The Only Country Album on the NYT List, Additionally Variety Labels it “2019’s Best Freshman Country Effort”
Nashville non-conformist, Kalie Shorr, is kicking off December on the road with LeAnn Rimes and receiving major accolades along the way. Today, The New York Times released their Best Albums of 2019 list which included Taylor Swift’s Lover (14), Lana Del Ray’s Norman ___ Rockwell (6), Ariana Grande’s Thank U, Next (11) and other major all-genre records released over the past year. At No. 7 on pop music critic Jon Caramanica’s list lands Shorr’s Open Book, her debut full-length album released in September. It was the only Country release chosen by the renowned critic.
“Open Book, by the relative newcomer Kalie Shorr, is the sort of gut-wrenching album made by someone who understands how vital and detailed country music can be, and who is faithful to its heritage (including its lineage of resistance). Everyone in Nashville is likely hoping to sandpaper her into something just a little bit less confrontational; fingers crossed that doesn’t happen.” – Jon Caramanica, The New York Times
Asked her initial reaction to this honor Shorr says, “Honestly, I can’t even believe it. I poured my entire heart and soul (even the darkest corners) into this album. For the first time, all that I factored in while creating this was self-exploration and healing. To have that be received by fans and critics alike is all I could have ever hoped for. I’m so honored to be included on a list with some of my personal favorite albums of the year as well.”
Caramanica’s NYT List Includes:
1. 100 gecs, 1000 gecs
2. Bad Bunny, X 100PRE
3. Polo G, Die a Legend / YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Al YoungBoy 2
4. Kim Petras, Clarity
5. Romeo Santos, Utopia
6. Lana Del Ray Norman _____ Rockwell!
7. Kalie Shorr, Open Book
8. Baby Keem, Die for My Bitch / Guapdad 4000, Dior Deposits
9. Kanye West, Jesus Is King
10. 10k.Caash, The Creator
11. Ariana Grande, Thank U, Next
12. Summer Walker, Over It
13. Benny the Butcher, The Plugs I Met
14. Taylor Swift, Lover
About Kalie Shorr
Kalie Shorr
burst onto the Nashville music scene in 2016 with her self-penned hit “Fight
Like A Girl”. The Portland, Maine singer-songwriter became a Sirius XM “Highway
Find” and was spotlighted by Spotify, Apple Music, CMT, Radio Disney Country,
Taste of Country, and even Billboard magazine. In 2017, Kalie released her Slingshot EP to positive
reviews and was named “New Artist You Need to Know” by Rolling Stone, “The New
Nashville” by Teen Vogue, and one of “2017’s Hottest Artists Under 25” by Taste
of Country. Named a CMT Next Women of Country and a “Top 10 Country Artists To
Watch In 2018” by the Huffington Post, Kalie released her last EP Awake to critical
acclaim and toured with Sara Evans and RaeLynn on the CMT Next Women of Country
Tour. On March 31, 2018, Kalie fulfilled a life-long dream when she made her
Grand Ole Opry debut calling it “one of the most emotional experiences of my
life” and has since gone on to play the Opry many times. In late 2018, she
headlined the Walmart/Pepsi “Road to the CMA Awards” Tour raising awareness for
the 52nd annual CMA Awards telecast. In November of that year, Radio Disney
Country launched a daily radio series called “Let The Girls Play” hosted by
Kalie and fellow Song Suffragette Savannah Keyes. Kalie’s message of female
empowerment has led to praise for her “social advocacy” [NPR] and let to
features on PBS NewsHour, NPR’s “Morning Edition” and “On Point” in addition to
ELLE Magazine. Kalie released “2019’s best freshman country effort” [Variety]
and her first-ever full-length album Open
Book in September with Rolling Stone saying “[Open Book] showcases
the alchemy that Shorr concocts which manage[s] to conjure both Shania Twain,
Red-era Taylor Swift, Dashboard Confessional, and Alanis Morissette all at once.”
The New York Times’ lauded the record on their Best Albums of 2019 list. She is
currently on the road supporting LeAnn Rimes’ “You And Me And Christmas” Tour
this holiday season.