For the past few years I really started to look away from Entertainer Of The Year, it's just become the glorified best tour award, and nothing else an artist does is really take into consideration. As much as I love Eric Church winning and all, besides that 1 instance EOTY has become a joke to me. So in my eyes the highest honor is Album Of The Year, so today I thought I'd shake it up a bit and talk about the past 10 years of winners plus 2020's and give my overall thoughts on them and say whether or not it deserved it or not, to put context here's a chart with all the past winners over the years:

So lets get started with this blast from the past:

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2010: Revolution-Miranda Lambert

I think a lot of people just know this record for The House That Built Me, and to them I say, you are correct! But that isn't the only thing to love on this record, the instrumentals of this record really hold up to this day after 10 years, and there's a lot of everything to enjoy on this record, a load of fun moments, introspective moments and somber ones. White Liar is just an awesome way to start a record and is such a ride from start to finish. Dead Flowers is such a fantastic analogy for toxic relationships. Maintain The Pain is a thrumming fun time with a lot of good wordplay. I think the record while really good overall tends to have a bit too much filler in between the strong moments, and while I enjoy most of it I'm trying to get to the more emotional moments. And of course, The House That Built Me is a masterpiece, and should be adored for decades, it is full of so much emotion and yet it isn't a power ballad, it isn't some climactic point in the record, it's just Miranda Lambert singing and playing guitar with a few background instrumentals. I think other nominees are pretty solid, but of course Revolution deserved its win, it's a sensational record.

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2011: My Kinda Party-Jason Aldean

Similar to Revolution, this record is mostly known for Dirt Road Anthem, but unlike Revolution, that's all this album really had. It's not an awful album but this isn't award worthy material, Church Pew or Bar Stool works for what it is, but a lot of this is just the bro country that wasn't as fleshed out compared to other rock influenced country albums. Surprisingly I actually enjoy Fly Over States, which has a pretty unique story. The most forgettable of the tracks has to be See You When I See You, he's trying to be emotional and it just seems so laughable and the hook of this track is so simple. I have a whole theory, that corporate heads made a big marketing push for this record to win in order to kickstart the bro country era so more and more people like Aldean would flood the industry. As for who should've gotten the award, Speak Now is a really good record, but I think most people can universally agree You Get What You Give by Zac Brown Band was the best album of the bunch, the vocal power, the hooks, and the writing of this record was so inventive and unforgettable.

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2012: Chief-Eric Church

Last call for anyone to say Chief didn't deserve to win Album Of The Year, anyone...anyone at all? This might actually be the most bold and risk taking record of the bunch, rock influenced records in the early 2010's was a very risky music, Bro Country hadn't really risen high enough to be noticed. Chief just hits all the marks for an enjoyable record, balancing fun and mature moments so well, Drink In My Hand on the surface doesn't seem like the most clever song, but it has so many little details that make the song so interesting. Creepin' is such an odd yet such an interesting song, which probably gets the least love out of all the singles of Chief, the build up of this track is so good, and once you get to the main melody of it, you're getting your money's worth. Like Jesus Does is by far the best written song of the record, it has so much imagery and it's such a heartfelt message. Country Music Jesus is such an interesting message and kind of foretold what was to come in the next few years. Then there's is the song that honestly defined the 2010's of the quality of modern country music, Springsteen makes dream back to a life I never lived, makes me long for this all American life he conveys through the lyrics, the vocals and the instrumentals. The biggest highlight of his career by far, a lot of my friends who don't enjoy country music as a whole thoroughly enjoy Chief, the appeal of this record was so broad, and not one nominee from that group was better than it in any aspect yes even Four The Record.

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2013: Based On A True Story-Blake Shelton

This one thoroughly pisses me off, it is the worst win out of the entire 2010's. It's just a standard awful bro album, and has so much bargain bin....everything, everything about this album is bargain bin. Like what were they thinking when making this record. Boys Round Here despite seemingly inaccurate actually does seem like it was based on a true story, Blake was voted sexiest man alive if I remember correctly plus this dude cheated on Miranda Lambert so......... I make it seem like this record is unforgiving in every aspect, well no there are some good aspects of it. The emotional beats of this record actually do hit pretty well. I Found Someone has pretty good lyrics, I think it rushes the progression way too much, and there isn't any time in this song to breath. Granddaddy's Gun is the highlight of the record, which has a great story protection and pretty nice sound to it. It's definitely last place for all the records nominated despite the few good moments. If you wanted to give it to the "best country album" you'd give it to Same Trailer Different Park, which is such a great start for someone who would go onto to break barriers and take bold risks later on, but if you wanted to give it to the "best album" there is no doubt this award should've gone to Red by Taylor Swift. It's a pop record don't get me wrong and it shouldn't have been nominated, but going off the rules, yes it is the best of the 5 albums nominated.

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2014: Platinum-Miranda Lambert

Honestly this is probably the weakest record Lambert's entire career. While it does take risks in some areas like Girls the opening truck, this feels like it was specifically designed to compete with the bro era and have songs made specifically for radio. There's so many blah lyrics and the vocals just feels so stagnant. Percussion is really weak on the record as a whole. It doesn't feel bold or powerful compared to records that came before and after. A lot of people tend to hate on Automatic, I don't see why, I think it works for what it is, it's not great but it isn't terrible either. Hard Staying Sober is probably the best track on the record, it has some solid wordplay, but just because it's the best track of the record, doesn't mean it's a 9/10 song, the album just doesn't have a true standout moment and that's pretty much how the public took it, the record is mostly forgotten about in the pantheon of music. But I will say it is better than almost every record that was nominated, it's practically tied with the Outsiders, but the best record of the bunch by a lot is Riser by Dierks Bentley. Kinda shocking but the record is just the perfect balance of comedy and maturity and it works so well.

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2015: Traveller-Chris Stapleton

The biggest album of them all, the granddaddy of 2010 albums. You've all heard the praise, Traveller is just fantastic in every aspect, the songs range from good to masterful, the vocal performance is probably the best of the decade no that I think about. There's just so much to love on this record, his blend of traditional and outlaw makes for such an unforgettable record. Tennessee Whiskey is really good but it honestly pales in comparison to the rest of the record. Might As Well Get Stoned melody wise is the best ear worm for me. Daddy Doesn't Pray Anymore is by far the best emotional beat of the entire record. But if I had to name my favorite track, it's gotta be Devil Named Music, which takes in everything I love about this record individually and culminates it into one hell of a track. Vocally Sometimes I Cry is easily the best, no Stapleton song really compares to it. In a lot of ways Traveller is the 21 of Country Music, it is so iconic not just for it's vocal performance but the emotional roller coaster it is. As for did it deserve it or not, I honestly don't know. Pageant Material is also at this level of quality, while the vocals of it are weaker, the emotional beats and messaging of it are far stronger, and they are virtually tied in my eyes. And these are 2 of the 3 albums that were released that year which made 2015 such a good year and I think you guys can guess what the third one is:

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2016: Mr. Misunderstood-Eric Church

Out of all 54 records nominated for the past 11 years, in my eyes, not one of them comes close to the level of Mr. Misunderstood. Not even Traveller or Pageant Material, it is simply light years ahead of any of them. It is such an anomaly that could not be repeated, it is the closest thing to me for a perfect album, it has it's problems mind you, the singles of it feel too radio-esque, and more like a product than an arthouse compared to the other tracks. But at the end of the day I don't really care, this record effortlessly captures me into this man's consciousness. His perspectives of life, his career and future prospects, over 50% of this record is 10/10 for me, after the misstep that was The Outsiders this was the true next step in Eric Church from becoming an intellectual partyer to one of the biggest icons of modern country, I could write several pages of why this record is a masterpiece and it still wouldn't be enough. No record nominated this year stood a chance, and I do enjoy them to a degree, but come on, you can't tell me this deserved to win, it's simply amazing.

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2017: From A Room Vol. 1-Chris Stapleton

Stapleton's 2nd win overall was well deserved, it was an overall good next step for his career, I think too many compare it to Traveller and don't really accept the product for what it is. Broken Halos is a great opener, and really shows you where this album is going, it's a take on folk and roots and good one for that. Last Thing I Needed while overall it has great writing, I don't really understand the message of it, I think it was overwritten if you get what I'm saying. This also spawned Lego Chris Stapleton, which was something I didn't know I need, and I can't listen to this without thinking of it, while the weakest of the first 3 tracks, it's still really great. Either Way is probably my favorite, which makes senses, it's track #5, which is often the best track of any record. Death Row is trying to be the next Lightning and nothing can really top Lightning, but it is distinct enough from it to consider them separately. While the overall package is solid, I think we all know what deserved it. The Nashville Sound by Jason Isbell is simply fantastic, and unlike Reunions, highlights his political opinion in a respectful and compelling manner, as well as having some truly phenomenal tracks such as If We Were Vampires. But I knew the CMA's didn't have the balls to give a win to one of the boldest records of the past decade, so if they had to give to a mainstream one, Stapleton's record was no doubt the best.

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2018: Golden Hour-Kacey Musgraves

Probably the most famous win in the second half of the decade. Golden Hour's win can often be polarizing, for the fact that it was a pop record, many praise it. But unlike all the pop records disguised as country albums, Golden Hour is in fact a really good album. The songs are really compelling, it knows when to take things in a more mature manner, and when to have a fun time, there really isn't a lot of filler in this album when I think about it. High Horse & Butterflies are just a blast, it has such a great blend of country and pop. And why are people really going to complain about the fact, I'd rather take a fantastic pop album compared to an awful one, which is what a lot of the records were in 2018. Space Cowboy easily takes the cake for the best song of the record, and possibly the best song of he career, the echoey production style works so well for this tracks, the writing makes for one of the best break up songs of the past decade. I would call this a bold risk, but at this point in time, a lot of country was already shifting more to pop, but it definitely was a shock to the system. Did it deserve the award?.........No. Look Golden Hour is great, but The Mountain is simply one of the best records of the entire decade, and possibly Dierks' best record. It is such a reinvention of his character and I can't wait to see as a solo artist.

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2019: Girl-Maren Morris

I think this one pissed people off the most, given the competition it had, you had fans of the Chief, and the die hard Carrie fans and then she just comes out of nowhere and takes this. I've heard all the complaints, it's too pop, the writing isn't that great, and yes you are correct, however out of all the records nominated that year, 4 of the 5 were pop, and of the pop ones, Girl was by far the best one. Now obviously I don't think it should've won, this was Eric's for the taking, I'm not even going to defend that fact it won, Desperate Man was by far the best album of the 5. But Girl still has a lot to offer despite it's setbacks, the writing on a fair amount of tracks is really good, Girl is a solid power ballad, the fun moments hold up like The Feels. A Song For Everything is a solid pop track and gives a little shoutout to the Chief himself. Shade is my favorite, it has such a good buildup and the writing of it is really good, but All My Favorite People takes the cake for everyone's favorite track, its such a blast to listen to. Now this record does have hot garbage, Make Out With Me, RSVP and The Bones simply don't work for me, I don't really hate The Bones I just got mad it was on the chart for 40 weeks before it even hit #1 and it suddenly became the big hit of 2020. RSVP on the other hand is just awful. Look we all know Eric Church deserved this award, but compared to the other nominees it could've been worse, Center Point Road has even worse moments, and Cry Pretty is simply the worst album released in 2018. Dan Shay was fine, they tracks on it are bangers but still The Chief deserved it regardless. 2019's nominees are probably the weakest out of the decade if I'm being honest.

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2020: What You See Is What You Get-Luke Combs

While 2019 had the weakest set of noms, 2020 had by far the best. The quality each of these records possessed is unparalleled. Except for Old Dominion, which honestly is just a decent mainstream record, but the other 4 are so good. WYSIWYG was a monster of hit which competed with the overall genre blockbusters like Post Malone and Billie Eilish. The dedication to 90's country is well structured, the songs range from passable to great, it's a mainstream record so of course you got to have a few pop influenced tracks and even then they are still better than a majority of the songs played on the radio. Wordplay is Luke's strongest aspect on the record, the way he paints a picture is probably the best out of any record. I think it focuses on the 2 narratives of coping with break up or singing a love song a bit too much for my taste, but still compared to the latter it is great. When he isn't singing about those 2 things, you are getting the peak of Luke Combs. Even Though I'm Leaving is such a beautiful and well progressed song and a strong salute to the troops. Does To Me shows off his appreciate and relatable side so well, What You See Is What You Get does it as well just to a lesser extent. 1, 2 Many is one of the cleverest drinking songs I've heard in a long time, the collaborations work and he doesn't fall into the trap of teaming up with some big shot artist which a lot mainstream artists try to do. I have a soft spot for Wildcard & Never Will, but come on we all know Heartache Medication was simply the best album of them all, and none of them were really close it to it in terms of quality.

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So that's my thoughts of the past decade of winners, hoped you enjoyed this little flashback if you want to know which of the noms are the best here's a list of the best albums of the 55 presented I'll keep it one per artist, as you can easily just work your way from there per artist:

• Pageant Material-Kacey Musgraves
• The Nashville Sound-Jason Isbell
• You Get What You Give-Zac Brown Band
• Revolution-Miranda Lambert
• Traveller-Chris Stapleton
• Never Will-Ashley McBryde
• Heartache Medication-Jon Pardi
• Mr. Misunderstood-Eric Church
• The Mountain-Dierks Bentley
• Red-Taylor Swift