Top 10 Country Albums of 2015

Written by Annie Reuter
Top 10 Country Albums of 2015

Country music had no shortage of memorable album releases this year. From Kip Moore’s long anticipated sophomore release Wild Ones and Jason Isbell’s cross-genre No. 1 Something More Than Free to debut albums from Chris Stapleton and Kelsea Ballerini, not to mention the fifth studio albums for both Carrie Underwood and Chris Young, 2015 had much to offer country fans in the form of new music. Below are our Top 10 releases of 2015.

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1. Kip MooreWild Ones
Over three years had passed between the release of Kip’s debut album Up All Night and this year’s Wild Ones and his new set of songs prove that sometimes the best things in life are well worth the wait. A blend of his country roots and rock influences, Wild Ones showcases the Georgia native’s gritty vocals and songwriting chops as he co-wrote each of the 13 tracks. While he owns up to his flaws on “I’m To Blame,” songs like new single “Running For You” and “Comeback Kid” show the depth of his character and perseverance.

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2. Carrie UnderwoodStoryteller
Carrie has come a long way since her American Idol win in 2005 as her 22 No. 1 singles can attest. This year, the new mom released her fifth studio album, which also went to No. 1. The versatile 13-song album showcases the powerhouse vocalist singing a range of stories. In two songs, she belts of being a woman done wrong on the edgy “Dirty Laundry” and heartbreaking “Church Bells,” but it is on sweet ballads like “Heartbeat” and “What I Never Knew I Always Wanted” that the vocalist shines the brightest as fans get a glimpse into Carrie’s happy place — surrounded by her husband and new son Isaiah.

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3. Chris YoungI’m Comin’ Over
Chris took a major leap by co-producing his fifth studio album and with the title track and album both hitting No. 1 on Billboard, it was clearly a smart decision. The album itself shows the baritone singer’s growth and versatility with R&B drum loops on select tracks including “Think Of You,” his striking duet with Cassadee Pope. Meanwhile, the emotive “I Know A Guy” and “Alone Tonight” display the Tennessee native’s voice at its swoon-worthy best.

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4. Chris StapletonTraveller
Chris Stapleton is easily the breakthrough country artist of the year. After years as a songwriter and singer in various bands, he released his debut solo album to much acclaim. He may have been Nashville’s best kept secret but Traveller showed the world what it had been missing. While Traveller became the best-selling first week album by a debut country artist in 2015 during its release week in May, thanks to a killer performance with Justin Timberlake at the CMA Awards, it rose to the No. 1 spot for two-consecutive weeks in November. Traveller demonstrates just why Chris deserves the spotlight he’s getting with his distinctive vocals and songwriting ability. He wrote all but two tracks on the 14-song album which includes standout covers of George Jones’ “Tennessee Whiskey” and Charlie Daniels’ “Was It 26.” The album itself fuses country, bluegrass, southern rock and plenty of soul for a memorable listening.

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5. Brett EldredgeIllinois
Brett pays homage to his home state on his sophomore release, fittingly titled Illinois. Where his debut album introduced himself to the world, Illinois shows all sides of his personality — from the energetic “Fire” and the sweet sentiment of “Wanna Be That Song” to the slightly crazed “Lose My Mind” and R&B fused “You Can’t Stop Me” featuring Thomas Rhett. Brett also reveals his complexity and versatility as he co-wrote and co-produced each of the 12 tracks.

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6. Jason IsbellSomething More Than Free
“A lot of people in Nashville think that the best song is the catchiest, or the one that sells the most copies,” Jason told Rolling Stone earlier this year. “They’re editing songs in a way that make them seem more consumable, I guess. I’m trying to edit them in a way that makes them more honest.” He did just this with his excellent album Something More Than Free, which landed at No. 1 on Billboard’s rock, folk and country charts. Throughout every song on the album, Jason’s pen oozes with feeling and honesty as can be heard on the cutting “How To Forget” and the beautiful “Flagship.” The combined musicianship and storytelling is enough to keep this album on repeat for days.

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7. Darius RuckerSouthern Style
Darius fuses modern country with traditional country effortlessly on his fourth solo country release Southern Style. Tracks like the old-timey, banjo-driven “Good For a Good Time” coupled with the sweet sentiment of radio friendly track “Perfect” exemplify this. No matter the song, his booming baritone captivates the listener.

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8. Ashley MonroeThe Blade
Ashley has a voice that begs to be heard and her latest album The Blade is a testament to why she is championed by artists like Vince Gill and Miranda Lambert. While The Blade has a slightly more pop country feel than her previous release Like A Rose with opening track “On To Something Good,” Ashley still keeps her traditional country soul demonstrated on the rollicking Elvis Presley-esque “Winning Streak,” the stunning “Has Anybody Ever Told You” and the painful (both in name and context) title track.

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9. Tim McGrawDamn Country Music
Tim has released 14 studio albums and on this year’s Damn Country Music he continues to illustrate his staying power. The album kicks off with “Here Tonight,” a poignant duet with his daughter Gracie. The remaining 10 tracks include a range of emotions from numerous songwriters and each time Tim sings the song so emotively, it is as if he wrote the track himself. While upbeat songs like “How I’ll Always Be” and current single “Top of the World” will no doubt hold up in a live setting, it is on last track “Humble and Kind” that represents Tim at his best. It’s a song oozing with fatherly advice that he has surely shared with Gracie and it’s this fact alone that makes the song all the more powerful.

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10. Kelsea BalleriniThe First Time
Kelsea’s debut album shows the singer’s maturity. The 22 year old co-wrote each of the 12 tracks and every song is a glimpse into the singer-songwriter’s life. The First Time is a roller coaster ride of emotions and on each song, Kelsea makes the listener feel like she’s a friend sitting beside them in conversation. On “Square Pegs,” she sings of the importance of being yourself while the moving “Secondhand Smoke,” about her parent’s divorce, strikes a chord. Despite the more emotional songs, Kelsea manages to lighten the mood with her current single “Dibs” and previous No. 1 hit “Love Me Like You Mean It.” It’s an album that has us eagerly waiting to see what Kelsea writes next.