Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for August 26th, 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.
Valerie June
Under Cover (Fantasy Records)
Valerie June’s sonic alchemy has been on the global radar since Dan Auerbach got involved with her trad/modern song fusions as producer on 2013’s Pushin’ Against a Stone. Black gospel flair and East Tennessee folk leanings came together on that recording with riveting pop ideas, and June has been adding further influences and interests to the dynamic mix on ensuing albums. It makes sense, then, that June would gift her listeners with one of the more imaginative covers projects we’ve heard in some time. Under Cover features four previously released remakes, available as one-off singles or as bonus tracks on deluxe releases, along with four new covers of song by Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, Frank Ocean and more, (edited from No Depression review)
Jim Lauderdale
Game Changer (Missing Piece Music)
So let’s cut to the chase: if you enjoyed most of Lauderdale’s previous 34 albums, you are going to enjoy Game Changer. Game Changer has everything you would want in a Lauderdale album – interesting and moving songwriting, remarkable musicianship across the board, and his singular voice. That is not to damm Game Changer with faint praise; it is, rather, to acknowledge the remarkable consistency of his recordings. Lauderdale himself is well aware of the challenge his own history creates. He says that “It’s a constant challenge to try to keep making better and better records, write better and better songs. I still always feel like I’m a developing artist.”
Also new this week…
Will Hoge – Wings on My Shoes (self-released)
Marcus King – Young Blood (American/Republic Records)
Tommy McLain – I Ran Down Every Dream (Yep Roc Records)
Dan Navarro – Horizon Line (Red Hen Records)
Coming out in the next few weeks… Ragland, Lloyd Maines, Jake La Botz, Charley Crockett, Sunny Sweeney, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Bella White, Trampled by Turtles, Derek Hoke, Adam Hood, Amy Ray and more …
