As with every year, there was a wide variety of music released, and while we liked much of what we listened to, these 30 are the albums that stuck with us the most. We will be revealing the list in tree segments the next three days. Now that we’ve said that, here’s the list:
30. The Band Of Heathens – One Foot In The Ether (BOH Records)
These Austin, Tx-based roots rockers crafted a highly enjoyable sophomore album with One Foot In The Ether. From the bluesy shuffle of “L.A. County Blues” to the laid-back delta gospel of “Right Here With Me,” the band showed that a band can be both cool and good at the same time.
Key Tracks: “L.A. County Blues,” “Right Here With Me,” & “Let Your Heart Not Be Troubled.”
Click the album cover to read our original review.
29. Brady Seals – Play Time (StarCity Records)
The album art is the first clue that this record isn’t what typically comes out of Nashville, particularly nowadays. Play Time is a revelation of great country music, the kind that used to be played on the airwaves all the time. The album even has some experimental themes and it certainly isn’t marketed to the soccer-mom crowd (but it could be marketed to her fun-lovin husband). Hopefully Brady will continue to make records like this in the future.
Key Tracks: “Ho Down,” “Farmer Brown,” “Better Every Beer” & “Everybody Smokes In Hell.”
Click the album cover to read our original review.
28. Keith Urban – Defying Gravity (Capitol Nashville)
The Follow up to Urban’s “Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing” album needed to give country fans a reason believe that more instruments could be used to vary and enhance the sound of Urban’s rock- infused tunes. Not only did Urban use more instruments, especially banjo, but his lyrics on tracks such as “Sweet Thing” and “ ‘Til Summer Comes Around” showed off his deeper, more vulnerable side. “Kiss A Girl” showed the Aussie’s more light-hearted, playful style, while the albums closing song, “Thank You” brings the album full circle because it was a beautifully produced, mellow love song.
Key Tracks: “Hit The Ground Running,” “’Til Summer Comes Around,” & “I’m In.”
Click the album cover to read our original review.
27. Jason Michael Carroll – Growing Up Is Getting Old (Arista Nashville)
With this album, Jason Michael Carroll has escaped the dreaded Sophomore slump. While the first single “Where I’m From” may have been but another hokey song from the “I’m a hick/country boy” canon, JMC keeps the rest of Growing Up Is Getting Old firmly in the music for adults category, particularly on stunners like second single “Hurry Home,” the title track and “We Threw It All Away.”
Key Tracks: “Hurry Home,” “Growing Up Is Getting Old,” “That’s All I Know” and “We Threw It All Away.”
Click the album cover to read our original review.
26. Steep Canyon Rangers – Deep In The Shade (Rebel Records)
Bluegrass music is usually something that doesn’t play well with ‘expansion’ and it’s often a format of music that is played by people who were ‘born into’ the music. Well, not only dot he Steep Canyon Rangers ‘explore’ and ‘expand’ bluegrass a bit but they also didn’t come to the genre as children. They found it as adults and are perhaps one of the best working bands in the genre these days. Some tracks are outright stunners, like the a-cappella “Sylvie” and traditional-leaning instrumental “Mourning Dove.”
Key Tracks: “Sylvie” “I Thought That She Loved Me,” “Turn Up The Bottle” & “Mourning Dove.”
Click the album cover to read our original review.
25. Carrie Underwood – Play On (19/Arista Nashville)
Carrie Underwood has one of the best voices in country music, when she actually sings country music. While this album does feature its fair share of contemporary country music, it is placed this ‘low’ on the albums countdown because of the presence of the decidedly not country single “Cowboy Casanova.” “Quitter” reminds one of a Shania Twain song while “Temporary Home” tugs on the heartstrings in all of the right places. All in all, this is another solid album from Underwood. Still, I’d love to hear her sing a whole record of classic songs.
Key Tracks: “What Can I Say,” “Temporary Home,” “Quitter” & “This Time.”
Click the album cover to read our original review.
24. Steve Azar – Slide On Over Here (Ride Records/RedEye)
Steve Azar will most likely always be known for his hit “I Don’t Have To Be Me (Til Monday)” but to pass him off as but a one hit wonder would be a disservice to the artist as he’s crafted two great albums in Indianola and this record since he left Mercury Nashville. The single “Moo La Moo” even managed to score a Top 40 slot, surprising most people but not me. The album features an array of country rockers, ballads and delta soul and if given a shot, this record would be a huge commercial success.
Key Tracks: “Sunshine,” “Moo La Moo,” “Take Your Time” & “Startin’ Today.”
Click the album cover to read our original review.
23. George Strait – Twang (MCA Nashville)
A year wouldn’t be complete without another George Strait album and for 2009, that album is Twang. While not as good as a few recent albums from ‘the king of country music,’ George Strait has managed to find himself another solid collection of tunes. This album is special as well as it features not only songs co-written by son George “Bubba” Strait, but a couple with George, too. The best song on the album, in fact, is the Bubba-penned “Arkansas Dave.” Thankfully, too, there are no tracks like “River of Love.”
Key Tracks: “Arkansas Dave,” “Twang,” “El Ray” & “Where Have I Been All My Life.”
Click the album cover to read our original review.
22. Luke Bryan – Doin’ My Thing (Capitol Nasville)
Luke Bryan scored with his self-titled debut album and the hits “All My Friends Say” and “Country Man” but nothing could’ve prepared us for this album. Continuing Bryan’s country-chic image, the album does include some “I’m Country” types of songs but it also has charm to spare, along with sing-a-long anthems like second single “Rain is a Good Thing” and an out-of-left-field cover in “Apologize.” The album should help bring Bryan further into the hearts and minds of contemporary country music fans.
Key Tracks: “Doin’ My Thing,” “Do I,” “Drinking Beer and Wasting Bullets” & “Rain Is A Good Thing.”
Click the album cover to read our original review.
21. Reba McEntire - Keep On Lovin’ You (Starstruck/The Valory Music Company)
With this album Reba McEntire not only returned herself to the country radio airwaves, but in the hearts and minds of country fans everywhere. While some song choices might’ve seen as ‘blatant’ attempts at remaining relevant, the superstar used her considerable vocal charm to give the songs life. She even scored the last #1 single before the end of 2009 with “Consider Me Gone,” a song that recalled Reba’s bigger hits of the previous decade, the 1990s. Regardless of the radio success, the album works as a cohesive whole, even if there are one or two songs worth skipping over. Welcome back, Reba. Country music needed you.
Key Tracks: “Maggie Creek Road,” “Consider Me Gone,” “She’s Turning 50 Today,” & “8 Crazy Hours.”
Click the album cover to read our original review.
Well, there’s the first part of our three-part series. Feel free, as always to discuss if you agree with our placement of albums here.
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