2024 has been a great year for roots music. Nearly every week this year saw the release of a country or Americana record that could be a contender for album of the year. With so much great music, there are surely several albums and EPs that many listeners missed. Now the year is drawing to an end and releases have slowed dramatically. So, it’s a great time to go back and listen to some of the best country and Americana albums that fell through the cracks for many fans.
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This isn’t a list of the best country and Americana albums of the year. So, your favorite artist’s release from this year probably won’t show up here. Instead, we’re going to look at ten albums that you need to hear before the ball drops.
The Best Overlooked Country and Americana Albums of 2024
1. JP Harris Is a Trash Fire—JP Harris (September 20)
JP Harris released his fifth studio album JP Harris Is a Trash Fire on September 20. The most popular song on the tracklist, album opener “Old Fox” is sitting at just under 62,000 streams which is a crying shame.
Harris is an incredible songwriter with some serious range. “Trash Fire” is a great song about the resilience of an independent artist. At the same time, “To the Doves” might be one of the best breakup songs to hit streaming platforms this year.
JP Harris Is a Trash Fire may not land many “best country albums of 2024” lists but it should be in heavy rotation for fans of smart songwriting.
2. Cody Jinks Sings Lefty Frizzell—Cody Jinks (December 6)
Cody Jinks released three albums this year. Change the Game dropped in March. He followed that with Backside of 30 in September. Then, earlier this month, he released Cody Jinks Sings Lefty Frizzell.
Most fans know Jinks as something of a modern Outlaw Country artist due to his rock-infused sound. However, he proved that he is just as comfortable singing classic country songs with this album. The tracklist is full of songs either written or popularized by Lefty Frizzell including “That’s the Way Love Goes,” “The Long Black Veil,” and “I Never Go Around Mirrors.”
Because the album came late in the year, many country fans overlooked it but it is among Jinks’ best work.
3. A Country Song—Ben Jarrell (July 12)
Ben Jarrell released his sophomore album A Country Song in July. This album is the definition of “criminally underrated.” It’s packed with original songs that sound like classic country, disproving everyone who claims they don’t make good country music anymore. However, at the moment, the most-streamed song on the record sits at just over 11,000 streams.
Ben Jarrell is the total package. This album features some of the best songwriting you’ll hear coupled with traditional country sounds. From barnburners to heartbreak songs and everything in between, A Country Song has it all.
4. Hayes & The Heathens—Hayes & The Heathens (October 4)
Hayes Carll is one of modern country music’s finest songwriters. The Band of Heathens is an Americana-leaning rock band who are in a league of their own. They came together for this collaborative album, bringing the best of both country and rock and roll to the masses.
Carll and the Band of Heathens played some shows together earlier this year and decided to take their chemistry into the studio. They went into the recording sessions with one goal—to have fun—and it shows.
5. Into the Wild (EP)—Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway (September 20)
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway consistently put out great music. However, their Into the Wild EP from September is something special. Longtime listeners know that Tuttle and company make great original music. This release sees them doing a handful of killer covers.
Tuttle co-wrote half of the six-track release with Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor. The other three tracks are covers of “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane, “Here in California” by Kate Wolf, and “Good 4 U” by Olivia Rodrigo.
6. Rhinestoned—Maggie Antone (August 23)
Many country fans first heard Maggy Antone on 49 Winchester’s latest album Leavin’ This Holler. She appears on the album’s title track. Leavin This Holler dropped in early August. Later that month, she released her sophomore album Rhinestoned. The release marked her first album of original music.
Antone’s 2022 debut Interpretations was a stellar cover album. However, it didn’t prepare fans for what was to come. Rhinestoned is one of the best country albums to drop in 2024 and remains painfully overlooked.
Antone’s sharp songwriting, expressive vocals, and traditional country instrumentation make this one a must-hear for fans of the genre.
7. Countin’ the Miles—Jesse Daniel (June 7)
Jesse Daniel is one of a handful of artists who are keeping traditional country music alive. Those who enjoy Zach Top’s throwback sound would likely fall in love with Daniel’s music if they gave it a shot.
Countin’ the Miles is packed with well-written and relatable songs that are country as hell. Listeners will find murder ballads, heartbreak songs, traveling songs, and much more in this album.
8. Truly Handmade Vol. 1—Guy Clark (May 3)
Truly Handmade is a collection of Guy Clark’s demos. As a result, fans can hear stripped-down solo acoustic versions of favorites like “L.A. Freeway,” “Let Him Roll,” “Nickel for the Fiddler,” and plenty more. If that’s not enough to convince you to listen to this album, it’s probably not for you.
9. Visitor—John Moreland (April 5)
After years of putting out experimental music, John Moreland returned to his roots with Visitor earlier this year. Moreland is one of the best songwriters to come out of Oklahoma in decades and he’s at the top of his game on this record.
He wrote the songs on Visitor during a time when he was completely disconnected from the internet and most of the outside world and it shows. This contemplative collection of songs ranges from social commentary to deep introspection and hits the high points in between.
10. Nite Owls—JD McPherson (September 27)
This is something a little different. JD McPherson isn’t a country artist and Nite Owls isn’t a country album but it remains one of the best collections of music to drop in 2024. It has a fantastic vintage rock sound to it that’s perfect for relaxing nights, long drives, or pounding beers with pals.
“My elevator pitch was like if the ‘60s to late-‘60s Ventures were the session band for the first New Order record,” McPherson said of the sound he captured on Night Owls.
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