As always, writing this kind of post is very difficult, because picking 20 albums also means taht you have to eliminate from the list a lot of excellent ones. That’s why you’ll also find, at the end of this ranking, a list of excellent additional albums that were also a great part of this year.
I ended this post last night, and I’m quite sure that after waking up, this morning, I could have changed it. And if I think about it in one month, maybe my choices could be a little different. That’s why music is so fascinating, and that’s why talking about it is one of the best part of my life.
Just one more word, before you read the ranking, about the importance of the production. People always talk about singers and songwriters, but producers are not enough recognized, and their work is absolutely essential. Shooter Jennings, Patrick Lyons or Eddie Spear, to name a few, are also the reason why we have actually such quality and authentic music. We’re lucky to have them working so hard.
And now, let’s go !
#20 Kathryn Legendre – Here’s Your Honky Tonk
Kathryn Legendre is a brilliant artist from Texas. If you love traditional country and Texas music, you’ll surely fall in love with her new record, “Here’s Your Honky Tonk“, reviewed here : it’s a full honky tonk style album, including a lot of wonderful pedal steel and fiddle. A real gem !
#19 Jeremy Pinnell – Decades
Four years after the brilliant “Goodbye LA“, Jeremy Pinnell released an excellent album this year, “Decades“, produced by Shooter Jennings. The Kentuckian artist blends his roots and country style with rock and roll and blues on this record, brilliantly written.
#18 Rich O’Toole – God is a Gentleman
One year after the excellent “Ghost“, Rich O’Toole released a new album, “God is A Gentleman“, reviewed here. Beautifully written, more down-tempo than his last records, the Texan artist sings with a lot of delicacy and sensibility about love, despair, religion, and life in general. A beautiful album !
#17 William Beckmann – Whiskey, Lies & Alibis
William Beckmann is one of the best traditionalists from Texas, with the voice of a crooner and a strong appeal for hispanic culture and spanish language, a language that he regularly speaks for several songs, as it happens on this record with “Por Mujeres Como Tu” (For Women Like You). His new LP, “Whiskey, Lies and Alibis“, is a beautiful album full of traditional country songs and excellent songwriting.
#17 Lukas Nelson – American romance
“American Romance” is Lukas Nelson’s first solo album, after moving on from his band “Promise of the Real“. Produced by Shooter Jennings, it’s not a traditional country album, even if it includes some traditional country songs, but it’s a wonderful americana record, brilliantly written. Lukas nelson did a fantastic job with this album. A true gem !
#16 Marcus King Band – Darling Blue
Marcus King released again an album with his band, after three solo records. Produced by Eddie Spear, it’s mostly a southern rock and bluesy album, but it also includes country elements, with excellent instrumentation (steel guitar, fiddle, banjo) and great collaborations with Kaitlin Butts, Jamey Johnson and Jesse Welles. A wonderful record !
#15 JD Clayton – Blue Sky Sundays
“Blue Sky Sundays” is JD Clayton’s sophomore album, two years after the excellent “Long Way From Home“. Wonderfully written and produced, this album is not a traditional country record, but it’s a true gem, soulful, honest and authentic, with bluesy vibes. JD Clayton did a fantastic job with this fantastic and original record.
#14 Zach Top – Ain’t in it for my Health
One year after the acclaimed “Cold Beer and Country Music“, Zach Top released another brilliant album of traditional country, “Ain’t in it for my Health“. Produced by Carson Chamberlain, this record is an ode to 90’s neotraditional country, as was his previous album. There’s no suprise with Zach Top, but it doesn’t mean that this LP doesn’t deserve attention. Indeed, listening to it is a real pleasure for any lover of real country.
#13 Tony Logue – Dark Horse
Tony Logue’s fourth studio album, reviewed here, released three years after the acclaimed “Jericho“, is a honest and authentic album that perfectly blends country, americana and rock & roll, with wonderful storytelling all along the record. The wonderful “Yellow Rose“, perfectly representative of Tony Logue’s style, is one of the best songs released this year.
#11 Charley Crockett – Dollar A Day
“Dollar a Day” is the second album released by Charley Crockett in 2025, after “Lonesome Drifter“, and it’s also the second part of the “Sagebrush Trilogy“. Coproduced with Shooter Jennings, it’s a wonderful album, excellently written and full of gems. Charley Crockett’s style is unique, and he keeps on creating beautiful songs, with an impressive capacity of renewing and innovating. Even if he works a lot and releases such a lot of albums, his records are always refreshing and captivating.
#10 Colter Wall – Memories and Empties
Colter Wall is undoubtedly one of the best artists of our time. Generally considered as a western music artist, he released a beautiful traditional country album with “Memories and Empties“, coproduced with Patrick Lyons. With Colter Wall’s voice, the quality of the songwriting and the excellence of the instrumentation and the production, we have a timeless album, brilliant and captivating since the first song till the end.
#9 Sam Stoane – Tales of the Dark West
California native Sam Stoane released her debut album this year, “Tales of the Dark West“, produced by Patrick Lyons. It’s a brilliant western-style album, with wonderful storytelling and great instrumentation, but what makes it truly exceptional is Sam Stoane’s unique voice, that instantly stirs our emotions. This LP, reviewed here, is a true gem.
#8 Waylon Jennings – Songbird
Listening to unheard songs of Waylon Jennings in 2025 is a gift from God. Shooter Jennings did a fantastic job discovering these 10 wonderful tracks from the 70’s and 80’s era. This album is a timeless gem for who loves Waylon Jennings and real country music.
#7 Kat Hasty – The Time of Your Life
“The Time of Your Life” is a brilliant album, entirely written by Kat Hasty, that has a very special and unmatched appeal. The way the Texan artist sings, the production and the songwriting tell a lot about her authenticity. Reviewed here, full of wonderful fiddle, in the best tradition of Texas music, it’s a catchy record, with great instrumentation and continual energy, very different from her stripped-down debut album. We’re more than ever on board !
#6 Leon Majcen – Making a Livin’ (Not A Killin’)
Leon Majcen is a hard-working artist, who released two wonderful LP’s and a brilliant EP this year. His second LP, “Making a Livin’ (not a killin’)“, reviewed here, is full of retalable songs and wonderful storytelling. Leon Majcen is one of the best songwriters of our time. “Dont’ leave the light on“, a song that embodies classic country music, reminds us of John Prine’s poetry.
#5 Joe Stamm Band – Little Crosses
Joe Stamm Band keeps on releasing brilliant albums. Their new one, “Little Crosses“, reviewed on this blog here, is full of authentic, relatable and masterfully written songs. Two years after the brilliant “Wild Man“, it’s a record that has prominent rock vibes, perfectly blended with country and red dirt, to make their own style of music, that they call black dirt country rock. A true gem !
#4 Lance Roark – Bad Reputation
“Bad Reputation” is hell of a debut LP for the Oklahoman artist Lance Roark ! His talent as a singer and a songwriter is really impressive, and he did a wonderful job with this record. Cowriter of Turnpike Troubadours’ song “Chipping Mill” (with RC Edwards), from their album “Cat in the Rain“, Lance Roark blends perfectly country and rock on this album that has strong red dirt vibes.
#3 Sunny Sweeney – Rhinestone Requiem
Sunny Sweeney is an artist whose authenticity and commitment to traditional country are unquestionable. But first and foremost, she’s a very talented songwriter and she has one of the most beautiful voices of the country music scene. Her new album, “Rhinestone Requiem“, is a true gem for all those who love traditional country, honky tonk, and brilliant songwriting. A masterpiece !
#2 Turnpike Troubadours – The Price of Admission
Turnpike Troubadours is Country Music France’s Artist of the Year, and their album “The Price of Admission” was also my favorite Album of the Year… till the release of Luke Bell’s record. As I said, “The Price of Admission” is a true masterpiece, with masterful songwriting and such a lot of gems, like “On the Red River” and “Heaven Passing Through” but also “Ruby Ann”, “The Devil Plies His Trade (Sn 6 Ep 3)” and the underrated “A Lie Agreed Upon“. Long live Turnpike !
#1 Luke Bell – The King is Back
Luke Bell tragically passed away three years ago, but his music will always remain in our heart, especially his wonderful 2016 self-titled album. When we knew that there would be a posthumous release, this year, including 28 songs, we were very impatient. It was worth the wait. “The King is Back” is a masterpiece, that higlights the creativity, the authenticity and the deep originality of the legendary artist. All these songs are true gems for real country music lovers, and this is an album for the ages. Rest in peace, Luke Bell.
Other excellent albums (not ranked), released in 2025
- Nicholas Jamerson – The Narrow Way
- Todd Day Wait – Letters From the Road
- Jake Worthington – When I Write the Song
- Justin Wells – Cynthiana
- Hayes Carll – We’re Only Human
- James McMurtry – The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy
- Jason Boland – The Last Kings of Babylon
- Micky and the Motorcars – Self-titled
- Morgan Wade – The Party is Over
- Dustin Brown – Self-titled
- Josh Ward – Same Ol’ Cowboy, Different Rodeo
- Joshua Ray Walker – Tropicana
- Cory Cross – Doin’ Fine
- Wesley Hanna – Magnolia
- Red Dirt Rangers – Red Dirt Town
- Jon Wolfe – Barstool Therapy (Session One)
- Courtney Patton – Carry You With Me
- Jesse Daniel – Son of the San Lorenzo
- Pug Johnson – El Cabron
- Hailey Whitters -Corn Queen
- Muscadine Bloodline – And What Was Left Behind
Nicolas Davelu
Country Music France 
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