I’ve been writing about music since 2000. Naturally, I’ve heard a lot of great music, have written about much of it, and have often put together a list of favourite roots and bluegrass albums of the year. And, I will do the same again this year. For perspective and to sprinkle some flavourful anticipation, here are my favourite roots and bluegrass albums for each year (based on my notes, lists, and digital footprints) since 2000. In the case of 2006, where my favourite roots album was a bluegrass album, it is listed alongside my ‘second’ favourite bluegrass disc of the year.
2000 The Crooked Jades The Unfortunate Rake Vol. 1; 
Slowdrag Ploughin’ It Right to the Fence
2001 Paul Burch Last of My Kind; 
Del McCoury Band Del & The Boys
2002 Doc Watson & David Hold Legacy; 
Ralph Stanley & Jim Lauderdale Lost in the Lonesome Pines
2003 Kate Campbell Monuments; 
Down to the Wood Up All Night
2004 Maria Dunn We Were Good People; 
Audie Blaylock, J.D. Crowe, Paul Williams, and Kenny Ingram A Tribute to Jimmy Martin
2005 Bruce Springsteen Devils and Dust; 
James Reams & The Barnstormers Troubled Times
2006 Dale Ann Bradley Catch Tomorrow; 
David Davis & The Warrior River Boys Troubled Times
2007 Alison Krauss & Robert Plant- Raising Sand :format(webp):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-3827468-1345981748-6618.jpeg.jpg)
Jim Lauderdale The Bluegrass Diaries
2008 Fred Eaglesmith- Tinderbox 
The Steeldrivers- The Steeldrivers
2009 John Wort Hannam Queen’s Hotel; 
Dale Ann Bradley Don’ t Turn Your Back
2010 Mary Gauthier The Foundling; 
The Steeldrivers- Reckless
2011 Dave Alvin Eleven Eleven; 
Dale Ann Bradley Somewhere South of Crazy
2012 Maria Dunn Piece By Piece; 
The Earl Brothers Outlaw Hillbilly
2013 Guy Clark My Favorite Picture of You; 
John Reischman Walk Along John
2014 Eliza Gilkyson The Nocturne Diaries; 
Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick Sing the Songs of Vern and Ray
2015 John Wort Hannam Love Lives On; 
Dale Ann Bradley Pocket Full of Keys
2016 Mark Erelli For a Song; 
Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands The Hazel and Alice Sessions
2017 Mac Wiseman I Sang the Song
The Gibson Brothers In the Ground
2018
Bobbie Gentry- Girl from Chickasaw County
The Travelin’ McCourys- The Travelin’ McCourys
2019 Yola Walk Through Fire
Dale Ann Bradley The Hard Way
2020 Ayla Brook & the Sound Men Desolation Sounds
The Special Consensus Chicago Barn Dance
2021 Allison Russell Outside Child
Dale Ann Bradley Things She Couldn’t Get Over
Fervor Coulee- roots music opinion 
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