Little Big Town - It's A Dying Art (2026)

The big clue to the mood of Little Big Town's 12th album is right in the title of track 2: "Sucker for a Sad Song." These are songs about love that's fading or already lost, and whether it's worth saving. As the band put it: "This album was made in the middle of real life—grief, hope and everything love costs and gives us. It's a reminder to hold on. We can't let love be a dying art." Whether intended or not, "in the middle of real life" is also a big clue; the overwhelming feeling is mid-life melancholy tinged with regret about choices made long ago … and, occasionally, shot through with rays of hope. "You don't love me, let's be honest/ I ain't the woman that you wanted … She's a dream that you created/ She's the picture that you painted," Karen Fairchild sings on tearjerker "The Idea," a ballad about outgrowing vows made in your early 20s.

"I know that it's over and I know we won't make it," all four of the group's vocalists harmonize on breakup ballad "The Door," its gauzy veil pierced by aching blues guitar and a cameo from Jason Isbell. "Over and Over," about the one that got away, lays it on thick in the best possible way: the drama, the harmonies, the fiery guitar solo, the duet power of Fairchild and husband Jimi Westbrook. And, as always, the quartet, including Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet, sounds incredible. The harmonies are extra plush—first-class, imported leather, prestige cuvée—on soulful "Sucker for a Sad Song," enveloping Fairchild's witchy smokiness as she keeps her power at Medium. (It makes all the sense in the world that this one was co-written with Shelby Lynne and Ashley Monroe.)

Fairchild's emotional palette is one of the most vivid in Nashville; even her grays come in a dozen shades. And, more than usual, It's a Dying Art feels like the Karen Show. She goes from an interior hush to full-power belt on "Hey There Sunshine," a cinematic piano-and-strings ballad about finally bouncing back from the "hell I've been through" and finding a way to "quiet the vultures of doubt circling 'round my head." She's like a hot knife sliding through the buttery group harmonies of lovely "Dying Art" and owns sultry "Closing Time," featuring playful extra vocals from Kelsea Ballerini. "It's Coming Around," a co-write with Madi Diaz, channels Fleetwood Mac circa "The Chain," and "We Could Have It All" is It's a Dying Art's ABBA moment. And while Little Big Town know how to do good-time humor with the best of them—see "Pontoon," "Wine, Beer, Whiskey"—the odd man out here is "Crickets." A swamp-blues track about pretending to look for bait when you're really making out with your girlfriend, it might make you wonder if country has officially run out of outdoor metaphors. © Shelly Ridenour/Qobuz