New Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Playlist (#179)

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Summer is officially in full swing, so what better time to juice up the Top 25 Playlist with some fresh entries. No matter where you turn, new strong country songs, and very promising artists are emerging, so much so simply keeping up with them is a challenge.

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:


Kimmi Bitter – “Love Me or Leave Me” – Kimmi Bitter is a national treasure, whether the nation knows it yet or not. Many performers can sing good and get your toe tapping. Few if any can so consistently make chills run up and down your spine with their incredible interpretation of classic country like Kimmi Bitter can. Hopefully “Love Me or Leave Me” is the first taste from a new album on the way.

Walker Montgomery – “I Don’t Think I Will” – Walker just continues to impress with one single after another. The son of John Michael Montgomery has the voice and the instincts to fill the shoes slowly being vacated by all those old traditional country greats. The only thing he’s lacking at this point is a debut LP.

Joe Abbott, Cat Clyde – “You’ll Never Know My Heart” – This is a super fun little song that throws it back to the time when country and jazz were close cousins, complimented by a great appearance by Cat Clyde. Reminds you a lot of vintage Wayne “The Train” Hancock.

Tyler Richards – “The Sad Inside” – Get Tyler Richards on your radar now as he threatens to be one of the next big names to emerge out of the Austin music scene. His music comes with a country sound, but a strong songwriting component usually reserved for the Americana set. His EP Unwind is out now.

Alex Amen – “California Blues” – Alex Amen has an uncanny knack for evoking era through his music. He proves it again with this tune from his upcoming country folk album Son of Amen out June 12th. This song reminds you of the best of ’60’s folk-inspired country, with the steel guitar really setting it off.

Grace Maher – “Make It Uneasy” – There are so many great women making great classically-inspired country songs at the moment, it’s hard to keep up. Originally from Kansas and now living in Nashville, Maher distinguishes herself from the crowd with the spine-tingling moments of “Make It Uneasy.”

Valley Flower – “Lost and Lonesome Ways” – The playlist is always better with a little bit of bluegrass. Austin’s new favorite bluegrass band Valley Flower doesn’t offer a little bluegrass with their new single, but a big heaping helping of it served up hot. Hold on tight and enjoy the singing and songwriting of leader Rose Lichenfels.

Don Williams – “I’m The One” (Original Version) – Don Williams has graced us from beyond with the release of his Epilogue: The Basement Tapes, bringing to life previously-unheard recordings. We might argue back and forth about whether this version or the alternate also on the album is best. But nobody’s complaining we’re getting to hear new-to-us tunes from The Gentle Giant himself.

Coleman Jennings – “Good While It Lasted” – Some are calling Coleman Jennings’ new Western-inspired album Lead You Home one of the best of the year so far. His vocal delivery is definitely an acquired taste, but on tracks like “Jamie” and “Good While It Lasted,” he finds a more universal appeal.

Kaitlin Butts – “Never Really Mine” – “Never Really Mine” is a pure, traditional country song with steel guitar, a waltz beat built from brushes on snare, and super country writing from Kaitlin Butts at her “double cross me and die” best. It’s also such an excellent showcase for Kaitlin’s voice, especially her strong top range, which she exploits so expertly in the song.

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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:

  • “Never Really Mine” – Kaitlin Butts – (single)
  • “I Don’t Think I Will” – Walker Montgomery – (single)
  • “Shoot Me Straight” – Joshua Ray Walker – Ain’t Dead Yet
  • Grace Maher – “Make It Uneasy” – (single)
  • “I’m The One” – (Original Version) – Don Williams – Epilogue: The Cellar Tapes
  • “Old Is Gold” _ Emily Zeck – (single)
  • “The Sad Inside” – Tyler Richards – Unwind EP
  • “Love Me or Leave Me Alone” – Kimmi Bitter – (single)
  • “What You Gonna Do” – Drayton Farley – A Heavy Duty Heart
  • “You’ll Never Know My Heart” – Joe Abbott, Cat Clyde – (single)
  • “Lost and Lonesome Ways” – Valley Flower – (single)
  • “No Roots” – Kevin Carducci – Easy Does It
  • “California Blues” – Alex Amen – Son of Amen (6-12)
  • “No Hometown” – Katrina Cain – (single)
  • “Morning Light” – Chasen Wayne – (single)
  • “Chippin’ At The Stone” – Vincent Neil Emerson – Blue Stars
  • “Hello Lonesome” – Cody Johnson – Banks of the Trinity (6-26)
  • “High Country” – Sam Platts – (single)
  • “Loneliest Girl” – Kacey Musgraves – Middle of Nowhere
  • “Turning Into Us” – Rhys Rutherford – (single)
  • “If You Could Only See Me Now” – John R. Miller – The Great Unknowing (6-5)
  • “Dreamers” – Ben Jarrell – Tennessee Turnaround
  • “Treat Me Like Dirt” – Chloe Hoecker – Missouri’s Country Sweetheart
  • “Good While It Lasted” – Coleman Jennings – Lead You Home
  • “This One’s For You” – Rachel Brooke – This One’s For You
  • “Jukebox Blues (For Blaze Foley)” – Ian Noe – (single)

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