Newest Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#162)
Hope you like *all caps* COUNTRY music, ’cause it’s coming straight at you hard and heavy in this playlist. And if you don’t, why the hell are you even hanging around these parts anyway?
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. New songs just added.
Newest Additions:
Cody Jinks – “When You Can’t Remember” – Heads up, because this is a Song of the Year contender from the reining Saving Country Music Song of the Year winner via 2024’s “What You Love.” Cody Jinks continues to show off his keen sense for capturing deep emotions in music, and many are claiming his new album In My Blood is his best in years.
Sierra Ferrell, Nikki Lane – “A Lesson In Leavin’” – The only thing better than Sierra Ferrell and Nikki Lane is these two killer women of independent country together. They first sang this country classic together on the stage at Stagecoach earlier this year. Now they offer a studio version of this song originally recorded by Dottie West and Jo Dee Messina, and it’s everything you want it to be.
Charley Crockett – “All Around Cowboy” – Folks who know about the rodeo know what the “All Around Cowboy” is. It’s not the person who necessarily wins any of the individual competitions, but competes in them all, and shows heart, guts, tenacity and skill. There’s perhaps never been a better premise for one of the hardest working men in country music to build a country song around.
Jesse Lovelock – “Misty Blue” – “Misty Blue” is the first official single from the mysterious Jesse Lovelock who released his killer classic country album a couple of months ago via a private SoundCloud link. Written by Bob Montgomery, this is the first widely-available track from Lovelock. Hopefully the whole album sees the light of day eventually.
Zach Top – “South of Sanity” – Once again Zach Top is caught revitalizing sounds and modes of ’90s country. But unlike his rather saccharine “Good Times & Tan Lines,” “South of Sanity” evokes memories of all those good old rodeo heartbreak songs made famous by George Strait and others. New album Ain’t In It For My Health is out August 29th.
The Onlies – “Spectacle Lake” – For those fans of old-time, it doesn’t get much better than The Onlies. This band started when all the members were still in single digits. That’s how they can be one of the youngest bands in the discipline, yet still be celebrating 20 years together. “Spectacle Lake” is an original from fiddle player Sami Braman, and is released ahead of the band’s new album You Climb The Mountain out September 19th.
Sunny Sweeney – “I Drink Well With Others” and “Houston Belongs To Me” – Killer new honky tonk album called Rhinestone Requiem out from Sunny Sweeney right now. “I Drink Well With Others” is a fun drinking song from the record, and “Houston Belongs To Me” co-written with Brennen Leigh is one of its best heartbreakers.
Jake Worthington – “My Home’s In Oklahoma” – Worthington recently announced his new album When I Write The Song will be out September 12th, and this Western swing-inspired song is a great way to build anticipation for the album, and prove to any doubters just how dedicated Worthington is to reviving the traditions of classic country.
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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.
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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:
- “I Drink Well With Others” – Sunny Sweeney – Rhinestone Requiem
- “All Around Cowboy” – Charley Crockett – Dollar A Day (8-8)
- “Cheatin On My Honky Tonk” – Randall King feat. Braxton Keith (single)
- “When You Can’t Remember” – Cody Jinks – In My Blood
- “Keys To The Tacoma” – Joshua Ray Walker – Tropicana
- “A Lesson In Leavin'” – Sierra Ferrell, Nikki Lane – (single)
- “My Home’s In Oklahoma” – Jake Worthington – When I Write The Song (9-12)
- “South of Sanity” – Zach Top – Ain’t In It For My Health (8-29)
- “Heartbreak City, USA” – Tami Neilson – Neon Cowgirl
- “A Memory Lost Somewhere” – Kyle Gates – (single)
- “Giving Up And Giving In” – Myron Elkins – Nostalgia For Sale
- “Misty Blue” – Jesse Lovelock – (single, Jesse Lovelock and the Velvet Voices)
- “Easy To Find” – Chasen Wayne – Corpus
- “Songbird” – Waylon Jennings – Songbird (10-3)
- “Woodruff City Limit” – Nikki Lane – (single)
- “Territory Town” – Joe Stamm Band – Little Crosses
- “Modern Railways” – Cody Christian – (single)
- “Uninvited Guest” – Casey Chesnutt – (single)
- “Here’s Your Honky Tonk” – Kathryn Legendre – Here’s Your Honky Tonk
- “Time and Time Again” – Reese Glover – (single)
- “Broke” – The Castellows – Homecoming
- “I Keep Your Memory Alive” – Randall King – (single)
- “Houston Belongs To Me” – Sunny Sweeney – Rhinestone Requiem
- “Spectacle Lake” – The Onlies – You Climb The Mountain (9-19)
- “Broken Wing Bird” – Kashus Culpepper, Sierra Ferrell – (single)
- “Pinocchio In Vegas” – James McMurtry – The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy
- “Foolish Heart” – Tami Neilson – Neon Cowgirl
August 3, 2025 @ 11:15 am
“Lost Highway” has turned out to be my most played track from Jinks album but “When You Can’t Remember” is emotional perfection and for sure belongs in the SOTY conversation. Morgan Wade released an album of re-recorded older pre-Reckless songs and some new ones and it is simply fantastic. Equal parts Petty, Isbell and Avril Lavigne. Not a country album by instrumentation but by story telling, emotion, and that incredible voice it fits nicely in the country/americana/rock world. “Hardwood Floor” is an emotional gut punch about a woman chasing her dream to motherhood but so far unsuccessfully. Reminds me of a Joe Stamm rip-your-heart-out and stomp on it type song. “Candy from Strangers” is all 70’s Petty punk with a glam rock sheen. More uptempo than “Obsessed” it’s angry Morgan making a return which I think is the most compelling Morgan.
August 3, 2025 @ 12:20 pm
Dang who would of guessed before the album that Tyler Childers wouldn’t even be able to break the top 25
August 3, 2025 @ 1:02 pm
So for the record, I definitely considered putting a song on here from “Snipe Hunt.” There just wasn’t one that fit.
The two most obvious inclusions would be “Oneida” and “Nose On The Grindstone.” But they are both tracks so many people had heard previously, they don’t make a good playlist selection for a playlist trying to push forward the most current tracks.
The two new tracks I considered were “Eatin’ Big Time” and “Bitin’ List,” and both are “Explicit” tracks. And though I will include an explicit track on the playlist if the cussing is not gratuitous, we’ve seen very specific feedback from those tracks that the cussing is strangely gratuitous.
That leaves me with the tracks from the album that I felt were either weak, or include questionable production decisions.
I would still recommend multiple tracks to people from the album, but none fit well for what I’m going for on this playlist. Besides, the primary reason for this playlist is to alert folks to a track, album, or artist they might overlook. Nobody’s overlooking Tyler Childers.
August 3, 2025 @ 2:51 pm
Eatin Big Time is so good
August 3, 2025 @ 3:07 pm
I was not a fan of this record on first or second listen but for some reason I kept playing it and I now think the first 7 tracks are good shit and the back half is a few different editing and production decisions away from being just as good. Do not understand the hyperventilating over it overall
August 4, 2025 @ 7:44 am
“Eatin’ Big Time” is a fun song, and as I said in my review, the album benefits from subsequent listens. That said, I’m just not going to put a song with a big fat “MOTHER F-CKING!” in it on a playlist I’m trying to make sure appeals to a wide range of people to expose important artists, and someone could play with their kids in the car. People are very, very aware Tyler Childers released an album.
August 3, 2025 @ 7:13 pm
I’m liking the new stuff from Zach Top so far. South of Sanity is a beautiful song.
August 4, 2025 @ 2:40 am
A great listen as always. Sunny Sweeney is always worth a listen and her new album might be her best yet. I am really enjoying the new Cody Jinks album. He makes consistently good albums. Tami Neilson’s new album is a real treasure (thank you SCM). Great to hear Waylon again. Randall King, Zach Top and Charley Crockett – great tracks. So many great songs. I can understand why Tyler Childers does not feature. Its just not that good and the swearing in it seems unnecessary to me. It is a polarising album but I am think I am somewhat polarised by it! I don’t think it is that good but I am enjoying it more with each listen (with some tracks skipped). I have still not got into the new Eric Church album. Maybe both albums are more of what might of been and with such high expectations have been a disappointment. This chart shows that there is more than enough great music to make up for that disappointment. I agree with the comment re Morgan Wade’s album. It is a good listen.
August 4, 2025 @ 5:22 am
The new ZT song made me laugh out loud. The first two singles are silly and a big swing and a miss for me. Seenin’ ZT next weekend and hoping it’s mainly material from the last record.
I like this website but some of the recent takes (Childers, all the Beyoncé BS) have really soured my opinion. Lot of pearl clutching goin on.
August 4, 2025 @ 8:06 am
Yep, like I said about the Tyler Childers album, an album like that breeds conflict, weakens the artist, and weakens the community. I share an opinion many Tyler Childers fans feel themselves, yet it “sours” people opinions on this website. If I shared a different opinion, it would sour other people’s opinions. Then they stop reading. Then all the other artists I’m attempting to expose through a playlist like this don’t get the attention they deserve. It’s a lose/lose.
I understand and respect your opinion, but it’s unfortunate people take this tact. Conversely, a great album strengthens everything.
August 4, 2025 @ 9:54 am
Solid update, good stuff ty SCM.
My shit-kicking playlist gained:
Craig Gerdes – Tulsa blues (TTSD hon. mention)
Benjamin Dakota Rogers – better man than me
Low water bridge band – living alone
Ben Jarrell – Tennessee turnaround
Grayson Jenkins- grand slam
+ Polite head nod to that 1st commenter, Morgan Wade is a gem.
August 5, 2025 @ 12:51 pm
Good gravy, just shoot Sierra Ferrell and Nikki Lane’s “Lesson in Leavin'” straight into my veins. What a great 90s throwback cover.
August 5, 2025 @ 6:28 pm
I really appreciate you curating this list. I usually spin it at least a couple of times per week. I like some songs better than others, but I rarely hit skip on any tracks.
August 5, 2025 @ 6:44 pm
All around cowboy is a really good song by charley. Has me hoping this new album will be more in line with what i like from charley. Kind of like what happened with his follwup to 10 dollar cowboy. It was a much better record to me. I might give that cody jinks song a shot though he hasnt really wowed me yet.
August 9, 2025 @ 11:45 pm
Who is Jesse Lovelock? His voice is incredible .I’ve heard Tyler, Crockett all the popular artists. Not for a very very long time have I heard anything that sounds like that. I’m looking forward to his album. If it’s as good as I’m thinking could have a left field album of the year?