New Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Playlist (#182)

Less and less can you rely on algorithms and Spotify recommendations to serve you the stuff that might best fit you as an independent country fan. This playlist is designed to break through all the noise and put the best stuff at the top.
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:
Tony Hannah – “What The Heart Wants” – Tony Hannah reminds you of the best of early ’80s country with this excellent song fit to dancing to at Gilley’s. This preacher’s daughter from East Tennessee has been kicking around for a while, but is looking to break out big with her new album Love It Or Leave It out August 21st.
Colton Dawson – “Piece of Heaven” – Colton Dawson gets the rare 2nd entry on the playlist by putting out yet another spectacular specimen of modern neotraditional country that doesn’t forgo an emphasis on original songwriting. Colton’s quickly becoming one of the top names on the young neotraditionalist depth charts.
Alex Williams – “Drinkin’ Ain’t Enough” – Alex Williams is going to keep the legacy of Outlaw country alive, or kill himself trying. The drinkin’ might not be good for his physical constitution, but it sure does result in some great country songs. This one comes from his brand new EP Discount Country that’s anything but the bargain version of country music.
Paige Plaisance – “Make Mine Country” – This Cajun princess and the Queen of Sagebrush in Austin gets us excited for new music with this affirming and impassioned plea to keep it country. You won’t get any gripes about that message around here. Whether its a jar of tea or a music track, country is the way we take it too.
Addison Johnson – “Money Business” – As it becomes harder and harder to be a full-time musician with any level of integrity, it sure has resulted in some really great songs putting that struggle to words. Addison Johnson has a great one even us civilians can relate to. It’s off his excellent new album The State I’m In.
Trever M. Keith – “Heartbreak Grin” – The frontman of the punk band Face To Face has released a really great throwback country record called We Drank From a Poisoned Well. It’s full of well-written, and authentically-produced songs just like “Heartbreak Grin,” which evokes the Countrypolitan sound, and the irony of cracking a grin when you’re at your worst.
Wade Bowen – “Turpentine” – When you’re so heart broken you have to reach for them mineral spirits usually reserved for cleaning your paintbrushes, that’s saying something. Wade Bowen isn’t really known for his hard country heartbreakers, but he turns in a great one here. The song’s co-written by Sean McConnell who also produced Wade’s new album The Version of Me You Get out September 25th.
John R. Miller – “Looking For a Place to Die” – John R. Miller’s song on class struggle and the technological distopia becomes a country rock heater complete with killer guitar solos. He’s a songwriter first, but the music on his new album The Great Unknowing keeps you coming back for 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:
- “Cut The Chain” – Jason James – Cut The Chain (9-11)
- “Baby Love “- Hannah Marie Kelley – (single)
- “Heartbreak Grin” – Trever M. Keith – We Drank From a Poisoned Well
- “Half The Man” – Wyatt Flores – Scared of Heights (7-31)
- “Looking For a Place to Die” – John R. Miller – The Great Unknowing
- “It’s Gonna Rain” – Colton Dawson – (single)
- “What The Heart Wants” – Tony Hannah – Love It Or Leave It (8-21)
- “Drinkin’ Ain’t Enough” – Alex Williams – Discount Country EP
- “Money Business” – Addison Johnson – The State I’m In
- “Empty Tank” – Libby Dale – (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)
- “Never Really Mine” – Kaitlin Butts – (single)
- “Hole in the Wall” – Mack Geiger – Walk a Straight Line
- “Turpentine” – Wade Bowen – The Version Of Me You Get (9-25)
- “Lydia’s Boots” – Aaron Lee Tasjan – Get Over It, Underdog (7-17)
- “Love Me or Leave Me Alone” – Kimmi Bitter – (single)
- “Just Like You” – American Aquarium – New Ways To Lose
- “Make Mine Country” – Paige Plaisance – (single)
- “Still The One” – Alan Jackson – (single)
- “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
- “Montana” – Charlie Marie – Signs
- “Piece of Heaven” – Colton Dawson – (single)
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July 19, 2026 @ 9:41 am
Presley Haile.
Don’t Be So Hard HAS to be on this list too!!
Brilliant Honky Tonkin’
July 19, 2026 @ 9:42 am
Reckon you’ll have time to review Brad Paisleys “Tacklebox” since he made it a proper album. Essentially a collection of songs instead of a cohesive vision of an album but solid nonetheless with some of his best stuff in a long time. Would love to hear your thoughts.
July 19, 2026 @ 11:15 am
Yes, now that he’s released an “album,” been listening and am considering for review.
July 19, 2026 @ 10:03 am
Waiting for a review of Dustpiles from Waylon Wyatt.
July 19, 2026 @ 11:17 am
“Hey Trigger, I know there’s tons of albums coming out all the time and you review so much stuff. But I’d love to hear your take on Waylon Wyatt’s ‘Dustpiles.'”
PS: Was planning to see and feature Waylon here at Under The Big Sky Fest in Montana this weekend. Sepsis 86’d those plans.
July 19, 2026 @ 11:20 am
Holy shit, I hope he’s better soon.
July 19, 2026 @ 10:26 am
Any thoughts on the lack of country artists in the World Cup final halftime show lineup?
July 19, 2026 @ 11:18 am
I don’t know. Isn’t Post Malone playing it? I know there’s mixed feelings about him being “country.” But that might be their play there. I’m not too incensed by this. It’s an international audience.
July 19, 2026 @ 11:20 am
Has country music EVER been associated with soccer?
July 19, 2026 @ 11:22 am
Yeah, much more pissed about the Super Bowl avoiding country. Soccer’s just not the demo.
July 19, 2026 @ 10:45 am
I like the Colton Dawson song a lot! Is that his real name?? Just teasing. Alex Williams’ EP is in heavy rotation, absolutely A+. Charlie Marie and Kimmi Bitter’s tunes are getting tons of spins. Can’t wait for Bittersweet to come out!! The 4 Neo Trads Geiger, Goodwin, Hatcher, and Braxton Keith are all battling for the headline spot in the Jeep…just solid records!!! Guilty pleasure… Lainey and John Mayer… I just like the song, so shoot me….lol
On the Midwest front, Rachel Swain’s Neon Lullaby comes roaring out of the chute and into the morning drive rotation #1 slot, while David Quinn’s Cold Turkey sits atop my singles playlist, great song. Of course the talk of the town is still Andrew Sa’s American Rough, which is now sold out at Bloodshot Records headquarters. 500 colored vinyls sold in 1 week. I’m sure many independents wouldn’t mind doing that kind of business on their debut album?? It’s a masterpiece, imo. There are a few copies available in record stores while Bloodshot ramps up a second pressing….remember record stores??
July 19, 2026 @ 11:23 am
Man! I do not get the love for the Andrew Sa thing. I wanted to like it but it’s basically indie folk that has a couple of country elements (and a cowboy hat) but nowhere near enough qualify as country in my book. I’m a big fan of experimental vocals but this just seemed like pretentious crap that isn’t country. I thought it was like a very bad version of what Orville peck does.
It kind of reminded me of that. Around 2021 when the indie folk sound was really creeping into independent country. The gimme country internet radio station played a lot of those folks.
July 19, 2026 @ 1:18 pm
Hey JB,
Since this concerns a music festival in Chicago, I’m posting this under your comment. I hope you’re not offended by it.
I’m always amazed by the number of metal heads in the SCM community. (I know nothing about metal myself.) CBC News is reporting that William Shatner will be appearing in September with his metal band, the *uckers, at Riot Fest in Chicago.
July 19, 2026 @ 1:59 pm
I’m not offended by it, though it really has nothing to do with the playlist…lol and I haven’t really listened to Metal in years. Funny thing though, I still read Blabbermouth every morning just like SCM. I did hear that about Shatner. I’ve never been to Riot Fest either but I know it does draw a crowd. Slayer played there in 2024 after a 5 year hiatus. Shatner is 95!!! It actually sounds like a gimmick or something?
And Stellar, that’s fine if you don’t care for Andrew. Every artist isn’t for everybody. I can say I just don’t get the love for ______________ (fill in the blank with someone I don’t like that everyone raves about on here daily), but I don’t say a thing…lol Andrew will be fine. Hell, I’ve got 90 reviews of me online that say I suck, and I’ve been over it for years…lol
July 19, 2026 @ 2:38 pm
but it’s more of an example of other genres trying to invade country music by putting on a cowboy hat. And it’s weirdly overwrought in a way that isn’t really cool in country music. Indie folk tries to do that all the time because it’s inherently an experimental genre, but the part that makes it “indie” instead of folk is really antithetical to country music- sloppiness, intentionally bad singing, sloppy/lo-fi production.
Yuck. I don’t usually hate an artist but I REALLY got offended by this album for being so bad and so full of itself.
July 19, 2026 @ 11:00 am
Trigger, not new music, but do you know or have any comments with what is going on with “Broken Window Serenade”? In the past few weeks it’s made the Billboard top 50 and Spotify all genre top 20. My 24 yo son said it’d common to hear in bars. Seems off for a 15+ year old song from an independent artist.
July 19, 2026 @ 11:20 am
Yeah, it appears it caught some attention via social media. These things happen upon occasion. Don’t really have any further insight beyond that. I’m not sure anybody does.
July 19, 2026 @ 11:31 am
Wow. That’s awesome!
July 19, 2026 @ 1:40 pm
Seconding Presley’s “Don’t be so Hard” as a fantastic honky tonker perfectly made for a Texas dancehall. The entire EP is killer. Anyone else hear similarities in her voice to Ella at times or is it just me?
Alex Williams’ EP is great. My favorite is “Chorus” being swingy and old-timey sounding which is a whole different thing from him. And since I know some of you guys have hung onto the Stones and left a lot of rock behind like me, “Ringing Hollow” could easily fit into this playlist with its boozy, ragged, country tinged sound along the lines of “Dead Flowers” and “Far Away Eyes.”
July 19, 2026 @ 1:46 pm
What if you loved me by carly pearce with molly tuttle is a new one that deserves listening to as well. Not country exactly but neither are all these.
July 19, 2026 @ 2:26 pm
Gary Stewart new release!!
July 19, 2026 @ 3:01 pm
Gotta take a listen to Mae Estes’ latest (“The 90s Called”) and Carly Pearce, Molly Tuttle, and Dan Tyminski with “What If You Loved Me.”
July 19, 2026 @ 8:14 pm
Neon Moons debut just dropped. Great honky Tonk lp for those of you into that. Loving it.