Listen to my favorite tracks off each album on my Spotify playlist! Updated weekly with all the best new country, Americana, and whatever else I feel like — this is music like your life depends on it.
Sophie Gault — Baltic Street Hotel
Sophie Gault (formerly of Sophie and the Broken Bones) further develops her distinctive voice on Baltic Street Hotel. The album finds Gault addressing her diagnosis of bipolar disorder — including her hospitalization. Gault delivers these tales of hitting rock bottom with a slinky, sinewy strut that calls to mind the seedy streets of ’70s New York. Gault doesn’t glorify these tough times, but she’s not portraying herself as someone to be pitied, either. Rather, the decade she evokes in her rock-heavy Americana portrays Gault as a gritty survivor, wearing her struggles on her sleeve. But there’s also a vulnerability, reminding us that no matter where we are or who we are, we only just want connection — and support when things feel too big.
Hooks and the Huckleberries — For the Love of Whatever
Hooks and the Huckleberries are still the band you’ve been waiting for. Plenty of guys (specifically) out there who grew up listening to Tyler and American Aquarium but the ones Nashville are promoting seem to have forgotten the part about adding substance and swagger to their songs. For the Love of Whatever follows in a fine tradition of southern rock that dwells on ennui, the road dog’s life, and the toll it takes. Whatever dwells on that last part, and — most importantly — what happens when you decide to put down the bottle, ditch the bad feelings, and do what you need to to stay on the road. There’s lots of excellent bangers on here, but the ballad “Old Econoline” strips all those elements bare and proves that the Huckleberries have guite a few, affecting tricks up their sleeves.
MJ Lenderman — Manning Fireworks
I had to jump on the hype train, especially after Ann Powers’ article about MJ Lenderman and his place in the canon. There’s an impressionistic quality to Lenderman’s work, but something about the string of words allows you to build a narrative in your head, even if there’s little explicitly storytelling here. Much like the Hold Steady or Dylan (a much likelier influence), Lenderman has a preternatural skill in giving you just enough information to fill in the blanks, evoking a full image out of impressionistic dots. It’s impressive simply because so many people try and fail — hard. Lenderman brings us into his personal universe of yearning, self-hatred born of Catholic guilt, and striving for connection. But there’s also a lack of agency that doesn’t quite light my fire — much like indie rock of the 2000s. There’s no question Lenderman is already one of the greats, and I’m glad to be introduced to him.
Stress Dolls — Queen of No
Speaking of indie rock saviors, can I interest you in Stress Dolls? Lead singer Chelsea O’Donnell leads the project (at times solo, other times a full band) with a deeply-textured voice and unsparing lyrics. (Unsurprisingly, O’Donnell is also a DJ for a radio show that features regional music up in Buffalo.) There is an inexorable pounding of drums and bass with punk flourishes on Stress Dolls’ muscular refutations of life’s unfair circumstances. I could easily imagine a double-header of Stress Dolls and River Shook’s indie rock outfit Mightmare. Queen of No wears denial like a badge: denial of the creep of isolation and loneliness into our lives, denial of the forces that make us feel like we’ll never be good enough, denial of the people who make us question our own worth — and Stress Dolls do so with rock-solid grooves and sinewy melodies.
The Calamatix — The Calamatix
The Calamatix sparkle on their self-titled album. The ska band bring the genre back to basics, with gentle swinging grooves and spirited arrangements. You can skank if you want to, but there’s no cringe here. Instead, The Calamatix embrace their music with joy, no matter the subject matter. The band can kick out the punk rock edge when they want to, but songs like “Believe It Or Not” illustrate their reggae bona fides. At the heart of it all is the quartet’s energy, a no-nonsense approach to having a great time.
You can check out tracks by these artists and more on the Adobe & Teardrops playlist — on Spotify.