Favorite Country Albums 2013

[Spacey_Kacey]

Hey all,

Last year I remember thinking that we do so much at the end of the year comparing songs (which makes sense because this is mostly a forum that follows radio releases), but I much prefer to discuss albums as a complete work of art. In preparation of this post, I prepared my list of favorite albums released this year, and I hope you will join me in doing the same (though most likely shorter than mine as you will see ). My list does not include any tribute, cover, live or greatest hits albums (though I highly recommend Bakersfield, Old Yellow Moon, and Foreverly :)) or the FGL and Hunter Hayes re-releases (Lady A's kinda counts but it doesn't affect it much). Also excluded are EPs.

If any moderators have a problem with the contents of my list (because there are a lot of independent releases), please PM me, and I will work on cleaning it up whether it be by bolding the mainstream releases or reformatting. I wasn't sure where to cut off. Does Brandy Clark count? Do country legends count? Does Sturgill Simpson count (he's been discussed at least twice on this board I believe)?

Anyway, please don't take my list personally if I don't like your favorite artist's album. Toby Keith is one of my favorites, but his album falls low. If you will be offended by a low ranking, avoid my list if you like Keith Urban, Scotty McCreery, Tyler Farr, Justin Moore, Parmalee, Deana Carter, Joe Nichols, or Luke Bryan. I have liked past works of most of these artists (minus Farr and Parmalee obviously); just not a fan of their current work.

With all the sub-genres of country music nowadays, I will have my personal biases, and you will certainly see this in parts of my rankings, but that does not mean I will immediately rate a more traditional album highly. It must be all-around high quality.

I'll stop babbling on now. Here's my rankings:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}5 stars:
1 Southeastern by Jason Isbell
2 Same Trailer Different Park by Kacey Musgraves
3 12 Stories by Brandy Clark
4 The Highway by Holly Williams
5 American Kid by Patty Griffin
6 Crazy Lonesome Blue by Danny Kay & The Nightlifers
7 Like a Rose by Ashley Monroe
8 Down Fell the Doves by Amanda Shires
9 Old-Fashioned Gal by The Carper Family
10 Love Is Everything by George Strait
11 River Roads by Sage Meadows

4.5 stars:
12 Rubberband by Charlie Worsham
13 High Top Mountain by Sturgill Simpson
14 Honky Tonk by Son Volt
15 Build Me Up From Bones by Sarah Jarosz
16 Never Give In by Will Hoge
17 Old Soul by Kathryn Legendre
18 Gone Away Backward by Robbie Fulks
19 Dark and Dirty Mile by Jason Boland and the Stragglers
20 High Life by Charlie Robison
21 Fall Into Me by Katie Armiger
22 Copper & Coal by Copper & Coal
23 In the Throes by John Moreland

4 stars: 
24 Long Night Moon by Reckless Kelly
25 Feeling Mortal by Kris Kristofferson
26 Tin Star by Lindi Ortega
27 Pioneer by The Band Perry
28 Golden by Lady Antebellum
29 In Time by The Mavericks
30 The Woman I Am by Kellie Pickler
31 How Country Feels by Randy Houser
32 Set You Free by Gary Allan

3.5 stars: 
33 Cut To Impress by Maggie Rose
34 Cheater's Game by Kelly Wilson, Bruce Robison
35 To All The Girls… by Willie Nelson
36 I'm Bad For You by Eric Strickland and the B-sides
37 Dos Divas by Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis
38 The Bluegrass Album by Alan Jackson
39 Not This Time by Nellie Wilson
40 Stripped to the Root by J.B. Beverley
41 Wide Listener by Drew Kennedy
42 New Hometown by Connor Christian & Southern Gothic
43 Annie Up by The Pistol Annies
44 Electric by Richard Thompson
45 The World You're Living In by Amber Digby
46 Stay Reckless by Austin Lucas
47 Before The World Was Made by Brennen Leigh, Noel McKay

3 stars: 
48 Finally Home by Blue Sky Riders
49 Nashville: Season 1, Volume 2 by Various
50 My Favorite Picture of You by Guy Clark
51 Runaway Freeway Blues by The Black Lillies
52 You Can't Make Old Friends by Kenny Rogers
53 The Civil Wars by The Civil Wars
54 Year of the Dragon by Brent Amaker & The Rodeo
55 Pushin' On a Stone by Valerie June
56 Just Feels Good by Thompson Square
57 Brothers of the Highway by Dailey and Vincent
58 Debt'll Get'em by The Defibulators
59 Two Lanes of Freedom by Tim McGraw
60 ElRanchoAzul by Dale Watson
61 Red River Drifter by Michael Martin Murphey
62 True Believers by Darius Rucker
63 Hand on the Plow by The Tillers
64 Bring You Back by Brett Eldredge
65 Beggin' For More by Kyle Park
66 Take It and Break It by Leo Rondeau

2.5 stars: 
67 Memories and Moments by Tim O'Brien, Darrell Scott
68 Love Will… by Trace Adkins
69 A.M. by Chris Young
70 There Will Be Nights When I'm Lonely by Possessed by Paul James
71 I Am Jaida Dreyer by Jaida Dreyer
72 I'm a Stranger Here by The Devil Makes Three
73 More Raw Stuff by Ray Lawrence, Jr.
74 Trouble by Randy Rogers Band
75 Cannery Row by Deadstring Brothers
76 Thorn In My Heart by Kim Richey
77 Crazy Again by Jackson Taylor & the Sinners
78 Fulton Blues by Corey Harris
79 Say Grace by Sam Baker
80 Door Without a Screen by Sundy Best
81 StandOff by Casey Donahew Band
82 Right on Time by Gretchen Wilson
83 The Color of Rust by Carolina Still
84 Bless this Mess by Jayke Orvis & the Broken Band
85 Before And After They Were Here by olds sleeper
86 The Old School by Peter Rowan
87 Come Cry With Me by Daniel Romano
88 This is America by Ashton Shepherd
89 Whiskey and Lace by Krystal Keith
90 People Like You Hate People Like Me by Dog Bite Harris
91 The Other Life by Shooter Jennings
92 Good Wine and Bad Decisions by Julie Roberts
93 The White Buffalo by Jimbo Mathus and the Tri State Coalition
94 The Low Highway by Steve Earle
95 Dad Country by Johnny Fritz
96 Let's Face the Music and Dance by Willie Nelson
97 The Stand-in by Caitlin Rose

2 stars: 
98 Frame by Frame by Cassadee Pope
99 Gwen Sebastian by Gwen Sebastian
100 All Nite Long! by Davy Jay Sparrow & His Western Songbirds
101 The Muse by The Wood Bros
102 Days of Gold by Jake Owen
103 Life on a Rock by Kenny Chesney
104 Big, Big World by Scott Miller
105 Soft Music and Hard Liquor by The Highballer
106 Ashes and Angels by Fifth on the Floor
107 Based on a True Story… by Blake Shelton
108 All In the Same Boat by Joe Diffie, Sammy Kershaw, and Aaron Tippin
109 Internal Sounds by The Sadies
110 Honky Tonk Woman by Georgia Holt
111 Danielle Bradberry by Danielle Bradberry
112 Never Regret by Craig Campbell

1.5 stars: 
113 Good Light by Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors
114 Shadows, Greys, and Evil Ways by The White Buffalo
115 We Are Tonight by Billy Currington
116 Feels Like Home by Sheryl Crow
117 Spitfire by LeAnn Rimes
118 Ride by Wayne Hancock
119 It Ain't All Bad by Steve Wariner
120 Wheelhouse by Brad Paisley
121 Kicker Town by Rusty Truck
122 Brothers of the 4x4 by Hank Williams III
123 Lies I Told Myself by Ty Herndon
124 Fossils by Aoiffe O'Donovan
125 The Calm After… by Travis Tritt
126 Rose Queen by William Clark Green
127 The Great Controversy by Javi Garcia
128 By the Lamplight by Larry and His Flask

1 star:
129 Rattleshack by Rattleshack
130 Tate Stevens by Tate Stevens
131 Wild Moon by JD Wilkes & the Dirt Daubers
132 Crash My Party by Luke Bryan
133 Southern Way of Life by Deana Carter
134 Crickets by Joe Nichols
135 Drinks After Work by Toby Keith
136 Exodus of the Deemed Unrighteous by Lincoln Durham
137 Southern Soul by Frank Foster

.5 stars:
138 Fuse by Keith Urban
139 See You Tonight by Scotty McCreery
140 Life As We Know It by Lonestar
141 The Dinosaur Truckers by The Dinosaur Truckers
142 It Goes Like This by Thomas Rhett
143 Undertow by Ten Foot Polecats
144 Pistol Holler by Pistol Holler
145 Dirt Road Driveway by Granger Smith
146 Ghost Ballads by Lonesome Wyatt and the Holy Spooks

0 stars:
147 Feels Like Carolina by Parmalee
148 Mikey Classic and His Lonesome Spur by Mikey Classic and His Lonesome Spur
149 Off the Beaten Path by Justin Moore
150 Hatchetations by Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy
151 Redneck Crazy by Tyler Farr
152 World Boogie Is Coming by North Mississippi Allstars
153 Spring Break…Here to Party by Luke Bryan
154 LoCash Cowboys by LoCash Cowboys
155 Mud Dynasty by Lenny Cooper
156 Keep It Redneck by The Lacs

Also here is Rolling Stone's top 10. 
Here is Taste of Country's top 10.
Here is The Boot's top 10.
Here are Saving Country Music's Album of the Year nominees.
Here is Huffington Post's top 10.

I'll add any other links to newspapers/websites that you guys to recommend. Don't believe Roughstock has posted theirs yet.

So how about you guys? What were your favorite albums of 2013? What albums could you have done without? Looking forward to seeing what you guys think.

Any comments wanting to discuss my rankings further, please PM me not to clutter the thread. Willing to discuss anything but keep in mind, there's a lot of personal opinion involved.

[Markus Meyer]

01. Kacey Musgraves - 'Same Trailer Different Park'
02. The Band Perry - 'Pioneer'
03. Keith Urban - 'Fuse'
04. Ashley Monroe - 'Like A Rose'
05. Maggie Rose - 'Cut To Impress'
06. Vince Gill & Paul Franklin - 'Bakersfield'
07. Eric Church - 'Caught In The Act: Live'
08. Various Artists - 'Alabama and Friends'
09. The Civil Wars - 'The Civil Wars'
10. Brad Paisley - 'Wheelhouse'

My top 10.

[sabre14]

Favorites: :)

1. Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves
2. Favourite Mistake - Autumn Hill
3. Rubberband - Charlie Worsham
4. Crickets - Joe Nichols
5. 12 Stories - Brandy Clark
6. Set You Free - Gary Allan
7. Just Feels Good - Thompson Square
8. The Woman I Am - Kellie Pickler
9. Love Is Everthing - George Strait
10. The Bluegrass Album - Alan Jackson

Just Under

11. Cut To Impress - Maggie Rose
12. Feels Like Carolina - Parmalee
13. Headlights, Taillights, and Radios - Tracy Lawrence
14. Never Give In - Will Hoge
15. Two Lanes Of Freedom - Tim McGraw

Least Favorites:

1. Here's To The Good Times Deuxe Edition - Florida Georgia Line (It's head and shoulders #1. I know its a updated version of the December 2012 release but I had to include it. Maybe the two worst lyrically written country songs in history "It'z Just What We Do, "This Is How We Roll". Awful lyrics, horrible vocals, and mindnumbing production)
2. Redneck Crazy - Tyler Farr (The title track was OK to me and I actually like "Whiskey In My Water". But that's it. Very cliched country boy tracks all through this album)
3. Off The Beaten Path - Justin Moore ( "Id Want It To Be Yours" might get this in my top 5 alone but there were many other songs on this album that helped. When they aren't corny country stero-types, then they are boring like his latest single)
4. It Goes Like This - Thomas Rhett (I think he is capable of great music. "Beer With Jesus" can not be a one time thing. But this album was a big letdown. Nothing stood out at all. Including "It Goes Like This" which I never thought was all that good)
5. Tate Stevens - Tate Stevens (Awful cliche songs. "I Got This", "Holler If Your With Me", "That's How You Get The Girl", "Sweet", and "El Camino" are about the same things.. Cars, trucks, bars, and hot girls. He has a stellar voice but it's wasted on this album)

[dajire4]

1. The Highway - Holly Williams
2. Ashley Monroe - Like A Rose
3. Kellie Pickler - The Woman I Am
4. Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer , Different Park
5. TBP - Pioneer
6. Little Big Town - Tornado (technically not from this year but still...
7. Pistol Annies - Annie Up
8. Brandy Clark - 12 Stories
9. Caitlin Rose - The Stand-In
10. T2 - Just Feels Good
11. George Strait - Love Is Everything
12. Tim McGraw - Two Lanes Of Freedom
13. Sheryl Crow - Feels Like Home
14. Charlie Worsham - Rubberband
15. Maggie Rose - Cut To Impress

[jughead]

1. Rubberband
2. Same Trailer Different Park
3. Pioneer
4. Fuse
5. Frame By Frame

[goodsoul81]

1. Blake Shelton - Based On A True Story
2. Luke Bryan - Crash My Party
3. Parmalee - Feels Like Carolina
4. Chris Young - AM
5. Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer, Different Park
6. Lady Antebellum - Golden
7. Keith Urban - Fuse
8. The Band Perry - Pioneer
9. Darius Rucker - True Believers
10. Joe Nichols - Crickets

[phil1996]

1. Joe Nichols: "Crickets"
2. Randy Houser: "How Country Feels"
3. Gary Allan: Set You Free"
4. Billy Currington: "We Are Tonight"
5. Parmalee: "Feels Like Carolina"

[fe_lipeoliveira]

01 - Ashley Monroe - Like a Rose
02 - Brandy Clark - 12 Stories
03 - Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer Different Park
04 - LeAnn Rimes - Spitfire
05 - Lori McKenna - Massachusetts
06 - Patty Griffin - American Kid
07 - Pistol Annies - Annie Up
08 - Kellie Pickler - The Woman I Am
09 - Julie Roberts - Good Wine and Bad Decisions
10 - Sheryl Crow - Feels Like Home

Honorable mentions to Holly Williams, Lindi Ortega, Caitlin Rose, Jaida Dreyer and many others female singers who put out album this year! What a great year for female country singers :)

Dislikes of the year

01 - Cassadee Pope - Frame By Frame
02 - Gwen Sebastian - Gwen Sebastian
03 - The Band Perry - Pioneer

[zaclord 🌈]

01 Kacey Musgraves "Same Trailer Different Park"
02 Cassadee Pope "Frame By Frame"
03 Scotty McCreery "See You Tonight"
04 Kellie Pickler "The Woman I Am"
05 Keith Urban "Fuse"
06 Thompson Square "Just Feels Good"
07 Danielle Bradbery "Danielle Bradbery"
08 Ashley Monroe "Like a Rose"
09 Sheryl Crow "Feels Like Home"
10 Gary Allan "Set You Free"

[Kanenrá:ke]

There's a lot of albums that I missed this year so this album list is definatley nowhere near complete. I will post this but know that it only includes albums I've listened to, there's many others that could probably make the list once I've given them a listen.

01. Holly Williams - The Highway
02. Gary Allan - Set You Free
03. Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer, Different Park
04. Logan Brill - Walking Wires
05. Ashley Monroe - Like A Rose
06. Charlie Worsham - Rubberband
07. Maggie Rose - Cut To Impress
08. George Strait - Love Is Everything
09. LeAnn Rimes - Spitfire
10. Trace Adkins - Love Will...
11. Dean Brody - Crop Circles
12. Lindi Ortega - Tin Star
13. Tracy Lawrence - Headlights, Tailights & Radios
14. Julie Roberts - Good Wine & Bad Decisions
15. Alan Jackson - The Bluegrass Album
16. Blue Sky Riders - Finally Home
17. Sheryl Crow - Feels Like Home
18. Katie Armiger - Fall Into Me
19. Chris King - 1983
20. Billie Joe + Norah - Foreverly
21. Jaida Dreyer - I Am
22. Ty Herndon - Lies I Told Myself
23. Ladies Of The Canyon - Diamond Heart
24. Steve Earle - The Low Highway
25. Gretchen Wilson - Right On Time

Honorable Mentions go to
Autumn Hill, The Band Perry, The Civil Wars, Crystal Bowersox, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Lorrie Morgan & Pam Tillis, Guy Clark, John Corbett, The Lone Bellow, The Mavericks, Pistol Annies & Randy Travis.

Albums I haven't had a chance to listen to in full but I think would make the list based on past work and previews:
Amber Digby's "The World You're Living In"
Ashton Shepherd's "This Is America"
Brandy Clark's "12 Stories"
Caitlin Rose's "The Stand In"
Carrie Rodriguez's "Give Me All You Got"
Charlie Robison's "High Life"
Claire Lynch's "Dear Sister"
Court Yard Hounds' "Amelita"
Craig Campbell's "Never Regret"
Dailey & Vincent's "Brothers Of The Highway"
Dale Watson's "El Rancho Azul"
Deana Carter's "Southern Way Of Life"
Deric Ruttan's "Take The Week Off"
Donna Ulisse's "Showin' My Roots"
Georgia Holt's "Georgia Holt"
Gord Bamford's "Country Junkie"
The Greencards' "Sweetheart Of The Sun"
Hedi Feek's "The Only
Jason Isbell "Southeastern"
Joey + Rory's "Made To Last"
Kellie Pickler's "The Woman I Am"
Kelly Wills & Bruce Robison's "Cheater's Game"
Kenny Rogers' "You Can't Make Old Friends"
Kim Richey's "Thorn In My Heart"
Kris Kristofferson's "Feeling Mortal"
Krystal Keith's "Whiskey & Lace"
Lori McKenna's "Massachusetts"
Neal McCoy's "Pride"
Patty Griffin's "American Kid"
Randy Rogers Band's "Trouble"
The Roys' "Gypsy Runaway Train"
Sarah Jarosz's "Build Me Up From Bones"
Sierra Hull's "Sierra Hull"
Steve Wariner's "It Ain't All Bad"
Sturgill Simpson's "Hight Top Mountain"
Vince Gill & Paul Franklin's "Bakersfield"
Will Hoge's "Never Give In"
Kathyrn Legendre's "Old Soul"

[shainabotwin]

Here are my ten (in no order - way too hard for me to choose).

12 Stories - Brandy Clark
Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves
Like A Rose - Ashley Monroe
Southeastern - Jason Isbell
The Highway - Holly Williams
Rubberband - Charlie Worsham
American Kid - Patty Griffin
Fuse - Keith Urban
The Woman I Am - Kellie Pickler
The Civil Wars - The Civil Wars

And, though not country, Eminem put out one of the best records this year, by far!

[someguy]

1. Sheryl Crow - Feels Like Home
2. Tim McGraw - Two Lanes Of Freedom
3. Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer Different Park
4. Luke Bryan - Crash My Party
5. LeAnn Rimes - Spitfire
6. The Band Perry - Pioneer
7. Kenny Chesney - Life On A Rock
8. Lady Antebellum - Golden
9. Blake Shelton - Based On A True Story
10. Keith Urban - Fuse
11. Gary Allan - Set You Free
12. Pistol Annies - Annie Up


I also enjoyed Garth Brooks' Blame It On My Roots but I wasn't sure how to rank it, so I left it off. Kenny's album would have been higher earlier in the year, but it hasn't held up all that well for me.

[Typo]

01. The Highway - Holly Williams
02. Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves
03. Like a Rose - Ashley Monroe
04. Spitfire - LeAnn Rimes
05. 12 Stories - Brandy Clark

Women ruled.

[rjz]

I've become more of a singles buyer so will just list my top three

1). Fuse-Keith Urban
2). Same Trailer Different Park-Kacey Musgraves
3). Pioneer- TBP

[Deleted]

01. Wrapped In Red - Kelly Clarkson
01. The Woman I Am - Kellie Pickler
02. Two Lanes Of Freedom - Tim McGraw
03. Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves
04. Feels Like Home - Sheryl Crow
05. Fuse - Keith Urban
06. Pioneer - The Band Perry
07. Spitfire - LeAnn Rimes
08. Massachusetts - Lori McKenna
09. Golden (Deluxe) - Lady Antebellum
10. The Civil Wars - The Civil Wars

[George Strait Junkie]

my top 15 albums are as follows (I also include my favorite or top 2 favorite songs from the albums)

#1 - King George - Love is Everything (Top 2 Favs: I Got A Car & Settin' On A Fence)
#2 - Alan Jackson - The Bluegrass Album (Favorite Song: Blacktop)
#3 - Joey + Rory - Made To Last (Top 2 Favs: Good Truck, Made To Last)
#4 - The Grascals - When I Get My Pay (Top 2 favs: Mister Fix It, When You're Rock Turns To Stone)
#5 - Dailey & Vincent - Brothers of the Highway (favorite song: When I Stop Dreaming)
#6 - Vince Gill & Paul Franklin - Bakersfield (Favorite track: vince sings the hell out of Foolin' around)
#7 - Randy Travis - The Man I Am: Influences Vol, 1 (Top 2 Favs: Tonight I'm Playin' Possum, Big Butter & Egg Man)
#8 - Bill Anderson - LIFE! - (Top 2 Favs: Whisper With Joey + Rory, She Could Ruin My Life)
#9 - Garth Brooks - Country Classics - from the boxset (Top 2 Favs: After The Fire Is Gone, Unwound)
#10 - Sammy Kershaw - Big Hits Volume 1 (i have to pick the 2 new songs as my favorites)
#11 - Ashton Shepard - This Is America (Top 2 favs: Andy, Golden Ring With Daryle Singletary)
#12 - Ashley Monroe - Like A Rose - (Favorite Song: Weed Instead of Roses)
#13 - Lorrie & Pam - Dos Divas - (Top 2 Favs: I Know What You Did Last Night, I'm tired)
#14 - Joe Diffie, Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin - All In The Same Boat (Top 2 Favs: Misery Loves Company, Old Friends)
#15 - Kellie Pickler - The Woman I Am (Top 2 favs: I Forgive You, Ring For Sale)

i may have missed some i just pulled out the CD's i play all the time that came out this year and ranked'em by how often i play them

[ky24941]

All the albums I've bought this year

1. Autumn Hill - Favorite Mistake
2. The Band Perry - Pioneer
3. Brett Eldredge - Bring You Back
4. Cassadee Pope - Frame By Frame
5. Charlie Worsham - Rubberband
6. Court Yard Hounds - Amelita
7. Garth Brooks - Blame It All On My Roots
8. Jo Dee Messina - Me
9. Joe Diffie, Sammy Kershaw & Aaron Tippin - All In The Same Boat
10. Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer, Different Park
11. LeAnn Rimes - Spitfire
12. Lorrie Morgan & Pam Tillis - Dos Divas
13. Michelle Wright - Strong
14. Small Town Pistols - Small Town Pistols
15. Thompson Square - Just Feels Good

Albums I plan getting soon:
1. Ashley Monroe - Like A Rose
2. Ashton Shepherd - This Is America
3. Danielle Bradbery - Danielle Bradbery
4. Dean Brody - Crop Circles
5. Deana Carter - Southern Way of Life
6. Kellie Pickler - The Woman I Am
7. Maggie Rose - Cut To Impress
8. Sheryl Crow - Feels Like Home

Neither of these albums aren't country but are still worth a mention
1. Natalie Maines - Mother
2. Kelly Clarkson - Wrapped In Red

[cerulean]

1. Charlie Worsham - Rubberband
2. Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer Different Park
3. Caitlin Rose - The Stand-In
4. Sheryl Crow - Feels Like Home
5. Brandy Clark - 12 Stories

[bjer127]

My favorites from 2013, in no particular order

Vince Gill & Paul Franklin - Bakersfield
Gary Allan - Set You Free
Ashley Monroe - Like A Rose
Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer Different Park
Brett Eldredge - Bring You Back (one of the best debut albums in years, IMO)
Joe Nichols - Crickets
George Strait - Love Is Everything
Randy Travis - The Man I Am, Influences Vol. 1 (listen to Merle's "What Have You Got Planned Tonight Diana", almost better than the original)
Lady Antebellum - Golden
Chris Young - A.M.

Major Dislikes and Disappointments
Luke Bryan - Crash My Party (enough already said, department store music to me, lost his edge)
Jake Owen - Days of Gold (jury still out...but didn't catch my attention after first listen, but disappointed)
Thomas Rhett - It Goes Like This (ugggh)
Tyler Farr - Redneck Crazy (only a few good tracks, but he has lots of potential with the right songs)
Brad Paisley - Wheelhouse (half and half for me, but i'd wish he'd get back with Frank Rogers for production)
The Band Perry - Pioneer (definately some good songs, like title track, but too pop leaning. Debut album was more fresh)
Pistol Annies - Annie Up (loved the first album, this one just didn't continue the first album's freshness for me)
Darius Rucker - True Believers (outside of WW and Lost In You, nothing stuck out. Wish he would cut album of more traditional songs, it'd be fantastic)

[samsager3]

1. Luke Bryan- crash my party

2. Justin Moore- off the beaten path

3. Darius Rucker- true believers

5. Randy houser- how country feels

6. The band perry- pioneer

7. Billy currington- we are tonight

8. Chris young- A.M

9. Brett eldredge- bring you back

10. Keith urban - fuse

Albums I enjoy but aren't really favorite:

1. Kacey musgraves - same trailer different park

2. Blake Shelton - based on a true story

3 . Lady antebellum - golden

4. Thompson square - just feels good

5. Tim McGraw - two lanes of freedome

6. Brad paisley - wheelhouse

7. Gary Allan - set you free

8. Danielle bradery- Danielle bradbery

9. Charlie worsham - rubberband

10. Kenny chesney - life on a rock

[Deleted]

My top 14 albums (and this is compiled from a list of albums I listened to or actually bought):

01 Rubberband by Charlie Worsham. Hands-down the best album of the year for me, and one of the best albums--debut or otherwise--in many, many years. The lead single ("Could It Be") was only 'ok' to me, but every other song is pretty much the definition of lyrical, vocal, and production perfection.

• Top Favorites: "Want Me Too", "Young To See", "Rubberband", "How I Learned To Pray", "Tools Of The Trade" (ft. Vince Gill and Marty Stuart), "Mississippi In July", and "Someone Like Me"

02 Golden by Lady Antebellum. I really, really enjoyed this album, and that surprised me, as I didn't care for Own The Night and never bought it. I still listen to Golden regularly, though, and while I haven't let the deluxe-only tracks really sink in yet (aside from the superb "Compass"), I like all the songs I've heard. This is my favorite Lady A album, topping both their debut and Need You Now.

• Top Favorites: "Goodbye Town", "Nothin' Like The First Time", "Downtown", "Better Off Now (That You're Gone)", "It Ain't Pretty", "Can't Stand The Rain", "Golden", "Long Teenage Goodbye", and "All For Love"
• Least Favorites: "Generation Away"

03 Two Lanes Of Freedom by Tim McGraw. I started to lose a little interest in Tim during the late 2000's (radio singles weren't up to par over that span, and I lost interest in buying his albums as a result), but I bought Emotional Traffic--and I found it to be pretty good--and Two Lanes Of Freedom is even better.

• Top Favorites: "Two Lanes Of Freedom", "Friend Of A Friend", "Nashville Without You", "Book Of John", "Annie I Owe You A Dance", "Mexicoma", "Number 37405", and "Highway Don't Care" (ft. Taylor Swift & Keith Urban)
• Least Favorites: "Southern Girl" and "Truck Yeah"

04 Love Is Everything by George Strait. It's impossible not to like King George. This was a solid album through and through, without a bad song on it.

• Top Favorites: "I Got A Car", "I Thought I Heard My Heart Sing", "That's What Breaking Hearts Do", "When Love Comes Around Again", "Sittin' On The Fence", "I Believe", and "When The Credits Roll"

05 Just Feels Good by Thompson Square. Admittedly, I find this album to be somewhat lacking in depth and consisting of almost pure radio candy, but they do it so well! This is another album in which I enjoyed every song...not really a song on here that I don't like.

• Top Favorites: "Everything I Shouldn't Be Thinking About", "Here We Go Again", "You Don't Get Lucky", "Testing The Water", "For The Life Of Me", "Here's To Being Here", "Maybe It's You", and "Home Is You"

06 Set You Free by Gary Allan. I admittedly don't own a lot of Gary's collection, but I listened to this and I knew I had to buy it. There are a couple of songs on here that still don't really do much for me, but most of the songs are great.

• Top Favorites: "Tough Goodbye", "Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)", "It Ain't The Whiskey", "Sand In My Soul", "Hungover Heart", and "Pieces"
• Least Favorites: "Drop"

07 Fuse by Keith Urban. This is a couple steps down from all of Keith's past albums, at least to my ears. I was glad he wanted to mix things up a little bit, but overall, I was somewhat disappointed in this album, from a lyrical standpoint anyway. Still, it's Keith, and I quite enjoy it. If I didn't, it wouldn't be #7 on my list! ;)

• Top Favorites: "Somewhere In My Car", "Cop Car", "Good Thing", "We Were Us" (duet with Miranda Lambert), "Come Back To Me", and "Raise 'Em Up" (ft. Eric Church)
• Least Favorites: "Even The Stars Fall 4 U" and "Love's Poster Child"

08 How Country Feels by Randy Houser. Quite a few really good songs on here, but there were a few too many 'average' songs for me to rank this any higher. Definitely an enjoyable album overall, though, and it's great to see such a talented artist balancing substance with strong radio material and having success with it.

• Top Favorites: "Runnin' Outta Moonlight", "Growin' Younger", "Power Of A Song", "Wherever Love Goes" (ft. Kristy Lee Cook), "Like A Cowboy", "Goodnight Kiss", "Shine", and "Route 3 Box 250D"
• Least Favorites: "Sunshine On The Line" and "Let's Not Let It"

09 Feels Like Carolina by Parmalee. Had this come out earlier in the year, it may very well have been in my top 5. But as it stands now, I've only listened through a couple of times and so it hasn't completely sunk in yet. I don't own it yet--but it's definitely on my Christmas list. I enjoyed nearly every song on this one...only 1 or 2 that I didn't really care for.

• Top Favorites: "Day Drinkin'", "Move", "Close Your Eyes For This", "Dance", "Carolina", "Back In The Day", "My Montgomery", "Already Callin' You Mine", and "Another Day Gone"
• Least Favorites: "Musta Had A Good Time" and "I'll Bring The Music"

10 Same Trailer Different Park by Kacey Musgraves. Here's an album that I found to be of high quality, but yet it's not one I like to listen to a lot, and so I think that's why it's a little bit lower on my list. Still, I think it's a great, great album, and one of the best of the year.

• Top Favorites: "Silver Lining", "Merry Go 'Round", "Blowin' Smoke", "Step Off", "Back On The Map", "Keep It To Yourself", and "Follow Your Arrow"
• Least Favorites: "Stupid" and "It Is What It Is"

11 Hunter Hayes (Encore) by Hunter Hayes. I know the standard version of the album was released over 2 years ago, but I still decided to include the Encore version. I personally didn't enjoy the regular version a lot, whereas I really like the new batch of songs.

• Top Favorites: "If You Told Me To", "Everybody's Got Somebody But Me" (ft. Jason Mraz), "What You Gonna Do" (ft. Ashley Monroe), "More Than I Should", "In A Song", and "Better Than This"
• Least Favorites: "Wanted", "Somebody's Heartbreak", and "I Want Crazy"

12 We Are Tonight by Billy Currington. This one has some songs that I really liked, but also a few I didn't like, and since it's a short 10-track album, that hinders it on my list. In retrospect, I may have purchased 5-6 of the tracks rather than the whole album.

• Top Favorites: "Wingman", "One Way Ticket", "23 Degrees And South", "We Are Tonight", and "Closer Tonight"
• Least Favorites: "Banana Pancakes" and "Hallelujah"

13 Pioneer by The Band Perry. A pretty good album, but for some reason this group has just never quite completely 'clicked' with my personal tastes. There are some really big high points on this album for me, but also a few too many tracks that just aren't quite my favorite types of songs.

• Top Favorites: "Don't Let Me Be Lonely", "Forever Mine Nevermind", "I Saw A Light", "Chainsaw", and "Back To Me Without You"
• Least Favorites: "Better Dig Two"

14 Life On A Rock by Kenny Chesney. A pretty good collection of songs, but it suffers from having any big 'hits' to really carry it. Still, I find that I enjoy it quite a bit, although it's not one of my favorite KC albums.

• Top Favorites: "When I See This Bar", "Spread The Love", "Lindy", "Must Be Something I Missed", and "Happy On The Hey Now (A Song For Kristi)"
• Least Favorites: "Pirate Flag" and "Coconut Tree" (ft. Willie Nelson)

[kw9461]

Here's my provisional list - I may have to amend it after Christmas.

1. Love Is Everything - George Strait (in pole position for album of the decade so far)
2. Set You Free - Gary Allan (neck and neck with EYB's Life At Best for #2 of the decade)
3. Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves
4. Rubberband - Charlie Worsham
5. Days Of Gold - Jake Owen
6. A.M. - Chris Young
7. Life On A Rock - Kenny Chesney
8. Two Lanes Of Freedom - Tim McGraw
9. Bring You Back - Brett Eldredge
10. Drinks After Work - Toby Keith (almost guaranteed to get bumped out of the T10)

[tim]

In no particular order I present my provisional 13 best of 2013 list. Enjoy :)

Golden - Lady Antebellum
Spitfire - LeAnn Rimes
Silver Bell - Patty Griffin
Set You Free - Gary Allan
Fuse - Keith Urban
I Love Everything - George Strait
The Civil Wars - The Civil Wars
The Bluegrass Album - Alan Jackson
Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves
Annie Up - Pistol Annies
Rubberband - Charlie Worsham
Crickets - Joe Nichols
Cheater's Game - Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison

[Uncle Lumpy]

I wasnt going to bother with a list til I started reading some of the others above. Maybe Im not such an oddball afterall.

1. Brandy Williams /Honky Tonks and Heartaches
2. Brandy Clark / 12 Stories
3. Vince Gill & Paul Franklin / Bakersfield
4. Billy Yates /Only One George Jones
5. Ron Williams / Fool Proof
6. Kevin Moon/ Laid Back
7. Ashley Monroe / Like A Rose
8. Wesley Dennis / Country Enough
9. Erin Enderlin / I Let Her Talk
10. Brian Mallery / Legends
11. Randy Travis / Influences Vol. 1
12. Mike Leblanc / Alive & Well
13. Don Rich / Don Rich Sings George Jones
14. Kellie Pickler The Woman I Am
15. Julie Roberts / Good Wine & Bad Decisions
16. Sheryl Crow / Feels Like Home
17. Joe Diffie , Sammy Kershaw & Arron Tippin "All In The Same Boat"
18. Dos Divas (Lorrie Morgan & Pam Tillis)
19. Pistol Annies "Annie Up"
20. Alan Jackson / The Bluegrass Album

Looking at these lists I see I'm going to have to check out Holly Williams album as I loved "Drinkin'" and completely freakin' forgot about it. Ditto for Ashton Shepherd. While Ive never been a huge fan of her voice, The duet with Singltary on what I presume is the Jones & Wynette classic is enough to sell me.

[carriekins]

In no particular order...

Brandy Clark - 12 Stories
Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer, Different Park
George Strait - Love is Everything
The Band Perry - Pioneer
Ashley Monroe - Like a Rose
Kellie Pickler - The Woman I Am
Charlie Worsham - Rubberband
Sheryl Crow - Feels Like Home
Holly Williams - The Highway
Lady Antebellum - Golden

[Cody Wants Out...]

I don't have to do a ranking? Cool. I'll join in then.

Lady Antebellum - Golden

- This was definitely one of the highlights of the year for me across all genres. I enjoy virtually every song on the record and was very surprised to hear them pull off gems like the title track, "It Ain't Pretty", and "Nothin' Like the First Time". This gives me hope for the future.

Randy Houser - How Country Feels

- I've never considered a handful of these albums until reading some reviews on here and this is one of them. Never really cared much for him at first, but I will admit to liking a couple of his singles before he officially broke through. Decent lead single with the title track, but I felt like at least half of the album was even more radio-friendly, including "Runnin' Outta Moonlight", "Growing Younger", "Power of a Song", "Like a Cowboy", and "Goodnight Kiss", and my personal favorites "Wherever Love Goes", "Along for the Ride" and "Route 3 Box 250 D".

Tim McGraw - Two Lanes of Freedom

- I've been cautious about investigating this artist's work at first since he's been around for the past couple of decades, but I really enjoy his albums now, particularly All I Want, A Place in the Sun, The Dancehall Doctors, and Live Like You Were Dying. This recent effort of his joins the ranks, despite some regrettable single choices (*cough*TruckYeahand*cough*SouthernGirl). Personal favorites of mine include the title track, "Friend of a Friend", "Nashville Without You", "Book of John", "Annie I Owe You a Dance", and "Highway Don't Care".

Keith Urban - Fuse

- I know not many are a fan of this direction he's taken, but I suppose I'm just happy he released something that I find to be pretty darn cool. Yeah, there are some cheesy cuts this time around like "Even the Stars...", "She's My 11", and "Gonna B Good", but I thoroughly enjoyed this effort with "Cop Car", "We Were Us", "Raise 'Em Up", "Shame", "Good Thing", "Red Camaro", and "Lucky Charm" as my favorites.

The Band Perry - Pioneer

- Pleasantly surprised with this record, although it's far from perfect. I'll admit that I could do without "Night Gone Wasted" and "I'm a Keeper", but otherwise, it's a pretty solid sophomore effort.

Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer, Different Park

- I find this to be a pretty cool debut from her; again, it's not perfect, but I really enjoy almost all of it. "Silver Lining", "My House", "Merry Go 'Round", "Step Off", "Keep It To Yourself", "Follow Your Arrow"...I could jam to these over and over again and not get tired of them. We need more songs like these, no matter who or where they come from.

Gary Allan - Set You Free

- Forgive me for almost forgetting the title of this album. I essentially just discovered what Mr. Allan can really do by the time his album came out. I enjoyed most of his singles so far (now that I've listened to them, I found quite a few underrated gems from the late 90s and early 2000s), but never checked out his albums until the beginning of this calendar year. Why can't more country songs, tailor-made-for-radio or not, be like these? "Tough Goodbye" would've been perfect for radio this past summer, but I guess MCA thought otherwise. Very glad he could reach the top of the charts again with "Every Storm", though. My personal favorites from the record were "It Ain't the Whiskey" and "One More Time", but I loved pretty much the entire thing.

Thompson Square - Just Feels Good

- Although this duo is kinda under the radar for me, I enjoy them nonetheless. Their sophomore album is much more radio-friendly than their debut and I personally thought they'd be hitting it big by now, but I guess slow and steady does indeed win the race. Odd choice for the lead single, but I do appreciate it amongst the bro-country starting to over-flood the airwaves at that point. Here's to hopefully more chart hits for this duo.

Charlie Worsham - Rubberband

- Oh, boy. This gentleman has a very good bit of talent and it shows with this record here. I loved everything on this one, particularly the title track, "Young to See", and "Mississippi in July". Would more than love to see him get some recognition next year.

[tvoss20]

My top 4:

1. Scotty McCreery-See You Tonight
2. Brett Eldredge-Bring You Back
3. Jake Owen-Days of Gold
4. Joe Nichols-Crickets

[countryfan15]

1. Gary Allan-Set You Free
2. Craig Campbell- Never Regret
3. Charlie Worsham-Rubberband
4. George Strait-Love Is Everything
5. Garth Brooks- Blame It All On My Roots( Country Classics)
6. Wesley Dennis-Country Enough
7. Ty Herndon-Lies I Told Myself
8. Tracy Lawrence- Headlights,Tailights And Radios
9. Randy Travis- Influence Vol.1
10. Kacey Musgraves- Same Trailer Different Park
11. Aaron Tippin, Joe Diffie and Sammy Kershaw- All In The Same Boat

I still need to hear:
Brandy Clark-12 Stories
Dean Brody-Crop Circles
Julie Roberts- Good Wine and Bad Decisions

[McCreerian]

These are the only Country albums I bought that was released in 2013:

1. Scotty McCreery-See You Tonight
2. Kellie Pickler-The Woman I Am
3. Hunter Hayes-Encore
4. The Band Perry-Poineer
5. Garth Brooks-Blame It All on my Roots
6. Leann Rimes-Spitfire
7. George Strait-Love Is Everything
8. Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis-Grits and Glamour: Dos Divas

And I'll say my biggest disappointment album: Brad Paisley "Wheelhouse"

[koogles]

1. KEITH URBAN- Fuse
2. BLAKE SHELTON- Based On A True Story
3. TIM McGRAW- Two Lanes of Freedom
4. ALABAMA- Alabama & Friends
5. LUKE BRYAN- Crash My Party
6. LONESTAR- Life As We Know It
7. BRAD PAISLEY- Wheelhouse
8. STEVE WARINER- It Ain't All Bad
9. GEORGE STRAIT- Love Is Everything
10. JAKE OWEN- Days Of Gold
11. JUSTIN MOORE- Off The Beaten Path
12. TIM HICKS- Throw Down
13. TOBY KEITH- Drinks After Work
14. RANDY HOUSER- How Country Feels
15. JESSTA JAMES- Time To Get Right
16. BILLY CURRINGTON- We Are Tonight
17. CHASE RICE- Ready Set Roll
18. RESTLESS HEART- Playlist (with 2 new songs)
19. LUKE BRYAN- Spring Break... Here To Party
20. THE LACS- Keep It Redneck

HONORABLE MENTIONS (singles):

BRETT KISSEL- "Started With A Song"
BLACKJACK BILLY- "The Booze Cruise"
PHOENIX STONE- "100 Proof Moonshine"
JERROD NIEMANN- "Drink To That All Night"
BUSH HAWG- "Crushin"