I’m starting, with this post, the recap of 2025. As always, you’ll have a Top Albums, a Top Songs, a post about Country Music France’s Artist of the year and a novelty, this year : a Top Live albums. But for the moment, let’s start with another important category: the EP’s. Since I created this blog, I always publish a post about the best EP’s of the year. They are sometimes overlooked, compared to full LP’s, but for me, it’s a very important category. We have to keep in mind that a lot of independent and young artists start their career with an EP. Indeed, three of the EP’s on this ranking are debut records.
So, let’s go with my 2025 Top 10 EP’s, ranked and listed below.
#10 Chandler Dozier – Bakersfield East
“Bakersfield East” is Chandler Dozier’s debut record. When you listen to the music of this young artist from Troy, North Carolina, you can’t help thinking about Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens. This EP is a traditional country record full of wonderful fiddle and pedal steel. Chandler Dozier is a brilliant songwriter with a wonderful voice. We’ll definitely have to keep an eye on him.
#9 Braden Jamison – Criminal Record
Braden Jamison has not released a full LP album so far, but his last EP, “Criminal Record“, give us a perfect illustration of his music: traditional country, great pedal steel and quality songwriting. Y’all have to keep an eye on this artist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, because he’s particularly brilliant.
#8 Ryan Necci and the Buffalo Gospel – The Letting Go: Part 1
Before their brilliant LP, “The Dead Can’t Take A Hint“, the band from Wisconsin released a beautiful EP earlier this year, “The Letting Go: Part 1″. The way that sings Ryan Necci, and his talent for storytelling light up this powerful and moving record.
#7 Brad Russell Band – Pickin’ Sides
Brad Russell Band’s “Pickin’ Sides” is an absolute gem for Honky Tonk lovers. Full of pedal steel, it includes several wonderful songs, among them the splendid “She Ain’t You“. Along with their live album, “Live at Fort Worth Sound“, also released this year, this EP is an evidence of the Texan band’s talent and authenticity.
#6 Evan Bartels – To Make You Cry
Evan Bartels’s “To Make You Cry” is a true gem for who loves authentic and old-style country songs. With his unique voice and his talent as a songwriter, the artist who grew up in Tobias, Nebraska, released a record full of wonderful pedal steel and great storytelling. A Gem.
#5 John R Miller – Fireside Sessions Vol 2
With his “Fireside Sessions Vol 2“, John R Miller released a splendid EP, that includes a wonderful instrumental bluegrass song (“Yem Poney Mountain“) and the excellent “Press On“, with great fiddle. But the most outstanding songs are those featuring three brilliant female artists, Abby Hamilton, for the wonderful “Ditcher“, Emily Nenni, for the beautiful “Human Highway” and Erin Rae, for “Moon Song“.
#4 Cole Philips – Steel Toes and Texacos
Born and raised in Bride Creek, Oklahoma, Cole Philips released a fantastic EP, “Steel Toes and Texacos“, one year after his debut album, “No Town, Oklahoma“. Wonderfully written, it’s a gem for traditional country and red dirt lovers. Among its songs, the splendid “Magnolias in May“, with wonderful pedal steel, and the catchy “West TX“, with great harmonica, are particularly outstanding.
#3 Coltt Winter Lepley – Self-Titled
Collt Winter Lepley’s self-titled EP is the awaited debut record of the Appalachian singer from Bedford, Pensylvania. Brilliantly produced by Al Torrence, full of excellent pedal steel and fiddle and wonderfully written, it includes six songs, among them several gems like the wonderful “The Bandito“, the beautiful “A Tear Adressed to You“, “Sunflower Creek” and “Doves and Pine Boxes“.
#2 Presley Haile – Off To Find a Sunny Day
Presley Haile is a brilliant songwriter from Hamilton, Texas, and has one of the most beautiful voices of country music genre. She’s not released a full LP so far, but her debut EP “Off To Find A Sunny Day” is an authentic gem. The stellar “Sunny Day” is an instant classic of country music and one of the best songs released this year. “Mountain Daughter” is also an outstanding song.
#1 Charles Wesley Godwin – Lonely Mountain Town
Before his wonderful live album, “Live From the Steel City“, Charles Wesley Godwin also released, earlier this year, a splendid record, “Lonely Mountain Town“. Considered as an EP, even if it contains seven songs, it’s a true masterpiece, and I knew, after the first listen, that it would be my EP of the year. With such a voice, such masterful songwriting and such musical quality, this record is brilliant, beautiful, catchy and authentic. Charles Wesley Godwin is, more than ever, the real deal.
Nicolas Davelu
Country Music France 
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