https://www.goldminemag.com/features/best-americana-albums-for-the-end-of-2025/
It was at a relatively young age that Nashville-based and Knoxville-raised singer/songwriter Eli Fox began to ingest the influences of his rural folk and country roots and create a vibrant and distinctive Americana sound all his own. Flush with both urgency and integrity, his music offers more than a hint of anthemic acumen — a dash of Springsteen’s drive and defiance here, the edgy intent of Townes Van Zandt there and a good bit of Dylan’s authority all at the same time. It works in tandem with his own honesty and integrity and a decided deliberation that gives his music an immediate connection. The nine songs on Qualified Country Gold testify to that premise while also reflecting the timeless title borne by the album title, yet without even a hint of posturing or pretense. In a very real sense, Qualified Country Gold sets a standard of its own, and yet even though Fox is only three albums and an EP into his career, he’s already assumed the mantle of a well-established artist and auteur. This is an album that any artist ought to envy, given the ringing resolve of songs such as “Silver Lake,” “Fish In the Water,” “Blue,” and the title track itself. Fox plays practically all the instruments, further testimony to both his skills and savvy.