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.

For reissues and compilations, click here.

Sub-Lists

Some breakdowns by genre:

Ranking

  1. Jason Isbell: Foxes in the Snow (Southeastern) {26}: AD:*, BB:+, BV:+, Ex:*, Mj:*+, NT:*, P:*, PM:*+, SC:*, Sl:*+, Spk:*, TN:*, U:*; am:*, scm:* -- A:81/14, RX:A-, TH:A-
  2. Margo Price: Hard Headed Woman (Loma Vista) {22}: Cl:*, DW:**, MJ:*, PM:*, Sp:*, U:*, XC:I:**; xjdc:* -- A:82/6, RX:A, TH:A-
  3. The Delines: Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom (Decor) {21}: DW:**+, Mj:*, PO:*, RC:*, ST:++, U:*, XCI:**; xjdc:* -- A:83/3, RX:A, TH:A-
  4. Tyler Childers: Snipe Hunter (Hickman Holler/RCA) {19}: Ne:*, P:*, PO:*, RS:*, Sl:*, U:*, XCI:**; am:*, xjdc:* -- A:83/8, RX:A, TH:A-
  5. James McMurtry: The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy (New West) {17}: CM:+, Mj:*, PM:*, SC:*, U:*, XCI:**; scm:*, xjdc:* -- A:82/5, RX:A-, TH:A-
  6. S.G. Goodman: Planting by the Signs (Slough Water/Thirty Tigers) {15}: Mj:*, P:*, Pf:*, PM:*, RC:*, Sp:*, StL:*, U:*, Up_sh:+ -- A:83/9, RX:A-, TH:**
  7. Hayes Carll: We're Only Human (Hwy 87) {13}: ClR:*, Gl:*, Mj:*, XCI:**; scm:* -- RX:***, TH:A-
  8. Alison Krauss & Union Station: Arcadia (Down the Road) {12}: AD:*, Mj:*+, MO:*, O:*, PM:*+, U:*, UR:*; am:* -- A:81/10, TH:**
  9. Willi Carlisle: Winged Victory (Signature Sounds) {11}: DW:**, CM:+; xjdc:* -- RX:A-, TH:***
  10. Willie Nelson: Oh What a Beautiful World (Legacy) {11}: BB:*, Mj:*, Sp:*; xjdc:* -- A:83/3, RX:***, TH:A-
  11. Jubal Lee Young: Squirrels (Reconstruction) {11}: SpL:**, xjdc:* -- RX:A-, TH:A-
  12. Hailey Whitters: Corn Queen (Big Loud/Pigasus) {9}: PM:*, XCI:**; scm:*, xjdc:* -- TH:A-
  13. Helene Cronin: Maybe New Mexico (self-released) {8}: -- RX:A-, TH:A-
  14. Rodney Crowell: Airline Highway (New West) {8}: AAJ:*, Mj:*, PM:*, U:*; xjdc:* -- A:76/5, TH:***
  15. Jeff Evans Porkestra: When Pigs Dance (self-relesed -EP) {8}: XCI:** -- RX:A-, TH:**
  16. Alex G: Headlights (RCA) {8}: -- Cl:*, G:*, NME:*, NT:*, Pf:*, RS:*, Sk:*, Sl:*
  17. Morgan Wade: The Party Is Over (Recovered) (Ladylike/Sony) {8}: AS:*, PO:*, XCI:**; xjdc:* -- A:70/2, TH:***
  18. Charley Crockett: Dollar a Day (Lone Star Rider/Island) {7}: scm:* -- RX:B+, TH:***
  19. Florry: Sounds Like . . . (Dear Life) {7}: BV:+, P:*+, Pf:*, Sl:+, Up_sh:+, UR:* -- A:83/3
  20. From the Dirt: Colored Edge of Memory (Partial Lyrics) {7}: -- RX:A-, TH:***
  21. Molly Tuttle: So Long Little Miss Sunshine (Nonesuch) {7}: Mj:*, PM:*, U:*, XCI:*; am:* -- A:75/6, TH:**
  22. Eric Church: Evangeline vs. the Machine (UMG Nashville) {6}: BB:+, HV:+, RS:*+; am:* -- A:76/4, TH:*
  23. Fust: Big Ugly (Dear Life) {6}: NT:*, P:*+, Sl:+, Up_sh:+, UR:* -- A:88/3
  24. Lilly Hiatt: Forever (New West) {6}: Mj:*, PM:*+, Sl:*, U:* -- A:78/5, TH:*
  25. Lola Kirke: Trailblazer (One Riot) {6}: FO:*, Mj:*, RS:+ -- A:77/3, TH:***
  26. Sunny Sweeney: Rhinestone Requiem (Aunt Daddy) {6}: scm:*, xjdc:* -- TH:A-
  27. Willow Avalon: Southern Belle Raisin' Hell (Assemble Sound/Atlantic) {5}: Em:*, PM:*+ -- A:78/2, TH:**
  28. Charley Crockett: Lonesome Drifter (Lone Star Rider/Island) {5}: BB:+, RS:+; scm:* -- A:72/3, TH:**
  29. The Devil Makes Three: Spirits (New West) {5}: PM:*+, UR:*; scm:* -- A:80/2, TH:*
  30. Friendship: Caveman Wakes Up (Merge) {5}: BV:+, Sg:+, Sp:*, Up_sh:+; am:* -- A:76/4
  31. Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson: What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow (Nonesuch) {5}: AD:*; am:* -- A:90/2, TH:***
  32. Cam Pierce: A Thousand Lonely Horses (self-released) {5}: scm:* -- TH:A-
  33. Cam Pierce: A Thousand Lonely Horses (self-released) {5}: scm:* -- TH:A-
  34. Rose City Band: Sol Y Sombra (Thrill Jockey) {5}: Mj:*, Sg:+, TN:*, U:*; am:* -- A:80/4
  35. Kalie Shorr: My Type (Pound It Out Loud -EP) {5}: XCI:** -- TH:***
  36. Sam Stoane: Tales of the Dark West (Cloverdale) {5}: -- TH:A-
  37. Kathleen Edwards: Billionaire (Dualtone) {4}: am:*, xjdc:* -- A:75/4, TH:**
  38. Olivia Ellen Lloyd: Do It Myself (self-released) {4}: scm:* -- TH:***
  39. Carson McHone: Pentimento (Merge) {4}: Mj:*, Sp:*, U:*; am:* -- A:83/4
  40. Colin Miller: Losin' (Mtn Laurel) {4}: P:*+, PM:*+ -- A:88/2
  41. Gurf Morlix: A Taste of Ashes (Rootball) {4}: -- XG:**, TH:**
  42. Ken Pomeroy: Cruel Joke (Rounder) {4}: -- TH:***
  43. Ringo Starr: Look Up (Roccabella/Lost Highway) {4}: Cl:*, RC:*, Sp:*; am:* -- A:71/14
  44. The Third Mind: Right Now! (Yep Roc) {4}: PO:* -- TH:***
  45. Ross Thorn: Ross Thorn Tries Fitting In (Casa De Copas) {4}: -- RX:*, TH:***
  46. Tobacco City: Horses (Scissor Tail Editions) {4}: Mj:*, Sp:*, Spk:*, U:* -- A:83/5
  47. Kelsey Waldon: Every Ghost (Oh Boy) {4}: scm:* -- TH:***
  48. Sunny War: Armageddon in a Summer Dress (New West) {4}: LBF:*, Mj:*, RC:* -- A:75/6, TH:*
  49. Jesse Daniel: Son of the San Lorenzo (Lightning Rod) {3}: scm:* -- TH:**
  50. Matt Daniel: The Poet (self-released) {3}: scm:* -- TH:**
  51. Chris Eckman: The Land We Knew the Best (Glitterhouse) {3}: Mj:*, Spk:*, U:* -- A:79/4
  52. Joe Ely: Love & Freedom (Rack 'Em) {3}: -- TH:***
  53. Carter Faith: Cherry Valley (MCA Nashville) {3}: scm:* -- TH:**
  54. Patty Griffin: Crown of Roses (PGM/Thirty Tigers) {3}: Mj;*, U:*; am:* -- A:80/4
  55. Sam Moss: Swimming (self-released) {3}: PM:*, S:+, Sp:* -- A:76/3
  56. Elizabeth Nichols: Tough Love (Pulse -EP) {3}: xjdc:* -- TH:**
  57. The Third Mind: Live Mind (Yep Roc) {3}: TN:* -- TH:**
  58. Zach Top: Ain't in It for My Health (Leo33) {3}: xjdc:* -- A:70/1, TH:**
  59. Turnpike Troubadours: The Price of Admission (Bossier City) {3}: am:*, scm:* -- A:80/1, TH:*
  60. The War and Treaty: Plus One (Mercury/UMG Nashville) {3}: PO:*; am:*, scm:* -- A:90/1, TH:B-
  61. Mackenzie Carpenter: Hey Country Queen (Big Machine) {2}: xjdc:* -- TH:*
  62. Grey DeLisle & Friends: It's All Her Fault: A Tribute to Cindy Walker (Brooklyn Basement) {2}: -- TH:**
  63. Cody Jinks: In My Blood (Late August) {2}: scm:* -- TH:*
  64. Juliet McConkey: Southern Front (Soggy Anvil) {2}: scm:* -- TH:*
  65. Ashley Monroe: Tennessee Lightning (Mountainrose Sparrow) {2}: PM:* -- A:80/1, TH:*
  66. Maren Morris: Dreamsicle (Columbia) {2}: BB:+; am:* -- A:76/4
  67. Nick Shoulders: Refugia Blues (Gar Hole) {2}: -- TH:**
  68. Joshua Ray Walker: Tropicana (Thirty Tigers) {2}: PM:*; scm:* -- A:80/1
  69. Jason Boland & the Stragglers: The Last Kings of Babylon () {1}: scm:*
  70. Kane Brown: The High Road (RCA Nashville) {1}: am:* -- A:80/1
  71. Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country: Horizons () {1}: scm:*
  72. Beau Edmondson: The the End () {1}: scm:*
  73. Myron Elkins: Nostalgia for Sale () {1}: scm:*
  74. Robbie Fulks: Now Then (Compass) {1}: am:* -- A:80/1, TH:B
  75. Charles Wesley Godwin: Lonely Mountain Town () {1}: scm:*
  76. Tyler Hatley/Justin Clyde Williams: The Dick and Tammy Show () {1}: scm:*
  77. Kathryn Legendre: Here's Your Honky Tonk () {1}: scm:*
  78. Tony Logue: Dark Horse (Jenny Ridge Productions) {1}: scm:*
  79. Jesse Lovelock: & the Velvet Voices () {1}: scm:*
  80. Pitney Meyer: Cherokee Pioneer () {1}: scm:*
  81. Miss Tess: Cher Rêve () {1}: scm:*
  82. The Moran Tripp Band: Jumpers Hole () {1}: scm:*
  83. Ty Myers: The Select (Columbia) {1}: am:* -- A:80/1
  84. Tami Neilson: Neon Cowgirl () {1}: scm:*
  85. Oldstar: Of the Highway () {1}: P:+
  86. Paige Plaisance: Louisiana Lonely () {1}: scm:*
  87. Joe Stamm Band: Little Crosses () {1}: scm:*
  88. Steel Saddle: Steel Saddle () {1}: scm:*
  89. Morgan Wallen: I'm the Problem (Big Loud/Republic/Mercury) {1}: BB:+ -- A:53/6
  90. Josh Ward: Same Ol' Cowboy, Different Rodeo () {1}: scm:*
  91. Chasen Wayne: Corpus () {1}: scm:*
  92. Justin Wells: Cynthiana () {1}: scm:*
  93. Bailey Zimmerman: Different Night Same Rodeo () {1}: xjdc:*