In June, Parker McCollum released his fifth album, a self-titled effort that’s finished raw and real, leaning into personal songs and a straightforward delivery.

Parker McCollum is also, in his opinion and that of many critics, the best record he’s made in a fast-moving career that’s taken him further from country pop and bro-country into the realms of his songwriting heroes.

“It’s so much better than anything I’ve ever done by 100 miles,” McCollum said. “I’d send it to Steve Earle tomorrow. I haven’t always felt that way about my records. I’m very, very hard on myself. I don’t think anything I’ve ever done is very good. Every record I’ve ever cut. I’ve said, ‘Man, I’m better than that. I can do better than that.’ This is the first album I’ve ever recorded that I said, ‘Man, this is prob

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