The Backlog: June ‘25
A strong crop, led by a remarkable pivot from a former Zach Bryan styled act.
I missed a backlog for May, so expect a quick follow up to this one early in July. There's some nice diversity here, 2025 is shaping up to be a quality year in music. Of course, as I detailed earlier, I am intentionally listening to somewhat less music this year. Think of it as a more curated perspective towards the absolute onslaught of music that gets released nowadays. The results have been nice. More time to think about the music rather than immediately jumping towards hearing the next one.
A quick reminder of the the country subgenre numbering system.
1-Traditional Country
2-Country Rock
3-Modern Country
4-Pop Country
5-Southern Pop
Without further ado…..
Ashland Craft - Dive Bar Beauty Queen
Tracks: 11
Time: 36 minutes
Subgenre: 3, 2, 4
Craft’s sophomore album refines her carefully crafted persona with narratives about lives on the edge. Her twangy and raspy affectation occasionally sounds strained, but solid writing and production mostly overcome these moments. The project blends raw emotion with at times overblown wanna be Southern swagger. It’s much tighter than most modern day albums which is incredibly refreshing, (especially as a reviewer).
Favorite: Momma Don’t Pray Like She Used To, Morning Person
Least Favorite: Right Damn Now
The Steeldrivers- Outrun
Tracks: 12
Time: 42 minutes
Subgenres: 1, 2
The Steeldrivers continue to excel post-Chris Stapleton, possibly delivering their best album yet. They distinguish themselves by adding unique perspectives to familiar bluegrass tropes, both musically and lyrically.The husky lead vocals provide a modern edge and formula tweak to bluegrass’s typical tenor led preference, giving a modern touch to th modern-meets-trad sound. Consistent elevation of potential clichés with distinctive treatment and perspective.
Favorite: The River Nose or Zanna, Painted in Poison
Least Favorite: Outrun
Maddie & Tae - Love & Light
Tracks: 16
Time: 48 minutes
Subgenre: 4, 2
The country duo delivers another typically misplaced effort. The attempted introspection with the massive hooky pop-country thing is tough to pull off. See the choice to feature ill-fitting hip-hop beats that clash with their vocal twang. The knack for a memorable melody remains.
Favorite: Heart They Didn’t Break, Somebody Will
Least Favorite: Kissing Cowboys
Silverada - Texas 42
Tracks: 8
Time: 27 minutes
Subgenre: 1
This short acoustic demonstration gives the band breathing room to regroup after the exit of their steel guitarist. The songs are more stripped down than typical Silverada fare, though that’s never been a constant for this ever-shifting Texas music act. While it touches on similar thematic ground adequately, it’s probably the weakest I’ve heard from them. The stripped-down approach works to some degree, but lacks the impact of their previous work. Hopefully they can get a full lineup together and really let loose and hit the highs of their old work.
Favorite: Smoke Them If You Got Them
Least Favorite: Never Leaving Texas
Kat Hasty - The Time of Your Life
Tracks: 10
Time: 31 minutes
Subgenre: 2, 1, 3
It’s a big change from her original female Zach Bryan thing, but well worth the shift. Hasty’s debut full-band album is an unfiltered, autobiographical collection properly capturing her very distinct personality. Her songwriting pulls directly from personal experiences with zero distance between life and art. Despite still having rough edges, mostly due to limited production budgets from the looks of it, Hasty’s charisma makes this a compelling possible end of year contender.
Favorite: Breaking Up The Band, The Best We Can, The Time Of Your Life, The West Ain’t Wild Anymore
Least Favorite: Chance to be Alive
Sam Stoane - Tales of the Dark West
Tracks: 13
Time: 40 minutes
Subgenre: 1
A stunning Western music album showcasing Stoane’s exceptional vocal gifts, sharp songwriting, and a deft grasp of genre. Like a feminine Colter Wall, she brings contemporary audiences to traditional Western sounds, making the genre feel fresh while deeply respecting its confines. Her command of her sweeter upper register creates unique listening experiences especially in combination with the otherwise rustic and rough western style.
Favorite: Coyote Cry, Cologne, Even Cowgirls Get The Blues
Least Favorite: Diesel
Ian Munsick - Eagle Feather
Tracks: 20
Time: 64 minutes
Subgenres 1, 3, 4, 5
Ian Munsick is a polarizing figure. He pairs his genuine Wyoming, western, and Bluegrass background with excessive pop production and signature autotune slathered on top of it all to extreme detriment. Having heard recordings of his natural voice, he doesn’t need the autotune, so it’s clearly an artistic choice that’s often distracting. This album is more of the same. As is typical, lyrically Munsick doesn’t pull punches, and the instrumentation remains interesting despite or occasionally because of the pop experimentation. The interludes are used artistically to alleviate the long runtime and add purpose. If you've liked his material in the last, this is a great addition. If you can't stand it, this will do nothing to change your mind.
Favorite: Horses Not Hearts, God Bless the West, Caroline, Wolf Creek Road, Good Dogs and Sad Songs
Least Favorite: Fixing Me
Link Phelps - Faith and Sweat
Tracks: 10
Time: 33 minutes
Subgenre: 2, 1, 3
A new name to me, Phelps is a rough-throated powerhouse vocalist who surprises, especially regarding songwriting. Over the 33-minute length, wide diversity of ground gets covered. In a literal quarter of the time of one Morgan Wallen record, significantly personality gets conveyed. He’s approachable yet vulnerable and open. It draws listeners in a combination of vocal power and emotional accessibility.
Favorite: Faith and Sweat, 100%, Coffee, Whiskey, and Love
Least Favorite: Dear Mind
Avery Anna - let go letters
Tracks: 14
Time: 37 minutes
Subgenre: 2, 3, 4
A fascinating concept, this is a deeply personal sophomore album where Anna transforms fan letters into songs addressing heavier topics then the typical fare you’d expect. Her vocals show impressive range and power. This easily could feel forced, but Anna authentically inhabits these borrowed experiences with remarkable empathy and talent, especially for such a young artist. An absolute swing for the fences, but perfectly squared up.
Favorite: cheerios, danny don’t
Least Favorite: GRAVES
Cyndi Thomson - Acres of Diamonds
Tracks: 6
Time: 21 minutes
Subgenre: 3,1, 2
After a 24-year hiatus, Thomson returns with an EP showcasing evolved artistry and mature vocal approach. Standout moments include an unexpected cover paired with some hard hitting emotion. Her voice now carries grittiness that reflects life experience while her songwriting remains sharp. An impressive comeback.
Favorite: Five More Minutes
Least Favorite: Devil’s Hands
Thanks for reading! If you have any feedback on these albums or suggestions you'd think I'd enjoy, free to reach out, either in the comment section or to today I heard blog at gmail dot com.
-Joe
Thanks for the recommendations! I downloaded a few albums for my flight. Your backlog substacks ovee the last year have really helped me explore the country music genre more and really appreciate the genre more.