Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for August 5th, 2022. Click the artist or album links to find out more. The artist’s names link to their websites and the CD title links go to either Amazon, iTunes, Bandcamp or the artist’s site for ordering or downloading. A + sign means although not a featured release, it’s a notable album that’s still worth checking out. Also, this page will be updated as I find out about other new releases so check back again.
Kenny Roby
Kenny Roby (Royal Potato Family)
Once upon a time in Raleigh, North Carolina, for about 10 bucks total, you could get the best sandwich in town and a dose of rockin’ honky-tonk courtesy of Kenny Roby. Like a punky John Prine, Roby’s music could have fit in anywhere: folk, country, rock, a happy wandering of styles that was laid back and easy-going. Steve Earle liked what he heard so much he signed Roby and his band, Six String Drag, producing 1997’s High Hat, but the band dissolved the next year. On his solo records, especially on 2020’s The Reservoir and now his on eponymous new one, Roby is much quieter, more introspective. After relocating to Woodstock, NY, Roby seems to have soaked up some of the spirits wafting around the area. Tim Hardin and Bob Dylan hang around spiritually in Roby’s work, as do a few other folkie notables.Kenny Roby is a nice dip into the singer-songwriter’s musical gene pool, reflecting his inner demons and his outcasting methods. (edited from No Depression review)
Various Artists
Something Borrowed, Something New: A Tribute to John Anderson (Easy Eye Sound)
Over the past four decades John Anderson has sold millions of albums and managed to influence an entire generation of country and Americana musicians. And yet, he’s still not as widely known as he should be in 2022. His influence is apparent by the caliber of musician that pay tribute to Anderson in the record, everyone from Jamey Johnson to Sturgill Simpson, Sierra Ferrell, Brent Cobb, Luke Comb and Gillian Welch and even John Prine. “We weren’t trying to piddle around and make the normal tribute record,” said producer Dan Auerbach. “It had to be the best singers with the best songs and the best arrangements, and they had to come into the studio. This wasn’t like, ‘Mail me the song, and we’ll put it together.’ I think it makes this record unique. I don’t think most tribute records are done like this. I think that’s why it sounds like a cohesive album. It feels like an amazing mix tape.” (edited from Americana Highways tribute)
Also new this week…
John Calvin Abney – Tourist (Black Mesa Records)
Ace of Cups – Extended Play (High Moon Records)
The Brother Brothers – Cover to Cover (Compass Records)
Fireside Collective – Across The Divide (Mountain Home Music Co.)
Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light – Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light (Sad Luck Dame Records)
The Western Express – Lunatics, Lovers & Poets (self-released)
Will Stewart – Slow Life (Cornelius Chapel Records)
Coming out in the next few weeks… Cahalan Morrison, Vandoliers, Early James, Walter Trout, Kelsey Waldon, Loudon Wainwright III, Will Hoge, Watkins Family Hour, Shemekia Copeland, Bill Scorzari, Jim Lauderdale, Dan Navarro, Charley Crockett, Sunny Sweeney and more …
