You might have noticed it is…..well past February 16th! I got tied up with little things like studying for my Licensed Masters of Social Work exam (I passed with flying colors) and speaking at Country Radio Seminar last week, which is where all the bigshots literally horse trade over which songs get played on the radio. (I will give you one guess about what those artists look and sound like.) I’ll post some thoughts on the state of country radio (it’s not all garbage!) when I have a chance to catch my breath. In the meantime, here’s some awesome music you might have missed in the last two weeks.
Listen to my favorite tracks off each album on my Spotify or Tidal playlists! Updated weekly with all the best new country, Americana, and whatever else I feel like — this is music like your life depends on it.
The Kilograms — The Kilograms
A couple of months ago, Sammy Kay DM’d me to tell me that he was working on a ska/reggae album and I was like “hell yeah let’s do this.” Kay’s more recent records have been hushed and contemplative. With The Kilograms, I hear him having a helluva lot of fun. That doesn’t mean these songs are silly — they’re still Kay’s trademark perceptive commentary on loneliness, yearning, getting fucked over by capitalism, and wondering if there’s a way to make a difference at all. But hey, the vibes are chill. (Also, the Two Cow Garage reference does not go unnoticed.) Beyond anything else, it’s a treat to hear Kay get a little weird with it and find his joy for music all over again.
American Patchwork Quartet — American Patchwork Quartet
Here’s the short version: American Patchwork Quartet’s album is hair-raising. Not the scary kind of goosebumps, of course, but the kind you get when something is just…perfect. It’s rare to find such electrifying chemistry in a studio recording, and American Patchwork Quartet’s artistry elevates anything you thought you knew about folk music. Here, the quartet infuse traditional American folk songs with influences from Southeast Asia, West Africa, and East Asia to remind us all of the vital role immigrants (and enslaved people) have played in the creation of American culture — whatever that is. The urgent message combined with consummate artistry makes this a must-listen album.
Tucker Riggleman and the Cheap Dates — Restless Spirit
This doesn’t come out til tomorrow (the 17th) but I wanted to tip you off to it today. Tucker Riggleman and the Cheap Dates have a penchant for ripping through blistering garage country tracks about depression, frustration, and loneliness, and Restless Spirit is their most confident venture in that terrain. Something about Restless spirit feels more personal than in the past, though. Rather than sludgy imagery of his hopelessness, Riggleman instead pulls out concrete vignettes of the indignities of hanging on to touring out of an 12-person van while refusing to live life any other way. There’s also some tenderness for his loved ones, which feels new. It might not be all bad, but it’s not great, and Restless Spirit is the soundtrack for those in-between days that just don’t seem to end.
Old Amica — Debris Sides
Swedish duo Old Amica delivery a somber, contemplative little EP with Debris Sides. These tracks were collecting digital dust on the pair’s hard drives, and they recently decided to unearth them to see what was salvageable. The result are spacious, airy songs that also feel like a warm hug — even as they contemplate the unknowable nature of the person next to you, much less the entire universe.
Raising Daughters — Petty Crimes
Rounding out the week is Raising Daughters. The newly New York-based duo hits all the right notes n their EP Petty Crimes. Their haunting harmonies and intricate arrangements raise the emotional stakes in ballads of love, loss, and transformation. Josette Axne and Hallie Riddick bring their theatrical training to bear here, especially on the closer “Told You So.” The song swells to a dramatic crescendo worthy of any Broadway musical, a swirl of rock, folk and pop elements that will carry you away.
You can check out tracks by these artists and more on the Adobe & Teardrops playlist — on Spotify or Tidal.