#1. BEN WEAVER -
STORIES UNDER NAILS

Go buy this album.

#2. JESSE SYKES -
OH, MY GIRL

Haunting, whiskey suffused. Makes me want to drink heavily and stare off into space.

#3. RICHMOND FONTAINE -
POST TO WIRE

A stellar album despite the gimmicky "postcards."

#4. RICHARD BUCKNER -
DENTS & SHELLS

His best since Since. And we don't begrudge him the Volkswagen ad, either.

#5. DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS -
THE DIRTY SOUTH

The train keeps a'rollin'. These guys are something. And if you haven't caught them live, get off your ass and track them down.

#6. THE COURT & SPARK -
WITCH SEASON

How could you not love an album with a song about Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov?

#7. TRES CHICAS -
SWEETWATER

This one was stuck in my CD player for weeks. The ending of "Foot of the Bed" ("I'll slip away while you burn / I'll slip away while you burn") still gives me chills.

#8. LORETTA LYNN -
VAN LEAR ROSE

Go granny go. Can we pair Jack White and Willie Nelson up next?

#9. OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW -
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW

Catchy. Fun. Showing up on The TV Guide Channel scares me, however.

#10. JAMES McMURTRY -
LIVE IN AUGHT-THREE

Studio album on the horizon? We're jonesin'.