CountryMusicIsLove’s 12 Favorite Albums of 2012

Before we bask in the excitement of all the new music coming our way in 2013, we’re taking a look back at our favorite Country albums of 2012. These albums may or may not be the most popular if you add up record sales and awards, but when it comes to our car stereos and ipods, they were the most played of the year!

Here are CountryMusicIsLove’s 12 Favorite Albums of 2012 (in no particular order)…

Jason Aldean – Night Train: Jason Aldean has been skyrocketing to success since the release of My Kind of Party in 2010. The Georgia native’s albums always make us want to roll our windows down and crank up our stereos, and with his two latest radio hits, “Take a Little Ride” and “The Only Way I Know” that’s exactly what listeners have been doing! Night Train also includes power ballads and cheeky, fun songs, which makes the album well rounded and one that definitely shouldn’t be skipped this year!
Click HERE to purchase Night Train on iTunes.

Carrie Underwood – Blown Away: The superstar literally blew fans away with her latest album. Her voice is flawless on tracks like “Blown Away” and “Do You Think About Me” and everyone is guilty of belting out the catchy lyrics of “Good Girl.” She is continuing her string of hits with “Two Black Cadillacs,” a dark song that tells the story of man, his wife and his mistress. Between her vocal chops and the classic country themes of love and hate, this album is one that can be listened to time and again!
Click HERE to purchase Blown Away on iTunes.

Lee Brice – Hard 2 Love: Lee Brice has had an outstanding year with songs like “A Woman Like You” and “Hard To Love.” His album is stacked with quality songs that truly deserve a listen. He has party songs, love songs, and his latest single “I Drive Your Truck” is sure to pull at your heart strings over a lost loved one. Brice’s songwriting skills and raspy voice are really showcased and can draw listeners in – before you know it you’ll be listening to it on repeat!
Click HERE to purchase Hard 2 Love on iTunes.

Kip Moore – Up All Night: With two No.1 singles (“Somethin’ Bout A Truck: and “Beer Money”) under his belt already, newcomer Kip Moore has proven he’s here to stay! Tracks like “Crazy One More Time” and “Where You Are Tonight” put a fresh spin on songs about missed opportunities and long lost love. This album is hands down one of the best debut albums from a newcomer in recent years. Trust us, this is an album you don’t want to miss out on.
Click HERE to purchase Up All Night on iTunes.

Little Big Town – Tornado: Our favorite co-Ed crew stormed back on to the scene this year with “Pontoon”, the song that is impossible to get out of your head (admit it, you’re singing it right now)! LBT’s follow up track “Tornado” is just as infectious and something different from the mainstream radio hits we’re used to hearing. Songs like “Pavement Ends” and “Front Porch Thing” prove their fame hasn’t made them stray from the backwoods roots fans fell in love with on “Boondocks.” We can’t get these tracks or their flawless harmonizing out of our heads!
Click HERE to purchase Tornado on iTunes.

Kellie Pickler – 100 Proof: Fun loving, head shaving, USO touring Kellie Pickler’s latest album flew under the radar of many country fans this year, but that doesn’t mean you should let this album pass you by! Song titles like “Where’s Tammy Wynette”, “Unlock That Honky Tonk”, and “Long As I Never See You Again” give listeners a glimpse at the classic country roots Pickler comes from. Her voice is stronger and better and the song material strays a little from the pop-country genre that is so prevalent on the radio. This album deserves a chance to be heard!
Click HERE to purchase 100 Proof on iTunes.

Florida Georgia Line – Here’s to the Good Times: FGL is quite possibly the hottest duo at the moment. “Cruise” has been unstoppable and with their album release earlier this month, the group satisfied our need for rocking guitars and great hooks! This is our go-to party album with the majority of the tracks — such as “Get Your Shine On”, “Hell Raisin’ Heat of Summer”, and “Party People — focusing on living life in the moment and enjoying the ride. Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard are definitely enjoying their ride and we encourage you to join in the fun by picking up this album!
Click HERE to purchase Here’s to the Good Times on iTunes.

Zac Brown Band – Uncaged: This collection has the perfect mixture of uptempo tracks and hard-hitting personal ballads. There are R&B vibes and island beats. There’s a little bit of everything, and through it all, ZBB continues to show off their skilled instrumentals and harmonious vocals. The group’s hit single “The Wind” shows off these dynamic qualities that keep ZBB on the map. The sadness in Zac Brown’s voice on “Goodbye In Her Eyes” is so authentic that its hard to not keep hitting repeat. This album is definitely a favorite and one that you will want to listen to for years to come!
Click HERE to purchase Uncaged on iTunes.

Kenny Chesney – Welcome to the Fishbowl: Chesney’s highly anticipated 13th studio album did not disappoint. The 12-track record includes radio hits such as “Come Over” and “Feel Like a Rock Star” as well as poignant tracks like “El Cerrito Place” and “While He Still Knows Who I Am.” The singer’s ‘No Shoes Nation’ also got a taste of his Caribbean-flavored sound that fans have grown to love with “Time Flies.” Have you picked up a copy yet?
Click HERE to purchase Welcome to the Fishbowl on iTunes.

Dierks Bentley – Home: It’s hard to believe this is Bentley’s 7th album! Dierks is one of our favorite road warriors at CMIL, as his shows are really what showcase his abilities that he shows us on his albums. His mixture of mainstream and bluegrass has become an equation for success. He has had us singing along all year with his patriotic hit “Home” and upbeat songs like “5-1-5-0″ and “Tip It On Back”. The album also features ballads like “Breathe You In” and the sweet song of fatherhood, “Thinking of You.” We’re not “the only one” enjoying this album so get yourself a copy (if you haven’t already) and join us!
Click HERE to purchase Home on iTunes.

Lionel Richie – Tuskegee: This album combines Lionel Richie’s iconic soulful voice with Country superstars such as Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers and Jason Aldean. What could be better?! Tuskegee is an album every Country fan should add to their collection!
Click HERE to purchase Tuskegee on iTunes.

Love and Theft – Love and Theft: Going from a trio to a duo sure didn’t slow Love and Theft down! The lead single, “Angel Eyes,” made its way to the top of the charts and there is plenty more where that came from on the duo’s self-titled album. “Runnin’ Out of Air” and “Amen” have been making the rounds on our iPods. Other stand-out tracks such as “Girls Looks Hot In Trucks” and “Inside Out” round out the album, making it their best release yet.
Click HERE to purchase Love and Theft on iTunes.