He's older and wiser, and has seven decades of rough living to reflect on. Kristofferson is, in my opinion, the greatest songwriter of the twentieth century...and he's still going strong.

Vince Gill's opus--4 discs of new, original tunes that show this singer/songwriter/musician at his artistic best.

He's a rock icon. And he still knows how to take his music to a level beyond any "rock" singers today. One of the best live rock albums ever.

George Jones and Merle haggard, singing each other's songs, plus the occasional duet...it's country perfection.

One of the greatest pop performers of all time. His guitar playing, songwriting, and production skills remain un-matched. This sparsely-produced, intimate album is a classic.

Written by Cindy Walker, performed by Willie Nelson, produced by Fred Foster (Roy Orbison, Kristofferson). This one's a traditional country classic.

A country rock record with an old-school edge. Kid Rock's appearance on the Vince Gill tune "Real Mean Bottle" brings the house down.

Recorded in '81 but unreleased on CD/DVD until now. Kristofferson rocks the house down with his country classics, featuring an especially personal performance of "The Silver Tongued Devil and I."

He may appear to have a slick, radio-friendly veneer, but take heed: Keith Urban is the closest thing contemporary country has to a visionary. This album explores further angles of the country music sound...plus, Urban's bass intro to "Faster Car" is kick-a**.

If you ever doubted Kristofferson's multi-genre impact upon this thing we call music, take a listen to this diverse tribute album. Comes with an engaging essay.

It's a bit much to take in one sitting (two discs, just Cash and his guitar), but listen to it slowly and occasionally, and you'll find a true musical masterpiece.

The Rio boys are some of the best musicians in Nashville. And Marty Roe is one of the greatest singers country music has known.

A lot of people don't like him, but let's face it: he makes good music. His songwriting talent is above-par in today's mediocre country environment. This album is one of Keith's best to date.

These guys (and gal) meld so many musical genres into one sound, it's hard to classify them. On one hand, you have disco-techno beats...but that's a country undercurrent running through "I Can't Decide," isn't it? Don't even try to categorize them, it'll just confuse you.

Why is "Modern Times" so far down on the list? Dunno...maybe I just wanted to avoid the cliches. Needless to say, this is a well-crafted album, showcasing Dylan's country influence (he DID tour with Merle Haggard recently).

The title track here is a killer; other songs help elevate this above most of Owen's peers, though more than anything else, this album shows a lot of promise.

That voice...those lyrics...that hair...ok, so maybe not the hair (unless you're into that). But Chris Isaak is a retro artist of the highest caliber.

Waylon's kid, who pays tribute to his father by going his own way and doing his own rock thing (with a few obligatory Waylon references thrown in, of course).

You love that Texican country/rock, you know you do. These guys can play like hell (that's a compliment), and the presence of their father and Willie Nelson on "Outlaws" doesn't hurt one bit.

It's loud and proud and out of sight. Rock 'n roll with an operatic twist.