What a great year for music! Here’s a list of Americana albums we enjoyed most in 2017. It’s really too hard to rank these – they’re all great. But in our view the top five listed were really outstanding. The Blind Boys of Alabama’s Almost Home is full of vitality and poignancy, and is very inspiring; Jason Isbell continues to set exceptional standards for song writing and performance; Dori Freeman’s second album showcases her lovely voice and outstanding song writing skills; Rhiannon Giddens’ Freedom Highway is a powerful set of timely songs featuring her amazing musical talents; and Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’s collaboration on TajMo was our Blues Album of the Year. All quite mouth watering.
Here’s our first ten:
Blind Boys of Alabama – Almost Home
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – That Nashville Sound
Dori Freeman – Letters Never Read
Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ – TajMo
Check out our review of TajMo in concert here
Rhiannon Giddens – Freedom Highway
Drew Holcombe – Souvenir
Band of Heathens – Duende
Lucinda Williams – This Sweet Old World
Dave Rawlings – Poor Dave’s Almanack
Rodney Crowell – Close Ties
And the next ten:
Samantha Fish – Belle of the West
Turnpike Troubadours – A Long Way From Your Heart
The War on Drugs – A Deeper Understanding
Ryan Adams – Prisoner
Chris Stapleton – From A Room, Vol. 1
Jade Jackson – Gilded
Mavis Staples – If All I Was Was Black
Shelby Lynne, Alison Moorer – Not Dark Yet
Secret Sisters – You Don’t Own Me Anymore
Ruthie Foster – Joy Comes Back
And a final five:
Carly Pearce – Every Little Thing
Trevor Sewell – Calling Nashville
Alison Krauss – Windy City
Joan Osborne – Songs of Bob Dylan
John Moreland – Big Bad Luv
downatthecrossroads 