Another year is coming to an end, and Country Universe will soon be compiling its Best of 2022 lists.
This year, we are including albums and singles released through December 2, 2022.
What are some of your favorite albums and songs from the year that you hope to see on the lists?
My highlight of the year has to be “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” by Carly Pearce featuring Ashley McBryde, no contest at all. I picked up Carly’s 29: Written In Stone on an impulse following someone saying they liked her and Shania Twain as well on a Tammy Wynette Facebook group and I’ve never been happier with a recommendation for a singer. I also am listening to more of Ashley’s work – they are both amazing.
Albums I’ve enjoyed most this year in no particular order:
Drew Kennedy – Marathon
Joshua Hedley – Neon Blue
Kimberly Kelly – I’ll Tell You What’s Gonna Happen
Bri Bagwell – Corazon y Cabeza
Drake Milligan – Dallas/Fort Worth
Ronnie Dunn – 100 Proof Neon
49 Winchester – Fortune Favors The Bold
Sunny Sweeney – Married Alone
For songs, Courtney Patton’s “Electrostatic”. Such a beautiful depiction of grief. Miranda Lambert’s “Carousel” was also a fave.
Albums:
Kaitlin Butts – What Else Can She Do
Sarah Buxton – Moonriser
Ashley McBryde – Lindeville
I’d like to put in a good word for Caitlin Rose, who returned this year for the first time since 2013’s The Stand-In, a gap of nine years (YIPE!!) with Cazimi. Although it is a long way from “straight” country, this album still has a lot to recommend, with my favorite tracks being “Nobody’s Sweetheart”, “Getting It Right” (where she collaborates with Courtney Marie Andrews), and “Gemini Moon”.
…it was a fine year for honky tonk music: ronnie dunn’s “100 proof neon”, sunny sweeney’s “married alone”, wade bowen’s “somewhere between the secret and the truth, drake milligan’s “dallas/fort worth” and randy houser’s thoughtful “note to self” come immediately to mind. all of them very nice and great sounding album efforts. not to forget jon pardi’s “mr. saturday night” und joshua headley’s “neon blue”. honky tonk heaven – 2022.
megan moroney’s ep “pistol made of roses” is a lovely debut and so is her hit single (gem) “tennessee orange”. probably, my favourite song of the year even.
little big town’s album “mr. sun” is a terrific overall collection of songs and sounds. perhaps, their best so far.
luke combs’ “the kind of love we make” is such a good sounding song.
miss lambert’s cowboy dream has grown a lot on me over the year.
zach bryan? – i’m still not through with that truck load of “american heartbreak”. one to take to prison when sentenced to life.
I’d like to put in a good word for Caitlin Rose’s album Cazimi, her first album since 2013’s The Stand-In. It has her own unique take on a mix of styles, including power-pop, East Nashville alt-country, and West Coast country-rock, with stand-out songs like “Lil’ Vesta”, “Nobody’s Sweetheart”, “Getting It Right” (with Courtney Marie Andrews), and “Gemini Moon”.