CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

It’s December, which means it’s time for everyone to start putting together those “Best of 2011” lists so we can see what gems we might have missed during the last 12 months. One album that has been popping up consistently on those lists is Eric Church’s Chief, and it’s certainly received a few spins around our office.

Well, some magazine called Rolling Stone apparently liked Chief too, because it just landed at No. 19 on the publication’s 50 Best Albums of 2011 list. Here’s what they said:

“Church is a country singer a rock fan could love – saluting Jesus and Springsteen, mixing up backwoods twang with power chords and Stones riffs. If he’s great at playing the boozed-up tough guy, the lilting songs on his third LP show he’s got an endearing soft side when he sobers up – sometime around 11 a.m. Monday.”

He’s in full-on “boozed-up tough guy” mode for “Drink In My Hand,” which earns its second week at No. 1 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart. Though it’s been an pretty great 2011 for Church, he has plenty to look forward to in 2012: Chief is nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Album, and he’s also embarking on his Blood, Sweat, & Beers tour of the U.S. in January with partner-in-booze Brantley Gilbert.

So raise your glasses, and have a great (but responsible!) weekend.