Carousel cover

Carousel

Released

Will Hoge’s first studio album (after a self-released live set) opens with one of the most powerful one-two punches in the history of pop music: the headlong “She Don’t Care,” which is immediately followed by “Let Me Be Lonely,” a desperate plea to an ex-girlfriend to leave him alone — delivered as a brilliantly hooky blast of emotional intensity and over in less than two minutes. The rest of the album is almost as good.

Rick Anderson

Suggestions
This Highway cover

This Highway

The 18 Wheelers, Zephaniah OHora
Nighthawks cover

Nighthawks

Erik Friedlander
Narrow Line cover

Narrow Line

Mama's Broke
One Day cover

One Day

The Cactus Blossoms
Skaggs & Rice cover

Skaggs & Rice

Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice
Deepest Light cover

Deepest Light

The Get Ahead
Curios cover

Curios

Scroggins & Rose
Reckless Skyline cover

Reckless Skyline

Caitlin Canty
Can You Fly cover

Can You Fly

Freedy Johnston
Monongah cover

Monongah

Kyle Carey
The Raw & the Cooked cover

The Raw & the Cooked

Fine Young Cannibals