1. Foxes in the Snow by Jason Isbell (Americana/Folk) 

Of course this the top album on my list.  Jason Isbell is easily my favorite musician these days.  This is his first solo (i.e., without the 400 Unit) and acoustic record.  And it’s outstanding.

This is Isbell’s “divorce” album.  It’s full of self-reflection, without any blaming (himself or his ex-wife) or rage.  Isbell has written angry, he’s written remorseful, and he’s written as a drunken asshole.  Having gone through all of this, he has emerged a “real man.”  I saw him do this album acoustically in a small venue where he told a story about how he recently learned how to sing instead of just scream a lot.  Content-wise, this is pretty close to the same thing: He’s always done the rough and rugged, but here he is poetic and sweet.

Nearly every Jason Isbell album is a masterpiece, and each has its own special flavor.  Foxes in the Snow may not be his best, but it’s his most mature so far.

MORE 2025 MUSIC FROM JASON ISBELL …

Decoration Day by the Drive-By Truckers.  The classic album–Isbell’s first appearance on wax–got a deluxe reissue this year that included a 2002 concert where the band begins testing these songs out for a live audience.  This is one of the best albums of all time.  For fans of Isbell, it’s “the one with Outfit” and also, of course, the amazing title track.

Something More Than Free by Jason Isbell.  To celebrate 10-years after the release of one of his best albums, Isbell remastered and added one song.  Hardly in the realm of the wonderful anniversary release of Southeastern, which included demos and a full live performance of the album, but the remastering is done well and … It’s Jason Isbell.  One new song is one new song.