Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for February 10th, 2023. 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.
Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
Living In A Song (Compass Records)
Those experiencing a typical concert from Dobro master Rob Ickes and guitarist/singer Trey Hensley usually leave with jaws scraping the floor, blown away by the blinding fret-slashing abilities of the two musicians. While these world class musical talents are extraordinary, incorporating their ability into quality tunes on more structured studio recordings can be challenging. Thankfully the pair have experience in this, creating three previous albums of mostly bluegrass-oriented material that dip into country and even blues. While the blues and bluegrass influences remain, here Ickes and Hensley veer further towards country and Americana. It helps that Hensley possesses a strikingly resonate, emotional voice, one that makes him a potent singer outside of his superb finger-picking ability. Ickes’ joins in mostly on harmonies, sparking these selections into subtly crafted duets. Their songwriting establishes them as journeyman musicians and originators, whose work stands amongst Nashville’s finest. (edited from Holler. review)
Also new this week…
Ashby Frank – Leaving Is Believing (Mountain Home Music Company) +
Tim Hill – Giant (Innovative Leisure/Calico Discos)
Jim Keller – Spark & Flame (independent)
Sprig of That – Bloom (independent)
Coming out soon… Matt Hillyer, Grant Peeples, Benjamin Dakota Rogers, Doug Paisley, Michael Cleveland, The Milk Carton Kids, The Shootouts, Slaid Cleaves, Iris Dement, Karen Jonas, Rose’s Pawn Shop, Eric Bibb, Adam Klein, Dom Flemons, The Panhandlers, Darling West, Matt Andersen, Mighty Poplar, Lauren Morrow, Nickel Creek, Willie Nelson, Taj Mahal, Marty Stuart, Robert Ellis, Caitlin Canty and more!
