Country music has its own circle of dedicated fans who always seek the best in this genre. The music industry sells plenty of albums every year, which makes it harder for music lovers to make a choice. However, there are many country music lovers who keep themselves updated on the latest that the genre has to offer.
The only other type of music that present a novelistic detail is rap. Their lyrics often tell a story about common people and this is why many among them connect with country and rap songs. Here we present some of the best albums that country music lovers would like to own.
1. Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
This 2014 album by Sturgill Simpson can appeal to anyone who loves music. It includes It Ain’t All Flowers and a country music cover of When in Rome titled The Promise. Simpson is known for mixing the sounds of psychedelia and soul in his work.
He has released several albums as a solo artist and this is his second album. Metamodern Sounds in Country Music received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Americana Album. It was also named among the 50 favorite 2014 albums of National Public Radio (NPR).
2. Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
A 1998 masterpiece by Lucinda Williams, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road was a fusion of country, blues, rock, and Americana. The album came as a commercial breakthrough for Williams and was certified Gold by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1999.
It features some of her best songs, including Drunken Angel and Metal Firecracker. The closing track of this album titled Jackson tells the tale of lost love. It stands testimony to the lyrical ability of Williams to evoke pain through a song.
3. Anodyne
Anodyne is a Greek word, which translates as ‘free from pain’. This album is the final studio album by Uncle Tupelo, an alternative country music group. It was released on October 5, 1993, and was re-mastered and re-released in 2003. Before the album was recorded, the original drummer had left this group.
After his departure, three new members were added to the band. They were drummer Ken Coomer, bassist John Stirratt, and multi-instrumentalist Max Johnston. Among the key tracks of this album were New Madrid and The Long Cut. The re-released version of this album had five bonus tracks including Stay True and Wherever.
4. Pieces of the Sky
Released in 1975, this classic album by Emmylou Harris demonstrates her amazing musical range. It was the album that launched her career as a country music artist. Although Pieces of the Sky was her second release after Gliding Bird, it is widely considered as her first.
The opening track Bluebird Wine was originally written by Rodney Crowell. However, Harris recorded her version of the song and injected it with much energy and joy. As a result, it became something new entirely. The album also features her chart-topping duet with Herb Pedersen titled If Only I Could Win Your Love.
5. Grievous Angel
This studio album by Gram Parsons was released in 1974, after his death from an accidental dose of drugs and alcohol. He had released just two albums during his lifetime, but they were among the finest in country music. Grievous Angel is considered his masterpiece and features In My Hour of Darkness, which he sang with Emmylou Harris.