Miranda Lambert is one of very few country acts of the past decade to consistently be fawned over by critics of all persuasions — to the point where singling out her work for praise could seem like a default move. Thing is, her latest, Platinum, is as deserving of acclaim as any album she’s made. It’s a splashy, swaggering showcase of the punch and personality Lambert’s music packs when she channels her audacity, grounded wit, insecurities and knack for speaking directly to her audience, women especially. If this is her one-woman campaign to counterbalance the current boys’ clubbiness of the genre, my money’s on her.
Best Country Album
Miranda Lambert, Platinum
Photo: Randee St. Nicholas
