B-Side Guys

The Best Folk, Country & Americana Albums

The best Folk, Country & Americana albums, ranked by B-Side Breakdown: every critic's score on one 0 to 100 scale. An album needs at least 5 reviews to make the list.

The top three

Album cover for Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan1Bob DylanBlood on the Tracks99 A+ · 1975Album cover for Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell2Joni MitchellCourt and Spark98 A+ · 1974Album cover for Graceland by Paul Simon3Paul SimonGraceland98 A+ · 1986
Average Breakdown77The second highest of the 9 genres.
Liked63%of Folk, Country & Americana albums scored 75 or higher. Across every genre it's 49%.
Most divisiveContentiousThe Chicks, Taking the Long Way split the critics more than any other album in the genre.A-Sides8.5%of Folk, Country & Americana albums earned an A-Side. Across every genre it's 6.5%.

This year

The best Folk, Country & Americana albums of 2026 so far

  1. Album cover for Wishbone by Clara Mann1Clara MannWishbone85 B
  2. Album cover for Middle of Nowhere by Kacey Musgraves2Kacey MusgravesMiddle of Nowhere80 B-
  3. Album cover for With Heaven on Top by Zach Bryan3Zach BryanWith Heaven on Top77 C+
  4. Album cover for Pick You Up by Sheryl Crow4Sheryl CrowPick You Up63 D

The best Folk, Country & Americana albums of all time

  1. 1Album cover for Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan
    Bob DylanBlood on the TracksJanuary 20, 1975 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  2. 2Album cover for Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell
    Joni MitchellCourt and SparkJanuary 17, 1974 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  3. 3Album cover for Graceland by Paul Simon
    Paul SimonGracelandAugust 29, 1986 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  4. 4Album cover for American Recordings by Johnny Cash
    Johnny CashAmerican RecordingsApril 26, 1994 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    97A+
  5. 5Album cover for Tapestry by Carole King
    Carole KingTapestryJanuary 30, 1971 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  6. 6Album cover for Pink Moon by Nick Drake
    Nick DrakePink MoonFebruary 25, 1972 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  7. 7Album cover for Sweetheart of the Rodeo by The Byrds
    The ByrdsSweetheart of the RodeoAugust 30, 1968 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  8. 8Album cover for Unhalfbricking by Fairport Convention
    Fairport ConventionUnhalfbrickingJuly 1969 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  9. 9Album cover for Catch a Fire by Bob Marley & The Wailers
    Bob Marley & The WailersCatch a FireApril 13, 1973 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  10. 10Album cover for The Guitar Song by Jamey Johnson
    Jamey JohnsonThe Guitar SongSeptember 14, 2010 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    93A

Folk, Country & Americana, decade by decade

Average Breakdown of the genre's albums in each decade.

1970s85
1990s80
2000s73
2010s76
2020s77
  1. 11Album cover for Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake
    Nick DrakeFive Leaves LeftJuly 4, 1969 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  2. 12Album cover for Songs of Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen
    Leonard CohenSongs of Leonard CohenDecember 27, 1967 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  3. 13Album cover for Rough and Rowdy Ways by Bob Dylan
    Bob DylanRough and Rowdy WaysJune 19, 2020 · 13 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  4. 14Album cover for The Harrow & The Harvest by Gillian Welch
    Gillian WelchThe Harrow & The HarvestJune 27, 2011 · 11 reviews · 91% approval · Some debate
    90A-
  5. 15Album cover for Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé
    BeyoncéCowboy CarterMarch 29, 2024 · 12 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  6. 16Album cover for For the Roses by Joni Mitchell
    Joni MitchellFor the RosesOctober 1972 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  7. 17Album cover for Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves
    Kacey MusgravesGolden HourMarch 30, 2018 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  8. 18Album cover for Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman
    Tracy ChapmanTracy ChapmanApril 5, 1988 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  9. 19Album cover for If I Should Fall from Grace with God by The Pogues
    The PoguesIf I Should Fall from Grace with GodJanuary 1, 1988 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  10. 20Album cover for Tigers Blood by Waxahatchee
    WaxahatcheeTigers BloodMarch 22, 2024 · 11 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  11. 21Album cover for I Love You, Honeybear by Father John Misty
    Father John MistyI Love You, HoneybearFebruary 9, 2015 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  12. 22Album cover for Raising Sand by Robert Plant
    Robert PlantRaising SandOctober 23, 2007 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  13. 23Album cover for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend by Miranda Lambert
    Miranda LambertCrazy Ex-GirlfriendMay 1, 2007 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  14. 24Album cover for Michigan by Sufjan Stevens
    Sufjan StevensMichiganJuly 1, 2003 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  15. 25Album cover for Thanks for the Dance by Leonard Cohen
    Leonard CohenThanks for the DanceNovember 22, 2019 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Some debate
    86B

Which outlets like Folk, Country & Americana most

Share of each outlet's Folk, Country & Americana reviews that score 75 or higher, for outlets with 30 or more.

Most generous

The A.V. Club100%
Entertainment Weekly99%
Robert Christgau93%
Q80%
Uncut76%

Hardest to win over

Rolling Stone29%
Slant30%
PopMatters36%
Los Angeles Times59%
The Guardian61%
  1. 26Album cover for Wrecking Ball by Emmylou Harris
    Emmylou HarrisWrecking BallSeptember 26, 1995 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    86B
  2. 27Album cover for Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton
    Dolly PartonCoat of Many ColorsOctober 1971 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    85B
  3. 28Album cover for Sweet Warrior by Richard Thompson
    Richard ThompsonSweet WarriorMay 28, 2007 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    85B
  4. 29Album cover for Bridge over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
    Simon & GarfunkelBridge over Troubled WaterJanuary 26, 1970 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Some debate
    85B
  5. 30Album cover for 12 Stories by Brandy Clark
    Brandy Clark12 StoriesAugust 28, 2013 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    85B
  6. 31Album cover for Chloë and the Next 20th Century by Father John Misty
    Father John MistyChloë and the Next 20th CenturyApril 8, 2022 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  7. 32Album cover for We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions by Bruce Springsteen
    Bruce SpringsteenWe Shall Overcome: The Seeger SessionsApril 24, 2006 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    84B
  8. 33Album cover for Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran by Jamey Johnson
    Jamey JohnsonLiving for a Song: A Tribute to Hank CochranOctober 16, 2012 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    84B
  9. 34Album cover for Big Day in a Small Town by Brandy Clark
    Brandy ClarkBig Day in a Small TownJune 10, 2016 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    84B
  10. 35Album cover for Time (The Revelator) by Gillian Welch
    Gillian WelchTime (The Revelator)July 31, 2001 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  11. 36Album cover for Stumble into Grace by Emmylou Harris
    Emmylou HarrisStumble into GraceAugust 25, 2003 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    84B
  12. 37Album cover for American V: A Hundred Highways by Johnny Cash
    Johnny CashAmerican V: A Hundred HighwaysJune 30, 2006 · 11 reviews · 82% approval · Some debate
    84B
  13. 38Album cover for Hearts and Bones by Paul Simon
    Paul SimonHearts and BonesNovember 1983 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    83B
  14. 39Album cover for Townes by Steve Earle
    Steve EarleTownesMay 12, 2009 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Broad agreement
    83B
  15. 40Album cover for American Middle Class by Angaleena Presley
    Angaleena PresleyAmerican Middle ClassOctober 14, 2014 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Broad agreement
    83B
  16. 41Album cover for Full Circle by Loretta Lynn
    Loretta LynnFull CircleMarch 4, 2016 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    83B
  17. 42Album cover for The Letting Go by Will Oldham
    Will OldhamThe Letting GoSeptember 15, 2006 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Some debate
    83B
  18. 43Album cover for American Saturday Night by Brad Paisley
    Brad PaisleyAmerican Saturday NightJune 26, 2009 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    83B
  19. 44Album cover for Revolution by Miranda Lambert
    Miranda LambertRevolutionSeptember 24, 2009 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Broad agreement
    83B
  20. 45Album cover for Fearless (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift
    Taylor SwiftFearless (Taylor’s Version)April 9, 2021 · 11 reviews · 91% approval · Some debate
    83B
  21. 46Album cover for Mahashmashana by Father John Misty
    Father John MistyMahashmashanaNovember 22, 2024 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Unanimous
    82B-
  22. 47Album cover for The Ghosts of Highway 20 by Lucinda Williams
    Lucinda WilliamsThe Ghosts of Highway 20January 22, 2016 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Broad agreement
    82B-
  23. 48Album cover for Midwest Farmer’s Daughter by Margo Price
    Margo PriceMidwest Farmer’s DaughterMarch 25, 2016 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Broad agreement
    82B-
  24. 49Album cover for Hell Among the Yearlings by Gillian Welch
    Gillian WelchHell Among the YearlingsJuly 28, 1998 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    82B-
  25. 50Album cover for Heartbreaker by Ryan Adams
    Ryan AdamsHeartbreakerSeptember 5, 2000 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Broad agreement
    82B-

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