Music Tracking 2026: Country

These are 2026 releases that I've taken note of, listed alphabetically by artist, with VA comps at the bottom. My grades, where available, are in brackets at the end of the line (stars in B+ range). Lines in blue indicate that I have a physical copy (albeit sometimes just a promo CDR); in green are records that I graded based on a Rhapsody stream or other such source. Most records have release dates and a brief generic note.

Unheard records are prioritized 0-3 (graded records are 4-5). The priotization is based subjectively on personal interests, reviews I've noticed, reviewers I particularly respect, what I know about the artists, etc. Roughly speaking: 0 is something I have no reason to consider (default page omits 0); 1 has been noted as having some cred somewhere; 2 is something I have some specific reason to search out; 3 is something I'll listen to ASAP.

Option selectors:

• Include priority 0, exclude rated.
• Just priority 2+, exclude rated.
• Rated only.
• Unrated only.
• Default (priority 1+ and rated).

Genre switches (selection not implemented yet):

• Blues
• Classical
• Country
• Electronica
• Hip-Hop
• Jazz
• Metal
• All

New Releases

• Courtney Marie Andrews: Valentine (Loose Future) [01-16] - country [*]
• Elles Bailey: Can't Take My Story Away (Cooking Vinyl) [01-16] - Americana [**]
• Zach Bryan: With Heaven on Top (Belting Bronco/Warner) [01-09] - country [A-]
• Garret T. Capps: I Still Love San Antone (Nudie) [03-10] - country [***]
• Mikaela Davis: Graceland Way (Kill Rock Stars) [04-24] - Americana [*]
• Florence Dore: Hold the Spark (Propeller) [05-15] - country [A-]
• Riley Downing: Landfill Poetry (Oh Boy) - country
• Candace Hastings: Soft Place to Land (self-released) [06-18] - bluegrass
• Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds: Mutiny After Midnight (High Top Mountain/Atlantic) [03-13] - alt-country
• Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves: Bury Deep My Heart (Carrier) [07-27] - country
• Ella Langley: Dandelion (Sawgod/Columbia) [04-10] - country [***]
• Ashley McBryde: Wild (Warner Nashville) [05-08] - country [A-]
• Michaela Anne: These Are the Days (Georgia June) [05-08] - country [**]
• Ashley Monroe: Dear Nashville (Mountainrose Sparrow) [03-27] - country [*]
• Gurf Morlix: Cobwebs & Stardust (Rootball) [04-07] - country [**]
• Megan Moroney: Cloud 9 (Columbia Nashville) [02-20] - country [***]
• Kacey Musgraves: Middle of Nowhere (Lost Highway) [05-01] - country [***]
• Willie Nelson: Dream Chaser (Legacy) [05-29] - country [***]
• Margo Price: Days of Unrest () - country
• ERR: stream no grade: Rebecca Rafla: Fundamentally Unfinished
• Emily Scott Robinson: Appalachia (Oh Boy) [01-30] - country
• Sad Daddy: Ozark Shine (Catfish Music/Free Dirt) [06-26] - country [**]
• Sky Smeed: Live at the Rock House (self-released) [04-03] - Americana [A-]
• David G Smith: Hero Street (Hey Dave) [06-26] - Americana

Reissues, Etc.

• ERR: grade bad priority: : Dick Spottswood & Tompkins Square Present . . . 1925 Songs

Priority Counts

• Priority 1: 1
• Priority 2: 6
• Priority 3: 0
• Priority 4: 16
• Priority 5: 0

Total: 23