New Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Playlist (#183)

The more music being dumped into streaming networks every day, the harder it is to find the songs, albums, and artists, and albums that might appeal to you. The bounty of choice has resulted in the cratering of appeal. That’s what this playlist is created to combat.
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:
Bronwyn – “Blink of an Eye” – The former member of Molly Tuttle’s Golden Highway band is making her bid as today’s bluegrass queen with this fiery and compositionally-advanced heater co-written with Jack McKeon. It’s the perfect combination of being forward-thinking, but still tethered and respectful to the roots of the bluegrass genre. Bronwyn’s new album Rattlin’ Bones is out right now.
Robert Henry & the Repeaters – “Talking to a Dreamer” – Don’t you worry none that those other big country media outlets aren’t gushing over what Robert Henry is doing. They’re released a killer listening album in Down The Road, and you won’t be disappointed if that’s where you center your attention at some point. “Talking to a Dreamer” is emblematic of the kind of hard-charging and twangy country you can expect to find.
Lena Rich – “Gas Is Cheap” – It might be an ill-timed title, or perhaps an ironic one considering the current circumstances. But otherwise, “Gas Is Cheap” is a cookin’ country road song perfect for a traveler’s playlist with plenty of hot licks and twang. Though as the video for the song alludes to, there might be a deeper story tied to this song. It’s from Lena Rich’s upcoming album Emerald City out September 4th.
Silverada – “Longitude” – Silverada showcases a more expansive and rock side of themselves on their new Living Proof that’s really brought home on “Longitude.” The unique skill sets of guitarist Catilin Rutherford and newest member Parker Twomey on keys and piano are really explored, while the writing of Mike Harmeier finds fresh inspiration.
Schaffer Brothers Band – “Sideways” – It takes you approximately two seconds to slip right into the groove this brother band from Grand Junction, Colorado is throwing down on this song, and slide away into musical bliss, even if the song is about going crazy. It’s from their new album Old Thing New out now.
Matt Castillo – “Dontcha” – Matt Castillo has that George Strait quality of finding great songs and then figuring out how to get the best out of them. When you’re running down a list of the greatest ’90s revivalists out there, make sure you’re not omitting Matt Castillo. In fact, he should be near the top of it.
Tyler Richards – “Undertow” – Such a great use of metaphor and melody, undergirded perfectly by steel guitar on the latest single from Austin-based songwriter Tyler Richards. It also happens to be that Richards premiered this song on Episode 6 of The Hook where it received a very positive reception.
Red Shahan – “Ghosts of the Panhandle Wind” – Red Shahan has many claiming he’s released an Album of the Year contender with his new title Hard Land. When you get two tracks in the Top 25 simultaneous like Red has, it’s an indication you’re doing something right. “Ghosts” was co-written with Taylor Sheridan of Yellowstone and Landman fame.
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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:
- “Taking to a Dreamer” – Robert Henry & the Repeaters – Down The Road
- “Cut The Chain” – Jason James – Cut The Chain (9-11)
- “Baby Love “- Hannah Marie Kelley – (single)
- “Ghosts of the Panhandle Wind” – Red Shahan – Hard Land
- “Gas Is Cheap” – Lena Rich – Emerald City (9-4)
- “Heartbreak Grin” – Trever M. Keith – We Drank From a Poisoned Well
- “Half The Man” – Wyatt Flores – Scared of Heights (7-31)
- “Sideways” – Schaffer Brothers Band – Old Thing New
- “Blink of an Eye” – Bronwyn – Rattlin’ Bones
- “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)
- “Longitude” – Silverada – Living Proof
- “Dontcha” – Matt Castillo – (single)
- “Undertow” – Tyler Richards – (single)
- “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
- “Turpentine” – Wade Bowen – The Version Of Me You Get (9-25)
- “Love Me or Leave Me Alone” – Kimmi Bitter – (single)
- “Just Like You” – American Aquarium – New Ways To Lose
- “Make Mine Country” – Paige Plaisance – (single)
- “Silver Promise” – Presley Haile – Hamilton Honey: Part I EP (7-17)
- “Piece of Heaven” – Colton Dawson – (single)
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August 16, 2026 @ 7:46 am
Great stuff again but you are STILL missing one of THE best songs of the year, Presley Haile, Don’t Be So Hard!!
August 16, 2026 @ 9:29 am
Presley already has a song featured in the playlist. Perhaps I’ll replace it with “Don’t Be So Hard” at some point, but I believe in letting songs mature here as opposed to rushing to the next thing.
August 16, 2026 @ 9:53 am
But this one is THE stand out from the EP, people are loving it, one of THE songs of the year!!
August 16, 2026 @ 2:34 pm
It’s hard to pick just one. She’s so great at anything she touches.
August 16, 2026 @ 9:18 am
Heidelberg Fisherman’s Ball
August 16, 2026 @ 9:25 am
The more music being dumped into streaming networks every day, the harder it is to find the songs, albums, and artists, and albums that might appeal to you
According to Deezer, close to 75,000 AI songs are being uploaded every day to streaming sites, which certainly doesn’t help.
Good to see Wade Bowen.
August 16, 2026 @ 2:41 pm
In my experience the issue is less the pure glut of AI slop being uploaded and more that a lot of the music recommendation algorithms have turned to shit.
I can’t speak to how Spotify, Amazon, etc. are these days, but Apple Music’s recommendation algo has gotten particularly bad in the last 12-24 months.
It really shouldn’t be that hard to surface “you like Turnpike Troubadors, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, and Reckless Kelly – here you go with some recommendations”. Yet Apple seems to fail at that very low bar.
August 16, 2026 @ 9:48 pm
Spotify, Apple, ext. used to have pretty good recommendations, and I would regualarly find music through them. Now the only thing Spotify recommends is the biggest pop/hip-hop album being released each week, as if one size fits all. Streaming service recommendations really are an excellent example of how technology is getting WORSE over time all of a sudden instead of better.
August 17, 2026 @ 9:03 am
Yes, Spotify recommendations are way off the mark. You listen to Bach, and they might recommend Slayer (I’m exaggerating, of course, but that’s how it seems these days).
August 16, 2026 @ 9:28 am
its like hes never been away
August 16, 2026 @ 9:48 am
Good stuff there, ty Trigger.
Also, Pony Bradshaw yesterday good stuff too.
August 16, 2026 @ 9:39 pm
Pony Bradshaw has always been a bit hit or miss for me. He definitely has put out some great tracks over the years, but he’s never been an artist I necessarily seek out or recommend to others. All of that said, I really enjoyed the new album. Wasn’t crazy about the opening track, but the rest were all really solid.
August 18, 2026 @ 8:22 am
I too thought that opener was janky. When the character comes back around a few songs later tho I got better, like it’s your picture man – paint it how you see it…
Final Shape and Apples to Oranges are killer.
“I was raised up on Roman law and Bill Monroe” probably not gonna land at all with the Greenway ppl in Brentwood lmao but sure fire it does,here.
Also, you right, below, Joe Stamm is bad ass.
🍻
August 16, 2026 @ 9:53 am
Red’s album is simply fantastic and “Ghosts….” currently resides in my top 3 running list for SOTY. What a song. Josh Weathers dropped a great EP on Friday. “You Either Love Me or You Don’t” from it is the kind of soul country banger Stapleton used to make. Julianna Rankin’s “ Double Knot” is solid country gold. Her and Presley will be the next females to break out of the Texas scene and into the national conversation. And for all you folks that Trigger turned on to Low Gap early in the year like me, check out “Amtrak Train.” Talk about a brilliant, clever, sad song, that’s it right there.
August 16, 2026 @ 2:14 pm
Concerning that Julianna Rankin’s song “Double Knot” and the lyrics and story:
I guess the declarations of intent should’ve included a double “not”…
August 16, 2026 @ 3:23 pm
When seeing the name Julianna Rankin, cannot help but wonder if she is a relative of the Rankin who co-produced, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.
Just wondering
August 26, 2026 @ 11:23 am
As a genealogist, I can’t find a familial relationship. Julianna Rankin is as Texas as they come. Her great-great-great-grandfather, William Dallas Rankin (c. 1809-1859) moved from Alabama to Texas in 1830, before Texas was Texas. He was listed as a voter in the Republic of Texas poll book in 1846.
Arthur Rankin (whose last name comes from his paternal grandmother’s maiden name) is descended from Col. Arthur Rankin, a Canadian born in Quebec in 1814.
While it is possible they share a common ancestor prior to 1800, they are not closely related.
August 26, 2026 @ 11:24 am
Correction to the above. William Dallas Rankin was the great-great-great-great-grandfather of Julianna.
August 16, 2026 @ 9:44 pm
I’ve had the new Joe Stamm song with The Allegheny High, “Drive Me Around,” on repeat all weekend. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the EP when it comes out Sept. 18.
Someone mentioned it above, but I also really like the new Low Gap single. Those guys are moving up the list for me with every release.
August 17, 2026 @ 4:36 am
Nice! I haven’t heard Bronwyn before but I saw she is opening the Johnny Mullenax show I’m hitting up next week. Good stuff.
August 17, 2026 @ 9:52 am
New Billy Strings song should be added. Beautiful.
August 17, 2026 @ 1:35 pm
I’m not sure covers are what this list is for but Clay Street Units cover of “Kids” is really good. Been jamming to it lately.
September 2, 2026 @ 10:04 am
Great players in this band. Love the fiddle player.
August 17, 2026 @ 1:47 pm
Pretty much everything I listen to now was on your top 25 playlist at one time.Looking forward to checking out a couple of more new artists. Good work!
August 18, 2026 @ 12:35 am
It sure makes you wonder what Orville Peck has gotta release to get on this playlist.
August 18, 2026 @ 6:47 am
Might help if he releases some country music.
August 18, 2026 @ 12:18 pm
“Drive Me Around” by Joe Stamm and CWG is a banger too.
August 18, 2026 @ 8:00 pm
Schaffer brothers thank you that album immediately went into my top ten so far for 26.
August 19, 2026 @ 5:44 am
Thanks for doing the work, Trig!
Cheers, Peter
The Netherlands