2025 was a fantastic year for Texas, Red Dirt, and Americana. Dozens of fantastic albums were released by newcomers and legends alike. Here’s my (Cole Sheriff) top 10 albums of 2025:
- Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top
Zach Top returns with his 3rd studio album. Not shying away from his classic 90’s derived sound and honky tonk style, Zach brought us another two stepping, beer drinking, timeless record. With phenomenal radio singles like “Good Times and Tan Lines” and “Honky Tonk ‘Till it Hurts” and amazing B-Sides, Zach Top continues to be a driving force in the revival of classic country music.
Favorite Track: “Between the Ditches”
- Last Kings of Babylon – Jason Boland & The Stragglers
After 9 studio albums and 3 live records, Jason Boland & The Stragglers find ways to stay relevant and anything but stale with their 10th studio record: The Last Kings of Babylon.
In an over 25 year career, this Oklahoma band of outlaws continues to impress listeners with their beautiful arrangements and imagery filled writing. Not afraid to sprinkle in a few cover songs in this record, such as: Drive (Jason Eady, Jamie Lin Wilson,) Buffalo Return to the Plains (Jimmy LaFave,) Ain’t No Justice (Randy Crouch) and a co-write with Adam Hood “One Law at a Time”
After 25 strong years, and one of my favorite bands, Jason Boland & The Stragglers continues to stitch themselves into the fabric of country music history.
Favorite Track: “Farmall”
- Whomp, Whack, Thunder – Whiskey Myers
East Texas band Whiskey Myers continues to melt faces with their latest: Whomp, Whack, Thunder.
This record is quintessential Whiskey Myers. Loud guitars, hard compression on Cody’s vocals, all accompanied by the classic lyricism fans are used to.
Keeping with their standard 2-3 years between studio albums, Whiskey Myers has mastered the art of keeping fans on their toes waiting for the next project. Personally, I find this formula to be almost perfect. This gives the band time to put a record out, tour with that project, and get back to the writing room while teasing the next release almost a year before its release. Whiskey Myers continues to drive their dominance of the “East Texas Sound” with their hard-hitting records and masterful anticipation techniques.
Favorite Track: “Break These Chains”
- Memories and Empties – Colter Wall
Canadian cowboy Colter Wall has been one of my favorites since I first heard “Sleeping on the Blacktop” in Taylor Sheridan’s 2016 film “Hell or High Water.”
Nobody in the 21st century has done the “Cowpoke Country” sound quite like Colter Wall, and that is very well presented in his latest record “Memories and Empties.”
Released in the later half of 2025, RCA man Colter Wall continues to be one of the most nostalgic writers in modern country music. Listeners are transported directly to a dusty 19th century beer joint. Ride in, hitch up, and enjoy the sounds of classic writing and composition.
With themes of swinging doors, honky-tonk piano, and a hard day’s work, Colter Wall remains to be the master of his own style.
Favorite Track: “It’s Getting So (That a Man Can’t Go into Town Just to Have Him a Drink”)
- West Texas Degenerate – Treaty Oak Revival
West Texas band Treaty Oak Revival tells the story of growing up in far west Texas with “West Texas Degenerate.”
In their 2nd self-produced album, Treaty Oak explores themes of sobriety, relationships, and pride. Collaborating with fantastic artists such as William Clark Green, Gannon Fremin, and Muscadine Bloodline. TOR hangs onto their fast and loud sound that fans have been familiar with since “No Vacancy.”
Producing their own records has opened endless creative opportunities for the band. Without a record company breathing down their neck, they are in control of every aspect of their albums. From the content, production style, all the way down to release date. These decisions are totally up to the band. Their creative freedom is highly represented in “West Texas Degenerate” in the best way possible.
Favorite Track: “Dosin”
- Same Ol’ Cowboy, Different Rodeo – Josh Ward
After a 5-year recording hiatus due to the Covid pandemic and a horsing incident, Josh Ward returns with his highly anticipated 5th studio record “Same Ol’ Cowboy, Different Rodeo.”
One of the first major releases of 2025, this record has been anything but forgotten throughout the long year of fantastic album releases. Ward keeps his theme of being one of the “Honkiest of Tonkers,” between beer joint anthems such as “Dancin’ with the Devil” and “There’s a Drink for That” and slower melodic pieces like “Ain’t Got to Me Yet” and this record’s title track; Josh’s lyrical creativity and Whitley inspired melodies land him a spot as one of my favorite records of the year.
Favorite Track: “Ain’t Got to me Yet”
- Silveryear – Shelby Stone
It’s not very often that a debut record will do as well as this one has, but Shelby Stone’s style and powerful vocals are undeniable in “Silveryear.”
As any fan of local music may know, the best way to support an artist is to A) Buy a ticket, B) Buy merch and wear it, and most importantly: C) Buy the record. Shelby was extremely smart in her release of this record, releasing it for purchase on her website. Fighting the corporate status quo is more than appropriate and aligns perfectly with this record.
Shelby Stone proves to be a master of contrast from the jump on this project. From powerful, in-your-face tracks like “Dynamite” and “Each Other” to stripped down and heartbreaking “Chaos” and “Traces.” Shelby has introduced and established herself as a force to be reckoned with.
Favorite Track: “Easy Tiger”
- In My Blood – Cody Jinks
Not many artists can release 4 albums in 4 years, let alone 4 amazing albums at that. His 2021 “Mercy” record, 2024 “Change the Game” project, 2024 “Cody Jinks Sings Lefty Frizzell” tribute album, and finally, his latest 2025 “In My Blood.”
Several of Jinks’ latest records have explored ideas of sobriety, but “In My Blood” is the final nail in the sobriety coffin. Songs like the opening track “Better Than the Bottle” drive home this theme in clearcut fashion.
“In My Blood” also focuses heavily on age, and how the years have impacted Cody as a person, and songwriter alike. I find that exploring themes such as these force a writer to show off their songwriting skills. This isn’t something that was in question for Cody, but he surely is not afraid to show off his impeccable writing.
Cody Jinks, Fort Worth Legend, songwriting powerhouse, and studio regular puts his stamp on 2025 with the phenomenal “In My Blood.”
Favorite Track: “See the Man”
- The Price of Admission – Turnpike Troubadours
There’s not a whole lot that can beat the feeling of a surprise record. That’s exactly what Evan Felker and Turnpike Troubadours brought us in 2025 with “The Price of Admission.”
Announced on a billboard outside of Stillwater, Ok, “The Price of Admission” is classic Turnpike. While their sound has a bit of a ‘grown up’ feeling since their hiatus, there’s perfectly good reason for that. Evan’s songwriting has evolved immensely. This was first shown in their comeback record “A Cat in the Rain,” but is revealed in the brightest light in their latest album.
The entirety of “The Price of Admission” has a relaxed, laid-back feel that really lets the writing shine brightest. Kyle Nix’s fiddle sets a beautiful tone behind every track. I, personally, couldn’t be happier to see Turnpike setting focus on what I believe matters most in this genre, writing.
It’s also worth noting that months following the release of “The Price of Admission and shortly after the passing of legend and one of my heroes, Todd Snider, Turnpike released a heartbreaking cover of “Just Like Old Times.”
Favorite Track: “A Lie Agreed Upon”
- The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy – James McMurtry
Anyone who listens to Last Call knew this record would be somewhere on this list. Ten years ago, McMurtry put out “Complicated Game,” a record that I truly believed he wouldn’t top. Since then, he’s done exactly that…Twice.
The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy is perhaps James’ greatest songwriting masterpiece. Being the son of one of America’s greatest novelists, it’s only right that James is one of the best songwriters of this generation, and the last one, and probably the next one.
No one can write imagery quite like McMurtry, and that’s reflected perfectly on The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy. Armed with a 12 string guitar, a Paul Reed Smith, and a ballpoint pen, James proves himself to be unstoppable.
McMurtry proves that sometimes even the best of songwriters have to tip their hat every now and then. Including a fantastic tribute on this record: “Broken Freedom Song” which is a perfectly crafted cover of Kris Kristofferson.
Tracks such as “Pinocchio in Vegas” and “Back to Coeur d’Alene” are perfect examples of McMurtry after decades of songwriting, still growing and evolving as a writer.
The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy is my favorite record of 2025, McMurtry never fails to impress me in his composition, writing, and brazen style.
Favorite Track: “South Texas Lawman”
2025 was a year of amazing music in Texas, Red Dirt, and Americana. Great, established bands continue to evolve, and the newcomers are all nipping at the heels of the future of country music. Buckle up, for 2026 will be just as great in the world of new releases.
-Cole Sheriff
