New Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Playlist (#184)

The summer might be ending, but the “Oscar Season” for songs is nigh upon us with some excellent tracks crowning some stellar albums worth selecting out from the herd and shining a heavy spotlight on.
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:
Wyatt McCubbin – “All Outta You” – Wyatt McCubbin gets you super excited to hear his new album 650 coming out October 16th with “All Outta You.” It’ll be released on Dave Cobb’s Lucille Records, and was recorded in Savannah, GA at Cobb’s Thunderbolt Studios.
Darby Sparkman – “American Shoestring” – Sometimes a song comes along that hits the nail right on the head with the timing and sentiment. Darby Sparkman’s “American Shoestring” does that very thing down to the elimination of the penny. The situation might be bleak, but this song is a hoot to listen to. Co-written and produced by Adam Odor.
Brandon Flowers – “Tiger’s Blood” – Brandon Flowers has released one of the most passionate and engaging albums in country music in 2026 with Thrasher. “Tiger’s Blood” might be a bit more Heartland rock or Springsteen. But it’s still an epic track enmeshed in story and a great evocation of setting.
The Wilder Blue – “The Hunt” – The melody of this song is so bewitched with musical magic, especially the way the faraway steel guitar is set within it, and the way Zane’s voice sets you right in the moments he’s singing about. The Turnpike Troubadours have set a high precedent for hunting songs that are about so much more. The boys in The Wilder Blue figured out a way to match it with this song from their new album Cinco.
Mason Lively w/ Presley Haile – “Azaleas” – Those obsessed with everything Presley Haile and the Texas Hill Country, make sure to not overlook this song, or Mason Lively’s new album The Hill Country Sound. “Azaleas” is arguably the moment the album reaches its emotional peak.
Kimmi Bitter – “Over You” – From chorus singers, to the steel guitar and unexpected (but welcomed) harmonica in the song “Over You,” everything feels so intentional on Kimmi’s new album Bittersweet, though leagues away from antiseptic or sterile. Every element brought to this music feels alive and present. Even if the perspective is steeped in the past tense, it’s conveyed in timeless themes.
Tony Hannah – “It Takes a Man to Say Goodbye” – If it was 1987 and Tony Hannah was signed to a major label, “It Takes a Man to Say Goodbye” written with Brennen Leigh would be an all-time solid gold country standard into eternity. Even as presently released, it still deserves to be considered one. It’s from Hannah’s new album Love It Or Leave It.
Chasen Wayne – “The Diamond Saloon” – The title track is just the precursor to what becomes a fully immersive experience on the new conceptualized album from Chasen Wayne and The Honky Tonk Machine. But it’s also one of numerous songs from the project that works excellent all on its own. Chasen has a great disposition for making country songs that are wholly unique, but with just enough familiarity to pull you in as well.
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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
- “All Outta You” – Wyatt McCubbin – 650 (10-16)
- “Tiger’s Blood” – Brandon Flowers – Thrasher
- “It Takes a Man to Say Goodbye” – Tony Hannah – Love It Or Leave It
- “American Shoestring” – Darby Sparkman – (single)
- “The Hunt” – The Wilder Blue – Cinco
- “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
- “Sideways” – Schaffer Brothers Band – Old Thing New
- “Blink of an Eye” – Bronwyn – Rattlin’ Bones
- “The Diamond Saloon” – Chasen Wayne – The Diamond Saloon
- “Looking For a Place to Die” – John R. Miller – The Great Unknowing
- “It’s Gonna Rain” – Colton Dawson – (single)
- “Drinkin’ Ain’t Enough” – Alex Williams – Discount Country EP
- “Over You” – Kimmi Bitter – Bittersweet
- “Money Business” – Addison Johnson – The State I’m In
- “Longitude” – Silverada – Living Proof
- “Azaleas” – Mason Lively, Presley Haile – The Hill Country Sound
- “Dontcha” – Matt Castillo – (single)
- “Undertow” – Tyler Richards – (single)
- “Turpentine” – Wade Bowen – The Version Of Me You Get (9-25)
- “Make Mine Country” – Paige Plaisance – (single)
- “Piece of Heaven” – Colton Dawson – (single)
- “Silver Promise” – Presley Haile – Hamilton Honey: Part I EP (7-17)
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September 6, 2026 @ 8:07 am
Where’s our man Riley Downing?? “Landfill Poetry” has a killer harmonica lick…
September 10, 2026 @ 4:58 am
Might be my album of the year
September 10, 2026 @ 6:34 am
For the record folks, I did a whole review for the Riley Downing album on the day it was released, which happened to be a very busy release day:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/album-review-riley-downings-landfill-poetry/
I might add a song to the playlist as well, but let’s please not act like he’s being ignored at SCM.
September 6, 2026 @ 8:21 am
I love the Darby Sparkman tune, Adam Odor and Darby did an awesome job on this one. Mack Geiger’s power ballad Pouring, with its killer guitar lead, sits atop my singles playlist, he’ll be here in November. Chase Wayne’s opus, The Wilder Blue, and David Quinn are all in heavy rotation. Adam Chaffins’ album is great as well. He made is Opry debut this week. Of course I wouldn’t be me without giving some love to the ladies where Kimmi Bitter is still #1 but Jenny Tolman’s Music City Mutt is close behind.
September 6, 2026 @ 3:56 pm
JB, I probably missed it, but I haven’t seen you shout out Meg and the Wheelers’ debut album Honky Tonk Wisdom. One of my favorite releases this year!
Trig, you should give these gals and guys a little shove. They work hard and they’re the real deal. It’s ridiculous that they have 236 monthly listeners on Spotify
September 6, 2026 @ 5:25 pm
Ya know Euro it’s a fine line I have to walk whenever I post anything, let alone what’s going on in the Midwest, especially when it’s about any of my friends/favorites, whether it’s Dan Lepien, Meg and the Wheelers, Andrew Sa, or David Quinn’s new album etc….. I do not want to be the guy who’s always “talking his friends up” when maybe no one else on here thinks they’re legit. I, of course did mention Honky Tonk Wisdom was added to my rotation the week it came out, but it was buried in one of those 25 album release week posts that are all too often now.
Honestly, I kind of wait and see if someone else says they like an artist from my area I like because sometimes I think to myself “Am I crazy? Am I the only one on here that likes this?” I know I’m not, but I second guess myself….lol Many of my “local artists” records are usually recurrently weaving in and out of my rotation, and since I’m reviewing many of em now, I’ll only mention them occasionally on here, as I don’t want any of them to suffer backlash because I’m always talking about them. That’s what I have my FB page for whereupon I had a week long celebration of Honky Tonk Wisdom, including videos, TV appearances, release party, and of course my totally unbiased review…Spoiler Alert…. I love it!!! LOL All my friends are pros and adults. They know I can’t mention them all the time unless they do something like sell 500 vinyls in a week…lol That a boy Andrew!!!
September 6, 2026 @ 10:31 pm
First of all, you should talk your friends up if you think their music is great. Really I don’t think anybody’s keeping score or worried about what you say in the comments. Your posts are helpful and you don’t seem like the kind of person to just plug some artist because they’re your friend rather than because you like them. And really it doesn’t matter, we are all discovering great new music because people in the comments talk up new stuff.
Second, what’s your Facebook group?
September 7, 2026 @ 6:13 am
You’re our Midwestern field man, JB! We need your intel, man — don’t be shy about sharing it!
September 7, 2026 @ 7:12 am
Well thank you guys for saying that and encouraging me. In the future I’ll probably try and balance my National and Midwestern a little more evenly. Sometimes there’s not a lot going on locally, but this year has been crazy busy. Like I’ve been telling some people after almost 3 yrs of shooting, editing, and writing/reviewing for my FB page….I’m exhausted….lol, and I’m winding it down. I honestly have no idea how Trig handles all the spinning plates. I thought it was always known a link to my page is my SCM username in red at the top of all my posts.
September 6, 2026 @ 11:57 am
That’s an exceptionally good selection. Thanks!
September 7, 2026 @ 8:58 pm
This playlist edition was an absolute banger.
No offense to other people’s taste but I’m so glad we are over the era where every other song was like a Zac Bryan clone with whining boy having his first break up themes. I say boy because virtually all of them were boys. Anyway, we’re back to more danceable country music
September 8, 2026 @ 9:44 am
I think it’s when you said hello,
that’s when you broke my heart
Not the moment I said goodbye,
that was merely the start
If I hadn’t been so careful
Or if you didn’t rush
You wouldn’t call now, years later
And I wouldn’t feel it crush
September 6, 2026 @ 12:26 pm
“Angel” by Brandon Flowers is the best song I have heard of any genre in several years.
“Tiger’s Blood” is good too, but the verses just sound like someone doing a springsteen impression to me.
Jeremy pinnell’s 2021 album “Goodbye LA” should also be considered, due to it ripping hard
September 7, 2026 @ 12:47 am
The playlist is on fire! Thanks Trig
September 7, 2026 @ 5:10 am
And Jason James, which I didn’t know, has susch George Jones vibes…
September 7, 2026 @ 10:46 am
I appreciate these playlists.
September 7, 2026 @ 10:47 am
Great crop of songs! “Thrasher” is one of my favorite albums so far this year, and “Tiger’s Blood” is definitely a standout. After hearing his entry here, I’m excited to hear Wyatt McCubbin’s album. And The Hunt is maybe my new favorite Wilder Blue song. So good.
September 7, 2026 @ 11:15 am
Darby Sparkman tune is great and the Wyatt McCubbbin too, is.
I’ve enjoyed Alicia Blue’s record – obscure reference but she sounds like Maja Francis, if’n that’s your bag, spin it, es really good.
September 8, 2026 @ 12:47 am
I also noticed that two of the best songs – imo – come from “non country” people (Travis M Keith and Brandon Flower) and that’s refreshing, because they are not cosplaying. They both made sincere country records bringing their own voices in the country scene (you can feel the punk in Keith voice and you can almost see The Killers listening to Brandon Flowers songs)