Past Albums of the Year

2021: Allison Russell, Outside Child (Fantasy Records)

2020: Pharis & Jason Romero, Bet On Love (Lula)

2019: The Small Glories, Assiboine & The Red (Red House)

The Penguin Eggs/Roots Music Canada 2022 Critics’ Album of the Year: James Keelaghan – Second Hand

See the individual critics’ top 10s

2018: Pharis & Jason Romero, Sweet Old Religion (Lula)

2017: Rhiannon Giddens, Freedom Highyway (Nonesuch)

2016: Ten Strings And A Goat Skin, Auprès du Poéle (Independent)

2015: Jayme Stone, Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project (Borealis)

2014: Ameilia Curran, They Promised You Mercy (Six Shooter)

2013: David Francey, So Say We All (laker Music)

2012: Rose Cousins, We Have Made A Spark (Outside Music)

2011: Gillian Welch, The Harrow & The Harvest (Acorn)

2010: Lynn Miles, Fall For Beauty (True North)

2009: Jory Nash, New Blue Day (Independent)

2008: Fred Eaglesmith, Tinderbox (A Major Label)

2007: Alisaon Krauss & Robert Plant, Raising Sand (Rounder)

2006: Bob Dylan, Modern Times (Columbia)

2005: Lynn Miles, Love Sweet Love, (True North)

2004: David Francey, The Waking Hour (Laker Music)

2003: David Francey, Skating Rink (Laker Music

2002: Harry Manx, Wise and Otherwise (Northern Blues)

2001: David Francey, Far End of Summer (Laker Music)

Past New Discoveries

2021: Katherine Priddy

2020: Phoebe Bridges, Kake Blount

2019: Talisk, The Unfaithful Servants, Lula Wiles

2018: Wallis Bird, Annie Sumi

Check out the Critics’ New Discovery of the Year nominee playlist

2017: Birds of Chicago, William Prince

2016: Dori Freeman

2015: Anna and Elizabeth

2014: Còig

2013: Milk Carton Kids

2012: Cold Specks

2011: The Barr Brothers, Carrie Elkin, Pokey LaFarge, New Country Rehab

2010: The Once

2009: Kate Reid

2008: Amelia Curran

2007: Little Miss Higgins, Seth Lakeman, Catherine MacLellan

2006: Crooked Still

2005: Ridley Bent, House of Doc

2004: Fiamma Fumana

2003: Rae Spoon

2002: Ruthie Foster, Kathleen Edwards

2001: Harry Manx

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