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The Best of 2020

Whichever way the challenging year tested you, the music of 2020 provided a brief escape from the turmoil outside our windows. It offered some of the best songwriting in years, with raw emotion, incredible empathy and outstanding artistry.

These are the best albums in the Country/Americana genre of 2020.

5. Brit Taylor – Real Me

From East Kentucky, Taylor’ extraordinary debut brings a mixture of old school wisdom with timeless principles of overcoming life’s curveballs. Suffering is not in the fact, it is in the meaning we give to these facts, and Taylor’s 10 song journey may as well be a pocketbook to achieve one’s purpose. A wonderful Lyrical and musical collection. Future is bright for this Nashville based artist.

4. Ingrid Andress – Like Me

A deeply personal collection of songs, Andress brings a new depth so what at first listen may seem like slick pop country. Dig in deeper, and find an artist coming to terms with that it means to struggle with your head and how it has affected her relationships. Ultimately, understanding that mastering your thoughts and head is where true freedom lies. Doesn’t hurt the production and slick editing is so damn catchy!

3. Alright Alright – Crucible

Did anyone say ‘saga’? When we had this wonderful husband-wife duo on our show, we equated their album to a Martin Scorsese film. Time has only deepened this emotion, as the epic 11 song collection is a gut wrenching look at real life’s struggle and the slow but stead overcoming of them through hope and despair. A very real album for very real times.

2. Margo Price – That’s How Rumors Get Started

Margo Price’s wonderful album sees her keeping her authentic self, core values and adding elements of classic rock to the equation. You will find yourself flabbergasted at the musical artistry that has signs of her Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline heart, but now adding elements of Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty. If that’s not a sign of a grand slam home run, I don’t know what is!

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Reunions

Connecting to someone overcoming addiction can be filled with sensitivity and empathy. With Reunions, Isbell seems to look back at these struggles with alcohol with pride and defiance. Someone who sees himself at peace with here is, ready for what’s next but not without the realization there was collateral from life choices of the past. His backing band adds a sophistication element that takes the songwriting to another level.

Podcast Week In Review: World Premiere from Smith & Thell, A Canadian Actress Spreads Her Wings into Music, and Brontë Fall returns with a masterpiece.

In peak summer form, we had a week of immense talents and a first on the jrodconcerts podcast. Make sure to catch all the latest episodes on our ‘Podcasts’ Tab.

First, this week had a shining star in today’s pop scene. Jamie welcomed Canadian Actress and Singer CARYS to the show. With a plethora of hit singles under her name, CARYS has become one of the most buzzed-about artists on Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok. It’s in this increasingly popular platform where she has the title of ‘Most Streamed Song in TikTok History’ with her 2019 smash hit ‘Princesses Don’t Cry’ with a staggering 850,000 streams! Her latest single ‘No More’ has also been at the top of many charts since it came out mere weeks ago. Aviva told Jamie about her unique career arc, and what is next for her.

Mid-week, we talked to the author of one of the best EP’s of the year, Teri Bracken and her Brontë Fall artistic moniker. Bracken is back with ‘Finishing School’ out everywhere on August 21st. A six-song masterpiece that touches on the constraints that the modern woman faces on subjects ranging from marriage to aging, Brontë Fall achieves a spectacular indie-pop/Americana blend that will leave the listener inspired and in ‘awe’ of Bracken’s vocals

Lastly we had a first on the jrodconcerts podcast: a music world premiere!

Maria Jane Smith & Victor Thell, better known as ‘Smith & Thell’ joined Jamie for a wonderful and in-depth conversation that touched on a variety of fascinating topics. From their early beginnings in Sweden to International success that caught fire with their single ‘Forgive Me Friend’ the story of Smith & Thell is as inspiring as it is breathtaking. The excitement was palpable when towards the end of the conversation, the duo premiered their new gorgeous single ‘Year of The Young’ for the show’s audience.