· 70.Sounds So Good (2008) – Ashton Shepherd

Every now and then, a spunky, twangy female voice comes along that is undeniably, unmistakably made for singing country music. Like Dolly, Tammy and Loretta before her, Shepherd joins those ranks with her debut effort. The album, written entirely by Shepherd and her brother-in-law, manages to be at once traditional and radio-friendly. Considering county music’s cyclical nature, coupled with other traditionally rooted albums released at the end of the decade that have garnered mainstream attention, Sounds So Good could note a burgeoning shift in popular country music. — Karlie Justus