The Americana Music Association has announced its year end Top 10 & Top 100 Albums of the Year, and true to the genre, it’s an eclectic mix. From southern rock icons, to old school country, to artists that defy labels, you’ll find the most diverse playlist in music today.
Hayes Carll topped the list with his second album, “KMAG YOYO,” which sounds more like a sushi restaurant than a slice-of-America album with a twangy, country-rock mindset. (Hint: the title is a military acronym for “Kiss my [BLEEP] guys, you’re on your own.”)
This year’s other most played albums are (artist/album/label):
1) Hayes Carll, “KMAG YOYO” / Lost Highway
2) Lucinda Williams, “Blessed “/ Lost Highway
3) Steve Earle, “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive” / New West
4) Alison Krauss & Union Station, “Paper Airplane” / Rounder
5) Emmylou Harris, “Hard Bargain” / Nonesuch
6) Gregg Allman, “Low Country Blues” / Rounder
7) Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, “Here We Rest” / Lightning Rod
8) John Hiatt, “Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns” / New West
9) Decemberists, “The King Is Dead” / Capitol
10) Band of Heathens, “Top Hat Crown & The Clapmaster’s Son” / BOH Records
Many of these artists are no stranger to accolades from the AMA, with Williams, Harris, Krauss, Earle and Hiatt frequently cited as great examples of the genre. The Top 100 albums are based on those records reported to the Americana Airplay Chart during the period of November 16, 2010 through November 14, 2011.
The released list comes just in time for last minute holiday gifts for the Americana-loving hipster in your family, so if you’re a little confused as to exactly what the genre is and what to get them, this list is a pretty safe bet. Likewise, if you really want to impress them, buy them an Early Bird registration to the 2012 Americana Music Festival and Conference (September 12-15, 2012) to be held in Nashville TN, as it is every year. It’s not just a concert, but panels on the music industry itself for the hardcore fan as well as the industry professional.
The Americana Airplay Chart is managed by the Americana Music Association and represents the reported play of terrestrial radio stations, nationally syndicated shows, satellite radio and internet stations, which have agreed to submit weekly spin counts on Americana albums they’ve played during the previous week. The chart is an album-based chart for new releases and is not meant to reflect airplay on singles, recurrent plays or catalog albums.
It is, however, meant to reflect that there are still a lot of people out there with great taste in music.