Scott Sexton's Picks - Best Country Albums of 2007

When your songs have been recorded by top country stars such as Sara Evans, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, you're obviously doing something right. So, with the help of Tim and Faith, Lori McKenna released her latest album Unglamorous and went on tour. Her sound is stripped down and very raw. Simply singing about life and love, she leaves the fancy sounds to the professionals, while maintaining pure perfection on every song. This album needs to be heard by everyone.

What do you get when you combine bluegrass queen Alison Krauss and rock icon Robert Plant? A unique sound with an undeniable ending. These two forces collided like a hurricane and although some fans may hate it, this album has brought back sounds that have not been heard since the sixties and seventies. "Gone, Gone, Gone" is the first single and delivers that retro sound. This album belongs in everyone's collection.

With the help of some of her closest friends, Reba created an album that proves she is on the top of her game. With the help of Kelly Clarkson, "Because Of You" brought on a whole new meaning of screwed up romance. Ronnie Dunn and Vince Gill once again came to Reba's side, but one of the most shocking duet partners she had was Justin Timberlake. This odd combination created "The Only Promise That Remains," and the outcome was flawless. Duets is by far one of the best this year.

WOW! Trisha Yearwood made her comeback this year with a bang. Showing he soulful side in Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love, she also teams up with Keith Urban on "Let The Wind Chase You." This whole album is full of quality music with no "fillers." It was obvious Trisha is comfortable in her skin and sounds better than ever. Sometimes artists change once they hit the big time, but she seems to be better than ever.

Mary Chapin Carpenter has delivered an album full of material and music that everyone can relate to. Regardless of what flavor of country music you may enjoy, she has brought music worth listening to. Leaving no subject uncovered, she hits the bulls eye every time. Although this album may not be heard on the radio, it is full of songs that you will listen to over and over again. Once this record goes in the player, you will fight anyone that tries to take it out!

Pam Tillis is one of the most recognizable female singers of all time. Singing powerful tunes full of meaning, her fans are spread far and wide. Her latest album Rhinestoned gives a fresh yet classic sound. Although the whole album is fantastic, "The Band In The Window" gives you an inside look on what Nashville is like every night of the week. This is the first album she has released on her own, so she had plenty of room to spread her wings.

Whenever a new album comes out by Brad Paisley, fans may not know what songs are going to be on it, but they do know it will be a treat. So far there have always been fun songs as well as serious ones, which is the same path he followed when recording 5th Gear. "Ticks" was the first single, but "Letter To Me" is a personal favorite off the whole album. He puts so much heart into every word that leaves you begging for more.

The country music world needs to prepare themselves for the talent of newcomer Kristina Cornell. This young lady has a sweet, soulful voice that is truly her own. For her album It's A Girl Thing, she brought in the "big guns." Her producer was Dave Gibson. With him as producer and Kristina behind the microphone, magic was going to be created. Songs like "Whenever It Rains" and "Little Red Balloons" make the album worth it. She sings about life, love and having fun.

Although this is a collection of songs, it is not a greatest hits package. The songs in this five disc set have been forgotten for years. Many of them have never even been released. Emmylou Harris has always walked a fine line of country and folk. On this set you are able to hear her create duets with Elvis Costello and Gram Parsons. There is also a DVD that shows early concerts and videos. This is a priceless set that could even be one of the best this decade.

The duo of Halfway To Hazard is another prodigy of Tim McGraw. Although their first single "Daisy" got some airplay on the radio, CMT and GAC, its impact was not that great. Don't let that fool you though. It is a great song, but the album is even better. Full of energy, heart and soul, every song averages around five minutes each and all have meaning. "Devil and The Cross" offers an insight on life and religion for those of us living on the edge of both.