Another week, another bunch of brilliant new country songs. Artists both big and small graced this past week with some great music. It's been real damn hard making this list. If only it were a top 10 instead...
Videos by Wide Open Country
I was in a similar predicament with last week's ranking, too.
Our Spotify playlist has been updated with all the songs featured on this list, so make sure to save it for later listening!
1. Ballad of the Blanton Brothers
"Ballad of the Blanton Brothers" by the Muscadine Bloodline takes the top spot this week. It's got everything: drama, storytelling, and a dynamic sound. It's a great shoulder-jumping tune.
I'm a sucker for a good story (see "Johnny" by Rob Williford), and this murder ballad delivers in spades.
It keeps building and building till I don't know what to do with myself anymore. It's killer, literally.
2. Redneck Girl Like Mine
I discredited "Redneck Girl Like Mine" by Ira Dean and Jeffery Steele far too quickly. The more I listened, the more the tune encouraged my body into a bop.
Sure, it's not really anything you haven't listened to before, but boy is it a good time. Sometimes all you need is a solid country rock song. And this new track will do the job for a while to come.
3. Drink With You
"Drink With You" by Brett Young is a classic country song about not wanting to drink with someone due to the obvious side effects of mixing alcohol and attraction (see "Drink and Cry" by Onoleigh).
Although I'm not typically fond of such songs (they're very saturated at this point), I'll make an inexplicable exception for this one. It's a good song, and a delightful surprise.
4. worst case scenario
"worst case scenario" by Abbey Cone is as raw as a song can get. She goes over the worst-case scenarios of breaking up with her long-time partner in a very personal performance. I connected with the piece so much that I was in the room with her.
What surprised me greatly to learn was Abbey Cone wrote this song a whole two years before breaking up with her boyfriend of six years, and many of the 'worst case scenarios' ended up coming true.
Out of all the brilliant and beautiful songs in her debut album, Greener, this one moves me the most (with "Video Games" being a close second).
5. It Takes Sh*t
"It Takes Sh*T (To Make Things Grow)" by Joshua Quimby is a swampy track that I knew I was gonna enjoy the moment I put it on.
Endlessly relatable to many out there, the song goes over the awful habits of the singer. It's almost hypnotic in its plodding pace and twangy instrumentals.
It's super chill and hard not to get along with.
Best Country Album — ...And What Was Left Behind
It was incredibly tough competition, but Muscadine Bloodline's ...And What Was Left Behind I believe just edges out Abbey Cone's brilliant Greener for best new country album of the week.
As I couldn't decide between either album, I had to go with the album that had a more classic country vibe.
...And What Was Left Behind is full of absolute heaters, and no two are the same. "Ballad of the Blanton Brothers" and "Durward" are my personal favorites. Which one is yours?
I'm looking forward to New Music Friday tomorrow. Some great songs are set to be released.
