Twelve standout country albums that turn 30 this year

6. Boomtown by Toby Keith

Toby Keith’s complicated position in modern country has obscured some of his better work, and that may apply to his sophomore album, Boomtown, as much as any of his albums. The somber working-man ballad “Who’s That Man” is a very strong opener, announcing the general subject matter. He rocks out next on “Big Ol’ Truck,” though the mid-tempo “No Honor Among Thieves” and “You Ain’t Much Fun” are stronger songs.

Keith can also deliver on his slower ballads. “Woman Behind the Man” and “Upstairs Downstairs” are lovely songs. They also form something of a Rorschach test in the whole battle over representation. You could argue that both offer nuanced portraits of modern women. Or you could argue that both suggest the same modern woman doesn’t really stand much of a chance out on her own.

If you can listen to them as stand-alone portraits without the culture war overlay, you have good songs.  But I’m not sure that is possible anymore. But the title track, which closes the proceedings, is an out and out banger.

5. The Great Dobro Sessions by various artists

Jerry Douglas, who has played with everyone, and Tut Taylor, who can match him pick for pick, produced this outstanding collection of instrumentals. 21 tracks – 74 minutes of the finest resonator guitar players in the land. Bashful Brother Oswald, who was 83 when the album was released (I don’t know when his track was recorded), turns in a simple, classic Hawaiian-tinged “Dobro Chimes.” Josh Graves, one of the inventors of the modern resonator sound, shows off his finger-picking on “Just Joshin’.”

Douglas and Taylor get to show off as well on “Abilene Girl” and “Little Green Pill #2” respectively. 27-year-old Rob Ickes teams up with the 66 year-old Graves on “Scrapin’ the Barrel” to show that the dobro will remain in good hands for years to come. Gene Wooten delivers a smoking cover of the Beatles’ “Day Tripper” to further show that the dobro can play most anything.