I guess one area where I differ from the younger country fans, is that I am less willing to tolerate poor voices. One reason I never really got into rock music was that too many of the leading acts were terrible vocalists. The same problem applies to modern country – too many poor (or bland) male vocalists and too many shrieking divas among the women. Say what you will about vapid was much of the post-WW2 pop music (particularly 1951-1955), all the acts could sing and sing well. The reason a Linda Ronstadt stands out among her contemporaries is because she actually can sing and most of her competitors couldn’t

1. Todd Snider – The Devil You Know. (I did not begin the year a Todd Sndier fan, but this album won me over. Incerdibly smart songwriting.)

2. Rosanne Cash – Black Cadillac. (A moving and significant record by the most consistently excellent artists in country music.)

3. Johnny Cash – American V/100 Highways. (For a long while, I thought this would be my album of the year. It’s a moving record, but as time went by, I become a little — though just a little — uncomfortable with a few tracks that seem posthumously overproduced.)

4. Emmylou Harris & Mark Knopler – All the Roadrunning. (Nice to again hear an Emmylou album with a little oomph and a good soundmix.)

5. Old Crow Medicine Show – Big Iron World

6. Dixie Chicks – Long Way Around

7. The Little Willies – The Little Willies

8. Charlie Burton & the Dorothy Lynch Mob – Salad

9. Pilgrim – The Songs of Kris Kristofferson

10. Anne McCue – Koala Hotel

I love the Billboard lists b/c so many people who write for specific genres get to put out a list, then you have the opinions of those who write for non-genre sections of the magazine. It’s always a diverse and interesting collection. The front page does a tally using a points system of all the critic lists. Apparently the most-cited this year is the Bob Dylan album, which also topped the Rolling Stone list.

“1. Dale Ann Bradley, “Catch Tomorrow” (Compass). She is the best-kept secret in country and bluegrass, and the best damn voice in town.
2. The Primitive Quartet, “Who Rolled The Stone Away” (Mountain Home). A hot bluegrass gospel quartet with six pickers. Need I say more?
3. Kellie Pickler, “Small Town Girl” (BNA). I just love it when a real country girl gets the last laugh.
4. Kenny Bishop, “Kenny Bishop” (Daywind). Kenny reminds us that pulpits, steeples and pews have precious little to do with true redemption and mercy.
5. George Jones & Merle Haggard, “Kickin’ Out the Footlights … Again”
(Bandit). Pay close attention kids. When these guys are gone, there ain’t gonna be no more — ever.
6. Alabama, “Songs of Inspiration” (RCA Nashville). Ironically, the group’s first set of religious songs. Ironic because they’ve been inspiring me since 1977.
7. Alan Jackson, “Like Red on a Rose” (Arista Nashville). Loved it, mean it.
Now, go find Keith Stegall and give us some righteous, all-up-in-your-face twang.
8. Josh Turner, “Your Man” (MCA Nashville). Where was this guy when we really needed him 10-12 years ago? Fabulous.
9. Alan Jackson, “Precious Memories” (ACR/Arista Nashville). Two words — THANK YOU.
10. The McKameys, “The Old Path” (Horizon). Southern Gospel that speaks to you, not at you — just like always. Profoundly moving and astonishingly genuine.”

As in some in past years, Jessen has leaned toward Gospel. And he is correct that Dale Ann Bradley is a asuperior vocalist