Listen to my favorite tracks off each album on my Spotify and 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.
Pete Mancini — American Equator
Pete Mancini continues to exceed beyond his own high standards on American Equator. It treads on familiar territory for Mancini: the disappointment of the American Dream far out of reach and an indictment of the corrupt, vicious people who wield their power against us. But this is also Mancini’s first album he made fully sober, and that clarity is evident here. Amid Mancini’s classic rock takedowns of the lies we’ve been sold are his most personal songs yet of love, loss, and falling short of the people who need you. These ballads are tender and delicate, a testament to how far Mancini has come. The rockers shouldn’t be ignored, though — there’s a loose groove and high energy that replaces Mancini’s former detachment, a presence that is life-affirming.
Helene Cronin — Maybe New Mexico
Helene Cronin is one of my favorite songwriters that you probably haven’t heard of. She’s a consummate storyteller — whether she’s dwelling on environmental disaster and the legacies of racism, a veteran with PTSD, starting over in a new town, or the awkward act of dividing friends during a breakup, Cronin delivers them with a compelling empathy and warmth. Cronin’s voice is a perfect blend of smooth observation and earthy rasp, giving her songs a sense of lived-in comfort regardless of the subject matter. It’s almost as if the good stuff and the bad stuff often come hand in hand, and they’ll all pass so we might as well hold our heads up high.
Caylee Hammack — Bed of Roses
I’m so thrilled that Caylee Hammack has got a new album out. Bed of Roses is five years in the making and certainly no sophomore slump. I was first introduced to Hammack when she opened for Darius Rucker (hush — it was a comp.) She was charismatic as hell and wowed me with her joyful performances. Bed of Roses presents Hammack as a chaotic imp, but there’s much more underneath the surface. Amidst the songs of righteous reckonings with men who cross her are illustrations of Hammack’s breadth and depth. “How Long” is a passion R&B reverie of amorous yearning. “Oh, Kara” is a moving ballad, one that at first seems to be musing about her ex moving on to the titular Kara, only to reveal the damage he’s done to both. “What My Angels Think of Me” is a moving duet with producer John Osborne. Meanwhile, “The Hill” is a foot-tapper about preserving love at the expense of being right. It’s one of the increasing number of pop country albums that suggests there’s quite a bit of Music Row that’s worth a listen.
Angel White — Ghost of the West
A fifth-generation Texan, one wouldn’t question White’s country bona fides. Ghost of the West ties White’s family to the broader narratives of Black and Mexican cowboys who are all-too-conveniently forgotten in our country’s history. White deftly combines his musical influences, an elegant amalgamation of country, folk, and the late ’90s hip-hop and R&B he grew up listening to. The result is a pallet of earnest and heartfelt songs about honoring one’s ancestors while trying to find one’s way — and the triumphant ascent of an artist who knows who he is and how hard he’s worked. I think I’m a little old to connect with a lot of these songs on a personal level, but there’s no question White has something special, something that will be refined with time.
Brother and the Hayes — In Good Company
Sibling duo Jennie Hayes and David Bingaman bring a retro sensibility to their album In Good Company. That’s not all, though — there’s a crackling confidence here that proves the pair are more invested in songwriting than aesthetics. Their plainspoken lyrics and undeniable chops give In Good Company a timeless warmth. “Nashville Traffic” is especially moving — a consideration of their family’s legacy with the city’s history, its implications for a broader struggle for justice — and, of course, the yearnings of up-and-coming musicians. It’s an elegant encapsulation of the opposing forces that make Music City Run, for better or worse.
You can check out tracks by these artists and more on the Adobe & Teardrops playlist — on Spotify and Tidal.