5 Underrated Country Songs From 2023 You Should Be Listening To

2023 has been a busy year in the country world. From Morgan Wallen breaking records seemingly every other week to Zach Bryan solidifying himself as a national superstar, there have been plenty of highlights so far. That being said, it wouldn’t be surprising if some songs simply flew under the radar and were missed.

Today, I’m highlighting five songs that haven’t quite gotten the attention they deserve.

Till The End of My Days – Brennan Edwards

Featured in our “5 Independent Country Artists Who Need To Be On Your Radar” list, Brennan Edwards is an artist who certainly deserves way more recognition than he currently has.

Till the End of My Days feels like a reverent, pining love song very similar to Tyler Childers’ Lady May. There’s something extremely etheral about the way he writes the chorus, “‘Cause you drifted into my aura of sorrow that tried to hide behind a smile / Washed all my pain and brought sunshine where rain had poured over the heart of a child” It’s such a powerful, vivid lyric that does so much more than simply saying “you’ve made my life better.” Edwards poetic nature can be felt throughout the verses as well. The simple acoustic production really lets these powerful lyrics shine while simultaneously providing some intricacy through Edward’s picking patterns.

Mr. Meyers – Evan Honer

Honer is quietly becoming one of the most prolific young writers in the independent country scene, and no song quite captures this the way Mr. Meyers does.

Simply put, the song is an absolute heart-wrencher. Here, Honer writes from the perspective of the titular Mr. Meyers, a 64-year-old widow who is grappling with the loss of his wife. It’s such realistic, devastating depiction of depression and apathy. Honer intentionally writes Meyers as an extremely boring, flat individual. However, throughout the verses the flat descriptions take on a deeper, more meaningful meaning given his circumstances. You can’t help but to be overcome with empathy while listening to this expertly penned track.

You & Caroline – Tucker Knisell

Tucker Knisell is one of those artists that baffle me given he doesn’t receive nearly enough attention that he deserves. After being put on the map with 2022’s Wrist Tattoo, the 24-year-old followed it up with another stellar song in 2023, You & Caroline. The song is the perfect track to listen to on a cool autumn day.

Here, Knisell paints a sweet, longing picture of missing his girlfriend. The midtempo track is comprised of mainly an acoustic guitar with some nice touches of fiddle and piano that can be heard in the background. It’s a wistful little ballad that’s sure to put you in a good mood. If you want to learn more about Knisell, read our interview with him here.

Cherokee Rose – Colby Acuff

Cherokee Rose is an absolute heart-wrencher, depicting the story of a man reminiscing about his late wife, the titular “Cherokee Rose” and Acuff’s storytelling ability shines here.

He packs the track with incredibly detailed imagery/phrases such as “with aging eyes as misty as an early morning dew” and “then we sat there in silence as he held hands with her ghost.” These lyrics show the poetic side of Acuff’s songwriting and show the strong disconnect between prominent independent songwriters and the shallow lyrics many Nashville writers are pumping out lately. The combination of acoustic guitar, banjo and fiddle interwoven into the production provides the perfect amount of backing to this expertly written song. 

Dollar General Sign – Joe Stamm Band

Joe Stamm Band’s entire album, Wild Man, could have very well made this list, however, I decided to focus in on Dollar General Sign as the standout from the record.

Using what I like to call “Midwest simplicity,” Stamm uses a sparrow making a nest in the “O” of the Dollar General sign as a comparison to how everyone is simply trying to get by. Throughout the track, the sparrow becomes a sort of microcosm of small-town America. For those who live in a small midwest town such as myself, I feel that there is a certain amount of empathy and relatability found with the sparrow.

The additional touches of the narrator working as a Mountain Dew vendor going into the titular store, the boy sitting at the corner of the store smoking discarded cigarettes, and finally, the old man sitting reflecting on the now-destroyed Dollar General really bring the narrative full circle. It’s a bittersweet moment that ultimately reflects issues found in small-town living and how quickly time moves.