It can sometimes be hard to know what album to buy that family member or friend that seemingly has everything or doesn't tell you what you want. With music being a great and easy gift to get, we've crafted a nice list that showcases up and coming newer artists, mid-level country stars, superstar releases, bluegrass music, Texas music and finally, Americana music from which to pick from this year. We hope you find this list useful. If you think we forgot one that should be added, feel free to leave a comment below! Happy Holidays!

Country Music Gift Guide for 2011 Holiday Season

Craig Campbell – Craig Campbell (Bigger Picture)

A longtime honkytonk frontman on Nashbille’s Lower Broadway tourist area, Craig Campbell finally achieved his dream of making his own music this year when he released his self-titled neo-traditionalist album. This album features “Family Man,” “Fish” and the new single “When I Get It.” It is a very strong album of meat and potatoes country music that longtime fans of the genre will love. 

The Dirt Drifters – This Is My Blood (Warner Brothers)

One of the best new bands most people haven’t heard of yet. If you know of someone who likes country music but is inherently hard to buy for, this is the album to get because it’s likely not even on their radar. The band has so much belief in their record that they gave away 30,000 copies of it at the live shows. Songs like “Always A Reason To Drink,” “Something Better,” “Name On My Shirt” “Married Men and Motel Rooms” and “I’ll Shut Up Now” are just but a sampling of this great new album.

Pistol Annies – Hell On Heels (RCA Nashville)

This trio of Angaleena Presley, Ashley Monroe and Miranda Lambert have created one of the best albums from anyone (joining The Dirt Drifters) and it deserves to be heard. It’s not just a vanity project from Miranda and while her name has helped the group sell hundreds of thousands of records, the album really is a whole band effort with Presley and Monroe each showcasing their own fantastic vocal stylings.

Thompson Square – Thompson Square (Broken Bow Records)

Thompson Square were recently up for a couple of CMA Awards for their fantastic year in which they’ve gone Platinum with #1 single “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” sold over 200,000 copies of this debut album along with scoring a second Top 10 with “I Got You.” Other standout tracks on this record include “Lets Fight,” “Glass,” “Getaway Car” and “One Of Those Days.” Fans of great duos will certainly appreciate getting a copy of this album for Christmas.

The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow (Sensibility Music)

This duo came out of virtually nowhere to bring one of the most fantastic albums released in all of 2011 in any genre (and they’ve now sold over 200,000 copies of Barton Hollow without any radio or big label support). John Paul and Joy Williams have created one of the aural pleasures of the year and while the record is completely rootsy, it wasn’t necessarily a mainstream country album. Still, like the Dirt Drifters above, you could showcase your fantastic music tastes to your friends and families by gifting this great record.

Hunter Hayes – Hunter Hayes (Atlantic Records)

This 20 year-old has created a really strong debut album and along with writing or co-writing every song, he also played every instrument (30!) and sang every note on the record along with co-producing the record with Dann Huff. While firmly in the country/pop arena, the songs here rise above common ‘misconceptions’ about the mainstream country genre to showcase talent. Songs like current hit single “Storm Warning,” future smash hits “Wanted,” “Somebody’s Heartbreak” and “Rainy Season.” “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me” and “Love Makes Me” are solid songs as well.

Adam Hood – The Shape of Things (Carnival Recording Company)

A native of Alabama who has had a few songs get cut by major label Nashville artists like Frankie Ballard and David Nail, Adam Hood is a soulful country blues crooner with one of the strongest voices that you’ve likely never heard. The Shape of Things features a plethora of great tunes like “Hell of a Fight,” Texas Radio chart hit “Flame and Gasoline,” the title track, the excellent “Moving Mountains” (which needs to be a hit for Adam or somebody pronto and “Grandpa’s Farm.”

Sonia Leigh – 1978 December (Southern Ground Artists)

Signed to Zac Brown's Southern Ground Artists label, Sonia Leigh is a fantastic singer-songwriter with the kind of music that should be played on mainstream country right along with her mentor. Great songs like "My Name is Money" and the Title track are jsut the beginning of a great album

Ashton Shepherd – Where Country Grows (MCA Nashville)

Ashton's on her second album (Sounds So Good from 2008 was her first) and she's got another winning collection of songs here, from the title track to the hit "Look It Up" and "I'm Just A Woman." The fun "Beer on a Boat" feels like a potential radio hit and one thing that really helps her as well - in the eyes of traditionalists - is that Ashton Shepherd will never be confused with being a cross-over artists, this despite having a record that is thoroughly a mainstream sounding record.

Rising and Mid-level Stars

Eric Church – Chief  (EMI Records Nashville)

Eric Church has been having hits on and off since 2006 and this is his third album. All of his records are great but Chief is the one which is showcasing the birth of a superstar. Featuring “Drink in my Hand,” “Homeboy” and more great tunes like “Springsteen,” “Hungover & Hard Up,” and “Jack Daniels,” Chief is the work of an artist arriving at the top of his game and it’s certainly one worth getting country music fans out there and its’ especially cool for twenty-something dudes who have fueled Eric Church’s career thus far. We also suggest getting tickets to an upcoming show. He’s one hell of an entertainer.

Chris Young– NEON (RCA Records)

Chris Young is a rising star with a string of #1 hits that has eluded many stars over the years. With his last The Man I Want To Be gold and Neon well on its way there, he's certainly an artist with potential to take 'traditionalist' country tunes to places that only Garth Brooks has seemingly taken them. If you know people who love meat and potatoes country, pick them up a copy of this record.

Sunny Sweeney – Concrete (Republic Records Nashville)

She hit the Top 10 with “From A Table Away” and this CD has a warning label that says (all in good fun) “Warning contains country music”. And that it does. The tunes like that hit, “The Old Me,” “Amy,” “It Wrecks Me” “Helluva Heart” and current single “Drink Myself Single” prove it. Country music for country music fans, pure and simple.

Eli Young Band – Life At Best (Universal Republic/Republic Nashville)

They’re the band from Texas which recently hit platinum with “Crazy Girl” and scored their first #1 (and Top 10) hit nationally with the Lee Brice-penned tune.  This well-made album is their second nationally distributed album and finds the band working with a full deck of great material like “The Fight,” “How Quickly You Forget,” “Recover,” “Every Other Memory” and the next single “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” The album artwork is creative and certainly deserves a Grammy nomination for album packaging too, making the record a complete work.

Jake Owen - Barefoot Blue Jean Night (RCA NASHVILLE)

Jake Owen’s been ‘breaking out’ for a couple years now but it really feels like “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” is his true breakthrough thanks to the hit title track and a winning collection of mainstream country fare like second single “Alone With You” future hit “Heaven” and “The Journey of Your Life.” “Apple Pie Moonshine” is a fun lil song too. Working with Tony Brown and Joey Moi for half of the record each was a nice way to balance Jake’s traditionalist and pop/rock sensibilities.

Luke Bryan - Tailgates & Tanlines (Capitol Nashville)

Luke’s star has been building for a while and while he’s hit Gold and had #1 hits prior to Tailgates & Tanlines, it really feels like we are witnessing a true superstar being born. Some may loate “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” but it’s purely meant to be a fun song, the same that can be said about the popular seller “I Don’t Want This Night To End.” For all those fun, mainstream hits, there are songs like “I Know You’re Gonna Be There,” “Too Damn Young” and our personal favorite on the record, “You Don’t Know Jack.”

New Stuff from Country Stars

George Strait – Here for a Good Time (MCA Nashville)

What else can we say about George Strait’s new record except that it’s fantastic and always a solid choice for friends and family who love country music like they grew up listening to. Add great tracks like “Poison” and the title track hit and it’s a no-brainer.

Glen Campbell – Ghost on the Canvas (Surfdog)

It’s sad that Glen Campbell has early onset Alzheimer’s Disease but we thankfully were gifted with this brilliant album that showcases the Country Music icon to still be in fine voice and his musicality is off the charts. Definitely the right gift to give people who enjoy traditional country music.

Lady Antebellum – Own The Night (Captiol Nashville)

The contry/pop stars have turned into one of music’s most beloved bands and while this record doesn’t contain an instant earworm like “Need You Now,” the title track and “Just A Kiss” are great radio hits and there are more future radio hits in songs like the absolutely stunning “Heart of the World.” Other standouts on this string-laden track include “As You Turn Away,” “Cold As Stone,” “Friday Night” and “Dancing Away With My Heart.”

Brad Paisley – This Is Country Music (Arista Nashville)

It already has four hits. It covers various themes of country music and includes the hit title track, the duets “Old Alabama,” “Remind Me” and “Love Her Like She’s Leavin’.” The rest of the album is traditional brad paisley charm. Fans of his other stuff or radio hits will likely dig the album making it a strong and safe choice to give this season.

Trace Adkins – Proud To Be Here (Show Dog-Universal)

Trace’s last album wasn’t the commercial hit he had hoped it would be but this one’s returned him back up the charts and has sold a couple hundred thousand or so albums. Big hit “Just Fishin’” lead off the album and there’s plenty to like in Trace’s strong baritone with the title track (and likely future radio hit), current single “Million Dollar View” and “Love Buzz” standing out. A deluxe version has “If I Was A Woman,” a duet with “Hillbilly Bone” duet partner Blake Shelton.

LeAnn Rimes – Lady and Gentlemen (Curb)

This is a strong collection of ‘guy songs’ sung by one of country’s best singers, LeAnn Rimes. While she may have a personal life that hits the tabloids a little too much for some, there’s no denying LeAnn’s talent here. Also includes “Give,” “Crazy Women” and “

Blake Shelton – Red River Blue (Warner Brothers)

Blake’s won two CMA Top Male Vocalist of the Year Awards the last two years and has sold well over a million records the past year (over 4 albums). This one’s nearing 400k on its own and features two big #1 hits in “Honey Bee” and “God Gave Me You” along with playful fare like “Get Some.” The artist is also one of country music’s most charming singers. And given his status as one of the Judges of “The Voice,” chances are people like him as a personality too. Which makes this a good gift.

Miranda Lambert – Four The Record (RCA)

Mrs. Shelton has her fourth record out now and it’s selling remarkably well (her best rate to date). It features the Top 5 hit “Baggage Claim” and a ton of other fantastic songs and it’s likely to keep selling at a brisk pace this holiday season and its bound to be on many a country Christmas wish list.

Martina McBride  - Eleven (Republic Nashville)

Martina returned this year on a new label sounding as vibrant and refreshed as she’s sounded in quite a few years. “Teenage Daughters” was the album’s opening salvo but Martina hits our hearts as only she can with “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” but she gets sultry on “You Can Get You Lovin’ Right Here,” Playful on “One Night,” duets with Pat Monahan on “Marry Me” and shows how love perseveres on “When You Love A Sinner.” It’s one of her most complete albums ever.

Jason Aldean – My Kinda Party (Broken Bow Records)

This was released last year but has scored a couple more #1 hits for Aldean and recently won the star the coveted CMA “Album of the Year” award along with garnering a double platinum award (single “Dirt Road Anthem” is 3x platinum).

Colt Ford – Every Chance I Get (Average Joes)

The co-writer of two recent #1 hits in “Country Must Be Country Wide” (Brantley Gilbert is the co-writer and artist) and “Dirt Road Anthem (Gilbert also co-wrote this), Colt Ford’s career has certainly seen a lot of activity, to say nothing of his recent success as an in-demand touring artist who relentlessly entertains a crowd like virtually nobody else in country music. If you want to give something ‘different’ to fans who like more than just traditional country music, give this record a shot.

Montgomery Gentry – Rebels on the Run (Average Joes)

Returning with new music after a few years away, Montgomery Gentry’s Rebels on the Run is also their first for new label Average Joes Entertainment. It’s a fantastic record with great tunes like “Damn Baby,” “So-Called Life,” “Rebels on the Run” “I Like Those People” and the Top 30 hit “Where I Come From.”

Zac Brown Band – You Get What You Give (Atlantic)

This record is chock full of great hits like “Colder Weather,” “As She’s Walking Away,” “Knee Deep” and “Keep Me In Mind” but it has other great songs like “Let It Go,” “No Hurry” and “Who Knows,” along with the sweet “Martin.” It’s a great country music ‘gateway’ album too.

Joe Nichols – It’s All Good (Show Dog-Universal)

One of the best vocalists in country music, Joe Nichols’ lean 10 track album was recently released and it features the hit “Take It Off,” his own take on Craig Morgan’s current hit “This Ole Boy” along with the playful “No Truck, No Boat, No Girl.” As with his past records, there are some stunners on the record too, including the Don Williams-like “Somebody’s Mama,” “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Never Gonna Get enough” and “How I Wanna Go.”

Toby Keith – Clancy’s Tavern (Show Dog Universal)

#1 hit “Made In America” may be the least jingoistic ‘America’ song of Toby’s career while the title track of the album is nostalgic and feels like a sure-fire hit. There is the well-written ballad “I Won’t Let You Down,” “the fun “Beers Ago,” “Tryin’ To Fall In Love” and the utterly catchy and just plain fun “Red Solo Cup,” the kind of viral hit never seen in country music before (except for Taylor Swift). The album is probably the best of Toby’s most recent career, and perhaps the best one since How Do You Like Me Now.

Bluegrass 

Dale Ann Bradley – Somewhere South of Crazy (Compass Records)

If it were about 15-20 years ago, Dale Ann Bradley would have been one of the biggest female vocalists in country music, rivaling Trisha Yearwood, Alison Krauss, Wynonna, and Reba for the title. Nowadays she is like Rhonda Vincent and Krauss and is mostly one of Bluegrass music’s most stunning artists. This record (which includes the inventive remake of “Summer Breeze”) showcases just why. Fans of traditional country music and bluegrass would likely love to get this album for a gift.

Russell Moore & IIIRD TYME OUT – Prime Tyme (Rural Rhythm)

Russell Moore is one of the most-gifted male vocalists in Bluegrass music and his band IIIRD Tyme Out are definitely one of the country roots genre’s most talented bands (in a sea of talented bands). Check out this fantastic just-released album to see how they take on great tunes like classic instrumental “Carroll County Blues,” “Sugerfoot Rag,” “Old Kentucky Farmers,” “Goodbye Old Missoula” and more.

Ricky Skaggs – Country Hits Bluegrass Style (Skaggs Family)

A star of Country and Bluegrass, Ricky Skaggs married the two styles of American roots music this year with this fantastic collection of tunes. The hits like “Uncle Pen” (a bluegrass standard from Bill Monroe and a hit for Ricky in the 1980s), “Heartbroke,” “Honey (Open That Door)” and “He Was on To Something (So He Made You)” really thrive in this setting.

The Del McCoury Band – Old Memory (The Songs of Bill Monroe) (McCoury Music)

Who better to pay tribute to the man who created the Bluegrass genre than Del McCoury himself, a man who played with Bill Monroe for decades. Having just recently heard the late September release, we can confidently say it will be nominated for numorous IBMA Awards next year so if you have a friend who is interested in bluegrass but doesn’t know where to start, buy them this record (which comes digital and vinyl right now).

Sierra Hull – Daybreak (Rounder)

Much like Alison Krauss before her, Hull is a wunderkind who has won IBMA accolades already, all while studying at Berkelee School of Music in Boston. She’s got herself a massive career ahead of her and with that soft tender voice and expert playing like this, it’s hard not to love her music now.

Alison Krauss & Union Station – Paper Airplane (Rounder)

Why wouldn’t we recommend the latest AK&US album? This one’s a massively successful record, and has sold more copies than any other bluegrass album this year (and more copies than many country and rock records too). It’s a shoo-in to eventually go gold and there’s not a bad track to be found.

Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers – Rare Bird Alert (Rounder Records)

For this partnership between Grammy, Emmy and Oscar winner Steve Martin and IBMA Stalwarts The Steep Canyon Rangers, Rare Bird Alert finds them playing expert music that is simply stellar, it mixes in Martin’s trade-mark humor with the folksy bluegrass styling of The Steep Canyon Rangers and it’s a winning combination as they took home the Entertainer of the Year award from the IBMA in 2011. “Go Away, Stop, Turn Around, Come Back” is fun as are the live “Athiests Don’t Have No Songs” and “King Tut” and the instrumentals like “Northern Island” and “Rare Bird Alert.”

The Roys – Lonesome Whistle (Rural Rhythm)

The brother and sister duo of Lee and Elaine Roy made a masterful recording with this album. From “Coal Minin’ Man” and “That’s What Makes It Love” to “Give A Ride To The Devil,” and “Trailblazer,” the band showcases their fantastic musicianship. They’re ‘up and coming’ in Bluegrass, longtime ICMA award winners and more. Fans of bluegrass and rootsy country will certainly enjoy this record.

Texas Country

Kevin Fowler – Chippin’ Away (Average Joes)

Kevin Fowler has built up his star by making fantastic music for years now. Most of it ‘mindlessly’ fun. While this record similarly follow’s suit, the songs like “That Girl” and “Daddies and Daughters” show growth and suggest an artist who doesn’t always need to be irreverent to get attention. That being said, “Girl In A Truck,” “Beer Money” and “Hell Yeah I Like Beer” are pure Kevin Fowler classics.

John David Kent – John David Kent (Roustabout Records)

This Texas artist has a fantastic collection of 15 tracks on his self-titled album and they showcase a Texas Music artist whose ready to break out into the national scene a la Pat Green, Cross Canadian Ragweed and Eli Young Band but even if that never happens, he still has thouroughly enjoyable music like “Goodbye Gone,” “A Place To Call Home,” “Back To The Country,” “You” and “Two Shotguns.”

Justin Haigh – People Like Me (Apache Ranch)

This album features a mixture of originals like hit lead single “All My Best Friends (Are Behind Bars),” Texas songwriters like Kevin Higgins (“Gathering Dust” and “Monahans” and great Nashville sourced songs like “Is It Still Cheatin’” (writers are Jamey Johnson, Jerrod Niemann and Randy Houser) and the title track (written by Lee Thomas Miller and Kelley Lovelace). With a collection of great songs what perhaps is most striking is Haigh’s stone country voice that echos Tracy Lawrence. There’s no way this guy could be a rock singer if he tried to be, the country twang is just too present. Still, that makes this one of the better, more surprising new releases of the year.

Casey Donahew Band – Double Wide Dream (Almost Country/Thirty Tigers)

Another Texas Music artist ready for national success, the Casey Donahew Band managed to break into the Top 10 of the Top SoundScan Country Albums a few weeks ago with Doublewide Dream and the music here is that core Texas country sound of ‘rocky’ guitars mixed with fiddles and rootsy, homespun lyrics. Highlights include the title track, “Let You Go,” “Running Through My Head,” “Regrets” and “Let’s Not Say Goodbye Again”

Jason Cassidy – My Redemption (A-Blake Records)

This newcomer has a fantastic traditional country sound full of fiddle and steel guitar and like a few others on this list, he’d have been considered mainstream country as early as 5 years ago but with the mainstream getting more ‘rock-n-roll’ and ‘pop’ leaning, Jason’s traditional country sound may just be too much to get him national exposure. Standouts on the record include “Bourbon, Tears and Pain,” “No Good Together,” “Can’t Take Me From Your Memory” and “Honky Tonk Heaven.”

Albums from Americana/On The Fringes

Corey Smith – The Broken Record (Undertone Records/Average Joes entertainment)

Corey Smith’s music is so accessible it’s not funny. A singer/songwriter to the core, The Broken Record features hook-filled songs with interesting melodies and lyrics. He sings songs that live with no regrets (“If I Could Do It Again”), about loving everyone despite outward appearances (“I Love Everyone”) to songs about pushing resolutions forward to the next year with lyrics that have interesting turns of phrase while remaining imminently relatable (“Maybe Next Year”).  A star in the southwest who is alble to sell-out theaters and some arenas, Corey’s certainly an artist with a star on the rise and The Broken Record showcases this. Other standouts on the song include “Silly,” “New Day,” and “Twenty-One.”

The Damn Quils – Down The Hatch (598 Recordings)

This record is hard to classify. Is it singer/songwriter? Is it mainstream? Is it Texas or Red Dirt music? Is it Americana? The answer is that it’s all or none of those. It’s just damn good music with a pulse written by two guys who deserve to gain as much success as possible. Each song sparkles on the fantastic album and the production from red dirt star Mike McClure and Joe Hardy allows Byron White and Gabriel Marshall’s songs to shine.

Jeff Black – Plow Through The Mystic (Lotus Nile)

The writer of fantastically intricate songs, Jeff Black returns after a couple years away with this, his latest album. The title and album artwork alone make it worthy of looking at and then you listen to the literal storytelling that’s going on here and it’s too much to not suggest that it’s a great gift idea for a friend of smart singer/songwriter fare.

Jayhawks – Mockingbird Time (Rounder Records)

The most popular set of band members (lead by Gary Louris and Mark Olson) are back together for the first time since the early 1990’s “Tomorrow the Green Grass” album and it’s a grand occasion as the Jayhawks deliver their sterling Byrds-like harmonies and strong lyrical pieces of Americana music. The songs here rival any of the group’s best work, including Hollywood Town Hall.

Rod Picott – Welding Burns (Welding Rod Music)

One of the best springsteensian singer/songwriters you may never have heard of, Rod Picott runs around with Slaid Cleaves and other writers of that brilliant ilk and this, his latest album features his wife Amanda Shires (herself a fantastic singer/musician), Will Kimbrough and Alex McCollough. The songs are singer/songwriter fare and never feel less than inspired. “Rust Belt Fields,” “Welding Burns,” “Black T-Shirt,” “Jealous Heart” and “When My Running Is Through” are just a few of the highlights from this fantastic record.

Foster & Lloyd – It’s Already Tomorrow (Effin Ell Records)

This duo had a couple of hits on the country charts in the late 1980s and early 1990s before Radney Foster took the wide-open airwaves of the time by storm with a couple of strong solo albums (before radio became more consolidated and less wide-open) and both have since been working around the mainstream scene producing separate music but its’ once again great to have two of the most fantastic musicians working together. The album features standouts like the title track, “If It Hadn’t Been For You,” “That’s What She Said,” “Picasso’s Mandolin” and “Watch Your Move.”

Granger Smith – Poets & Prisoners (Haylair Music)

This singer/songwriter has shown considerable growth in Texas and while he could fit in our Texas Music section of this buyer’s guide, he also fits in quite nicely here, thanks to an album that’s as much earnest adult pop in the Ben Folds tradition as it is a country album, particularly when listening to songs like “Letters To London,” “Sleeping On TheInterstate,” “Mary Go Round,” and “Tip of My Tongue.” It’s an ear-pleasing collection of music that would be a nice surprising gift to give someone.