The album is dead, so let’s not pretend we can save it by making end-of-year lists.

Here’s a list of my favourite tracks from the various downloads I’ve perpetrated this year. I’ve gone for a top 30. I came up with the list by creating a smart play list with the Year set to 2013 and the rating set to 5 stars. Five stars is the rating reserved for tracks that make it onto my iPhone, as opposed to the 4- and 5-star tracks that get onto the iPod.

I’ve listed them as follows: Track Title – Artist – Album (or single). I’ll add more links when I have time. (All links lead to YouTube, unless otherwise stated)

• 30. The Book of John – Tim McGraw – Two Lanes of Freedom
• 29. Without You – Holly Williams – The Highway
• 28. Love or Money – Kristian Bush – Single
• 27. The Bottle Let Me Down – Vince Gill and Paul Franklin- Bakersfield (iTunes link)
• 26. Country On the Radio – Blake Shelton – Based On a True Story…
• 25. Blue Ridge Mountain Song – Alan Jackson – The Bluegrass Album
• 24. Sure Be Cool If You Did – Blake Shelton – Based On a True Story…
• 23. I Will Love You – Darius Rucker with Mallary Hope – True Believers
• 22. Boys ‘Round Here (feat. Pistol Annies and Friends) – Blake Shelton – Based On a True Story…
• 21. Southern Girl – Tim McGraw – Two Lanes of Freedom
• 20. Step Off – Kacey Musgraves – Same Trailer, Different Park
• 19. Border Radio – Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis – Cheater’s Game
• 18. Officially Alive – Brad Paisley – Wheelhouse
• 17. One of Those Nights – Tim McGraw – Two Lanes of Freedom
• 16. She’s Driving Me Out of Your Mind – Ashley Monroe – Like a Rose
• 15. Let’s Get Back to Me & You – Alan Jackson – The Bluegrass Album
• 14. 9,999,999 Tears – Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis – Cheater’s Game
• 13. Beat This Summer – Brad Paisley – Wheelhouse
• 12. Like A Rose – Ashley Monroe – Like a Rose
• 11. (She’s) My Salvation – Connor Christian and Southern Gothic – New Hometown
• 10. The Highway – Holly Williams – The Highway
• 09. Follow Your Arrow – Kacey Musgraves – Same Trailer, Different Park
• 08. Small Town Big Time – Blake Shelton – Based On a True Story…
• 07. Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker – True Believers
• 06. Leavin’ – Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison – Cheater’s Game
• 05. Ain’t Got Trouble Now – Alan Jackson – The Bluegrass Album
• 04. Still Rollin’ – Gretchen Wilson – Right on Time
• 03. Lifeline – Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison – Cheater’s Game
• 02. Let Me Love It Out Of You – Tim McGraw – Two Lanes of Freedom
• 01. Sheets Down – Connor Christian and Southern Gothic – New Hometown