Country music is in great hands these days. And the sheer output of solid country and country-adjacent music is nearly impossible to keep up with. But that’s a great problem to have. On any given week, it feels like there are 3 or 4 albums, a couple of EPs, and dozens of singles hitting streaming platforms that are well worth a listen. In fact, it’s often overwhelming… The only downside to the amount of great music coming out is that it is nearly impossible to give ample credit where credit is due and spotlight all the music deserving of attention upon its release. So, in an effort to shine light on some of the spectacular album releases over the past few months that didn’t get an individual write up here at Whiskey Riff, I’ve compiled a list of 20 “under the radar” albums country music fans need to be listening to. All are deserving of high praise and a listen all the way through. So, without further ado, here are 20 recent album releases that you do not want to miss. Alive & Well – Hayden Baker Song Pick: “I Wasn’t Gonna Drink Tonight” Appalachia Forever – Philip Bowen An extremely underrated songwriter and one of the best fiddle players in the business, Bowen has a special way of conjuring emotion through his music, and Appalachia Forever is loaded with emotion evoking lyricism. Song Pick: “Blue As Water” ft. Charles Wesley Godwin Country Parables – Grayson Jenkins Song Pick: “Country Parables” Every Ghost – Kelsey Waldon Every Ghost, Waldon’s sixth record is an incredibly introspective project in which she grapples with the ghosts of her past, present, and future to addresses heavy topics of addiction, loss, and self worth before coming to terms with the experiences that have shaped her into who she is today. A vulnerable, first-person coming of age story through which she learns to appreciate herself, it sounds as if the process of making this album was therapeutic for Waldon, and with her spectacular songwriting and pure vocals, the album is bound to be therapeutic for many who listen as well. Song Pick: “Ghost of Myself” Flying – Justin Clyde Williams As clever of a lyricist as they come, Williams’ song content often revolves around heavy subject matter like love, loss, and finding beauty in the struggle, but for every track that will have you feeling emotional, he’ll have another that brings you back up with a laugh. A dichotomous feat in artistry that few have seemed to master since John Prine, Williams’ uncanny ability to weave seamlessly between knee-slapper and tear-jerker is unmatched in today’s country music scene. His Nicholas Jamerson produced record Flying is no exception. Song Pick: “Born To Roam” Justin Clyde Williams has been nothing short of prolific this year, so if you liked this record, make sure to check out The Dick and Tammy Show with Tyler Hatley and Live at The Vulcaan with JD Graham, both of which were released this year as well. For You Again – Eli Adams Song Pick: “For You Again” Guy on a Rock – John Baumann At this point in his career, John Baumann may be best known as 1/4 of the Texas country supergroup The Panhandlers, but he has a deep catalog of solo music waiting to be discovered by fans of deft songwriting and thoughtful lyricism. Guy on a Rock marks his fifth album, and it features some of his best work yet. Song Pick: “That’s What Friends Are For” Horizons – Daniel Donato Song Pick: “Blame The Train” Indian Country – Blaine Bailey Song Pick: “Hatchet” Mr. Runaway – Miles Miller Miles Miller has spent a lot of time over his career holding it down on the drums behind Sturgill Simpson. But when he finds the time to put out his own music, the result is pretty amazing, and he’s two for two on spectacular albums with his latest genre-defying sophomore project Mr. Runaway. Song Pick: “Doctor, Doctor” Never Gonna Leave You – Hollerhead Song Pick: “Leftovers” Rebel Rose – Travis Roberts Song Pick: “Bellmarie” Rhinestone Requiem – Sunny Sweeney One of the most underrated honky tonkers in the business, Sunny Sweeney knows a thing or two about how to make a country song. If you like fiddle, steel guitar, clever lyricism, and drowning out a heartache, then you’ll love her latest album. Song Pick: “Half Lit In 3/4 Time” Smokestack Town – Ole 60 Ole 60 quickly amassed a fervent fanbase on the strength of their songwriting, relatability of their lyricism, and the sheer dynamic nature of their unique country rock sound. Well, I guess they realized if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, and thankfully so. From their eclectically edgy sound to the thoughful lyricism from frontman Jacob Young, Smokestack Town features everything that fans love about Ole 60, and even includes a Coldplay cover, too. Song Pick: “Really Wanna Know” The Storm – Corey Hunt & the Wise Song Pick: “Come on Out Tonight” ft. Tyler Hatley The Way the West Was Won – Dallas Burrow Song Pick: “Colorado Bound” ft. Kelly Willis The Western Tragedy – Kenny Feidler Hailing from South Dakota, Feidler was a professional bareback riding rodeo cowboy prior to going all in on his music career, so he knows a thing or two about both the beauty and the struggle that comes with life on the road and in the American West. Channeling the grit that it takes to succeed in these two industries, Feidler’s new record juxtaposes these sentiments through deft songwriting and a full blown western rock and roll attack. Song Pick: “The Coyotes” Whiskey Lies & Alibis – William Beckmann The neo-traditional country sound experiencing quite the resurgence right now with artists like Zach Top leading the charge, but William Beckmann is doing his part to keep real country music alive as well. And with his latest album, it’s clear that he’s on the verge of a major breakthrough in his own right. Song Pick: “Borderline Crazy” 8000 Days – West Texas Exiles Song Pick: “Wind’s Gonna Blow” And while all of these albums haven’t been covered in depth here at Whiskey Riff, you absolutely will hear their music on our playlists, especially the New Music Friday playlist. Updated every Friday with the latest country music releases, it’s the perfect place to discover new music every single week Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Music The post 20 Under-The-Radar Country Album Releases You Don’t Want To Miss This Year first appeared on Whiskey Riff.