We’ll be taking stock of the state of Americana this week, looking back at the best 25 albums of the first half of 2017. Dave Stroud brings you a subjective collection of the albums that best representative the genre: one that is both elusive as it is eclectic. Bluegrass, gospel, country, folk, blues, rock, and ‘alt Americana’ find their way into the genre, making it ever easier to discuss and pinpoint. It may not be published as Americana…but you know what it is when you hear it, right? Tune in for our look back.
| No. | Artist | Title | Album | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samantha Fish | It's Your Voodoo Working | Chills & Fever |  |
| 2 | Hurray for the Riff Raff | Hungry Ghost | The Navigator | |
| 3 | Alison Krauss | Poison Love | Windy City | |
| 4 | Steve Forbert | What If Her Love Should Fail? | Flying At Night | |
| 5 | Bap Kennedy | Nothing Can Stand in the Way of Love | Reckless Heart | |
| 6 | David Olney | Don't Try To Fight It | Don't Try To Fight It | |
| 7 | Jake Xerxes Fussell | Jump for Joy | What in the Natural World | |
| 8 | Ray Davies | Rock 'N' Roll Cowboys | Americana | |
| 9 | The Band of Heathens | Green Grass of California | Duende | |
| 10 | Blackie & The Rodeo Kings | Secret Of A Long Lasting Love (w/Nick Lowe) | Kings And Kings | |
| 11 | Tim O'Brien | Friday, Sunday's Coming | Where the River Meets the Road | |
| 12 | Old Crow Medicine Show | I Want You [Live] | 50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde [Live] | |
| 13 | Rayna Gellert | Grey Bird | Workin's Too Hard | |
| 14 | Justin Townes Earle | What's She Crying For | Kids In The Street | |
| 15 | Bobby Bare | Things Change | Things Change | |
| 16 | The Secret Sisters | He's Fine | You Don't Own Me Anymore | |
| 17 | Chuck Prophet | Bad Year for Rock and Roll | Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins | |
| 18 | Joan Osborne | You're Driving Me (To The Arms Of A Stranger) | Mavis Staples I'll Take You There: An All-Star Concert Celebration | |
| 19 | The Mavericks | Ride with Me | Brand New Day | |
| 20 | Willie Nelson | Still Not Dead | God's Problem Child | |
| 21 | Nikki Lane | Highway Queen | Highway Queen | |
| 22 | Shannon McNally | I Went To The Well | Black Irish | |
| 23 | Pokey LaFarge | Riot In The Streets | Manic Revelations | |
| 24 | Keb' Mo' & Taj Mahal | Squeeze Box | TajMo | |
| 25 | Delbert McClinton & Self-Made Men | Like Lovin' Used to Be | Prick of the Litter | |
| 26 | Rhiannon Giddens | Freedom Highway | Freedom Highway | |
| 27 | Vandoliers | Rolling Out | The Native | |