featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music
December 7, 2025
Scott Foley, purveyor of dust
Nov 30: Favorite Covers
Dec 7: State of Americana
Dec 14: Favorite Songs
Dec 21: Christmas Christmas
Dec 28: Favorite Albums
As the year nears its end, we've been keeping an eye on blogs as they ponder the "best" that 2025 has had to offer. Now and then, we'll catch sight of an artist from our kind of music, bobbing above the level of mainstream notice. This hasn't been an especially strong year for such successes. It's more likely that a popular artist has appeared on americana radar than vice versa.
These aren't necessarily the best or our favorites, but they are setting the tone for americana, alt.country and roots music at a more mainstream level. Some are more cutting edge, while others are firmly defining the status quo. Several are ensuring that americana include a diversity of sounds, identities and perspectives, and others are just making the world safe for some white dude with a guitar. More than any charts or playlists, beyond favorites lists and expert opinions, this list represents:
THE STATE of AMERiCANA 2025
- Benjamin Booker, Lower (Fire Next Time, Jan 24)
- Sunny War, Armageddon In a Summer Dress (New West, Feb 21)
- Jesse Welles, Middle (Welles, Feb 21)
- Fust, Big Ugly (Dear Life, Mar 7)
- Jason Isbell, Foxes In the Snow (Southeastern, Mar 7)
- Charley Crockett, Lonesome Drifter (Island, Mar 14)
- Turnpike Troubadours, Price of Admission (Bossier City, Apr 11)
- I'm With Her, Wild and Clear and Blue (Rounder, May 9)
- Ken Pomeroy, Cruel Joke (Rounder, May 16)
- Alan Sparhawk & Trampled by Turtles, Alan Sparkhawk & Trampled by Turtles (Sub Pop, May 30)
- Hailey Whitters, Corn Queen (Pigasus, Jun 6)
- SG Goodman, Planting By the Signs (Slough Water, Jun 20)
- Ryan Davis & Roadhouse Band, New Threats From the Soul (Sophomore Lounge, Jul 5)
- Alex G, Headlights (RCA, Jul 18)
- Folk Bitch Trio, Now Would Be a Good Time (Jagjaguwar, Jul 25)
- Tyler Childers, Snipe Hunter (Hickman Holler, Jul 25)
- Molly Tuttle, So Long Little Miss Sunshine (Nonesuch, Aug 15)
- CMAT, EURO-COUNTRY (AWAL, Aug 29)
- Zach Top, Ain't In It For My Health (Leo33, Aug 29)
- Margo Price, Hard Headed Woman (Loma Vista, Aug 29)
- Wednesday, Bleeds (Dead Oceans, Sep 1)
- Big Thief, Double Infinity (4AD, Sep 5)
- Neko Case, Neon Grey Midnight Green (Anti, Sep 26)
- Geese, Getting Killed (Partisan, Sep 26)
- Amanda Shires, Nobody's Girl (ATO, Sep 26)
- Brandi Carlile, Returning to Myself (Interscope, Oct 24)
- Chat Pile & Hayden Pedigo, In the Earth Again (Computer Students, Oct 31)
- Snocaps, Snocaps (Anti, Oct 31)
- Luke Bell, The King is Back (All Blue, Nov 7)
- Colter Wall, Memories and Empties (La Honda, Nov 14)
Rather than curating a ROUTES-cast featuring the artists mentioned above, we're going to lavish you all with a brand new ROUTES-cast! Our intent was to collect new stuff to share during the dark and soul-sapping post-holiday void, but we've gathered so much good stuff that we just have to let it out! Merce Lemon & Fust covering George Jones?! New Delines!! Joe Pernice covering Aimee Mann?? It's all below, providing you new stuff during a time when so many other blogs are featuring a whole lotta old stuff (we'll get there too).
ROUTES-cast December 7, 2025
^ Dove Ellis, "Heaven Has No Wings" Blizzard (Black Butter, 25)
- The Gunshy, "Future Cars on Former Roads" Hurricane Umbrellas (Sleep, 25)
- Ratboys, "What's Right" Singin' to an Empty Chair (New West, Feb 6)
- Jesse Sykes & Sweet Hereafter, "Feather Treasure" Forever I've Been Being Born (Southern Lord, 25)
- Matt Kivel, "Sapphire Days" Escape From LA (Scissor Tail, Dec 12)
- Delines, "Dilaudid Diane" The Set Up (Jealous Butcher, Mar 6) D
- Lambchop, "Afterburner" Passages: Artists in Solidarity (Western Vinyl, 25)
- Merce Lemon & Fust, "Cup of Loneliness" single (Trouble Chair, 25) D
- Gold Star, "Phantom Sam" single (Like Ltd, 25) D
- Courtney Marie Andrews, "Little Picture of a Butterfly" Valentine (Loose Future, Jan 16)
- Aubrie Sellers, "Delusional (ft Ashley Monroe, Tyler Halverson)" single (Carnival, 25) D
- Have Gun Will Travel, "Everything is Made of Stars" Voyager Golden EP (Burke, 25)
- T Hardy Morris, "Crazy But Not Dumb (ft Little Gold)" Glow Recording Studio Presents Fall Fingles Vol 1 EP (Glow, 25) D
- Margo Price, "Too Many Too Few" Hard Headed Woman (Deluxe) (Loma Vista, 25)
- Sophie Gault, "Is There Anyone Out There" Unhinged (Torrez, Jan 23)
- Will Stewart, "Didn't We Dance" single (Earth Libraries, 25) D
- Clover Country, "Suitcase" single (Undercover Lover, 25) D
- Red Clay Strays, "Till Things Get Right (live)" Live at the Ryman (RCA, 25) D
- Tyler Halverson, "Fort Worth Losing" In Defense of Drinking (Big Hit Herefords, Feb 13)
- Cordovas, "Wings (ft Kamasi Washington)" Back to Life (Yep Roc, Jan 30)
- Marfa, "Million Ways" single (Big Machine, 25)
- Low Gap, "Ranch Style House" single (Cloverdale, 25) D
- Pert Near Sandstone, "Side by Side" Side by Side (PNS, Feb 27) D
- Big Richard, "It's Gonna Fall / Old Daingerfield" Pet (Signature Sounds, Feb 6) D
- Chicago Farmer, "Peshtigo" Homeaid (LoHi, Mar 6) D
- John Craigie, "Fire Season" I Swam Here (Zabriskie Point, Feb 6) D
- Drayton Farley, "Touch and Go (ft Sunny Sweeney, Dani Rose)" single (Hargrove, 25) D
- Mariachi el Bronx, "RIP Romeo" IV (ATO, Feb 13)
- King Hannah, "Look At Miss Ohio" single (City Slang, 25)
- Joe Pernice, "Save Me" single (New West, 25) D
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To enjoy any Spotify ROUTES-cast, just open Spotify and search for "routesandbranches" to access this most recent playlist, as well as many others from past months. Or click here for a preview:
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