With the first quarter of 2024 coming to a close, I thought that it was the perfect time to highlight some of the best releases of the year so far. There have been quality releases every single week throughout the year, making this list fairly tough to whittle down to just 10 entries.
It should go without saying that this is a subjective list; these are simply my favorite songs and projects so far. It should also go without saying that this isn’t a definitive list as well.
Regardless, here are 13 of the best songs and projects that have been released this year.
Trail of Flowers – Sierra Ferrell (Album)
Every year there’s an album or two that really grabs me and doesn’t let me go. This year, it’s Sierra Ferrell’s Trail of Flowers. It sounds like a cliché to say that an album doesn’t sound like anything else being released at the moment, but that is the perfect way to describe this record.
Trail of Flowers is one of those albums that aren’t afraid to explore a variety of different sounds, but every single decision works perfectly. Ferrell is playing with classic bluegrass sounds on the lead single, “Fox Hunt,” and “Money Train,” a nearly musical sound on “Chittlin’ Cookin’ Time In Cheatham County” and “I’ll Come Off The Mountain” and finally a more modern sound on the album opener “American Dreaming” and “Wish You Well.”
Ultimately, Trail of Flowers a record simply sucks you into the weird, charming world of Sierra Ferrell through incredibly melodic songwriting and lush production throughout, feeling somewhere between a Tyler Childers and a Dolly Parton record. To me, it’s already a serious contender for Album of the Year.
Songs in the Gravel – Dylan Gossett (EP)
This EP as a whole once again proves why Gossett is one of today’s fastest-rising artists in country music. From the reflective “Bitter Winds” to the romping, bluegrass-inspired “Somewhere Between” to the dreaming “If I Had a Lover,” the project feels incredibly authentic.
You can feel the additional polish and production present throughout Songs in the Gravel in comparison to Gossett’s first EP, No Better Time. There are heavy doses of fiddle, mandolin and percussion present that give the project the sound that many would expect from today’s alt-country giants such as Zach Bryan and Charles Wesley Godwin.
Overall, Songs in the Gravel is yet another standout EP from Gossett. Between the backing from both Big Loud Texas and Mercury Records, the continued success of his first Top 20 hit, “Coal,” and the appearances at upcoming festivals throughout 2024, the sky is truly the limit for Gossett.
Norther – Shane Smith & the Saints (Album)
There are some albums that suck you in from the first listen and others that are slow burns. I’ll be the first to admit that Norther was the latter for me. That being said, after subsequent listens, I can truly say that this record is a brilliant piece of southern rock-inspired country.
Using the term dynamic always feels like a bit of a cop-out while reviewing a song or album, but I can’t help but feel that way about Norther. The way Smith and Co. balance in-your-face, powerhouse tracks like “Book of Joe,” “1,000 Wild Horses” and “Fire in the Sky” with the reserved, softer songs such as “All the Way,” “Wheels” and “The Greys Between” is nothing short of impressive.
Smith’s vocals are off-the-charts here on Norther. With a rasp akin to late-career Johnny Cash and vocal runs similar to fellow alt-country superstar, Charles Wesley Godwin, Smith delivers an all-time vocal performance that pairs beautifully with his introspective lyrics throughout.
Mary Riley – Muscadine Bloodline (Single)
If you want an incredibly fun, straight-down-the-middle country song that isn’t trying too hard to push any boundaries, look no further than Muscadine Bloodline’s “Mary Riley.”
“Mary Riley” takes the classic country song archetype of being in love with a girl with a disapproving father. Regardless, it’s one of those tracks that you can’t help but sing along to due to that incredibly melodic chorus.
I, like many country music critics, often get wrapped up in looking for the most introspective, borderline pretentious tracks to make these “Best Of” lists. However, when one is as successful, melodic and simply fun as “Mary Riley” is, you can’t leave it off of the list.
Nowhere Fast – Evan Honer (Single)
I’ve often said that Evan Honer is one of the most underrated artists in the indie country scene. Existing somewhere between country, folk and alternative, Honer is a bit of an outsider. With that being said, however, he has proven that he is one of the best young songwriters working today.
“Nowhere Fast” is no exception to this sentiment. Here, the twenty-three-year-old singer/songwriter reflects on the pressure that comes with being in your early twenties from the uncertainties of the future to the unwanted conversation and judgment from family.
As someone in my early twenties, I can’t help but relate to everything that Honer pens here on “Nowhere Fast.”
Milwaukee – Wyatt Flores (Single)
It’s no stretch to say that Wyatt Flores is one of the most exciting new voices in the indie/alt-country scene, and “Milwaukee” is yet another example of why.
The way that Flores continuously builds off of the cold, desolate setpiece that he set up in the first verse is brilliant. He plays with the concept of being bitter from the cold while simultaneously trying to ease the pain that was left by his leaving.
The final line of the chorus, “Please don’t hate my heart“ is such a simple yet powerful lyric that perfectly encapsulates everything that the song is built towards. It’s also an incredibly honest lyric that takes a realistic look at a broken relationship. The accountability of recognizing your faults while simultaneously pleading for forgiveness is a powerful one that is reminiscent of his song, 3/13.
Change the Game – Cody Jinks (Album)
Change the Game is everything that you would expect from Cody Jinks and more. You get the classic southern rock, country and blues influences that have been at the forefront of Jinks’ outlaw sound since the beginning of his career.
What ultimately makes the album stand out is its focus and authenticity. Jinks proverbially lays it all out on the table here, detailing his struggle with alcoholism and sobriety throughout with tracks like Sober Thing, Take This Bottle (feat. Pearl Aday) and Wasted.
With that being said, Change the Game isn’t all somber laments about addiction. The pre-released Outlaws and Mustangs as well as Deceiver’s Blues and A Few More Ghosts provide that classic rambling, rockin’ edge that Jinks is known for.
Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top (Album)
With an album titled, Cold Beer & Country Music, one may think that they’re in for a derivative, boring country record that is more in line with bro-country artists such as Florida Georgia Line, not George Strait. Top, however, is not that type of artist.
The album feels tailor-made for anyone looking to be transported right back to the ‘90s. From Top’s smooth, twangy voice, to the heavy inclusion of fiddle and steel guitar, to the classic 12-song structure of the album, Cold Beer & Country Music feels like a direct homage to the sound so many grew up listening to.
You could argue that Cold Beer & Country Music, as a whole, is a bit too derivative of the aforementioned ‘90s sound that many crave to hear 30 years later, but I wholeheartedly welcome it. Lately, the two dominating sounds in country music have been the low-fi, acoustic sound popularized by Zach Bryan and the extremely hip-hop/R&B-influenced sound popularized by Morgan Wallen. To hear an extremely straight-down-the-middle, neo-traditional album feels extremely fresh today despite its familiar concepts.
28th of June – Megan Moroney (Single)
I admittedly did not fall head over heels with Megan Moroney after the release of Lucky last May. While I saw her appeal, she never really clicked with me. With the release of “28th of June,” however, I think I’m starting to finally understand the hype surrounding the “Tennessee Orange” singer.
“28th of June” is such a realistic depiction of the aftermath of a breakup. Regardless of how much time passes, how well you’ve moved on, or how you’re doing, anniversaries are always going to be hard. Moroney captures the feeling of being stuck reminiscing about a past relationship heartbreakingly accurately here.
The sparse production of the piano and the quick inclusion of steel in the latter half lets the lyrics and storytelling shine here, giving the track an added sense of melancholy through the lack of production.
S.O.B. – Sam Barber (Single)
S.O.B. is exactly what you would expect from Barber in the best way possible. The production feels a bit more full compared to his earlier work while still containing a predominant acoustic guitar throughout. The slide on the electric guitar is an excellent touch that gives the track a longing, western feel to it.
As you would expect in a song titled, S.O.B., Barber laments about his shortcomings throughout. In a very Zach Bryan-esque fashion, he grapples with feelings of loneliness as well as a lack of control. Lines such as “there’s a war in my mind over all the things I cannot fix” exemplify this sentiment and perfectly encapsulate feelings of anxiety and worry over things you cannot control.
The lyrics ride an incredibly fine line between showcasing the anxiety and anguish that he’s feeling while also being just vague enough that the listener can easily empathize with whatever he was going through while writing.
Just 21 – Aidan Canfield (Single)
Similar to Evan Honer, Aidan Canfield is another young twenty-something in the indie scene who is writing well beyond his years. The same can be said on his latest track, “Just 21.”
Here, Canfield is reflecting on the crossroads that comes with turning 21, lamenting about he’s losing touch with his inner child while still appearing young. Like “Nowhere Fast,” “Just 21” is another one of those incredibly relatable songs for anyone in their early twenties.
Canfield has stated that Zach Bryan has been a big influence on his music, and it can be felt here. The low-fi, acoustic first half of the track gives way to a much more rocking second half that feels very similar to Bryan’s recent releases. The touches of steel running throughout the song feel perfectly placed as well.
This Heart – Corey Kent (Single)
To me, Corey Kent has always been an interesting artist in the genre, seemingly riding the line between mainstream and the alternative country scene quite well mainly due to his rock sensibilities. None of his tracks showcase this better than his latest release, “This Heart.”
The sultry, building intro and first verse sets a perfect tone for this moody, post-breakup track. When it finally gives way to its rockin’ chorus, you can’t help but want to sing along.
The bridge is particularly interesting when Kent laments “I got a problem, and it ain’t even you,” seemingly placing the blame on himself and his heart rather than his ex-lover. It’s an interesting diversion from the tired breakup song formula that solely places blame on the other leaving.
Roulette On The Heart (feat. Hailey Whitters) – Conner Smith
I’ll be the first one to say that I was a little skeptical of Conner Smith after the release of I Hate Alabama. While I understand its appeal, it was one of those songs that felt like it was designed to be a TikTok sound clip. With that being said, however, between Meanwhile In Carolina and Roulette On The Heart, my tune has changed.
Roulette On The Heart is a delightfully light track depicting a complicated relationship. The central lyric,“Loving you, baby, is roulette on the heart” is an incredibly unique way to frame a volatile relationship. The chorus, in its entirety, is absurdly catchy, having some incredibly fun vocal runs throughout.
Smith and Whitters’ vocals pair incredibly well throughout the track. Between their soft vocals and the light, twangy production, the song is an incredibly easy listen and a fantastic addition to his debut album, Smoky Mountains.
Honorable Mentions: “Anywhere But Here” – Silverada, “Damn Near Normal” – Koe Wetzel, “Hard Luck & Circumstances” – Charley Crockett, Allegheny – Joe Stamm (EP)