From Lone Star legends to breakout newcomers, these were our favorite Americana albums of 2014 …

Richard Skanse, Editor
Robert Ellis CD
1. Robert Ellis, The Lights from the Chemical Plant
2. Old 97’s, Most Messed Up
3. Eliza Gilkyson, The Nocturne Diaries
4. Rod Picott, Hang Your Hopes on a Crooked Nail
5. John Fullbright, Songs
6. Robyn Ludwick, Little Rain
7. Willie Nelson, Band of Brothers
8. Lucinda Williams, Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone
9. Rodney Crowell, Tarpaper Sky
10. Nikki Lane, All or Nothin’

Kristen Townsend, Advertising/Office Manager
Sturgill Simpson Metamodern Sounds

1. Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
2. Parker Millsap, Parker Millsap
3. John Fullbright, Songs
4. Dirty River Boys, Dirty River Boys
5. Wade Bowen, Wade Bowen
6. Nikki Lane, All or Nothin’
7. Kelley Mickwee, You Used to Live Here
8. Jason Eady, Daylight & Dark
9. Cody Johnson, Cowboy Like Me
10. Midnight River Choir, Fresh Air

Lynne Margolis, Contributing Writer
John Fullbright Songs
1. John Fullbright, Songs
2. Beck, Morning Phase
3. Shovels and Rope, Swimmin’ Time
4. Lee Ann Womack, The Way I’m Livin’
5. Ryan Adams, Ryan Adams
6. Rosanne Cash, The River & the Thread
7. John Hiatt, Terms of My Surrender
8. Shakey Graves, And the War Came
9. Old 97’s, Most Messed Up
10. TIE: Lucinda Williams, Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone; Various Artists, The New Basement Tapes

Andrew Dansby, Contributing Writer
Sun Kill Moon Benji

1. Sun Kil Moon, Benji
2. Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
3. Robert Ellis, The Lights from the Chemical Plant
4. Doug Paisley, Strong Feelings
5. Trampled by Turtles, Wild Animals
6. Israel Nash, Rain Plans
7. Christopher Denny, If the Roses Don’t Kill Us
8. Hiss Golden Messenger, Lateness of Dancers
9. Angaleena Presley, American Middle Class
10. Shovels and Rope, Swimmin’ Time

Holly Gleason, Contributing Writer
1. Robert Ellis, The Lights from the Chemical Plant
2. Leonard Cohen, Popular Problems
3. Nikki Lane, All or Nothin’
4. Various Artists, While No One Was Looking: 20 Years of Bloodshot
5. Rodney Crowell, Tarpaper Sky
6. Lucinda Williams, Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone
7. Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
8. Benmont Tench, You Should Be So Lucky
9. John Hiatt, Terms of My Surrender
10. Lee Ann Womack, The Way I’m Livin’

D.C. Bloom, Contributing Writer
1. Hard Working Americans, Hard Working Americans
2. Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis, Our Year
3. John Fullbright, Songs
4. Paul Thorn, Too Blessed to Be Stressed
5. Parker Millsap, Parker Millsap
6. Louise Mosrie, Lay It Down
7. Sarah Jarosz, Build Me Up from Bones
8. Justin Townes Earle, Single Mothers
9. Willie Nelson, Band of Brothers
10. Amy McCarley, Jet Engines

Kelly Dearmore, Contributing Writer
1. Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
2. Shovels and Rope, Swimmin’ Time
3. Old 97’s, Most Messed Up
4. Nikki Lane, All or Nothin’
5. Wade Bowen, Wade Bowen
6. Shakey Graves, And the War Came
7. Dirty River Boys, Dirty River Boys
8. Matt Hillyer, If These Old Bones Could Talk
9. Drive-By Truckers, English Oceans
10. Ryan Adams, Ryan Adams

Mike Ethan Messick, Contributing Writer
1. John Fullbright, Songs
2. Shovels and Rope, Swimmin’ Time
3. Daniel Thomas Phipps, An Offering
4. John Baumann, High Plains Alchemy
5. Stoney LaRue, Aviator
6. Rodney Crowell, Tarpaper Sky
7. Micky & the Motorcars, Hearts from Above
8. Adam Carroll, Let It Choose You
9. Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
10. Sunny Sweeney, Provoked

Cody Oxley, Contributing Writer
1. Lew Card, Low Country Hi-Fi
2. Matt Harlan, Raven Hotel
3. Zac Wilkerson, Zac Wilkerson
4. Matt Powell, Easy Love
5. Jason Eady, Daylight & Dark
6. Robert Ellis, The Lights from the Chemical Plant
7. Hard Working Americans, Hard Working Americans
8. Billy Joe Shaver, Long in the Tooth
9. Jamestown Revival, Utah
10. Gary Floater, Who Cares: The Songs of Gary Floater

Adam Dawson, Contributing Writer
1. Matt Woods, With Love from Brushy Mountain
2. Parker Millsap, Parker Millsap
3. Will Kimbrough, Sideshow Love
4. Adam Carroll, Let It Choose You
5. Rod Picott, Hang Your Hopes on a Crooked Nail
6. Cory Branan, The No-Hit Wonder
7. Hard Working Americans, Hard Working Americans
8. St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Half the City
9. Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
10. Otis Gibbs, Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth

Kallie Townsend, LoneStarMusic.com
1. Dirty River Boys, Dirty River Boys
2. Midnight River Choir, Fresh Air
3. Wade Bowen, Wade Bowen
4. Parker Millsap, Parker Millsap
5. Sean McConnell, B Side Sessions
6. Whiskey Myers, Early Morning Shakes
7. Adam Hood, Welcome to the Big World
8. Brian Keane, Coming Home
9. Aaron Stephens, Hard Times, Straight Lines
10. Jason Eady, Daylight & Dark

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