2023 will be remembered as an exceptional year for country music, due to the release of an impressive quantity of excellent albums. In this year of fantastic LPs, there were also a lot of excellent EP’s, and several artists who released great albums, also released EP’s, as did Charles Wesley Godwin, Drayton Farley and Zach Bryan.
Since I created this blog, I’ve always made a ranking of the EP’s released, at the end of the year, as I consider it’s an important way for an artist to make a cohesive record, along with an album. So, here we are : let’s see what were my choices this year.
#10 Zach Bryan – Boys of Faith
“Boys of Faith” is a brilliant EP, with excellent songwriting, featuring Noah Kahan, for “Sarah’s Place“, and Bon Iver, for the excellent title track. Zach Bryan remains prolific, with also an album released in August, and after an exceptional 2022.
#9 Alex Miller – Country
Alex Miller’s “Country” is a brilliant EP. It’s traditional country, with excellent fiddle and piano. “When God Made The South“, released as a single, and “Puttin’ Up Hay” are particularly outstanding.
#8 Whey Jennings – Just Before The Dawn
Whey Jennings’ new EP, “Just Before The Dawn“, is particularly brilliant. It’s real country, with amazing pedal steel and great guitar. “Wild Child” is an amazing song, and “Old Country Song” and “One Together” are two country gems.
#7 Gloria Anderson – Households
Gloria Anderson is a young Texan artist who released her debut EP this year, named “Households“. It’s a brilliant work, that let us enjoy traditional country, excellent songwriting and Gloria Anderson’s beautiful voice. “Front Porch” is a gem for all those who love real country.
#6 Nate Fredrick and the Wholesome Boys – Self-Titled
Two years ago, Nate Fredrick’s album “Different Shade Of Blue” was Country Music France’s #1 in the Top albums of the year. This year, he released an EP with his band, “The Wholesome Boys“. This record is a great one, with such excellent songs as “Paint The Town”, cowritten with Meg McRee and Ben Chapman, and “Next Time Around” (such great guitar in its final part!).
#5 Charles Wesley Godwin – Live From The Church
We’ll talk again about Charles Wesley Godwin for our Top albums of the year, but before “Family Ties“, the West Virginia artist also published a live EP, named “Live From The Church“, and it’s a brilliant record. Live EP’s aren’t common, and this one is undoubtedly perfect if you want to appreciate CWG’s performances, along with the great videos that were released.
#4 Jericho Woods – Stop Signs and Fence Lines
I loved particularly Jericho Woods’ new EP, released four years after their last album. This great band from Kentucky did a fantastic job with this record. Listen to the amazing “Small Town Livin’” and to “Sinking Creek“, a fantastic song with beautiful fiddle and an awesome solo guitar. in its final part.
#3 Drayton Farley – Kudzu Wild EP
Drayton Farley not only released his brilliant new album this year, “Twenty On High“, but also the splendid “Kudzu Wild EP“. Its five songs are all gems, with impressive songwriting, and sung with emotion. What a voice !
#2 The Golden Roses – Coverage From Signal Hill
After two excellent albums, the Texan band released a brilliant EP, “Coverage From Signal Hill“, this year. It’s a record full of fiddle and pedal steel, with Heather Rae Johnson’s beautiful voice on songs like the splendid “Willin’” or the catchy “Feelin’ single – Seein’ Double“. A fantastic EP!
#1 Ward Davis – Sunday Morning
Only four songs on this EP, but this short record is a masterpiece. After listening to it, you immediately know that you have your #1 EP, and listening to it again and again just confirm this first impression. These are four songs for the ages, with impressive songwriting delivered with a unique voice. Ward Davis, who was #3 in Top albums of 2020 on this blog, for “Black Cats and Crows“, is the hands down winner in the EP category this year.
Nicolas Davelu
Country Music France 