Rhonda Vincent & Daryle Singletary — AMERICAN GRANDSTAND

It may only be July, but you might just be reading about the best country album of 2017, folks.

If you grew up loving country music, and wonder where the heck it went, good news—Rhonda Vincent & Daryle Singletary have just released an album, American Grandstand, that you will love. It is also an album that you will wear out. So good are each and every track, you will never want to take it off your summer turntable. With Daryle Singletary’s understated charisma and Rhonda Vincent’s ability to do it all incredibly well while making it all seem so easy, these two pull off the near impossible: they make you wonder why every album can’t be this perfect.

They pay tribute to some of the great duos of country music, all the while bringing out the absolute best in each other and establishing their own, deserving-to-be-heard renditions of such classics as  “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” and “Golden Ring.” They offer 11 classics as well as an original (the title tune), all of which successfully evoke the relatable emotional landscape of traditional country music. The lead single off the album, George Jones & Tammy Wynette’s “One,” would be enough to make this album a must-download. Luckily, every track is just as satisfying.

Is it the impeccable choice of material? Is it the natural, unforced chemistry between the singers? Is it the familiar, comforting sound of the classic instrumentation? Is it that we’ve been thirsting so long in the desert of contemporary country music for a life-saving gulp of rural values poured into a song that you want to both guzzle and sip at the same time? No matter why or wherefore, musical redemption has arrived and, therefore, stop asking questions and just listen… and listen… Aahhh. So good.

Essential Downloads: “One,” “American Grandstand,” “Can’t Live Life,” “A Picture of Me (Without You).”

To preview or purchase this album on iTunes, click here.