Throwing a few albums of the same genre–female, country singer-songwriters–that I’m really enjoying these days.

First, a country “it” girl of the moment, Ella Langley. Her sophomore album is on Columbia Records and you can hear every dollar of the production in the sound. It’s clean and tight, not a second wasted. The album doesn’t feel rushed, it just feels extremely sleek and polished. There’s absolutely nothing inherently wrong with high-sheen production, and Langley’s lyrics continue to be far more substantive than her style. An excellent pop-country record.

In contrast, Leah Blevins feels edgy and less mainstream. She’s been around a little while longer, and has more “traditional country” technique–plus, Dan Auerbach is behind the boards and also plays on it. The record feels 100% authentic and is one of my favorites of the year so far.

Finally, another mainstream artist–but this one, by now, should be considered a veteran: Kacey Musgraves. At this point in her career, she’s seven albums in and has had some huge cross-over hits. She clearly knows what she’s doing, and maybe that’s why she’s slowed down a bit. Her music continues to have an ethereal feel to it, but now it’s got some wisdom, too. This one is her best since the tour de force that was Golden Hour.

All of these are worth hearing, but if you just have time for one, support the independent Leah Blevins.

Throwing a few albums of the same genre–female, country singer-songwriters–that I’m really enjoying these days. First, a country “it” girl of the moment, Ella Langley. Her sophomore album is on Columbia Records and you can hear every dollar of the …