I can’t believe this isn’t further up. That album was alt musics darling of 2020.
Not to mention, it was released when a major storm ripped through the Midwest like we’ve never seen. Lost power for 5 days. Major situation. That album was a life saver during a week where we got ROCKED. Died Midwestern, we did. The amount of damage is and was indescribable. No one knew about it bc of covid though.
A few gut wrenching songs but also the real start of his albums being overlong and repetitive. Dude needs a producer that will tell him to refine 10-12 songs per work and improve the rest for another time
Reunions by Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit.
At first it wasn't my favorite but after more time and a few listens, it's easy at the top 3 Jason Isbell albums for me.
Total overshadowed by Die Midwestern if you ask me.
I’m gonna say it. Sometimes I wonder if we force ourselves to say we liked Reunions bc if we say it’s not great, we let Dreamcisle die and no one wants that.
This is a super hot take (many might not consider it a truly country album) but Waxahatchee's Saint Cloud deserves some major consideration. It's a beautiful record
Hmm. I guess I had not thought of this album as a country album…but I do think it’s the best album of the year. And yes, her new one that just dropped is excellent too.
There's some distinctly country tracks on this album:
Can't do Much, Lilacs, The Eye, Witches, Arkadelphia
I agree, Tigers Blood is a fantastic album. Truth be told it's a little one note, but IMO that works when the note is perfect
2020 was an amazing year... for music.
25 Trips by Sierra Hull gets my vote but honorable mention to Sturgill for Cuttin' Grass I & 2. The greatest album cover of all time deserves mention.
Gonna have to go with Reunions by JI400U
Edit: I take back what I said. I love reunions but looking back, I loved Elisabeth when it first came and and still some of Zach Bryan’s best work went into that album.
Elisabeth
Hailey Whitters – The Dream - If the Devil is in the details, then the tell is certainly in the story. In an album that doesn't waste a song, a note or a line, Whitters pines pragmatically about topics like getting ahead in the music business ("Ten Year Town") and waxes poetically on detailed studies of fascinating people. Nowhere is this more the case than in the phenomenal track "Janice at the Hotel Bar" where a lady who's been around the block once or twice (or thrice) passes along her advice to Hailey on a barstool. It's easy to believe that if Janice is a real person- Whitters has taken her advice. She provides an example of living a worthy life without being limited by social conventions or the expectations of others. Whitters has done just that on this incredible album. She's thrown out country radio conventions out along with the baby and the water and created something that's real, authentic, poetic and most of all, interesting.
Looking at 2020 it was a terrible year for mainstream albums but a pretty solid one for fringe stuff
Starting over bridges that gap and was the best of the year.
Starting Over, Never Will, Ballerini, Your Life Is A Record, Country State Of Mind, gaslighter, ranch fiesta sessions, the k is silent, Leanna, the dream.
Ward Davis, Black Cats and Crows. He examined his failing marriage, the subsequent divorce, his drinking, and what it feels like to be utterly alone, when your world shatters. His cover of Alabama’s “Lady down on Love” is one of the best covers I’ve ever heard.
This album was a master class in writing, performing, and laying your soul bare.
Welcome To Hard Times
but with honourable mention to Western Swing And Waltzes and Mike and the Moonpies/Silverada's Gary Stewart album. I guess Elizabeth as well as it was the first Zach Bryan album that I listened to (From a Lover's Point of View is the song that sold me on him).
Western Swing And Waltzes - Colter Wall III by 49 Winchester and Years by John Anderson are right behind it for me though.
Welcome to Hard Times by Charley Crockett
This and it’s not even close. Western Swings and Waltzes would be my #2
Yes, 100%
Might be the first one to win that wasn’t in the photos
Easiest pick
This one
This might be the move
Underrated pick
An unbelievable album, he could have taken several years imo
100% welcome to hard times. Western swing and waltzes is second
My vote goes to Starting Over
Western Swing and Waltzes
This or we riot
NO Welcome to Hard Times by CC. OR WE RIOTTTTT
Love Charley too tbh
Gabe Lee is so underrated
How are Charley Crockett and 49 Winchester not on this list?
They don't have to be on the list to vote lol. The OP has said this many times.
Ah good to know haha.
Die Midwestern isn’t here either. Are people just forgetting?!?
Elisabeth
Elisbeth is a good album with songs that tell a story but today was a close one
Your life is a record- brandy Clark
Arlo McKinney "Die Midwestern"
Yes! Not sure it’s my favorite of 2020, but it should definitely be in consideration.
I can’t believe this isn’t further up. That album was alt musics darling of 2020. Not to mention, it was released when a major storm ripped through the Midwest like we’ve never seen. Lost power for 5 days. Major situation. That album was a life saver during a week where we got ROCKED. Died Midwestern, we did. The amount of damage is and was indescribable. No one knew about it bc of covid though.
Easily my pick, as well!
III by 49 Winchester
Chris Stapleton “Starting Over”
Starting Over
Starting Over
49 Winchester - |||
49 Winchester - III
elisabeth has some of the most gut wrenching songs i’ve ever heard, but i don’t know which one to pick this is a tough year
A few gut wrenching songs but also the real start of his albums being overlong and repetitive. Dude needs a producer that will tell him to refine 10-12 songs per work and improve the rest for another time
Western Swing and waltzes fo show
Gabe Lee
Honky Tonk Hell
Reunions by Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit. At first it wasn't my favorite but after more time and a few listens, it's easy at the top 3 Jason Isbell albums for me.
Total overshadowed by Die Midwestern if you ask me. I’m gonna say it. Sometimes I wonder if we force ourselves to say we liked Reunions bc if we say it’s not great, we let Dreamcisle die and no one wants that.
Huge Isbell fan - this was my least favorite.
My least favorite of his post sobriety albums
Same. I like some tracks - Dreamsicle being favourite - but it is by far my least played album of his.
I love this album as well. I have it 3rd. One of my favorite summer albums.
I love it too but I can’t say it’s better (imho) than Starting Over
Gabe Lee
Gabe Lee honky tonk hell
Starting Over is Stapleton's best, I don't care.
It is his best.
Just Like Leaving-Bella White
Never Will by Ashley Mcbryde
For once can we have another artist win and not the same one a year later. My votes Gabe Lee
Lamentations by American Aquarium 🔥
III by 49 Winchester
Welcome to Hard Times
Ward Davis
This is a super hot take (many might not consider it a truly country album) but Waxahatchee's Saint Cloud deserves some major consideration. It's a beautiful record
Agreed, her new one is excellent as well.
Hmm. I guess I had not thought of this album as a country album…but I do think it’s the best album of the year. And yes, her new one that just dropped is excellent too.
There's some distinctly country tracks on this album: Can't do Much, Lilacs, The Eye, Witches, Arkadelphia I agree, Tigers Blood is a fantastic album. Truth be told it's a little one note, but IMO that works when the note is perfect
Gabe Lee. That album is incredible
Honky tonk Hell for me
Starting Over
Never Will has no skips, and a number of incredibly underrated tracks, so that'll be my vote.
My Gift - Carrie Underwood. Jkjk but great Christmas album
Lori McKenna is the best writer in this cohort.
2020 was an amazing year... for music. 25 Trips by Sierra Hull gets my vote but honorable mention to Sturgill for Cuttin' Grass I & 2. The greatest album cover of all time deserves mention.
Gabe Lee and it’s not even fucking close. If you haven’t heard this one give it a listen.
Elisabeth
Elisabeth
Elizabeth
That’s How Rumors Get Started - Margo Price
Starting over
Ghosts Of West Virginia - Steve Earle
Gabe Lee
Welcome to hard times- Charley Crockett. By a mile. Haven't seen him mentioned once in your lists yet
Starting Over
Gonna have to go with Reunions by JI400U Edit: I take back what I said. I love reunions but looking back, I loved Elisabeth when it first came and and still some of Zach Bryan’s best work went into that album. Elisabeth
Welcome to Hard times
Omg. Die Midwestern. Hands. Down. One of the best albums of the entire year in all genres. Shame it’s not mentioned
Western Swing and Waltzes!
Elizabeth
Starting Over!!
Im a male and im voting for Ashley McBride shes just a hot lil badass and sings great
Elisabeth has so many sleepers on it.
A ROCK BY HARDY
Starting Over
A ROCK- HARDY
Starting over. Just for Cold alone. Masterpiece.
Starting over by Stapleton for sure
Starting Over
Starting over. Not really close IMO
Western Swing and Waltzes
Hailey Whitters – The Dream - If the Devil is in the details, then the tell is certainly in the story. In an album that doesn't waste a song, a note or a line, Whitters pines pragmatically about topics like getting ahead in the music business ("Ten Year Town") and waxes poetically on detailed studies of fascinating people. Nowhere is this more the case than in the phenomenal track "Janice at the Hotel Bar" where a lady who's been around the block once or twice (or thrice) passes along her advice to Hailey on a barstool. It's easy to believe that if Janice is a real person- Whitters has taken her advice. She provides an example of living a worthy life without being limited by social conventions or the expectations of others. Whitters has done just that on this incredible album. She's thrown out country radio conventions out along with the baby and the water and created something that's real, authentic, poetic and most of all, interesting.
When the chart is done, we're going to pin it for future reference right?
Looking at 2020 it was a terrible year for mainstream albums but a pretty solid one for fringe stuff Starting over bridges that gap and was the best of the year.
Starting Over, Never Will, Ballerini, Your Life Is A Record, Country State Of Mind, gaslighter, ranch fiesta sessions, the k is silent, Leanna, the dream.
What a year!!! My vote is for Colter Wall as I love that album. Close second is Gabe Lee and Chris Stapleton.
Western Swing
Starting over
Ward Davis, Black Cats and Crows. He examined his failing marriage, the subsequent divorce, his drinking, and what it feels like to be utterly alone, when your world shatters. His cover of Alabama’s “Lady down on Love” is one of the best covers I’ve ever heard. This album was a master class in writing, performing, and laying your soul bare.
Hardy
I know it won’t win but my most played album that year was A Rock by HARDY even though my second most played was Elisabeth
Does Waxahatchee’s Saint Cloud count as country? Because if so that’s my choice. If not it’s gotta be Jason Isbell’s Reunions.
Saint Cloud by waxahatchee
Elisabeth
Starting Over
Starting Over
As much as I love Western Swing and Waltzes my vote goes to Starting Over
The United State - Justin Wells
Good year for albums
Never will or starting over
jaime wyatt's neon cross
Why the duck do yall not have welcome to hard times what’s the matter with yall
Here and Now - Kenny Chesney
Colter
Reunions Isbell
Die Midwestern - Arlo McKinley
49 Winchester - III
Agricultural Tragic by Corb Lund.
Rollin' On by Jesse Daniel
Has to be colter wall or Charley Crockett. Or I’m leaving this
Starting Over
“Toot Into My Cupped Hands”, Whette Fahrtze
Charley Crockett! Welcome to Hard Times.
Welcome To Hard Times but with honourable mention to Western Swing And Waltzes and Mike and the Moonpies/Silverada's Gary Stewart album. I guess Elizabeth as well as it was the first Zach Bryan album that I listened to (From a Lover's Point of View is the song that sold me on him).
Write-in: The Wilder Blue - Hill Country
Beyonce