Best Outlaw Country and Americana Albums

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1. 1
   Southern Rock OperaDrive-By Truckers

   Southern Rock Opera

   Drive-By Truckers · 2001 · Country & Americana

   An ambitious double-album meditation on the American South. Bold and acclaimed. Their masterpiece.

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2. 2
   Mama TriedMerle Haggard

   Mama Tried

   Merle Haggard · 1968 · Country & Americana

   A landmark of Bakersfield country, plain-spoken and powerful. Direct and beloved. His signature record.

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3. 3
   Honky Tonk HeroesWaylon Jennings

   Honky Tonk Heroes

   Waylon Jennings · 1973 · Country & Americana

   A landmark of outlaw country, rough and rebellious, mostly written by Billy Joe Shaver. Loose and influential. A genre cornerstone.

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4. 4
   Decoration DayDrive-By Truckers

   Decoration Day

   Drive-By Truckers · 2003 · Country & Americana

   A sharp, storytelling Southern-rock peak. Raw and acclaimed. A high point.

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5. 5
   Metamodern Sounds in Country MusicSturgill Simpson

   Metamodern Sounds in Country Music

   Sturgill Simpson · 2014 · Country & Americana

   A trippy, traditional-yet-psychedelic record that reframed what modern country could be. Bold and soulful. A genre highlight.

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6. 6
   TravellerChris Stapleton

   Traveller

   Chris Stapleton · 2015 · Country & Americana

   A soulful, gravel-voiced album that revived outlaw spirit for the mainstream. Warm and assured. A modern country breakthrough.

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7. 7
   Midwest Farmer's DaughterMargo Price

   Midwest Farmer's Daughter

   Margo Price · 2016 · Country & Americana

   A sharp, traditional-leaning debut of hard-won storytelling. Honest and acclaimed. A breakthrough.

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8. 8
   PurgatoryTyler Childers

   Purgatory

   Tyler Childers · 2017 · Country & Americana

   A vivid, traditional-leaning Appalachian country breakthrough. Raw and acclaimed. A modern highlight.

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9. 9
   American HeartbreakZach Bryan

   American Heartbreak

   Zach Bryan · 2022 · Country & Americana

   A sprawling, raw heartland-country breakthrough. Honest and huge. A high point.

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10. 10
    Zach BryanZach Bryan

    Zach Bryan

    Zach Bryan · 2023 · Country & Americana

    A raw, prolific singer-songwriter's mainstream peak of heartland country. Honest and huge. A breakthrough.

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11. 11
    Branded ManMerle Haggard

    Branded Man

    Merle Haggard · 1967 · Country & Americana

    An early peak of plain-spoken Bakersfield country. Warm and beloved. A high point.

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12. 12
    Okie from MuskogeeMerle Haggard

    Okie from Muskogee

    Merle Haggard · 1969 · Country & Americana

    A live peak built around its famous, much-debated title song. Tuneful and iconic. A genre landmark.

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13. 13
    Shotgun WillieWillie Nelson

    Shotgun Willie

    Willie Nelson · 1973 · Country & Americana

    The loose, liberated record where Willie found his outlaw voice. Warm and acclaimed. A turning point.

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14. 14
    Phases and StagesWillie Nelson

    Phases and Stages

    Willie Nelson · 1974 · Country & Americana

    A concept album of divorce told from both sides. Beautiful and acclaimed. A creative high.

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15. 15
    Dreaming My DreamsWaylon Jennings

    Dreaming My Dreams

    Waylon Jennings · 1975 · Country & Americana

    A relaxed, outlaw-country peak of warm craft. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.

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16. 16
    A Sailor's Guide to EarthSturgill Simpson

    A Sailor's Guide to Earth

    Sturgill Simpson · 2016 · Country & Americana

    A genre-bending, soul-and-strings country peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.

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17. 17
    Colter WallColter Wall

    Colter Wall

    Colter Wall · 2017 · Country & Americana

    A weathered, deep-voiced traditional-country debut. Raw and acclaimed. A breakthrough.

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18. 18
    Country SquireTyler Childers

    Country Squire

    Tyler Childers · 2019 · Country & Americana

    A vivid, traditional-leaning peak of Appalachian storytelling. Warm and acclaimed. A standout.

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19. 19
    Long Violent HistoryTyler Childers

    Long Violent History

    Tyler Childers · 2020 · Country & Americana

    Eight traditional instrumentals and one devastating original — spare, pointed and quietly radical for mainstream country.

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20. 20
    KristoffersonKris Kristofferson

    Kristofferson

    Kris Kristofferson · 1970 · Country & Americana

    The debut that announced a songwriter's songwriter — Me and Bobby McGee, Help Me Make It Through the Night.

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