Not as good as "The Band", their debut album is still a classic. Both of these are requirements.

I've never been a big Byrds fan, bu these two solo efforts by Parsons are terrific.

In my opinion, the best solo effort from a Dead member. Elements of The Band really come through here.

My favorite Dylan recording. Great American folk.

Most of Springsteen's other work is too classic- and jazz-rock to really be considered roots... but this disc is a near-perfect acoustic recording.

The most country-rock album of the Eagles.

Now we get into the modern alt-country movement. The Jayhawks are one of its seminal bands.

This is actually my favorite Tupelo album. The fiddle-laden opener, "Slate", is beautiful.

This is my personal favorite alt-country record. Peter Adams' and Kat Malisch's voices blend wonderfully.

His other material leans more towards classic rock, but "Wildflowers" is very rootsy.

Same as above ^.

Almost more like indie-acoustic stuff, but tunes like "Sodom, South Georgia" propel this into roots.

Bluegrass made great by Alison Krauss's hauntung voice.

Roots rock meets post grunge- a great debut effort.

The best album by a female on this list besides "Car Wheels".

One of teh two Uncle Tupelo offshoots. This is their best album.

Wow. A great Americana album from a Canadian. But The Band was 4/5 Canadian, and they pulled it off majestically.

Elton shows his American influences... check out "My Father's Gun" and "Burn Down the Mission"

Can't have alt-country without Cash

Yes, it's jazz. But it's really just roots music with chord extensions. This is the last album on the list because it's technically not rock at all. However, if you want to explore Americana influences beyond the rock side, start here. Plus, Metheny is one hell of a guitarist.