New Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#173)
If you only pay attention, interact, or share one thing from Saving Country Music, make it be this playlist. It’s all about boiling it all down to the songs, artists, and albums that are saving country music right here, right now.
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:
Braxton Keith – “I Own This Bar” – Braxton continues to build a strong case for himself as one of the premier young neotraditionalists in country music. “I Own This Bar” reminds you a bit of Zach Top’s “I Never Lie” in how it takes a flip of perspective to tell it’s story in a clever and compelling manner. It’s co-written by Liz Rose.
Muchacho Sanchez – “First Mind” – Austin-based Muchacho Sanchez benefits from the production of Billy Horton and the guitar playing of Dave Biller to turn in this excellent little classic country track, then adds his own Hispanic spice. It comes from Muchacho’s debut album When I Get This Way.
Randall King – “Thinkin’ ‘Bout Drinkin’” – On paper, maybe this looks like a cliche country song. But that’s what exposes what a great singer, and timeless country sounds can do: make a common theme feel evergreen.
Rachel Brooke – “I Chose Poorly” – Rachel Brooke uses a little humor to chase the darkness in the debut track from her upcoming album This One’s For You out April 24th. All indications this new album will be COUNTRY.
Flatland Cavalry – “On and On” – Great country tune from the boys from West Texas, with great fiddle and a halftime beat, getting you excited for their new album Work of Heart out March 27th.
Ward Davis – “Downright Awful Stupid Beautiful Lie” – Ward’s new record Here I Am is a great exploration into the nature of sin, redemption, and addiction. The opening song is an excellent way to start that journey.
Danny Harrington w/ Brendan McCormack – “9 O’Clock News” – With his second single, Danny Harrington gives you a reason to get this emerging songwriter on your radar. Heartfelt writing with an enrapturing melody makes “9 O’Clock News” a memorable listen.
Josh Grider – “Tough” – Added by request, Josh Grider once again shows his ability to take a song somewhere unexpected, and change your perspective on life by where it goes. It was co-written by Gunnar Latham and Rachel Loy.
Nick Sizemore – “Long Time Coming” – Sizemore has just released a very tasty album with lots of variety appropriately titled Everything. Though he dabbles in a lot of different country styles, it’s the Outlaw influences in songs like “Long Time Coming” that make the greatest impact.
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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:
- “Long Time Coming” – Nick Sizemore – Everything
- “I Gave Her The Moon” – Kenny Whitmire – (single)
- “First Mind” – Muchacho Sanchez – When I Get This Way
- “Dirtbag Saloon” – Emily Scott Robinson – Appalachia
- “Downright Awful Stupid Terrible Lie” – Ward Davis – Here I Am
- “On and On” – Flatland Cavalry – Work Of Heart (3-27)
- “Thinkin’ ‘Bout Drinkin'” – Randall King – (single)
- “One Mile At A Time” – Tyler-James Kelly – (single)
- “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley – Dandelion (4-10)
- “I Ain’t Tryin’” – Braxton Keith – (single)
- “‘9 O’Clock News” – Danny Harrington with Brendan McCormack – (single)
- “Keep Your Powder Dry” – Doug Armento and the Iron Mules – River of No Return
- “Making Mama Cry” – The Kruse Brothers – Heartbreak & Honky-Tonk
- “Tucson” – Trey Hensley – Can’t Outrun The Blues (3-6)
- “Change The Man” – Abbey Cone – (single)
- “Cotton Fire” – Red Shahan – (single)
- “Warning You Whiskey” – Brit Taylor – Land of the Forgotten (3-6)
- “Half My Heroes” – Carlisle Wright – (single)
- “18 Wheels and a Headache” – Canola – Canola
- “Tough” – Josh Grider – (single)
- “I Chose Poorly” – Rachel Brooke – This One’s For You (4-24)
- “Clinton County” – Colton Bowlin – Grandpa’s Mill (3-13)
- “Heroes” – Low Gap – Geneva
- “I Own This Bar” – Braxton Keith – (single)
- “Crown Vic” – Red McAdam – (single)
- “The Time For Flowers” – Emily Scott Robinson – Appalachia
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February 22, 2026 @ 9:48 am
Flatland Cavalry are one of my all-time favorite bands. But I have to say, their last singles, “On and On” and “Never Comin’ Back,” didn’t really grab me. We’ll see how the new album turns out. I thought “Wandering Star” was outstanding. In my opinion, their last truly great work was their collaboration with the Castellows, “A Place Called Home.”
And I think the more Braxton Keith releases, the more apparent is the difference between a good artist (Braxton Keith) and a great artist (Zach Top). Somehow, Braxton Keith lacks the youthful energy, the modern freshness and the vibrancy that other neo-traditionalists like Zach Top, the Castellows, or William Beckmann bring to the table. He sounds too staid and too purely retro to me. But of course, that’s all a matter of personal taste.
February 22, 2026 @ 11:14 am
“On and On” is one of the best Flatland Cavalry country songs we’ve gotten in years in my opinion.
Braxton Keith might not be for everybody. His slightly higher-pitched voice can be a little much. But saying he “lacks the youthful energy, the modern freshness and the vibrancy that other neo-traditionalists” is a stand-in for saying, “I’ve never seen Braxton Keith perform live.”
The dude brings more energy and enthusiasm for traditional country than Zach Top and The Castellows combined, and I’m a big fan of both of them.
February 22, 2026 @ 12:27 pm
I realize it’s very early in 2026 but I’ve got Ward in the lead on my scorecard so far with Low Gap nipping at his boot heels. Glad to see one hanging on and one jumping in this week. Taylor Hunnicut and John Moreland’s “Did We Forget About Love” is sad song perfection with two of my favorite voices sounding amazing together. The Castellows’ “Love is a Game” is basically Fleetwood Mac with pedal steel and I’m predicting it will be their biggest single to date. The Mac is cool again and they really channeled a Christine McVie essence on it. I’m warming up more and more to Randall King and by virtue of listening to The Ranch more than a body should, I cannot get Kylie Frey and Randall’s “Fort Worth” out of my head. Quintessential two-stepper right there.
February 22, 2026 @ 2:50 pm
Thanks for mentioning Taylor Hunnicut and John Moreland’s “Did We Forget About Love.” It’s a really powerful song. I’d missed its release but listened to it now. I also really like Drayton Farley’s “I Need Your Love,” released last week, as well as Ryan Bingham’s “Ballad Of The Texas Gentleman” and Charley Crockett’s “Kentucky Too Long.” “Basically Fleetwood Mac with pedal steel” pretty much sums up the new Castellows single, “Love is a Game.” And this song is damn catchy.
February 22, 2026 @ 12:52 pm
I love pretty much every song and artist on your list but may be the only person here to have four or five tracks from Megan Maroney‘s newest album on my current rotation as well – I realize that may be grounds to ban me 😉
February 22, 2026 @ 2:11 pm
Great selections Trigger! Listen on my 40 minute bike ride.
February 22, 2026 @ 2:38 pm
Alrighty, I love the Braxton Keith song, and I know I’m a little late, but the Carlisle Wright track has been getting tons of spins, as have Taylor Hunnicutt and The Castellows even though it’s a bit on the poppy side. Somehow I imagine the Warner A&R guy telling them, “Here girls, this is the song you’re going to record so we can take it to radio”…. wait huh? What??? Am I the only one that’s diggin’ the latest Vince Gill EP? It’s the best of his current ones so far, and Ben Jarrell quietly released his new song Iroc-Z. The song and vehicle are A+ in my book.
I’ll give you all a break from Sizemoremania to let you know. The Rangers are releasing their self-titled album on Friday along with the single Fox In The Chicken Coop, and David Quinn is coming out of hibernation for a show here in May and heading down to Nashville to record a “Country record”……his words not mine….lol, still loved the last 2, but sure, we’ll take some Country!!!