Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for January 12th, 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.
John Craigie featuring TK & The Holy Know-Nothings
Pagan Church (Zabriskie Point Records)
Much like community, music nourishes us mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It also invites us to come together under the same roof and in a shared moment. In similar fashion, John Craigie rallies a closeness around music anchored by his expressive and stirring songcraft, emotionally charged vocals, lively soundscapes, and uncontainable spirit. The Portland, OR-based singer, songwriter, and producer invites everyone into this space on his 2024 full-length album, Pagan Church. “The music is always evolving and devolving with each new record,” he observes. “With my last album Mermaid Salt, I really wanted to explore the sound of isolation and solitude as everyone was heading inside. With this record, I wanted to record the sound of everyone coming back out.” (from press release)
Gurf Morlix
Melt Into You (Rootball Records)
Gurf Morlix gets a jump on the New Year with Melt Into You, his latest collection of handcrafted songs. The album contains tunes that look at the quirky side of love as well as the melancholy and downright sad. The remaining three songs are philosophical in nature, making metaphorical observations with both humor and warning. Instrumentation is what you would expect from Morlix, meaning you should expect the UN-expected. Besides songwriting that is as captivating as a gripping novel, every song has a different instrumental approach and tone, like tasting exotic foods in an as yet unknown restaurant. Admirers of Gurf’s musical expertise will not be disappointed.
Also new this week…
Brothers Brown – Nowhere Left To Go (Woodland Avenue Records)
Kevin Burt & Big Medicine – Thank You Brother Bill: A Tribute to Bill Withers (Gulf Coast Records)
James Talley – Bandits, Ballads and Blues (Cimarron Records)
Watchhouse – Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater (Yep Roc Records)
Dusty Wright – Dusted Off (independent)
Coming out soon … Chatham County Line, Sarah Jarosz, Alice DiMicele, Jim Kweskin, John Leventhal, Spencer Burton, Willi Carlisle, Matt the Electrician, Corb Lund, Hurray for the Riff Raff, The High Hawks, Béla Fleck, Vanessa Peters, Joe Pug, The Dead South, The Steel Wheels, Anna Moss, Rees Shad, Kitchen Dwellers, JJ Grey & Mofro, Aoife O’Donovan, The Coal Men and more!
