BEST
5. MIRANDA LAMBERT
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Columbia)
Country gave us some classic singles in '07: Brad Paisley's goofy seduction song ''Ticks,'' Martina McBride's existential mélange ''Anyway.'' As country albums go, only Lambert's covered all the emotional bases, from rage to reflectiveness. Though she's particularly convincing at playing the wronged Texas femme (check out ''Gunpowder & Lead''), don't write her off as just a firebrand — not when she summons rue as masterfully as she does in ''More Like Her.'' Think of her as sass pioneer Loretta Lynn and Americana queen Patty Griffin rolled into one super-saver package.