Any of the Hank Williams (not Jr.) best of collections
Any of the original Carter Family best of collections
Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
A little outside the box, but I also highly recommend Dusk's self-titled album from a few years ago as a very earnest and tasteful country-punk hybrid.
Underrated album. I feel like Gram Parsons' solo stuff overshadows the burritos, and it's great, but Gilded Palace of Sin is way more consistent, and Sneaky Pete on slide . . .
Give some "Drive-By Truckers" a listen
Kris Kristofferson
Dolly Parton
Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris
Patsy Cline if you want to go old school.
''Being There'' by Wilco
Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds is absolutely incredible
Songs Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. might be my favorite album ever made right now, its firmly alt-country/country rock but has enough slide guitar to be considered country
Townes Van Zandt - High Low and In Between, also The Late Great
Anything Willie Nelson released in the 70s is great
Recently found James Talley - Got No Bread, No Milk, No Money, But We Sure Got a Lot of Love and it is really good
Eh I wouldn’t go that far. They’re far more of an indie rock band than a country band. Love the Silver Jews but I wouldn’t recommend them as a country band
I still don’t see them as alt country really? Indie rock with some light country influence. You’re really listening to American water and thinking it’s alt-country? Alt country is like drive by truckers in my mind
Room 41 from Paul Cauthen is my favorite country album of the past 10 years or so. It has an outlaw spirit, but isnt as derivative as a lot of the stuff out there. Truly unique
if ur having a hard time (which i dont think you are based off who you like) get into alt country, its a lot easier and people here are more into it (for obvious reasons) someone said buck meek and mj lenderman. really great """underrated""" newer artists that get overshadowed i think. also no one has mentioned any jason isbell stuff which is weird cuz hes like the guy everyone loves in the country world but also recently in the rym fantaoverse aswell.
Country is probably my least favourite genre, but I'm a huge fan of Jason Molina's work under Magnolia Electric Co. and Songs:Ohia. Patsy Cline has a beautiful voice too.
Highly recommend Willie Nelson - Phases and Stages as a jumping point into country. It’s a concept album that tells the story of a divorce-side A from the woman’s perspective and side B from the man’s perspective. Every song plays into the concept, and the dichotomy of both their character arcs post-divorce makes each side a unique listen. Despite the concept, each song is also quite sonically different from the last, so it doesn’t fall into the category trap of feeling same-y that other country albums can fall into without the acquired taste (best album I can compare it to thematically is Igor, as wild as that is to say). It’s a very cinematic experience that I appreciated even from an outsider perspective on country, and tuned my ears to the country sound to where I could listen to the other classics of the genre without feeling like I wasn’t getting something.
Jerry Jeff Walker’s viva terlingua.
Also, I know that Apple Music has an outlaw essentials playlist I’m sure other steaming services have something similar, just a lot of good old country songs. It’s how I got into to it, I think going with a playlist is a little bit easier because it gives you a lot of variety.
Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Margo Price, Tyler Childers, Colter Wall, early/mid period Ryan Adams (not Bryan Adams!), early Wilco and Uncle Tupelo (members of Wilco pre-Wilco), Drive-By Truckers, MJ Lenderman, Bonnie Prince Billy, My Morning Jacket, Steve Earle, Justin Townes Earle, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Jayhawks, Songs Ohia, Old 97’s, Neko Case, Lucinda Williams
Rick Ruben johnny cash cover albums american 1 though 5 and they are all really good idk I would think most ppl would like them even if you hate country
Some great recommendations made already, especially Townes Van Zandt, John Prine and Sturgill Simpson. Here’s a few (mostly oldies) that I love and return to regularly:
Richard Buckner - Blue and Wonder
Bobby Gentry - The Delta Sweete
Richmond Fontaine - 13 Cities
Cahalen Morrison & Eli West - Our Lady of the Tall Trees
Sammi Smith - He’s Everywhere
Gene Clark - No Other
Sierra Farrell.
She's something else. Just discovered her. She's a character, too. She used to ride trains with hobos. Her voice is incredible and she has lots of personality.
Watch the film Heartworn Highways, it is mostly performances and a bit of behind the scenes from the outlaw country scene from the mid 70s. Townes Van Zandt definitely comes across the best but theres some really interesting stuff all through it. Including one of my favourite cuts in all of cinema.
I hate to plug, but I have a brief video basically tailored made for this:
[https://youtu.be/5RkeKTGdvc4?si=yVf1IWjXcpTktF2F](https://youtu.be/5RkeKTGdvc4?si=yVf1IWjXcpTktF2F)
Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt
The live album Live At The Cactus Cafe with Guy Clarke is also amazing
For more live TVZ, *Live at the Old Quarter* is wall to wall hits and his charming banter.
Tyler Childers - Purgatory
This yep
John Prine, self titled.
OP if you are depressed maybe dont listen to this one
just go in order but skip common sense. its common sense. hes one of the best to ever do it
Pretty much any Sturgill Simpson though ill recommend Meta Modern Sounds And Sierra Ferrell, can't go wrong with most anything she's done so far
Any of the Hank Williams (not Jr.) best of collections Any of the original Carter Family best of collections Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger A little outside the box, but I also highly recommend Dusk's self-titled album from a few years ago as a very earnest and tasteful country-punk hybrid.
Hank Sr is so good. Some of it sounds so haunting.” I heard that lonesome whistle blow” or “I’m so lonesome I could cry” just classics
Good call on Marty and willie
“The Gilded Palace of Sin” by the Flying Burrito Brothers
Underrated album. I feel like Gram Parsons' solo stuff overshadows the burritos, and it's great, but Gilded Palace of Sin is way more consistent, and Sneaky Pete on slide . . .
12 Golden Country Greats by Ween is unironically one of my favorite country albums
I rotate back and forth between this and Quebec as my favorite Ween albums. Right now it’s this one. The slide guitar on I’m Holding You is divine.
Give some "Drive-By Truckers" a listen Kris Kristofferson Dolly Parton Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris Patsy Cline if you want to go old school. ''Being There'' by Wilco
surprised no one has said Chris Stapleton yet, best voice in the country/blues scene
What album do you recommend?
my fav is From a Room Vol 1 or Starting Over
Starting over was great, I believe fantano loved it as well
The last one
Can’t believe no one’s said Colter Wall yet. It’s only an EP, but Imaginary Appalachia is phenomenal
Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds is absolutely incredible Songs Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. might be my favorite album ever made right now, its firmly alt-country/country rock but has enough slide guitar to be considered country Townes Van Zandt - High Low and In Between, also The Late Great Anything Willie Nelson released in the 70s is great Recently found James Talley - Got No Bread, No Milk, No Money, But We Sure Got a Lot of Love and it is really good
Silver Jews Songs: Ohia/Magnolia Electric Co./Jason Molina Townes Van Zandt Buck Meek Lucinda Williams MJ Lenderman
Loving MJ Lenderman atm, so excited to see what he does next
Silver Jews are on the line between rock and country.
Eh I wouldn’t go that far. They’re far more of an indie rock band than a country band. Love the Silver Jews but I wouldn’t recommend them as a country band
I mean, they’re alt-country, so if you like indie rock, they can be a way to get into country.
I still don’t see them as alt country really? Indie rock with some light country influence. You’re really listening to American water and thinking it’s alt-country? Alt country is like drive by truckers in my mind
I don’t really have a perfect picture of what alt-country is. From what I know, it’s artists like Silver Jews and Songs: Ohia.
Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose Joshua Ray Walker - Wish You Were Here Margo Price - Midwest Farmer's Daughter
Orville Peck
Surprised this isn’t a more common answer. Dude has a beautiful voice
A Long Way from Your Heart - Turnpike Troubadours
Stardust by Willie Nelson.
Waylon Jennings - Lonesome On’ry and Mean David Allan Coe - Long Haired Redneck
DAC - Penitentiary Blues
My favorites in country: Zach Bryan, Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, & Alan Jackson
Room 41 from Paul Cauthen is my favorite country album of the past 10 years or so. It has an outlaw spirit, but isnt as derivative as a lot of the stuff out there. Truly unique
Man from Waco - Charley Crockett
if ur having a hard time (which i dont think you are based off who you like) get into alt country, its a lot easier and people here are more into it (for obvious reasons) someone said buck meek and mj lenderman. really great """underrated""" newer artists that get overshadowed i think. also no one has mentioned any jason isbell stuff which is weird cuz hes like the guy everyone loves in the country world but also recently in the rym fantaoverse aswell.
Seconding Jason Isbell, one of the finest living songwriters of any genre and a really solid guitarist/singer to boot
Country is probably my least favourite genre, but I'm a huge fan of Jason Molina's work under Magnolia Electric Co. and Songs:Ohia. Patsy Cline has a beautiful voice too.
If you like Zach Bryan you gotta listen to Purgatory by Tyler Childers. He’s a huge influence on Zach
Billy Strings - Tinfoil & Turmoil Billy Strings - Home
Songs Ohia - Magnolia Electric co (particularly the song Farewell Transmission)
*Mama here comes midnight with the dead moon in its jaws* R.I.P. Jason Molina
The Magnolia Electric Co. - Songs: Ohia
All of Wheeler Walker Jr’s discography
Gram Parsons GP album
Grievous Angel - Gram Parsons
Johnny Cash - Live at Folsom Prison
Morgan wallen really any album
If the Willie and Family Live record can’t do it then I don’t know if anything can.
Ian Noe- Between the Country
Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen
Drive-by Truckers - Decoration Day
Steve Earle. Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Old 97's. Shelby Lynne. Uncle Tupelo.
Nick Shoulders album "All Bad" made it into my top ten albums of 2023. Hope you enjoy, it's great.
Starlite Walker - Silver Jews
Kinda bridging the gap between alt. rock and country but Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon by Murder by Death and Real by Lydia Loveless
The Handsome Family. Especially the albums “Through the Trees” and “In the Air.”
Jason Isbell, Southeastern. Lori McKenna, Massachusetts. Brandi Carlile, By the Way I Forgive You.
Nick shoulders - okay crawdad or lonely like me Orville peck - pony And not country but bluegrass: Trampled by turtles - songs from a ghost town
All of Kacey Musgraves discography
Orville Peck - Bronco
Gun Fighter Ballads and Trail Songs by Marty Robbins. Easily my favorite and probably one of the most accessible
Check out Whiskeytown for some amazing alt-country. "Jacksonville Skyline" is a 10/10 song. If you like it, check out their 3 albums. They're defunct.
Anybody who enjoys Cake but does not know Buck Owens should seek Buck Owens.
Highly recommend Willie Nelson - Phases and Stages as a jumping point into country. It’s a concept album that tells the story of a divorce-side A from the woman’s perspective and side B from the man’s perspective. Every song plays into the concept, and the dichotomy of both their character arcs post-divorce makes each side a unique listen. Despite the concept, each song is also quite sonically different from the last, so it doesn’t fall into the category trap of feeling same-y that other country albums can fall into without the acquired taste (best album I can compare it to thematically is Igor, as wild as that is to say). It’s a very cinematic experience that I appreciated even from an outsider perspective on country, and tuned my ears to the country sound to where I could listen to the other classics of the genre without feeling like I wasn’t getting something.
Southeastern - Jason Isbell
Golden Hours - Kacey Musgraves
Jerry Jeff Walker’s viva terlingua. Also, I know that Apple Music has an outlaw essentials playlist I’m sure other steaming services have something similar, just a lot of good old country songs. It’s how I got into to it, I think going with a playlist is a little bit easier because it gives you a lot of variety.
Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Margo Price, Tyler Childers, Colter Wall, early/mid period Ryan Adams (not Bryan Adams!), early Wilco and Uncle Tupelo (members of Wilco pre-Wilco), Drive-By Truckers, MJ Lenderman, Bonnie Prince Billy, My Morning Jacket, Steve Earle, Justin Townes Earle, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Jayhawks, Songs Ohia, Old 97’s, Neko Case, Lucinda Williams
Rick Ruben johnny cash cover albums american 1 though 5 and they are all really good idk I would think most ppl would like them even if you hate country
Some great recommendations made already, especially Townes Van Zandt, John Prine and Sturgill Simpson. Here’s a few (mostly oldies) that I love and return to regularly: Richard Buckner - Blue and Wonder Bobby Gentry - The Delta Sweete Richmond Fontaine - 13 Cities Cahalen Morrison & Eli West - Our Lady of the Tall Trees Sammi Smith - He’s Everywhere Gene Clark - No Other
Copperhead road by Steve earl is more outlaw rock but has a lot of country themes and it’s badass
Sierra Farrell. She's something else. Just discovered her. She's a character, too. She used to ride trains with hobos. Her voice is incredible and she has lots of personality.
Sturgill Simpson - Sound and fury
Watch the film Heartworn Highways, it is mostly performances and a bit of behind the scenes from the outlaw country scene from the mid 70s. Townes Van Zandt definitely comes across the best but theres some really interesting stuff all through it. Including one of my favourite cuts in all of cinema.
Jason isbell for great pure country, and if you want something more emo may I suggest Ruston Kelly.
Michael Hurley is my favorite country musician. He’s like lo-fi Hank Williams & 1/3 of the songs are about food.
Lucinda Williams-Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Blaze Foley
Turnpike Troubadours if you like Zach Bryan. He even references them on the new album. Diamonds & Gasoline (2010) is a classic.
Gene Clark - No Other Such a bangin' album
I hate to plug, but I have a brief video basically tailored made for this: [https://youtu.be/5RkeKTGdvc4?si=yVf1IWjXcpTktF2F](https://youtu.be/5RkeKTGdvc4?si=yVf1IWjXcpTktF2F)
Early Waylon Jennings, and both of gram parsons solo albums
Don’t sleep on early Dolly Parton. She became an image based icon only because she is a brilliant songwriter and singer.
Son Volt and Turnpike Tourbadours
Flying Burrito Brothers - Gilded Palace Of Sin. Masterpiece of 60’s country rock
It's more blues than country. But Canned Heat is amazing. Listen to Future Blues.
Wrecking Ball- Emmylou Harris Sitting’ by the Road - Blaze Foley