Personal Rankdown: Indie/Less Known Country Songs (Winner)

[recordyear]

(Spoiled some of the artists featured in the rankdown but idc)

Since non-mainstream country songs (Texas Country/Americana/Alt-country...) are often competitive to mainstream country songs in term of popularity, and are generally more varied than mainstream in terms of substance and style, I would like to choose some songs from my listening log to spotlight their goodness.


Aaron Watson - Clear Isabel
Alice Wallace - Santa Ana Winds
Amanda Shires - Parking Lot Pirouette
Angaleena Presley - Mama I Tried
Caitlyn Smith - House of Cards
Charles Wesley Godwin - Hardwood Floors
Charlie Worsham - Cut Your Groove
Courtney Marie Andrews - Irene*
Colter Wall - Wild Dogs
Flatland Cavalry - Living By Moonlight
Jade Jackson - Aden
Jaime Wyatt - Stone Hotel
Jamie Lin Wilson - Death & Life
Jason Isbell - 24 Frames
Jeff Hyde - Norman Rockwell World
Joshua Hedley - Mr. Jukebox
Lindi Ortega - Liberty
Lori McKenna - Young And Angry Again
Lucie Silvas - Happy
Margo Price - Don't Say It
Mo Pitney - Everywhere
Natalie Hemby - This Town Still Talks About You
Neko Case - Pitch or Honey
Nikki Lane - Jackpot
Old Crow Medicine Show - Whirlwind
Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen - El Dorado
Robert Ellis - California
Ruston Kelly - Black Magic
Ryan Culwell - Can You Hear Me
Sam Outlaw - Tenderheart
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers - Lesson
Sturgill Simpson - The Promise
Sunny Sweeney - Better Bad Idea
Trixie Mattel - Red Side of the Moon
Turnpike Troubadours - A Tornado Warning
Tyler Childers - Honky Tonk Flame
Whiskey Myers - Stone*
Yelawolf - Daylight
Yola - Love All Night (Work All Day)
Zephaniah OHora - I Can't Let Go (Even Though I Set You Free)










Instructions (somehow forgot to put this in the Eric Church rankdown but it doesn't matter much right? )
1) Rank the songs from #1 (most favorite) to #40 (least favorite)
2) Send your list to me via PM on or before June 26th.July 3rd.
3) Enjoy and maybe save some songs into your playlist!

Tags (from the Country Rankdowns Tag List but also the two people that liked the post regarding this rankdown)
austin bboat11 bigfan101 castleoblivion26 cedric Cody Wants Out... tim LBTrocks @doinktheclown Fancy fearlessarrow .indulgecountry Leo ✔ born Kanenrá:ke The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 Mylo13 💜 zaclord 🌈 Au$tin toomuchboy @xfer George Strait Junkie gardyfan

[recordyear]

Let's begin the song reveals shall we? All songs should be available on Spotify except two songs that are geoblocked for me.

Charles Wesley Godwin - Hardwood Floors

Description online: A native of Morgantown, singer-songwriter Charles Wesley Godwin paints a rich and honest portrayal of his homeland and its people with his debut album.

And the first one happens to be one of my favorite "new" artist I found this year. Seneca is a must listen if you want a singer-songwriter album with rich production. Hardwood Floors is chosen because of its zeal.

Colter Wall - Wild Dogs

Description online: A Canadian singer-songwriter from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, his self-titled debut album was released on May 12, 2017.
Colter Wall has a decent sized fan base I think. Wild Dogs is the fourth song from his second album, Songs of the Plains. The dark vibe is what I dig.

Trixie Mattel - Red Side of the Moon

Description online: Brian Michael Firkus (born August 23, 1989), known by the stage persona Trixie Mattel, is an American drag queen, singer-songwriter, comedian, and television personality from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mattel is known for being the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars season 3, for competing, and placing sixth, on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race, and on the web series UNHhhh and its Viceland follow-up The Trixie & Katya Show alongside co-host Katya Zamolodchikova and guest host Bob the Drag Queen.
Red Side of the Moon is from her second album, One Stone. It is a feat that a drag queen can write country music with more soul than mainstream country dudes.

Jamie Lin Wilson - Death & Life

Description online: Jamie Lin Wilson is an americana artist from D'Hanis, TX. From Ray Wylie Hubbard and Wade Bowen, to Cody Canada and Evan Felker, she is often the woman they call on to finish a song, lend a vocal, or invite on stage to add some color to a live performance. (SCM comments)
Death & Life is a highlight from her second full-length solo album, Jumping Over Rocks. You may be amazed by the story in this song.

Yelawolf - Daylight

Description online: Michael Wayne Atha (born December 30, 1979), better known as Yelawolf, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and producer from Gadsden, Alabama.
But don't be lied by the "rapper" thing. Daylight is more country than a certain song, and it actually says something interesting.

[Deleted]

Ooh I actually dig Daylight. Like, a lot. The rest of the songs seem interesting too. Tag me for this!

[recordyear]

Here are the next 5 reveals:

Robert Ellis - California

Description online: Robert Ellis (born November 6, 1988) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist based in Houston, Texas, United States, who blends country, pop music and jazz.
California is a popular track from his self-titled album released in 2016.

Lindi Ortega - Liberty

Description online: Lindi Ortega (born May 28, 1980) is a Canadian country singer-songwriter from Toronto, Ontario, who had lived in Nashville, Tennessee then married and moved to Western Canada in 2017. Her voice has been described as a blend of Dolly Parton's, Johnny Cash's, and Emmylou Harris'.
Liberty is from the album of the same name released last year. It is a concept album that deals with liberty from a toxic relationship and past demons.

Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen - El Dorado

Description online: Randy Rogers is the lead vocal of Randy Rogers Band formed in 2000, and Wade Bowen is an American Texas Country/Red Dirt singer from Waco, Texas.
El Dorado is a song from their duet album, Hold My Beer Vol. 1, released in 420 day of 2015. Volume 2 is reported to be in work recently.

Courtney Marie Andrews - Irene

Description online: Courtney Marie Andrews (born November 7, 1990) is an American singer-songwriter originally from Phoenix, Arizona, United States. From 2010 to 2011, Andrews was an auxiliary member of Jimmy Eat World, appearing on their 2010 album Invented and acting as their keyboardist and backing vocalist on the subsequent tour.
Irene is the third track from Honest Life released on 2016.

Lucie Silvas - Happy

Description online: Lucie Silvas (born Lucie Joanne Silverman, 4 September 1977) is a British singer-songwriter. Her musical style leaned to pop and adult contemporary at the beginning but lately was closer to Americana/Roots side. Also wife of John Osborne of Brothers Osborne.
Happy is the tenth track from Letters to Ghosts released in 2015. I like the guitar work and her vocal in it.

austin bboat11 bigfan101 castleoblivion26 cedric Cody Wants Out... tim LBTrocks @doinktheclown Fancy fearlessarrow .indulgecountry Leo ✔ born Kanenrá:ke The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 Mylo13 💜 zaclord 🌈 Au$tin toomuchboy @xfer George Strait Junkie gardyfan @trilogy

[Deleted]

I actually know some of those songs!!!! *impressed* "Seneca" is indeed a beautiful album. Like you mentioned, you spoiled Ruston, so I hope it is one of my favorite songs, cause almost all his songs are amazing. And please, include Sam Outlaw ♥

Oh yeah, I will play!

[singingrulebritannia]

I see Lindi Ortega + a concept I want to support in general (also your MM picks in this field were very good) so I'll be bookmarking this

[Kanenrá:ke]

Ok you had me hooked with Lindi's inclusion but having Robert Ellis, Randy & Wade, Trixie, and Jamie Lin Wilson as well?! Gotta be in no choice.

Love most of the other artists though haven't heard the specific songs chosen.

[recordyear]

Whiskey Myers - Stone

Description online: Whiskey Myers is an American Southern rock/Texas/country group from Palestine, Texas composed of Cody Cannon (lead vocals and acoustic guitar), John Jeffers (lead guitar, slide guitar, lap steel guitar, vocals), , Cody Tate (lead and rhythm guitar), Jeff Hogg (drums), Tony Kent (percussion/drums), and Jamey Gleaves (bass). 
Stone is fifth song from fourth album, Mud. This song is also featured in final episode of Yellowstone (tacky I know...). Also unfortunately this will be the only southern rock song in this rankdown. But there is always volume 2 to feature more southern rock artists such as Blackberry Smoke and Drive-by Truckers.

Yola - Love All Night (Work All Day)

Description online: Yola (born 1984) is an English singer-songwriter, from Bristol, England. She pursued a career as a vocalist, and became the lead singer of the band Phantom Limb, who released their first album in 2010. She has sung backing vocals for numerous artists including Massive Attack, The Chemical Brothers and Iggy Azalea.
People who joined WTM should remember Lonely The Night which is my pick. Instead of long build into giant chorus, I chose a more everyday song this time. No much drama but only sweetness.

Amanda Shires - Parking Lot Pirouette

Description online: Amanda Shires (born March 5, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter and violin player. She has performed as a member of the Texas Playboys, Thrift Store Cowboys and Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, as well as in a duo with Rod Picott. Also wife of Jason Isbell.
Admittedly I did not listen to her full discography, but To The Sunset was such a unique album relesed last year, and this psychedelic-influenced track is an example of it.

Joshua Hedley - Mr. Jukebox

Description online: Joshua Hedley, born and raised in Naples, Florida, is a country music singer-songwriter, violinist, and guitarist. He became known as "Mr. Jukebox" while playing down on Broad "thanks to Hedley's pristine vocals, unrivaled musicianship, and truly encyclopedic knowledge of country music."
The title track of his debut album last year reminds me of easygoing nature of some older country songs so I chose it.

Mo Pitney - Everywhere

Description online: Morgan Daniel "Mo" Pitney (born March 24, 1993 in Cherry Valley, Illinois) is an American country music singer. In May 2014, he signed to Curb Records, which basically guaranteed the long time climbing on charts and generally poor management of career.
This is the third single from his debut album Behind This Guitar. It sounds like good radio fodder but it did not chart at all, probably due to lack of promotion and momentum. Still I believe it is a good mainstream song.

austin bboat11 bigfan101 castleoblivion26 cedric Cody Wants Out... tim LBTrocks @doinktheclown Fancy fearlessarrow .indulgecountry Leo ✔ born Kanenrá:ke The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 Mylo13 💜 zaclord 🌈 Au$tin toomuchboy @xfer George Strait Junkie gardyfan @trilogy singingrulebritannia

[Kanenrá:ke]

Whoo! Another great set! Amanda is such a hidden gem, and Yola I still need to check out the full album but what I have heard is fantastic!!

[recordyear]

Angaleena Presley - Mama I Tried

Description online: Angaleena Loletta McCoy Presley (born September 1, 1976) is an American country music singer-songwriter. She is a member of the female country trio Pistol Annies and has released two solo albums, American Middle Class (2014) and Wrangled (2017).
Mama I Tried is the eighth track from Wrangled. The riff in this song is instantly recognizable.

Flatland Cavalry - Living By Moonlight

Description online: A spirited country-folk and Americana outfit based out of Lubbock, Texas, Flatland Cavalry draw inspiration from Lone Star State contemporaries like Turnpike Troubadours, Wade Bowen, and Randy Rogers, as well as folk-pop artists like Avett Brothers and John Mayer. The group's music often puts fiddle and acoustic guitar up front to give the tunes a strong, rootsy influence tied to the past, but the melodies have a modern feel and are powered by a rock & roll backbeat.
Living By Moonlight is the sixth track from second album Homeland Insecurity released this January.

Jeff Hyde - Norman Rockwell World

Description online: Already a Grammy-nominated songwriter and longtime member of Eric Church's touring band, Jeff Hyde makes his solo debut with Norman Rockwell World. Over the past dozen years, Hyde has written many country hits for other artists, including Eric Church's chart-topping singles "Springsteen," "Record Year" and“Round Here Buzz.” A long line of artists including Alan Jackson, George Strait, Bobby Bare, Luke Bryan, Charlie Worsham, Nikki Lane and Becky Buller have also put their own stamp on his songs.
Eric Church does keep interesting people around him. I think the riff is memorable and the theme is interesting.

Nikki Lane - Jackpot

Description online: Nikki Lane reinvents the nostalgic sounds of 1960s country music for a modern audience, mixing Southern twang with lush orchestral arrangements and the occasional pop/rock hook. A high-school dropout from Greenville, South Carolina, she spent her early adulthood working as an L.A.-based fashion designer. Lane later moved to New York City, where a messy breakup inspired her to pick up the acoustic guitar and write a handful of sad, sassy country songs inspired by Loretta Lynn and Merle Haggard.
Jackpot is an energetic song from her third album Highway Queen.

Ruston Kelly - Black Magic

Description online: Marrying the hardscrabble poetry of alt-country troubadours with the moodiness of alternative singer/songwriters, Ruston Kelly cut a unique figure in Nashville at the tail end of the 2010s. His relationship with Kacey Musgraves -- the pair met at the Bluebird Café in 2016 and married the following year -- may have earned him some headlines, but he built his reputation as a songwriter, writing "Nashville Without You" for Tim McGraw in 2013. As a performer, he moved toward the fringes of mainstream country, a shift notable on his 2017 debut EP, Halloween, and its 2018 full-length follow-up, Dying Star.
Black Magic is a song from the EP Halloween.

austin bboat11 bigfan101 castleoblivion26 cedric Cody Wants Out... tim LBTrocks @doinktheclown Fancy fearlessarrow .indulgecountry Leo ✔ born Kanenrá:ke The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 Mylo13 💜 zaclord 🌈 Au$tin toomuchboy @xfer George Strait Junkie gardyfan @trilogy singingrulebritannia

[recordyear]

Zephaniah OHora - I Can't Let Go (Even Though I Set You Free)

Description online: Zephaniah OHora is a New York City-based singer-songwriter and a pillar of the burgeoning NYC Country-Western music community. It's to no surprise Zephaniah has spent years performing classic country with some of the best musicians in New York. From his Western Swing and Ray Price tributes with Honeyfingers, to his Red Simpson era truck driving country collaboration with Jim Campilongo. Right up to the present day where he holds a weekly residency with his group The Last Roundup Boys, performing three hours of Merle Haggard.
Zephaniah OHora's album, This Highway, is a great collection of traditional country style that feels like timeless. The theme is probably not what you think.

Margo Price - Don't Say It

Description online: Margo Rae Price (born April 15, 1983) is an American country singer-songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee. She might be something of a throwback, not only styling her country music after the classic sounds of Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Emmylou Harris, but also writing like a classic '70s singer/songwriter.
I have some hard times picking a song for her because first I don't want to use the songs from her first album because they are honestly pretty well-known. But the songs in her second album are of similar quality so picking just one is difficult. I chose the opening track from her second album, All American Made, eventually.

Caitlyn Smith - House of Cards

Description online: A singer and songwriter of country-informed adult pop, Caitlyn Smith contributed songs to releases by artists such as Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, and James Bay. She also wrote multiple original songs for the music industry-based television show Nashville, which premiered on ABC in 2012. A duet with Dolly Parton, the title track of Kenny Rogers' 2013 LP You Can't Make Old Friends was co-written by Smith. In 2014, "Like I'm Gonna Lose You," a song she wrote with Meghan Trainor and Justin Weaver for Trainor and John Legend, became an international hit, reaching number eight on the U.S. Hot 100 and number one in Australia and New Zealand.
Again I do not want to pick the more obvious ones like Starfire or This Town Is Killing Me. House of Cards is a relatively obscure track but I am fond of it.

Sturgill Simpson - The Promise

Description online: A native of Jackson, Kentucky raised near Lexington, Simpson has deep southern roots, but he moved out west once he reached his late teens. In 2004, he formed Sunday Valley, receiving a big break when they played Portland, Oregon's Pickathon Festival in 2011. Sturgill went solo in 2012, beginning work on the album that became High Top Mountain, which appeared the following year. The Dave Cobb-produced album, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, appeared in May of 2014 and peaked in the Top Ten on all of the country charts. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for best country album. The self-produced album A Sailor's Guide to Earth earned rave reviews plus a surprise nomination for Grammy's Album of the Year.
IMO this song from Metamodern Sounds in Country Music could be one of my favorite covers in country music, even better than the In Bloom cover.

Jade Jackson - Aden

Description online: Country singer/songwriter Jade Jackson began composing songs at a young age. The budding singer/songwriter secured herself a regular slot at a local coffee shop, and it was during one of those shows that the wife and son of Social Distortion's Mike Ness were so taken with her performance that it led to a working relationship with the frontman. Becoming somewhat of a mentor to Jackson, he agreed to produce her first record, and invited her to support Social Distortion on tour. In 2017, Jackson signed to Anti-. Gilded, her label debut, was chock-full of melancholy tales and echoed artists such as Lucinda Williams and Emmylou Harris.
Aden is the first track of the debut album Gilded. I found this album through year-end lists from Rolling Stone, and it is a good opener.

austin bboat11 bigfan101 castleoblivion26 cedric Cody Wants Out... tim LBTrocks @doinktheclown Fancy fearlessarrow .indulgecountry Leo ✔ born Kanenrá:ke The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 Mylo13 💜 zaclord 🌈 Au$tin toomuchboy @xfer George Strait Junkie gardyfan @trilogy singingrulebritannia

[zaclord 🌈]

I'm so excited for this RD. THIS is the kind of country I want to dive more into to discover

[castleoblivion26]

I'm excited to take part in this because there are a few artist I've heard of that I've wanted to listen to but I haven't gotten around to doing so and this will help make that happen!

[recordyear]

Old Crow Medicine Show - Whirlwind

Description online: Old Crow Medicine Show is an Americana string band based in Nashville, Tennessee, that has been recording since 1998. The group's music has been called old-time, folk, and alternative country. Along with original songs, the band performs many pre-World War II blues and folk songs. Bluegrass musician Doc Watson discovered the band while its members were busking outside a pharmacy in Boone, North Carolina,] in 2000. With an old-time string sound fueled by punk rock energy, it has influenced acts like Mumford & Sons and contributed to a revival of banjo-picking string bands playing Americana music — leading to variations on it.
Whirlwind is the finale of the new album Volunteer that was released last year.

Aaron Watson - Clear Isabel

Description online: James Aaron Watson (born August 20, 1977) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active since 1999, Watson has recorded several independent albums in his career. His 2015 album The Underdog reached No. 1 on Top Country Albums that year, and in 2017, Watson had his first major radio airplay hit with "Outta Style", which reached top 10 on Country Airplay.
Vaquero released in 2017 definitely should not have two singles only. This story telling song shows his true potential as an artist.

Lori McKenna - Young And Angry Again

Description online: Lori McKenna (née Giroux; born December 22, 1968) is an American folk, Americana, and country music singer, songwriter, and performer. In 2016, she was nominated for the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and won Best Country Song for co-writing the hit single "Girl Crush" performed by Little Big Town. In 2017, she again won Best Country Song at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards for writing "Humble and Kind" performed by Tim McGraw. McKenna along with Lady Gaga, Natalie Hemby and Hillary Lindsey wrote the second single off the soundtrack to the 2018 film, A Star Is Born called "Always Remember Us This Way" and performed backing vocals along with Lindsey and Hemby.
Also found trouble picking a song for her because there are so many excellent songs to highlight. I think this one is more upbeat compared to most of her other materials and so should be more attractive.

Charlie Worsham - Cut Your Groove

Description online: Charlie Worsham (born September 1, 1985)[1] is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is signed to Warner Bros. Records. Worsham toured with Taylor Swift in 2011, and has opened for performers such as Miranda Lambert and Wade Bowen. In 2016 it was announced he would be opening some shows during the final world tour of Kenny Rogers.
Another dude who signed to major label but is still unknown by mass. The lead single for his second album Beginning of Things should have been a moderate hit at least, not uncharted at all.

Sunny Sweeney - Better Bad Idea

Description online: Sunny Michaela Sweeney (born December 7, 1976) is an American country music artist. She is signed to the Thirty Tigers label. She was formerly with the Republic Nashville label and Big Machine Records. Sweeney left Big Machine in 2012, and signed to Thirty Tigers shortly thereafter. Trophy, her second album for Thirty Tigers, was released in March 2017. The LP included co-writes for Sweeney with Lori McKenna, Buddy Owens, and Caitlyn Smith, plus a trio of high-profile guests (Trisha Yearwood, Ray Benson, and Jack Ingram) on backing vocals.
Better Bad Idea is the second song from Trophy.

austin bboat11 bigfan101 castleoblivion26 cedric Cody Wants Out... tim LBTrocks @doinktheclown Fancy fearlessarrow .indulgecountry Leo ✔ born Kanenrá:ke The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 Mylo13 💜 zaclord 🌈 Au$tin toomuchboy @xfer George Strait Junkie gardyfan @trilogy singingrulebritannia

[tim]

I’ve already spotted some potential top 5’s and especially love that you included “California” by Robert Ellis (he’s also an Austin native!). Really looking forward to this rankdown and hopefully this’ll spawn more rankdowns including artists and songs like this.

[recordyear]

Turnpike Troubadours - A Tornado Warning

Description online: Turnpike Troubadours is an American country music group from Oklahoma founded in 2005. They started their own imprint, Bossier City Records, in 2007 and have released five studio albums. A gritty, country-leaning roots rock band out of eastern Oklahoma, Turnpike Troubadours at their best synthesize the populist, political folk of Woody Guthrie and the outlaw-styled honky tonk of Waylon Jennings with doses of bluegrass, Cajun, and straight-out rock dynamics. Fronted by singer and guitarist Evan Felker and including bassist R.C. Edwards, fiddler Kyle Nix, guitarist Ryan Engleman, and drummer Gabe Pearson, the group celebrates and explores modern rural life with a full awareness of history, delicately avoiding being ornate revivalists.
A Tornado Warning is fifth track from fifth album A Long Way from Your Heart released in 2017.

Jason Isbell - 24 Frames

Description online: Michael Jason Isbell (born February 1, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Green Hill, Alabama, in Lauderdale County. He is known for his solo career, his work with the band The 400 Unit, and as a former member of Drive-By Truckers for six years, from 2001 to 2007. Embracing his newfound sobriety, Isbell next produced an album of haunting atonement and redemption, the sparse and impressive Southeastern, which appeared in 2013. Southeastern was a smash with critics and a commercial success that introduced Isbell to a new and larger audience. Something More Than Free, the follow-up to Southeastern, dropped in July 2015 and took home the Grammy Award for Best Americana Album the following year. In March 2017, Isbell released "Hope the High Road," the first single from The Nashville Sound, which arrived in June.
24 Frames is second track from Something More Than Free. It is one of his most acclaimed tracks.

Tyler Childers - Honky Tonk Flame

Description online: Hailing from the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky, Tyler Childers is part of a wave of 2010s Americana artists who prize authenticity both in their songs and sound. Sonically, Childers borrows heavily from the weathered, ornery progressive country records of the '70s, a comparison brought into sharp relief on his second album, 2017's Purgatory, which was produced by the acclaimed Americana rocker Sturgill Simpson.
I think this song is sonically interesting, and I hope you will feel the same.

Sarah Shook & The Disarmers - Lesson

Description online: Sarah Marie Shook (born September 15, 1985) is a country music singer-songwriter from North Carolina. Her music incorporates country-punk and twang, with shades of outlaw country and Shook's high lonesome singing. In 2015, she and Peterson assembled a new band to record with Schreier, which also included Aaron Olivia on bass, Phil Sullivan on pedal steel, and John Howie, Jr. (who is also Shook's partner) on drums. The new combo, dubbed the Disarmers, cut their debut album live in the studio with Schreier at the controls. Sidelong was self-released in late 2015, and the album received positive reviews for Shook's hard-edged tales of empty bottles and broken hearts. In April 2018, they dropped the second Disarmers' album, Years.
It will at least a memorable one for sure for its punk-infused style and her vocal.

Jaime Wyatt - Stone Hotel

Description online: Jaime Wyatt is a singer and songwriter whose candid style bridges alternative country-rock and Americana. Finding herself in recording limbo after a second label deal fell through, Wyatt continued to perform but developed a drug problem that took her further off course. Based on her own experience of spending eight months in jail for robbing her drug dealer (a plea deal eventually awarded her time served), Wyatt's full-length debut, Felony Blues, addressed topics including her crime, addiction, depression, and recovery. Its title a play on Penitentiary Blues by David Allan Coe, it was released by Forty Below Records in 2017 and featured a duet with labelmate Sam Outlaw ("Your Loving Saves Me").
Found this in mid-year chart of Rolling Stone.

Last five later.

austin bboat11 bigfan101 castleoblivion26 cedric Cody Wants Out... tim LBTrocks @doinktheclown Fancy fearlessarrow .indulgecountry Leo ✔ born Kanenrá:ke The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 Mylo13 💜 zaclord 🌈 Au$tin toomuchboy @xfer George Strait Junkie gardyfan @trilogy singingrulebritannia

[recordyear]

Natalie Hemby - This Town Still Talks About You

Description online: Natalie Nicole Hemby Wrucke (born March 24, 1977) is an American country musicsongwriter and singer. She has written songs for Lee Ann Womack, Eli Young Band, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Sunny Sweeney and Little Big Town. On January 13, 2017, Hemby released her first studio album, Puxico, named after her birthplace, via her own label, GetWrucke Productions.
I don't think it is just another singer-songwriter album as there are some sonically interesting elements at the second half of the album, including this song.

Neko Case - Pitch or Honey

Description online: Neko Richelle Case (born September 8, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her solo career and her contributions as a member of the Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers. Case released her solo debut, The Virginian, in 1997, delving wholeheartedly into traditional country via a mix of covers and originals. Released in 2002, the critically celebrated Blacklisted found her dipping into more atmospheric and personal musical territory with less obvious country influences. Some believe the title Blacklistedalludes to Case being banned for life from the Grand Ole Opry because she took her shirt off during a performance on August 4, 2001 at one of their outdoors "Opry Plaza" concerts, though Case herself has denied this. In 2018, Case released her first solo album in five years, Hell-On, which she also produced.
So yeah, she has a complicated relationship with alt-country. She is in a weird place that most country publications won't mention her but most non-country publications mention her ties with alt-country scene. This song is the last track from Hell-On.

Sam Outlaw - Tenderheart

Description online: Sam Morgan (born July 28, 1982), professionally known as Sam Outlaw, is a country music singer-songwriter. Outlaw calls his music "SoCal country", country music refashioned with a Southern California vibe of the classic honky-tonk and troubadour pop. Sam Outlaw had a successful advertising career in Southern California; however, on his thirtieth birthday he switched gears to pursue his passion for music.
Tenderheart is the title track from his second album released in 2017.

Ryan Culwell - Can You Hear Me

Description online: Ryan Culwell is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist based in Nashville, Tennessee. His third full-length album The Last American was released by Missing Piece Records on August 24, 2018.
And this song is the opening track, which has heartland rock influence.

Alice Wallace - Santa Ana Winds

Description online: With Into the Blue, the California-country singer-songwriter conjures the atmospheric sound of the Golden State’s canyons and deserts, mountains and crashing waves, its crowning beauty and its tragic losses. At the same time, the supple-voiced Wallace tells her own and others’ stories, weaving tales that resonate as we grapple with so many disturbing national issues.
The last artist revealed is another good find in 2019 and Desert Canyon is featured in WTM already. Santa Ana Winds deals with California fire happened last year.

That's all the songs in this rankdown. Spotify playlist is made but Courtney Marie Andrews' Irene and Whiskey Myers' Stone might be geo-blocked (at least for me). Youtube audios are provided for them.

austin bboat11 bigfan101 castleoblivion26 cedric Cody Wants Out... tim LBTrocks @doinktheclown Fancy fearlessarrow .indulgecountry Leo ✔ born Kanenrá:ke The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 Mylo13 💜 zaclord 🌈 Au$tin toomuchboy @xfer George Strait Junkie gardyfan @trilogy singingrulebritannia

[tim]

Wow this rankdown is fire and quite possibly the best group of songs in a personal rankdown I’ve listened to yet. I hope some of the regular rankdown participants will take the time to dive into this because you won’t regret it!

[Cody Wants Out...]

Here's the link for Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen's "El Dorado", which is not available on Spotify in the US:

[Kanenrá:ke]

absolutely fantastic list so far! You're doing 50 songs?

[recordyear]

Apr 29, 2019 13:40:04 GMT -5 Kanenrá:ke said:

absolutely fantastic list so far! You're doing 50 songs?

40 songs only and all songs have been revealed already.

We also have our first participant that is tim !

[Kanenrá:ke]

Apr 29, 2019 19:36:29 GMT -5 recordyear said:

Apr 29, 2019 13:40:04 GMT -5 Kanenrá:ke said:

absolutely fantastic list so far! You're doing 50 songs?

40 songs only and all songs have been revealed already.

We also have our first participant that is tim !

I have a few to work on that are due sooner but I'm excited to work on this one!

[recordyear]

The second participant is singingrulebritannia

austin bboat11 bigfan101 castleoblivion26 cedric Cody Wants Out... tim LBTrocks @doinktheclown Fancy fearlessarrow .indulgecountry Leo ✔ born Kanenrá:ke The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 Mylo13 💜 zaclord 🌈 Au$tin toomuchboy @xfer George Strait Junkie gardyfan @trilogy

[recordyear]

You now have one month to rank these songs.

Participants:
tim
singingrulebritannia
@xfer
George Strait Junkie


austin bboat11 bigfan101 castleoblivion26 cedric Cody Wants Out... LBTrocks @doinktheclown Fancy fearlessarrow .indulgecountry Leo ✔ born Kanenrá:ke The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 Mylo13 💜 zaclord 🌈 Au$tin toomuchboy gardyfan @trilogy

[recordyear]

Two weeks left to rank these song.

Tag (Do not need to be tagged to participate): austin bboat11 bigfan101 castleoblivion26 cedric Cody Wants Out... LBTrocks @doinktheclown Fancy fearlessarrow .indulgecountry Leo ✔ born Kanenrá:ke The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 Mylo13 💜 zaclord 🌈 Au$tin toomuchboy gardyfan @trilogy

[bboat11]

Wait why is there a rap song in here...

[recordyear]

You have one week left to rank these songs. However I saw two year-end country rankdowns having deadline next to this one so I may extend the deadline for a little bit. Just suggest a new deadline below and I will see whether I can make it.

Participants:
1. tim
2. singingrulebritannia
3. @xfer
4. George Strait Junkie
5. bboat11
Plus me.

Also phil1996 are you interested in this rankdown?

Tag (Do not need to be tagged to participate):
austin bigfan101 castleoblivion26 cedric Cody Wants Out... LBTrocks @doinktheclown Fancy fearlessarrow .indulgecountry Leo ✔ born Kanenrá:ke The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 Mylo13 💜 zaclord 🌈 Au$tin toomuchboy gardyfan @trilogy

[Deleted]

Umm I may sit this one out tbh sorry. If I don't end up doing so can you tag me in the reveals?

[recordyear]

Jun 19, 2019 6:58:51 GMT -5 @trilogy said:

Umm I may sit this one out tbh sorry. If I don't end up doing so can you tag me in the reveals?

It's fine. I wondered why you may sit this one out though.

[recordyear]

Technically Four days left but I can extend the deadline. I just want to know how far I should extend the deadline.

Participants:
1. tim
2. singingrulebritannia
3. @xfer
4. George Strait Junkie
5. bboat11
Plus me.

Tag (Do not need to be tagged to participate):
austin bigfan101 castleoblivion26 cedric Cody Wants Out... LBTrocks @doinktheclown Fancy fearlessarrow .indulgecountry Leo ✔ born Kanenrá:ke The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 Mylo13 💜 zaclord 🌈 Au$tin toomuchboy gardyfan phil1996