New Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Playlist (#181)

Don’t ruin a summer outdoor party by blasting the latest Luke Bryan single. Are you serious? Show off your knowledge of actual country music, and help spread the word about worthy artists by indulging in this playlist instead.

The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming formats (see below), or you can just use the song, artist, and album recommendations to find something new to listen to.

Newest Additions:

Red Shahan – “Welcome To Country Hell” – Damn if Red Shahan doesn’t know how to put rock n’ roll guts behind a country sentiment. “Welcome To Country Hell” really puts you right out on a dryland farm in West Texas, cursing the dust and heat. This song is perfect for a Taylor Sheridan series. It comes from Red’s upcoming record Hard Land out August 7th.

Turnpike Troubadours w/ Sierra Hull – “Feelin’ Good Again” – The boys from Oklahoma saddle up with Sierra Hull and offer a strong tribute to Robert Earl Keen that’s also accompanied by a big production video featuring Christian McCaffery. It is a little curious why it’s this cover song they went all out on a video for. But it’s a great rendition and video nonetheless. So far this song is not tied to any greater project.

Colton Dawson – “It’s Gonna Rain” – Colton Dawson immediately rockets up the depth charts of young neotraditionalists rising in the country scene with this exquisite exploration of emotional vulnerability set to excruciatingly slow time. Great song.

Hannah Marie Kelley – “Baby Love” – Some singers just have a away of awakening memories of the old country music greats with their music, while also serving it with up with their own unique signature stamp on it. That’s what Hannah Marie Kelley does on “Baby Blue” produced by Gabriel Kelley of the Hogslop String Band, and featuring Billy Contreras on fiddle.

Presley Haile – “Silver Promise” – Presley Haile impresses once again with her songwriting, this time weaving in allusions to gambling and chance. And though her increasingly elusive debut album has still yet to be announced, the new song does come with the promise of a Hamilton Honey: Part I EP out July 17th.

Hunter Flynn – “Robbing a Bank” – Taking real-world financial frustration, and turning it into a piece of Appalachian-influenced country music frivolity makes “Robbing a Bank” a perfect entry point into the musical universe of Hunter Flynn. From Pulaski County, Kentucky, he’s a promising up-and-comer that specializes in what he calls “Appalachian Soul.”

Jason James – “Cut The Chain” – When George Jones left us in 2013, he must have left a little piece of himself behind in East Texas that Jason James happened upon and incorporated into his spirit. This guy’s got “it,” and we couldn’t be more glad he’s back after a brief hiatus, and prepping to release a new album called Cut The Chain on September 11th.

American Aquarium – “Just Like You” – BJ Barham just knows how to touch those emotional buttons built into the human design. He exploits this power numerous times on American Aquarium’s new album New Ways To Lose, especially in the song “Just Like You” when he sings, “Her little fingers trace the divots of her last name carved in stone.”

Alan Jackson – “Still The One” – Alan Jackson might be officially retired now, but he graces us with this exquisite cover of the old Orleans hit to commemorate 50 years with his wife Denise. The song has a special significance between the two since it was playing when they first hung out. (read more)


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The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist primarily lives on Spotify, but is also available for those who use Amazon Music, YouTube, and Apple Music. For those who don’t stream music, you can still find the song recommendations in list form below.

CLICK HERE to follow Saving Country Music on Spotify, and/or follow the Spotify Top 25 Playlist.

Please Note: The songs on this playlist are curated for listening pleasure and flow. Otherwise, they are not in any specific order.

Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist:

• “Half The Man” – Wyatt Flores – Scared of Heights (7-31)
• “Cut The Chain” – Jason James – Cut The Chain (9-11)
• “Baby Love “- Hannah Marie Kelley – (single)
• “It’s Gonna Rain” – Colton Dawson – (single)
• “Never Really Mine” – Kaitlin Butts – (single)
• “Lipstick on a Pig” – Colby Acuff – Handmade Horsepower
• “Robbing A Bank” – Hunter Flynn – (single)
• “Welcome To Country Hell” – Red Shahan – Hard Land (8-7)
• “Hole in the Wall” – Mack Geiger – Walk a Straight Line
• “Empty Tank” – Libby Dale – (single)
• “Lydia’s Boots” – Aaron Lee Tasjan – Get Over It, Underdog (7-17)
• “Love Me or Leave Me Alone” – Kimmi Bitter – (single)
• “Feelin’ Good Again” – Turnpike Troubadours w/ Sierra Hull – (single)
• “Just Like You” – American Aquarium – New Ways To Lose
• “Still The One” – Alan Jackson – (single)
• “I’m The One” – (Original Version) – Don Williams – Epilogue: The Cellar Tapes
• “Silver Promise” – Presley Haile – Hamilton Honey: Part I EP (7-17)
• “The Sad Inside” – Tyler Richards – Unwind EP
• “Make It Uneasy” – Grace Maher – (single)
• “California Blues” – Alex Amen – Son of Amen
• “Lost and Lonesome Ways” – Valley Flower – (single)
• “You’ll Never Know My Heart” – Joe Abbott, Cat Clyde – (single)
• “Appalachian Smoke” – Mountain Grass Unit – Appalachian Smoke (8-28)
• “Montana” – Charlie Marie – Signs
• “No Hometown” – Katrina Cain – (single)
• “High Country” – Sam Platts – (single)
• “Loneliest Girl” – Kacey Musgraves – Middle of Nowhere

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