The 17 Best Southern Albums of 2017

This year has been a fruitful one for Southern music—and we’ve got the record collection to prove it. Rhiannon Giddens pulled from centuries of history for a release that firmly belongs in the present. Gregg Allman delivered a gripping farewell. Margo Price reminded us of country music’s heart, and Curtis Harding imbued new energy into old-school soul.

As we get ready to say goodbye to 2017, we’re celebrating seventeen of the year’s best albums. They span a range of genres, with sounds that harken back to decades past and point toward the future. And though we may not have been able to include every worthy Southern release, the selections encompass both familiar names as well as some under-the-radar gems that deserved more attention. We hope you’ll discover something new, and here’s to more great Southern music in 2018. Happy listening.