We are always interested in opinions other than our own, so we asked three of our favorite Southerners — songwriter Rosanne Cash, NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich, and Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers — to share their five favorite Southern albums. Beyond that, we gave no guidance, neither about what they should consider Southern or whether they had to stick to five records only. Today, we’re happy to share those with you — in their own words.

Rosanne Cash

In no particular order,

Bob Dylan: “Shadows in the Night”
Alabama Shakes: “Sound and Color”
Mason Jar Music and Friends: “Decoration Day, Vol. 4”
Leon Bridges: “Coming Home”
Faux Ferocious: “Blues Legends”

Full disclosure:  Faux Ferocious and Mason Jar Music are two of my son-in-laws’ bands (Terry Kane and Dan Knobler, respectively). Terry is a punk/alt musician and Dan a roots musician.

Not so much nepotism; just love both these records.

Second full disclosure: I sing on “Decoration Day.” :)

Patterson Hood

D'Angelo and the Vanguard: “Black Messiah”
Deerhunter: “Fading Frontiers”
Will Johnson: “Swan City Vampires”
Alabama Shakes: “Sound and Color”
Elephant Micah: “Where in Our Woods”
Beach House: “Depression Cherry”
James McMurtry: “Complicated Game”