Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for April 19th, 2024. 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.
The Brother Brothers
The January Album (Stumbling Rose Records)
The fourth record from Adam and David Moss, those twin sons of Peoria, Illinois, known musically as The Brother Brothers, is a COVID-era record in the strictest sense: The Mosses wrote most of its 12 tracks during the first few months of lockdown in the US. But The January Album, rather than lacing each song with obvious references to the crisis, embraces that moment under the surface. The work reflects themes common to the brothers’ discography to date; it’s tied to 2020 as a consequence of its conception. The choice to sidestep didactic nonsense is refreshing, if unsurprising. Like all other Brother Brothers records, The January Album is characterized by humble honesty. The Mosses aren’t showy or flashy. They speak and play simply, so their messages can be clearly heard, though this belies their craftsmanship’s subtle complexities, the product of a shared soul that’s equal parts playful and doleful. (edited from No Depression review)
T Bone Burnett
The Other Side (Verve Label Group)
Sometimes our subconscious is more aware than we are, especially when communicating the allegories that play out in our everyday lives. Who better to interpret these stories and appeal to our senses than Grammy-and Oscar-winner, T Bone Burnett. The Other Side, his first solo album in 20 years, was co-produced by Colin Linden, Mike Piersante and Burnett. The album features an early bandmate Steven Soles, as well as Lucius, Weyes Blood, Dennis Crouch, Stuart Duncan, Jay Bellarose and others. “He Came Down,” both title and repeating phrase, kicks off the country blues record with lovely guitar playing. It’s a beautiful pastoral folk song with biblical imagery and legendary archetypes. Working with gifted artists through his career, Burnett’s altruistic approach has supported them to greatness. Now it’s Burnett’s turn to welcome the accompaniment from folks like his good friend Rosanne Cash and the three songs that feature the celestial vocals of duo Lucius accompanying T Bone’s soft singing. Lucius was inspired to create their own magical parts for this. Listeners will experience Burnett’s story through his vast musical landscape and his love of all forms of writing. It’s no wonder he is both a masterful producer and legendary songwriter. The Other Side awakens our spirit through American roots song-writing mastery. (edited from Americana Highways review)
Also new this week…
Andrea & Mud – Institutionalized (independent)
Darin & Brooke Aldridge – Talk of the Town (Billy Blue Records)+
The Bacon Brothers – Ballad Of The Brothers (Forty Below Records)
Barnstar! – Furious Kindness (independent) +
Thomas Csorba – Windchimes (Standard Issue Records)
Wyatt Flores – Half Life (OEG Records)
Stephanie Lambring – Hypocrite (Almost Autonomous Records)
Heather Little – By Now (Need To Know Records)
New Riders of the Purple Sage – Hempsteader: Live At The Calderone Concert Hall, Hempstead, NY, June 25, 1976 (Omnivore Recordings)
Ann Savoy – Another Heart (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings) +
The Stetson Family – The Stars, If You Look Closely (independent)
Various Artists – Live On Mountain Stage: Outlaws and Outliers (Oh Boy Records)
Coming out soon … Lost Dog Street Band, Iron & Wine, Pokey LaFarge, Grant Langston, Pi Jacobs, Tim Easton, Charley Crockett, The Reverend Shawn Amos, Curtis McMurtry, Gileah Taylor, Tylor & the Train Robbers, Chris Smither, Ruth Moody, David Myles, Anna Tivel, Richard Thompson, Kim Richey, Jim Keller, Willie Nelson, Ana Egge, Swamp Dogg, Yarn, Jesse Dayton, Silverada, The Mavericks, Jesse Daniel and more!
