As we prepare for our 2025 Year-End Rodeo, we’re taking a look– and not a just a quick, cursory one– back at the music we’ve reviewed here over the past year.
Here, all in one place, is a breakdown of the 400-plus (!!) albums and EPs we reviewed in 2025, to provide a master list of what’s under consideration for the best country music of 2025.
Philosophically, I’ve long had a strained relationship with star ratings: My view is that a 3-star rating lands on the positive side of “average” and that the average for anything that a record label was willing to put some cash behind to record, promote, and distribute is actually pretty good. Not every Stanbase understands that approach, but that’s what has always felt true to me. 4.5 and 5 star albums should be relatively rare, just as 0.5 and 1 star albums– or a dreaded zero– should also be scarce.
This year was actually a very strong one in the broad-spectrum country universe, so the statistical mean skews just below 4-stars. And, of course, these were the ratings given at the time of review– assessments can and do and should change over time.
So, readers: Which albums do you think should make our year-end best-of? And even at this volume, we know we missed lots of stuff; other than the purposeful exclusions (Wallen, at least three more Jesse Welles albums), what did we miss?
cece, westbound
Graham Barham, Oil Money
Gavin Adcock, My Own Worst Enemy
Niko Moon, American Palm
Chris Lane, Shade Tree
Referrin, Some City, Somewhere
Chase Matthew, CHASE
Zac Brown Band, Love & Fear
Megan Moroney, Am I Okay Tour: Live
HARDY, COUNTRY! COUNTRY!
Josh Ross, Later Tonight
Chris Janson, Wild Horses
Austin Williams, Somebody Single
Jenna Davis, Where Did That Girl Go?
Dylan Scott, Easy Does It
Zach John King, Slow Down
Hayden Coffman, Love and a Heartbreak
John Morgan, Carolina Blue
Tucker Wetmore, What Not To
Original Soundtrack Album, O’Dessa
Trey Lewis, Livin’ Left to Do
Treaty Oak Revival, West Texas Degenerate
Tyler Rich, Poppy & Iris
Various, Opry 100…
Annie Bosko, California Cowgirl
LBT, Scattered, Smothered, and Covered
Chase McDaniel, Lost Ones
Atlus, Secondhand Smoke
Chris Young, I Didn’t Come Here to Leave
Dasha, Anna
Payton Smith, The Bridge
Colbie Caillat, This Time Around
Josh Ritter, I Believe in You, My Honeydew
Russell Dickerson, Famous Back Home
BigXThaPlug, I Hope You’re Happy
Erick Lindeman, Not Your Typical Country Boy
Bailey Zimmerman, Different Night Same Rodeo
Palmer Anthony, Rodeo Clown
Watchhouse, Rituals
Grant Gilbert, West of Fort Worth
Brett Young, 2.0
The Ting Tings, Home
Dillon Carmichael, Keepin’ Country Alive
Rascal Flatts, Duets: Life is a Highway Refueled
Eric Church, Evangeline vs The Machine
Kelby Cooper, Love You, Goodnight
Lucas Mason, Almost 18
Parmalee, Fell in Love with a Cowgirl
Brett Eldredge, Lonestar Lovers
Kameron Marlowe, Sad Songs for the Soul
Christie Huff, Finer Things
Original Broadway Cast Recording, Swept Away
Neon Union, Good Years
Brad Paisley, Snow Globe Town
Anne Wilson, Stars
Ashley Cooke, ace
Vince Gill, 50 Years from Home: Secondhand Smoke
Kelsea Ballerini, Mount Pleasant
Whiskey Myers, Whomp Whack Thunder
Pecos & The Rooftops, From Me
Todd Snider, High, Lonesome, & Then Some
Lauren Watkins, In a Perfect World
Wynn Williams, Country Therapy
Lily Rose, I Know What I Want
Jake Worthington, When I Write the Song
Marcus Hummon, Songs for Emily: The Album
Chosen Family, Generation Us
MaRynn Taylor, MaRynn
Jordan Davis, Learn the Hard Way
Keller Cox, Care to Look
Max McNown, Night Diving (The Cost of Growing Up)
Scotty McCreery, Scooter & Friends
Riley Green, Midtown Sessions 2025
Landon Smith, Reckon So
The Wandering Hearts, Deja Vu (We Have All Been Here Before)
Parker McCollum, s/t
Cole Swindell, Spanish Moss
Norman North, Songs I Never Sent
Tayla Lynn, Singin’ Loretta
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Personal History
Bryce Leatherwood, s/t
DeVille Records roster, Cadillac Sessions
Brandi Carlile & Elton John, Who Believes in Angels
Jon Pardi, Honkytonk Hollywood
Linc Phelps, Faith & Sweat
Gavin McLeod, Constant Astonishment
Jessica Simpson, Nashville Canyon Pt 1
Charley Crockett, Lonesome Drifter
Edwin McCain, Lucky
The Lumineers, Automatic
Chris Kläfford, What I’m Running From
Sam Grow, Winfield
Cameron Sacky Band, Quicksand
Palmer Anthony, Same Blue Eyes
Jessica Lynn, All I Own
Canaan Smith, Chickahominy
Carpenter, Fowlis, & Polwart, Looking for the Thread
Ringo Starr, Look Up
Lance Roark, Bad Reputation
Colter Wall, Memories & Empties
Jamie O’Neal, Flowers & Fireflies
Ty Herndon, Thirty Vol 1
Vincent Mason, There I Go
AVTT/PTTN, AVTT/PTTN
Alexandra Kay, Second Wind
Joshua Slone, Thinking Too Much
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Night After Night
Alexa Rose, Atmosphere
Billy Currington, King of the World
Hayley Jensen, Country Soul
Jeff Tweedy, Twilight Override
Bones Owens, Best Western
Priscilla Block, Things You Didn’t See
Chase Rice, ELDORA
Runaway June, New Kind of Emotion
Stephen Wilson, Jr, Blankets
Zach Top, Ain’t In It For My Health
Old Dominion, Barbara
Daniel Donato, Horizons
The Woods, Nowhere is Somewhere
John Fogerty, Legacy: The CCR Years (John’s Version)
Jake Henley, County Fairs & Rodeos
Jay Webb, Where to Find Me
Buddy Guy, Ain’t Done With The Blues
Hudson Westbrook, Texas Forever
Charles Kelley, Songs for a New Moon
Julia Digrazia, All In
Larry Fleet, Somewhere in the South
Eli Young Band, Strange Hours
Sam Williams, COUNTRYSTAR: Act II
Dylan Gossett, Westward
Jesse Welles, Pilgrim
North Mississippi Allstars, Still Shakin’
Maoli, Last Sip of Summer
Brandi Vezina, Grit & Glamor
Lukas Nelson, American Romance
Dierks Bentley, Broken Branches
Hailey Whitters, Corn Queen
Kevin Bacon & Jennifer Nettles, The Bondsman OST
Gareth, Steal Your Thunder
Anderson East, Worthy
Parker Millsap & Lockeland Strings, s/t
Wheelwright, Everyone’s Rich
Blake Shelton, For Recreational Use Only
Aron Andras, Colors at Dusk
Thomas Mac, Stop Loving You
Ian Munsick, Eagle Feather
Jesse Welles, Middle
Bradley Gaskin, Unfinished Business
Lucy Dacus, Forever is a Feeling
Cimarron 615, s/t
Joe Ely, Love & Freedom
Candi Staton, Back to My Roots
Norman North, Over the Influence
Ron Mitchell, Dead on Country
The Wiggles, Wiggle Up, Giddy Up, With Friends
Haley Mae Campbell, Dear Life
Mackenzie Carpenter, Hey Country Queen
JD Clayton, Blue Sky Sundays
Wilder Woods, Curioso
Horsebath, Another Farewell
Josh Ward, Same Ol’ Cowboy, Different Rodeo
Larkin Poe, Bloom
LANCO, We’re Gonna Make It
Early James, Medium Raw
Nicki Bluhm, Rancho Deluxe
Old Crow Medicine Show, OCMS XMas
Willie Nelson, Workin’ Man – Willie Sings Merle
Brad Mehldau, Ride Into the Sun
Dallas Burrow, The Way the West Was Won
Vince Gill, 50 Years from Home: I Gave You Everything I Had
Philip Bowen, Appalachia Forever
Queenie & Hank, s/t
Jake Owen, Dreams to Dream
Madison Cunningham, Ace
Joshua Hedley, All Hat
Preston Cooper, Toledo Talkin’
Pete Droge, Fade Away Blue
Ricky Chilton, Horsepower
Mae Estes, s/t
Cole Chaney, In the Shadow of the Mountain
Brennen Leigh, Don’t You Give Up on Love
Travis Roberts, Rebel Rose
Brothers Comatose, Golden Grass
Kathryn Legendre, Here’s Your Honky Tonk
Lanie Gardner, Faded Polaroids
Jessica Simpson, Nashville Canyon Pt 2
CMAT, Euro-Country
Tift Merritt, Time & Place: The Tambourine Kitchen Recordings
Walker Hayes, 17 Problems
BettySoo, If You Never Go Away
Hayes Carll, We’re Only Human
Joleen Brown, A Good Place to Hide Away
Tanner Ursey, These Days
Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band, New Threats from the Soul
Zandi Holup, Wildflower
Cory Hanson, I Love People
Brent Cobb & The Fixin’s, Ain’t Rocked in a While
Grayson Jenkins, Country Parables
Cody Jinks, In My Blood
Tyler Childers, Snipe Hunter
Alex Williams, Space Brain
DK Harrell, Talkin’ Heavy
Rob Williford. Johnny & Jenny
Ashley Campbell, Goodnight Nashville
Myron Elkins, Nostalgia for Sale
William Beckmann, Whiskey Lies & Alibis
Joshua Ray Walker, Tropicana
Brokestring & The Empty Promises, The Upside of Down
Carín Leon, Palabra de To’s
Shelby Means, s/t
Sol Helio, Indigo Star
Christian Nodal, Quien + Como Yo
Kat Hasty, The Time of Your Life
Sterling Drake, The Shape I’m In
Hogslop String Band, Down the Road
Kyle McKearney, To the River
Sonia Leigh, Songs About Ghosts
Tyler Braden, Devil and a Prayer
Avery Anna, Let Go Letters
Jedd Hughes, Nightshades
Maren Morris, DREAMSICLE
Adam Melchor, The Diary of Living
Maddie & Tae, Love & Light
Jake Vaadeland, One More Dollar to Go
Jonny Arsenault, Les Aurores
Pitney Meyer, Cherokee Pioneer
Abbey Cone, Greener
The Barlow, High Spirits
Amy Irving & The Goolis Orchestra, Always Will Be
Sarah Siskind, Simplify
Derek Webb, Survival Songs
Palmyra, Restless
Helene Cronin, Maybe New Mexico
Brown Horse, All the Right Weaknesses
Tera Lynne Fister, Flowers from the Ground
Charles Wesley Godwin, Lonely Mountain Town
Kathleen Edwards, Covers
Ryan Hurd, Midwest Rock & Roll
Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Last Kings of Babylon
Denitia, OurVinyl Sessions
Penny & Sparrow, Lefty
Angel White, Ghost of the West
Cristina Vane, Hear My Call
Hannah McFarland, Broken Hearts
Cash & Skye, Just a Stranger
Wyatt Flores, Live at Cain’s
Sunny War, Armageddon in a Summer Dress
The Delines, Mr Luck & Ms Doom
Colin Vincent, Rodeo Underground
Bonnie Prince Billy, Purple Bird
Sacha, Where to Start
Kapali Long, The Routines
Ty Myers, The Select
Luke Trimble, Headed Out the Holler
Rabbi Sandra & Protestant White Boys, Song for a New Year
Mon Rovia, Act 4: Atonement
Nolan Taylor, s/t
Shallowater, God’s Gonna Give You a Million Dollars
Jess Jocoy, Cul de Sac Kid
Jack Blocker, The Lord on Most High
Haunted Like Human, American Mythology
Melissa Carper, A Very Carper Christmas
Trisha Yearwood, Christmastime
Leon Majcen, Makin’ a Livin’ (Not a Killin’)
Karley Scott Collins, Flight Risk
Kaitlin Butts, Yeehaw Sessions
Terry Klein, Hill Country Folk Music
Orville Peck, Appaloosa
Ramona & The Holy Smokes, s/t
Carl Perkins, Some Things Never Change
Sabine McCalla, Don’t Call Me Baby
Robert Adam, Governed by the Seasons
Briscoe, Heat of July
Maggie Rose, Cocoon
Levi Foster, We Made Fire
Emily Ann Roberts, Memory Lane
Adam Mac, Southern Spectacle
Thelma & James, Starting Over
Charlie Collins, Nightwriter
Clover County, Finer Things
Blaine Bailey, Indian Country
Lera Lynn, Comic Book Cowboy
Brian Dunne, Clams Casino
INK, Big Buskin’
Neko Case, Neon Gray Midnight Green
Will Hoge, Sweet Misery
Rosie Flores & The Talismen, Impossible Frontiers
Anne Murray, Here You Are
Ruston Kelly, Through the Window
Caroline Spence, Heart Go Wild
Jaelee Roberts, Let Me Be Lonely
Dar Williams, Hummingbird Highway
Mason Via, s/t
Asleep at the Wheel, Riding High in Texas
Rodney Crowell, Airline Highway
Molly Tuttle, So Long Little Miss Sunshine
Kent Burnside, Hill Country Blood
Charley Crockett, Dollar a Day
Ashley Monroe, Tennessee Lightning
Laura Jane Grace, Adventure Club
Morgan Wade, The Party is Over (recovered)
Abbie Callahan, Grossly Aware
Emily Lubitz, Two Black Horses
Shawnee Kish, Chapter 1
Patty Griffin, Crown of Roses
Ruby Shay, Hitch a Ride
Cleo Reed, Cuntry
Joe Stamm Band, Little Crosses
Cam, All Things Light
Gasoline Lollipops, Kill the Architect
Lizzie No, Commie Country
Hayden Pedigo, I’ll Be Waving As You Drive Away
Sister Sadie, All Will Be Well
Presley Haile, Off to Find a Sunny Day
Jesse Daniel, Son of the San Lorenzo
Ashland Craft, Dive Bar Beauty Queen
Imogen Clark, Choking on Fuel
Castellows, Homecoming
Sacha, Woman in the Mirror
Leslie Jordan, The Agonist
Cyndi Thomson, Acres of Diamonds
SteelDrivers, Outrun
Missy Raines & Allegheny, Love & Trouble
Madison Hughes, All That I Am
Adam Chaffins, Trailer Trash
Esther Rose, Want
Jenny Mitchell, Forest House
Kinky Friedman, Poet of Motel 6
Samantha Crain, Gumshoe
Jade Turner, Breathe
Ron Pope, American Man, American Music
Rebecca Lynn Howard, I’m Not Who You Think I Am
Southern Avenue, Family
Joan Osborne, Dylanology Live
Willie Nelson, Oh What a Wonderful World
Muscadine Bloodline, … And What Was Left Behind
Julien Baker & TORRES, Send a Prayer My Way
Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters, Good Morning, Sunshine
Matt Daniel, The Poet
Rachel Brooke, Sings Sad Songs
Andrew Duhon, The Parish Record
Grey DeLisle, The Grey Album
Jason Scott & The High Heat, American Grin
Brother & The Hayes, In Good Company
Ned LeDoux, Safe Haven
Olivia Ellen Lloyd, Do It Myself
Pug Johnson, El Cabron
Alison Krauss & Union Station, Arcadia
Lola Kirke, Trailblazer
Riggings, The Subject Was F—-s: A Mixtape
The Wilder Blue, Still in the Running
Kasey Tyndall, s/t
Sierra Hull, A Tip Toe High Wire
Zach Top & Billy Strings, Me & Billy
Jason Isbell, Foxes in the Snow
Caylee Hammack, Bed of Roses
Justin Wells, Cynthiana
Patterson Hood, Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams
Dean Owens, Spirit Ridge
The War & Treaty, Plus One
AHI, The Light Behind the Sun
Josh Mitcham, A Few Cries and a Laugh
Pigeon Pit, Crazy Arms
Angie K, s/t
Lily Hiatt, Forever
Alana Springsteen, Live at the Ryman
The Doohickeys, All Hat No Cattle
Willow Avalon, Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell
Crys Matthews, Reclamation
Olivia Wolf, Silver Rounds
Yola, My Way
Jesse Lovelock, Jesse Lovelock & The Velvet Voices
Tina Turner, Good Hearted Woman
Snocaps, Snocaps
Luke Bell, The King is Back
Mavis Staples, Sad and Beautiful World
Nick Shoulders, Refugia Blues
Dylan Earl, Level-Headed Even Smile
Brandi Carlile, Returning to Myself
Raleigh Keegan, Appalachian High
Joshua Ray Walker, Stuff
Carter Faith, Cherry Valley
Various / Grey DeLisle, It’s All Her Fault: A Tribute to Cindy Walker
Amanda Shires, Nobody’s Girl
Charley Pride, Endlessly: A Tribute to Brook Benton
Shawn Camp, The Ghost of Sis Draper
Anna Tivel, Animal Poem
Margo Price, Hard Headed Woman
Kathleen Edwards, Billionaire
The Band Loula, Sweet Southern Summer
Rebecca Porter, Roll with the Punches
Moe Reen, Scribbled Line
Josiah Flores, Doin’ Fine
Sunny Sweeney, Rhinestone Requiem
Ketch Secor, Story the Crow Told Me
Dee White, Heart Talkin’
Vandoliers, Life Behind Bars
Willi Carlisle, Winged Victory
James McMurtry, The Black Dog & The Wandering Boy
Jessica Willis Fisher, Blooming
Kelsey Waldon, Every Ghost
Crowe Boys, Made to Wander
Kentucky Gentlemen, Rhinestone Revolution
SG Goodman, Planting by the Signs
Sam Stoane, Tales of the Dark West
Ken Pomeroy, Cruel Joke
Kristina Murray, Little Blue
Caitlin Cannon, Love Addict
I’m With Her, Wild and Clear and Blue
Terry Blade, Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues
Olive Klug, Lost Dog
Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson, What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow
Turnpike Troubadours, The Price of Admission
Marlon Williams, Te Whare Tīwekaweka
Valerie June, Owls, Omens, & Oracles
Frankie Ballard, The Messenger
Ghost Hounds, Almost Home
Kip Moore, Solitary Tracks
Original Soundtrack, The Devil & The Daylong Brothers
Kane Brown, The High Road
Trisha Yearwood, The Mirror
Tami Neilson, Neon Cowgirl
Tony Kamel, We’re All Gonna Live
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