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.
Christopher Lockett — A Town We Painted Blue
Christopher Lockett brings his startlingly deep voice to stories of disappointed promises on A Town We Painted Blue. Lockett, an LA-based filmmaker, takes that director’s view in guiding us through the lives of down-and-out folks who, nevertheless, refuse to give up. “May Your Guitar Be Louder” stands as an emotional keystone to this album, honing in on our intimate fears and worst thoughts via Lockett’s own. Lockett’s character songs, like “Lamp Posts” and “Suitcase Full of Kisses” illustrate Lockett’s profound respect for his fellows. There are some rough patches here — the lyrics don’t always fit the song’s meter — but that only adds to the album’s feeling of genuine self-expression.
Waxahatchee — Tiger’s Blood
Well, I had to see what all the hype was about. And I get it! There is such a consummate skill in Tiger’s Blood. Waxahatchee gives us more than a feeling, but an entire soundscape that captures — and comforts — the broader feelings of ennui, nostalgia, and committing to living a good life in spite of the obstacles in front of us. Crutchfield delivers these songs with an unpredictable flair, couching impressionistic lyrics and familiar roots music tropes – and sometimes, the other way around. But it’s also about abandoning what’s expect to live life on your own terms, something both Crutchfields have excelled at. Tiger’s Blood is a mature examination of the same questions punk and country have always asked — how to maintain integrity in the face of everything that would wear it away.
Norma MacDonald — In Waves
Norma MacDonald has been carrying me through the tough times for almost a decade now and In Waves is a sterling addition to her discography. MacDonald excels at soul-bearing music that lands gently at first, but you’ll feel the bite as the final notes fade. Whether it’s contemplating a seemingly fruitless life on the road, depression, breakups, or even celebrating others’ happiness, MacDonald gets to the core of what it’s like to feel outside of everyone and out of step with the world — but with a warmth and wit that makes it feel okay. This is normal, and maybe everyone feels this way, she suggests. Or even if it’s not, at least we can all take comfort in knowing there are a few of us out there who can relate.
Gary Clark Jr — JPEG RAW
It’s been a while since I’ve written up Gary Clark Jr, though he’s one of the very first artists I reviewed here. And wow — what a an evolution. JPEG RAW shows Clark to be an engaged explorer of music, crafting with pretty much any sound you can imagine — harps, synths, drums, distorted guitars — that build a palette that we usually label as blues, funk, and rock. But JPEG RAW shows us that these ideas are simply too limiting — it all feels of a piece, and that’s because the songs are unified by Clark’s vision of artistry and — most importantly, justice. The lyrics can’t be discounted here, crafted as they were in 2020. With his panoply of instruments, Clark illustrates that embracing our full selves is what ultimately breaks down divisions.
Kyle Kimbrell — Easy Truths
Kyle Kimbrell makes the tough stuff go down smooth on Easy Truths. Probably the most refreshing thing about this album is that Kimbrell isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. This is plainspoken heartland rock that meditates on how fucked up life on the road is, how fucked up life can be at home, and that it’s just fucked up that these are supposed to be the best years of our lives. But this isn’t an angry album. Easy Truths is that heady mix of nostalgia, bitterness, and sadness that us diehard Americana fans chase. By the time Kimbrell drops us off at the end of the road on “The Wine of Youth,” though, we know that there’s something to him more than damn fine songwriting. This hypnotic meditation slowly builds to dread — and a dreadful (in the Biblical sense) culmination of sound and fury that shows us the immense power Kimbrell — and the rest of us — is desperately holding back with the sad slow songs.
You can check out tracks by these artists and more on the Adobe & Teardrops playlist — on Spotify.