Santa’s not the only one making lists this season.
This week Rolling Stone released their list of the Best Country and Americana Albums of 2023. The publication has released several of these types of rankings in recent weeks, including a Top 100 Songs of 2023 and Top 100 Albums of 2023.
Both of their previous compilations featured several country entries but honored all genres. This, however, is the first from them this year dedicated to country music. The list contained 25 records in all, with a fairly even split between country and Americana.
Among some of the most high profile records to receive recognition were Jelly Roll’s Whitsitt Chapel at 20, Chris Stapleton’s Higher at 18, Tyler Childers’ Rustin’ in the Rain at 15, Zach Bryan’s Zach Bryan at 7, and Megan Moroney’s Lucky coming in at the top spot.
The top ten were:
10. Brothers Osborne- “Brothers Osborne”
9. Margo Price- “Strays”
8. Allison Russel- “The Returner”
7. Zach Bryan- “Zach Bryan”
6. Lucinda Williams- “Stories From a Rock N Roll Heart”
5. Margo Cilker- “Valley of Heart’s Delight”
4. Brandy Clark- “Brandy Clark”
3. Kelsea Ballerini- “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat/For Good”
2. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit- “Weathervanes“
1. Megan Moroney- “Lucky”
There is lots of crossover between the top honorees on this list and those included in the previous ones earlier this month. Ballerini, Bryan, Moroney, Isbell, and Stapleton all appeared on one of them, with the latter three appearing on both.
Fans will be excited to see several other country artists get recognition, including Riley Green’s Ain’t My Last Rodeo at 25, Turnpike Troubadour’s A Cat in the Rain at 24, Morgan Wade’s Psychopath at 17, Ashley McBride’s The Devil I Know at 14, and Brothers Osborne’s Brothers Osborne at 10.
Perhaps the most glaring decision isn’t who was included, but who wasn’t. Neither Morgan Wallen’s One Thing At A Time, nor Luke Combs’ Gettin’ Old made the cut despite being two of the biggest country releases this year.
The combining of country and Americana was an interesting choice. While there is certainly plenty of crossover with some of the artists listed, I personally think the genres are distinct enough to have warranted their own separate rankings.
Check out the entire list here.
And check out a few songs from the top albums below: