Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for September 30th, 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.
Tyler Childers
Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven (Hickman Holler Records)
This ambitious triple-abum is divided into three distinct parts — Hallelujah, Jubilee, and Joyful Noise — the conceptual project takes eight new songs and presents them in styles fitting those descriptions. The theme of faith and salvation runs through the albums’ songs, inspired by his own experiences. “I grew up Baptist and I was scared to death to go to hell,” Childers says, “And a lot of that stuck with me. Filtering through that and trying to find the truth, and the beauty, and the things you should think about and expelling all that nonsense has been something I’ve spent a lot of time on.” The different versions, he says, are like “processing life experiences in the different philosophies and religions that have formed me.” “Message wise, I hope that people take that it doesn’t matter race, creed, religion and all of that like — the most important part is to protect your heart, cultivate that and make that something useful for the world,” he adds. (edited from Rolling Stone review)
John Fullbright
The Liar (Blue Dirt Records)
It’s been eight years since John Fullbright last put out a record and for fans it’s felt even longer. The record is Fullbright’s most collaborative yet, deviating from mostly just being the loner at the piano churning out beautiful songs. You can hear that collaboration on songs like the remarkable title track, with guitars, drums and harmonica settling in nicely beside Fullbright’s piano. Recorded at Steve and Charlene Ripley’s farm studio in Oklahoma, Fullbright brought together a collection of some of the best musicians Oklahoma’s got – most who have worked with Fullbright before. These sessions were handled in an astonishingly quick four days. But despite the compressed timeline the album is hardly a rushed affair. It builds on the brilliance of his 2 earlier albums offering a remarkable collection of affecting songs for emotions and moods that span the spectrum. (edited from Americana Highway review)
Also new this week…
Mary Bragg – Mary Bragg (Tree Tone Music)
The Cactus Blossoms – If Not For You (Bob Dylan Songs Vol. 1) (Walkie Talkie Records)
David Beck – Bloom & Fade (Parade Ground Music)
Ashley McBryde – Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville (Warner Music)
Dropkick Murphys – This Machine Still Kills Fascists (Dummy Luck Music)
Crystal Shawanda – Midnight Blues (True North Records)
Benjamin Tod – Songs I Swore I’d Never Sing (independent)
Coming out in the next few weeks…Town Mountain, Rory Block, Bonny Light Horseman, Courtney Patton, Miko Marks, Angela Easterling, Trampled by Turtles, Caleb Caudle, Melissa Carper, Seth Avett, Caitlin Rose, Bruce Springsteen and more …
