Jenna’s Pick: Best Albums Of 2006

These are a few of the albums I have heard this year that I liked best. I’m not an expert, but I chose each CD for different reasons; based mainly on how the vocals, music, and lyrics appealed to me. It was a hard decision and I didn’t get to put some of the ones I wanted on here, but the following is the best I could come up with, in no order.

• Sugarland - Enjoy The Ride
  These past few months, I have been obsessed with Jennifer Nettles. I can’t tell you why, but for some reason she reminds me of Nashville, and Nashville is my dream. I love the twang in her voice, you can feel her personality through her songs. She, along with Kristian Bush, definitely know how to put on a good show. When I heard Kristian sing in “These Are The Days”, it made me wonder why he doesn’t sing in any of the other songs, he has a great voice. It’s also a fun road trip CD.

  Personal Favorites: “Settlin’”, “Want To”, “These Are The Days”

• George Strait - It Just Comes Natural
  It goes without saying that anything coming from George Strait is considered the best. His vocals sound strong as ever, and he stays connected to his Texas roots with songs like “Texas Cookin’”. What I also like about all of his music is that there is always a fiddle in every one of his songs. Any song can win me over if there’s a fiddle in it.

  Personal Favorites: “Give it Away”, “He Must Have Really Hurt You Bad”,” I Ain’t Her Cowboy Anymore”

• Pat Green - Cannonball
  I’ve heard people at Texas Country concerts putting Pat Green down because he went mainstream, but that doesn’t mean his talent is gone. Pat is still great. He never gets old to me, I could listen to him for hours. It is true that I like his old stuff better, but it doesn’t mean I don’t still like his new stuff. Pat could sing anything, and it would sound great to me. This CD sounds more mature than his past stuff; he pulled it off well. I’m not a huge fan of Sara Evans, but I really like their duet together in “Finders Keepers”.

  Personal Favorites: “Dixie Lullaby”, “Feels Just Like It Should”, “Missing You”, “I’m Trying To Find It”, “Sleeping With The Lights On”

• Wade Bowen - Lost Hotel
  The first time I heard of Wade was a few months ago when a friend said I should go to one of his shows. I couldn’t make the show, and never gave him much thought again. I decided to check out his latest CD after I found out he was touring with Lee Ann Womack. I’m more about the lyrics than I am the whole songs themselves, but both the lyrics and songs on this CD are awesome. There’s a bunch of slow songs and I’m a sucker for slow songs.

  Personal Favorites: “One Step Closer”, “Perfect Silence”, “It’s All Over Town”, “Broken Reflection”

• Dierks Bentley - Long Trip Alone
  Dierks is full of talent. He can write, he can play, and he can sing. Every one of his CD’s has been worth buying, I haven’t been let down yet. I agree with Brody when he says Dierks brings a lot of energy to the stage and to his albums. You can tell he doesn’t take his success for granted, and he shouldn’t. He has worked hard, and deserves every bit of it.

  Personal Favorites: “Long Trip Alone”, “The Heaven I’m Headed To”, “Free And Easy (Down The Road I Go)”, “Prodigal Son’s Prayer”

• Trent Tomlinson - Country Is My Rock
  The first time I heard Trent Tomlinson’s first single, “Drunker Than Me”, I wasn’t too impressed. I couldn’t stand the song and I still can’t. Well his second single, “One Wing In The Fire,” had me sold. I decided to check out his CD, and to my surprise, I ended up liking the majority of the songs on the album. He co-wrote every song, I like the things he has to say, and the way he thinks and writes. He’s not bad to look at either. ;)

  Personal Favorites: “Angels Like Her”, “One Wing In The Fire”, “Just Might Have Her Radio On”, “A Good Run”, “The Bottle”

• Vince Gill - These Days
  I’ve been a fan of only a few songs Vince Gill has recorded in the past, but I really liked most of the fourty-three songs on this four CD set. Each CD really has a different feel to it. The songs were written and sung by Vince and include a bunch of different duets with some of my favorite singers, which is a big plus. I personally like his bluegrass songs the best.

  Personal Favorites: “Little Brother”, “Almost Home”, “The Reasons Why”, “This Memory Of You”, “Tell Me One More Time About Jesus”, “Some Things Never Get Old”, “If I Can Make Mississippi”, “Take This Country Back”, “All Prayed Up”, “Cold Gray Light Of Gone”, “Give Me The Highway”

• Montgomery Gentry - Some People Change
  They definitely caught me off guard with this one. This CD is more about life, not just partying. They did a good job of balancing out the sad, slow songs and the fast, upbeat ones. Most of their songs tell a story, and those are my favorite type of songs.

  Personal Favorites: “Clouds”, “Some People Change”, “Lucky Man”, “Twenty Years Ago”

• Bruce Robison - Eleven Stories
  Bruce is a song writin’ genius. He’s written some of my favorite songs, and all of his lyrics are great, I love the story songs. He’s also a great singer. What I like about him, is that he’s so chill; he doesn’t try to be something he’s not. It just comes natural to him. I saw him at the Broken Spoke a few months ago and he put on a good performance, and his music is fun to dance to. He was very polite, taking the time to talk to people and taking pictures, which added bonus points in my book.

  Personal Favorites: “Tennessee Jed”, “More and More”, “All Over But The Cryin’”, “I Never Fly”, “Kitchen Blues”

• Alan Jackson - Precious Memories
  I agree with Brody on this album, it reminds me of our Grandma, too. Like Brody, I can remember hearing her humming these hymns in the kitchen while growing up, and standing next to her in church, singing these songs. I’m glad Alan made this CD, because I feel close to my Grandma when I listen to it.

  Personal Favorites: They are all favorites.

Related articles:
Brody’s Picks: Best Albums of 2006
Nick’s Picks: Best Albums of 2006