Welcome to the part of the year that without fail never feels like reality.
The booze, cookies, pasta, ham, roast beef, candy, pies, and chocolates are starting to catch up to us all, there’s just no way around it. Between my wife and mom’s cooking, I’ve been feasting for what feels like a month straight and am currently posted up on the couch, forcing my bloated fingers to type despite their unending protest to just kick back and let this hazy week between Christmas and New Years pass by in the same way it always does; slowly, slowly, then all at once.
I’m betting most people will use this time to scroll social media, see a few friends, or just lay low and catch up on shows or movies, but if you’re a country music fan and really want to set yourself up for a great 2025, here’s some of the coolest albums (according to me) of all-time that are well worth a listen.
This is not a “Best Of” list. I’m not adhering to any type of protocol, just simply listing a bunch of albums that have connected with me in some way over the past few years and bring something truly unique to the table. These albums are different in the best way, not just a good version of standard country music, but a version of country music that can really only be described as theirs, albeit with some credit.
Some will be popular, others potentially obscure, but I stand by them for the rest of my life as truly unique, interesting works of art that are very unlike most of the country music being made today.
In no particular order, here’s X albums to dive into during the post-Christmas, pre-New Year’s haze.
Paul Cauthen – Room 41
One Line: Quite literally I’ve never heard music like this.
Most Popular Song (on Spotify): “Cocaine Country Dancing”
My Favorite Song: “Freak”
Red Shahan – Javelina
One Line: Funky, western, deep, and funny can describe both Red Shahan and his music.
Most Popular Song: “Javelina”
My Favorite Song: “Mrs. Buy Me Something”
The Droptines – The Droptines
One Line: If Johnny Cash merged with Sturgill Simpson, grew up on Cross Canadian Ragweed and fronted Whiskey Myers, he would sound like The Droptines, but somehow, they may still be cooler…
Most Popular Song: “Bill Of Sale”
My Favorite Song: “Over”
Koe Wetzel – Harold Saul High
One Line: Yes, his other albums also rock, but this is Koe Wetzel
Most Popular Song: “Forever”
My Favorite Song: “Make Believe”
Maggie Antone – Rhinestoned
One Line: Emo meets rhinestone in a mid-twenties haze.
Most Popular Song: “Johnny Moonshine”
My Favorite Song: “Me & Jose Cuervo”
Sierra Ferrell – Long Time Coming
One Line: An earthly Appalachian Queen takes her throne.
Most Popular Song: “In Dreams”
My Favorite Song: “Bells Of Every Chapel”
Lowdown Drifters – Last Call For Dreamers
One Line: Rough and tumble’s never been so sentimental.
Most Popular Song: “Fire In Her Eyes”
My Favorite: “We Three Kings”
John R. Miller – Depreciated
One Line: A layman’s guide to used vans, boat engines, and metaphysical realities.
Most Popular Song: “Shenandoah Shakedown”
My Favorite: “Coming Down”
John Moreland – High On Tulsa Heat
One Line: A song’s not sad if you smile through the tears.
Most Popular Song: “You Don’t Care for Me Enough to Cry”
My Favorite Song: “Cherokee”
Treaty Oak Revival – No Vacancy
One Line: Sounds like a house party kitchen, feels an upstairs balcony
Most Popular Song: “Missed Call”
My Favorite Song: “Tattooed Roses”
Stephen Wilson Jr. – Son Of Dad
One Line: How does he get the guitar to sound like that because golly it vibrates my core
Most Popular Song: “Year to Be Young 1994”
My Favorite Song: “All the Wars from Now On”
Bishop Gunn – Natchez
One Line: Theo Von hasn’t given us a reason to doubt him yet…
Most Popular Song: “Alabama”
My Favorite Song: “Alabama”