Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for March 17th, 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.
The Band Of Heathens
Simple Things (BOH Records)
The Band of Heathens have been together for more than 15 years. They have undergone many changes during that time in terms of style and personnel, but the ragged but right guitarists/singers/songwriters Gordy Quist and Ed Jurdi remain the heart and soul of the act. Their voices and instruments blend as naturally as fellow Texans Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson do. The two buds maintain their separate identity on individual songs, but something special happens when they join together. The new songs thematically and sonically share the same sensibility, no matter who wrote them. As the title implies, the Band of Heathens care about the simple things in life, such as finding pleasure in being at home with the family, making music, hanging out with friends, experiencing nature, and appreciating being alive. The songs on Simple Things express the courage to keep going even when life seems dark. One doesn’t need to be naïve to appreciate our gifts and be grateful. (edited from Pop Matters review)
Doug Paisley
Say What You Like (Outside Music)
Toronto-born singer-songwriter Doug Paisley has come up with some new self-reflective tunes that were bottled up long ago, set aside & only now are ripe enough for durable ears. His first collection since 2018’s Starter Home. This set brings together some of the better choices from 250 unrecorded songs that spanned more than a decade. Many are personal & explore the struggles of the individual & sometimes with a voice & groove that sounds as if it came from the same soil as the late J.J. Cale. The folk, country & pop leanings that are displayed are intertwined gently between his country-coloring melodies & words. There’s no intensity breathing down his neck – the songs are the most important feature & they don’t need to be biting or making statements. Doug will explore the shortcomings of love, growing old & his clever use of language – something that’s in short order among younger artists today. (edited from Americana Highways review)
Also new this week…
The Cash Box Kings – Oscar’s Motel (Alligator Records)
Daddy Long legs – Street Sermons (Yep Roc Records)
Just Us Lillys – Not Far From The Tree (self-released)
Lynn Miles – Tumbleweedyworld (True North Records)
David Starr – Better Me (EP) (cedaredge music)
Various Artists – Stoned Cold Country: Rolling Stones Tribute (Broken Bow Records)
Coming out soon… Eric Bibb, Dom Flemons, Darling West, Mike Stinson & Johnny Irion, Peter Case, Mighty Poplar, Rachel Baiman, Lance Roark, Lauren Morrow, Adam Klein, Joey Frendo, Nickel Creek, Taj Mahal, Carter Sampson, Cimarron 615, Marty Stuart, Natalie Merchant, The Milk Carton Kids, Robbie Fulks, Robert Ellis, Caitlin Canty, The Infamous Stringdusters, Jake Ybarra, Bella White, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and more!
