One of the most interesting genres in the 21st century is what I call “New Americana.” Americana has become a catch-all phrase for roots-oriented music that taps primarily into folk and country. It has, however, become a genre that also builds off the folk rock movement of the ‘60s, the country rock movement of the ‘70s, and the alt-country movement of the ‘90s. This list focuses mostly on post ‘90s work, but includes some albums in the ‘80s and ‘90s which were instrumental in establish this “new” old genre.
The DMDB aggregated more than 30 lists and then took those albums from 3 or more lists, as well as any albums which topped Billboard magazine’s Americana chart from 2009 to present, and ranked them according to overall DMDB points. A separate list has been created for folk and folk rock. Similarly, there is a DMDB list focused on country music. Check out those and other best-of-genre/category lists here.
1. Jeff Buckley Grace (1994)
2. Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2001)
3. Sufjan Stevens Illinois (2005)
4. Mumford & Sons Babel (2012)
5. Beck Sea Change (2002)
6. Mumford & Sons Sigh No More (2009)
7. Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes (2008)
8. Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago (2007)
9. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Raising Sand (2007)
10. Lucinda Williams Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998)
11. Sufjan Stevens Carrie & Lowell (2015)
12. Bon Iver Bon Iver (2011)
13. Johnny Cash American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)
14. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit The Nashville Sound (2017)
15. Johnny Cash American Recordings (1994)
16. Courtney Barnett Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit (2015)
17. Brandi Carlile By the Way, I Forgive You (2018)
18. Bright Eyes I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (2005)
19. Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues (2011)
20. The Lumineers The Lumineers (2012)
21. Joanna Newsom Ys (2006)
22. Father John Misty I Love You, Honeybear (2015)
23. Elliott Smith Either/Or (1997)
24. Gillian Welch Time (The Revelator) (2001)
25. John Hiatt Bring the Family (1987)
26. Bruce Springsteen We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006)
27. Phoebe Bridgers Punisher (2020)
28. Neutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998)
29. Steve Earle Guitar Town (1986)
30. Leonard Cohen You Want It Darker (2016)
31. The Highwomen The Highwomen (2019)
32. Bruce Springsteen Western Stars (2019)
33. Ryan Adams Heartbreaker (2000)
34. Billy Bragg & Wilco Mermaid Avenue (1998)
35. Uncle Tupelo No Depression (1990)
36. The Avett Brothers I and Love and You (2009)
37. Cat Power You Are Free (2003)
38. Wilco Being There (1996)
39. Brandi Carlile In These Silent Days (2021)
40. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Raise the Roof (2021)
41. Lucinda Williams Lucinda Williams (1988)
42. Bright Eyes Lifted or the Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (2002)
43. Joanna Newsom Have One on Me (2010)
44. Neko Case Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (2006)
45. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit Reunions (2020)
46. Johnny Cash American III: Solitary Man (2000)
47. The Decemberists The Crane Wife (2006)
48. Lyle Lovett The Road to Ensenada (1996)
49. Ryan Adams & the Cardinals Cold Roses (2005)
50. The Jayhawks Hollywood Town Hall (1992)
Resources and Related Links:
First posted 3/22/2024. | 
No comments:
Post a Comment