley/Justin Clyde Williams: The Dick and Tammy Show () {2}: scm:+* --
  115. Weldon Henson: Stone Cold Country Gold () {2}: scm:+* --
  116. Haley Heynderickx/Max García Conover: What of Our Nature (Fat Possum) {2}: am:*, am_c:+ --
  117. Pug Johnson: El Cabron () {2}: scm:+* --
  118. Kathryn Legendre: Here's Your Honky Tonk () {2}: scm:+* --
  119. Dan Lepien: The Honky Tonk Traditional () {2}: scm:+* --
  120. Tony Logue: Dark Horse (Jenny Ridge Productions) {2}: scm:+* --
  121. Pitney Meyer: Cherokee Pioneer () {2}: scm:+* --
  122. Drake Milligan: Tumbleweed () {2}: scm:+* --
  123. Miss Tess: Cher Rêve () {2}: scm:+* --
  124. The Moran Tripp Band: Jumpers Hole () {2}: scm:+* --
  125. Kristina Murray: Little Blue () {2}: scm:+* --
  126. Muscadine Bloodline: And What Was Left Behind (Stancaster/Thirty Tigers) {2}: sg_c:5 --
  127. Brad Paisley: Snow Globe Town () {2}: scm:+* --
  128. Christopher Seymore: King of Nothing () {2}: scm:+* --
  129. Shinglers: Hit the Head () {2}: scm:+* --
  130. Sister Sadie: All Will Be Well () {2}: scm:+* --
  131. Slow Motion Cowboys: Wolf of St. Elmo () {2}: -- U:75*
  132. Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter: Forever, I've Been Being Born () {2}: am:*, am_c:+ --
  133. Mason Via: Mason Via () {2}: scm:+* --
  134. Josh Ward: Same Ol' Cowboy, Different Rodeo () {2}: scm:+* --
  135. Chasen Wayne: Corpus () {2}: scm:+* --
  136. Justin Wells: Cynthiana () {2}: scm:+* --
  137. Dee White: Heart Talkin' () {2}: scm:+* --
  138. The Wilder Blue: Still in the Runnin' () {2}: scm:+* --
  139. Big City Brian Wright: Sky Trucker () {2}: scm:+* --
  140. Kelsea Ballerini: Mount Pleasant (Black River -EP) {1}: Ch:24 --
  141. Melissa Carper: A Very Carper Christmas () {1}: scm:+ --
  142. Brent Cobb: Ain't Rocked in a While () {1}: scm:+ --
  143. The Doohickeys: All Hat No Cattle () {1}: scm:+ --
  144. Waylon Hanel: When Waylon Came to Nashville () {1}: scm:+ --
  145. Bryce Leatherwood: Bryce Leatherwood () {1}: scm:+ --
  146. Minor Gold: Way to the Sun () {1}: DJ:27 --
  147. Whitey Morgan and the 78's: Live From Bandit Town USA () {1}: scm:+ --
  148. Oldstar: Of the Highway () {1}: P:+ --
  149. Paige Plaisance: Louisiana Lonely () {1}: scm:* --
  150. Makenzie Rae & Buckshot Moon: Lonesome and Free () {1}: scm:+ --
  151. Juliana Riolino: Echo in the Dust () {1}: Ex:46 -- A:70/1
  152. Role Model: Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye) (Interscope) {1}: cos:+ --
  153. The Soda Crackers: The Soda Crackers () {1}: scm:+ --
  154. Steel Saddle: Steel Saddle () {1}: scm:* --
  155. Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives: Space Junk (Snakefarm) {1}: scm:+ --
  156. Tennessee Jet: Ranchero () {1}: scm:+ --
  157. Wynn Williams: Country Therapy () {1}: scm:+ --
  158. Bailey Zimmerman: Different Night Same Rodeo () {1}: xjdc:* --