Top Country Albums of the Decade (#70-#61)

Taylor Swift’s first appearance on our list is balanced out by a heft of traditional country music, including two icons doing their best to pay tribute to each other. From Texas to Canada to a pickin’ shed in Georgia, these 10 country albums were among the best of the previous decade.

• 70. Sounds So Good (2008) – Ashton Shepherd

  Every now and then, a spunky, twangy female voice comes along that is undeniably, unmistakably made for singing country music. Like Dolly, Tammy and Loretta before her, Shepherd joins those ranks with her debut effort. The album, written entirely by Shepherd and her brother-in-law, manages to be at once traditional and radio-friendly. Considering county music’s cyclical nature, coupled with other traditionally rooted albums released at the end of the decade that have garnered mainstream attention, Sounds So Good could note a burgeoning shift in popular country music. — Karlie Justus

• 69. Fearless (2008) – Taylor Swift

  Just two albums and three years into her career, Swift has rewritten “Ballad of a Teenage Queen” as a starring role. And while she’s been a compellingly “real” presence at awards shows and SNL, her music is still the vehicle, as bright, clever songs like “Hey Stephen” and “You Belong to Me” show. But the standout is “Fifteen,” a song too mature to have been written by a teenager but too open-hearted to have been penned by anyone else. — Stephen M. Deusner

• 68. Scarecrow (2001) – Garth Brooks

  Scarecrow (which was a “retired” Garth Brooks’ final studio album) may be the least cohesive record in the superstar’s catalog, but a Garth set that only partially hits its mark is still better than most. The album is weighed down by three bulky, brooding ballads (“Mr. Midnight,” “The Storm” and “When You Come Back To Me Again”) that find Garth aiming a little too high, but these misfires are offset by the surprisingly quaint (for Garth) “Thicker Than Blood,” the effervescent (Chris Gaines inspired) “Wrapped Up In You,” and the quirky “Big Money.” And then there’s a joyous cover of Dan Peek’s “Don’t Cross The River,” a bluegrassy romp that reminds us that Brooks is both a masterful interpreter and and underrated vocalist. — Jim Malec

• 67. The Notorious Cherry Bombs (2006) – The Notorious Cherry Bombs

  Any project by Rodney Crowell is going to be good–especially one that includes his old backing band from the 1980s, and especially if that band includes Vince Gill. The Notorious Cherry Bombs is just a fun album; you can tell these guys are having a ball reliving the old days. — Pierce Greenberg

• 66. I Hope You Dance (2000) – Lee Ann Womack

  Heartland dreamers and Hallmark execs clung to the poetic title cut, but this triple-platinum wonder is truly sparked by a pair of searing songs (the Rodney Crowell-penned “Ashes By Now” and a furious cover of Buddy & Julie Miller’s “Does My Ring Burn Your Finger”) that revealed Womack as a torch-bearing goddess for tradition-laced modern country. With her lively Dolly-like soprano, she sang her ever-hurtin’ heart out about the domestic dramas of faithful, strong-willed women. — Blake Boldt

• 65. Country Sunshine (2001) – Bruce Robinson

  Although he’s better know as the songwriter behind others’ songs, Bruce Robison has accumulated an impressive catalog of quality albums, with Country Sunshine topping that list as the best. The sound is more polished than recent efforts, but it’s done in a way that enhances the songs. The songs themselves are chock-full of jilted characters–lovelorn, broken, and stuck in apathetic relationships–making this perhaps the quintessential breakup album. — Brody Vercher

• 64. Kickin’ Out The Footlights… Again (2006) – George Jones & Merle Haggard

  It may come as no surprise that the only offerings from Jones or Haggard on this list come in the form of compilations of classics, with a twist or two thrown in here or there. In this case, that twist comes in the form of a tribute both for and by the two country music legends some 25 years after the duo’s first project was released. While the Hag picks up where the Possum lags vocally, both show that their abilities to interpret a song haven’t waned with age. — Karlie Justus

• 63. From The Cradle To The Grave (2007) – Dale Watson

  The cover of 2007’s From the Cradle to the Grave–recorded at a cabin studio formerly owned by Johnny Cash–imagines the gravesite of country music, but the material inside makes a convincing case that it’s alive and well as long as Dale Watson is still performing. Besides, any record that includes the line “I’d gun that bastard down with a smile on my face” can’t be all bad. – Brody Vercher

• 62. 5th Gear (2007) – Brad Paisley

  5th Gear has Brad Paisley in his whimsical best form–who else could develop a smash single from a little critter on “Ticks.” Humor also shines through on witty tracks like “Online” and “I’m Still A Guy” and his thoughtful “Letter To Me” makes for a touching look back/forward at what really makes up the “good ole days.” Want a speeding ticket? Blast his GRAMMY winning instrumental “Throttleneck” while cruising down the freeway. — Ken Morton, Jr.

• 61. Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier! (2007) – Corb Lund

  This mostly concept album tackles the subject of the cavalry and war with surprising depth, starting with the optimism of the new soldier in “I Wanna Be In The Cavalry” and concluding with the laments of a battle-weary veteran with “My Saddle Horse Has Died” and a reprise of the opening cut. There are few singers who could have made this album work, but Lund’s love of the subject matter shines through on each cut. — Sam Gazdziak

• Top Country Albums of the Decade (#100-91)
• Top Country Albums of the Decade (#90-81)
• Top Country Albums of the Decade (#80-71)
• Top Country Albums of the Decade (#60-51)
• Top Country Albums of the Decade (#50-41)
• Top Country Albums of the Decade (#40-31)
• Top Country Albums of the Decade (#30-21)
• Top Country Albums of the Decade (#20-11)
• Top Country Albums of the Decade (#10-1)