Country Music France’s Top 30 Albums of 2024

First, a happy new year for my readers! My best wishes for y’all!

Here you have, finally, Country Music France’s Top 30 albums of 2024. Needless to say, choosing 30 albums is not an easy task. It’s important to me to tell you that several excellent albums couldn’t be part of this Top 30. It doesn’t mean that I didn’t appreciate them. There’s just a moment when you have to choose a few of the albums that you loved and listened to, and believe me when I say that it’s one of the most difficult moments of the year for a music blogger.

You won’t see on this list such brilliant records as those of Charley Crockett, Billy Strings, Karen Jonas, Josh Abbott Band, Wade Bowen, Zach Bryan, The Lowdown Drifters, JP Harris, Reckless Kelly, Colby Acuff, Luke Combs, Mac Leaphart or Pony Bradshaw. It tells a lot about the quantity of excellent albums that were released this year.

When you’re making such a list, there’s a part of subjectivity, as it always happens when you’re talking about music. Everyone has their own list, and it’s probable that mine won’t be the same if you ask me in… let’s say 5 years, about the best albums of 2024. That said, here’s my list. As always, feel free to comment and tell us about your own choices, in this blog or in Country Music France’s social networks.

#30 Hayes and The Heathens – Self-Titled

This album, fruit of the collaboration between Hayes Carll and members of The Band of Heathens, is particularly brilliant. The only regret we can have, with such quality music all along its 8 songs, is that it’s not longer. We can’t wait for the pursuit of the collaboration between the Texan artists.

#29 The Droptines – Self-titled

The self-titled debut album of the Texan band The Droptines is particularly impressive. Its awesome music is a mix between rock and country, and its songwriting is excellent. A very strong debut album!

#28 Benjamin Tod – Shooting Star

Benjamin Tod is one of those artists who personify traditional country music, both with his band “Lost Dog Street Band” and with his solo career. His new LP, “Shooting Star“, is a brilliant album of old-school style country music, with wonderful pedal steel and excellent songwriting.

#27 Kaitlin Butts – Roadrunner

The brilliant “Roadrunner” is the confirmation of Kaitlin Butt’s authenticity and creativity. Her beautiful voice and her talent as a songwriter and a singer make her shine on the country scene. She’s authentic and strongly contributes to the quality of traditional country music.

#26 Shane Smith and The Saints – Norther

“Norther” is one of those albums that can’t let you indifferent. The excellence of the songwriting, the quality of the music, the talent of the musicians and Shane Smith’s powerful voice are the reasons of the success of this band. This album is absolutely beautiful.

#25 Cody Jinks – Change The Game

2024 was a great year for Cody Jinks, with big releases, including a beautiful album of Lefty Frizzell’s covers. “Change The Game“, his first studio album since 2021, is a brilliant LP, with masterful songwriting.

#24 Emily Nenni – Drive and Cry

Two years after the excellent “On The Ranch“, Emily Nenni released a wonderful album, “Drive & Cry“. Excellently written, this LP is a gem for those who love authentic songs and real country music. Emily Nenni is one of the most beautiful voices that you can actually listen to if you love traditional country.

#23 Blackberry Smoke – Be right Here

Listening to the excellent “Be Right Here“, it’s impossible not to think about Brit Turner, Blackberry Smoke’s drummer, who sadly passed away some weeks after the album’s release. May he rest in peace. This new album is a wonderful one, as always with the Southern rock band. It includes a lot of excellent songs that were a great part of 2024.

#22 Casey Donahew – Never Not Love You

Casey Donahew’s new album, “Never Not Love You“, is particularly brilliant. Excellently written, full of relatable and catchy songs, it’s a gem for red dirt and Texas country lovers.

#21 Rich O’ Toole – Ghost

Rich O’ Toole’s 8th LP, “Ghost”, is an authentic, personal, relatable and wonderfully written album. Four years after the brilliant “New York“, The Texan artist keeps on writing and singing about our time with an inimitable talent. Here’s my review of the album.

#20 Jeremie Albino – Our Time in The Sun

Jeremie Albino’s LP “Our Time In The Sun” is a wonderful record, with an impressive musical quality. Unclassifiable, it’s an album made for all those who love american roots music, with country, bluesy, groovy and rock vibes. It’s impossible not to think about Tony Joe White, while listening to his songs.

#19 Ellis Bullard – Honky Tonk Ain’t Noise Pollution

“Honky Tonk Ain’t Noise Pollution” is a splendid record that strengthens Ellis Bullard’s position as a prominent artist and storyteller. Bullard embodies honky tonk and real country music, and his new album is a treasure for all those who love the genre. Here’s my review of the album.

#18 Taylor Hunnicutt – Alabama Sound

Taylor Hunnicutt is not only part of the Top 10 EPs with the excellent “With All Due Respect“. She’s also part of this Top 30 albums with her impressive debut LP, “Alabama Sound“. Brilliant, wonderfully written, its ten songs highlight Taylor Hunnicutt’s talent and her wonderful voice.

#17 Leon Majcen – Self-Titled

With subtlety, refinement and sometimes poetry, Leon Majcen released a stellar album, full of wonderful storytelling, relatable songs and quality music. No doubt about his talent when it comes to pick up the appropriate words, put them together and create the kind of song that will make its path deep into your mind, little by little, and will stir your emotions. Here’s my album review.

#16 Ben Jarrell – A Country Song

Five years after the fantastic “Troubled Times“, that was part of Country Music France’s Top 10 albums of the year, at the third place, Ben Jarrell did an excellent job this year, producing Anna Wescoat’s album and releasing this wonderful “A Country Song“, a true gem for all those who love real and traditional country music.

#15 Anna Wescoat – World Famous

Anna Wescoat’s debut album is brilliant, with masterful production, talented musicians, wonderful pedal steel all along the record and quality songwriting. Anna Wescoat is a name that you’ll keep in mind if you’re looking for real country music. Here’s my review of the album.

#14 Morgan Wade – Obsessed

As it happened last year with “Psychopath“, Morgan Wade’s new album, “Obsessed“, is once again part of the Top 30 albums. This new one is more introspective, with masterful songwriting, that keeps on improving, catchy songs and one of the most beautiful voices that you can listen to on the actual American roots music scene.

#13 Muscadine Bloodline – The Coastal Plain

With “The Coastal Plain“, Muscadine Bloodline released a fantastic album, brilliant and eclectic. Unclassifiable, it includes songs that belongs to country, red dirt or southern rock, all of them being catchy and perfectly written. Undoubtedly one of the exceptional albums of 2024.

#12 Silverada – Self-Titled

First album of Silverada under their new name, this self-titled album of the Texan band is absolutely brilliant. As always, their songs are authentic, relatable and catchy and their easily identifiable groove is irresistible. A wonderful album.

#11 Red Shahan – Loose Funky Texas Junky

Red Shahan’s new album is absolutely brilliant. From the first song till the end, it’s country, catchy, funky and groovy music… and of course excellent songwriting. “Big Wide Open” is one my favorite songs of 2024. A gem!

#10 Wyatt Flores – Half Time

“Welcome To The Plains” is a wonderful album, but my favorite Wyatt Flores’ record of 2024 is undoubtedly “Half Time“. With 8 songs, you’ve the quintessence of Flores’ music: poignant lyrics, and high quality music, sung with an emotion that makes you thrilled and speechless.

#9 Jesse Daniel – Countin The Miles

If you saw Jesse Daniel live, you know that if there’s an artist who embodies country music in 2024, it’s undoubtedly him. After the fantastic “Rollin’ On” and “Beyond These Walls“, “Countin The Miles” is another country gem. Jesse Daniel is the real deal.

#8 Zach Top – Cold Beer and Country Music

All has been said about Zach Top’s talent. 2024 was a stellar year for this brilliant artist who sings traditional country music as easily as breathing. “Cold Beer And Country Music” is an album that will be certainly remembered as one of those that defined our actual decade.

#7 Johnny Blue Skies – Passage du Désir

As a Frenchman, before 2024, “Passage du Désir” just reminded me about one of those Parisian places. From now on, it symbolizes the comeback of Sturgill Simpson. Most important, it makes live forever Sturgill’s talent and artistic freedom, under Johnny Blue Skies’ pseudonym.

#6 JR Carroll – Dark Cloud

I was speechless when I listened to JR Carroll’s debut album for the first time one month ago. And I’m still impressed by its emotional power, with such quality music and masterful songwriting. “Dark Cloud” is undoubtedly one of those albums that define a musical decade.

#5 American Aquarium – The Fear Of Standing Still

After every American Aquarium’s release, I’m convinced that it’s the best one. And every time, I’m wrong, because it’s a band that gets better over the years, improving its music, and with BJ Barham refining his songwriting. “The Fear of Standing Still” is a wonderful gem.

#4 Jamey Johnson – Midnight Gasoline

14 years after his last original studio album, Jamey Johnson made a spectacular comeback with the fantastic “Midnight Gasoline“. No doubt, it was worth the wait. This album was released in November, but the 12 songs part of this LP are a great part of 2024 for their impressive quality.

#3 49 Winchester – Leavin The Holler

49 Winchester is one the greatest actual country bands, and their music gets every time better and better. Their record “Fortune Favors The Bold” was Country Music France’s 2022 album of the year, and they’re on the podium again 2 years later, with this masterful album, wonderfully written.

#2 Sierra Ferrell – Trail Of Flowers

Sierra Ferrell is a treasure of American music. Her voice instantly transports us and her timeless music is a gem for our ears. “Trail Of Flowers” left an indelible mark on me for its impressive artistic quality. It’s not just a 2024 record. This masterpiece is an album for the ages.

#1 Red Clay Strays – Made By These Moments

“Made by these Moments” has been my favorite record this year since its release, and despite the high quantity of wonderful albums released this year, it was never put in jeopardy. It’s a stellar album, with masterful songwriting, brilliant music and Brandon Coleman’s unique voice. A masterpiece.

Nicolas Davelu