Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for March 3rd, 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.
Slaid Cleaves
Together Through the Dark (Candyhouse Records)
Americana/folk stalwart Slaid Cleaves has been putting out great records for 25 years now, consistently delivering songs that strike people’s hearts and become part of their lives. Together Through the Dark is no different. Producer Scrappy Jud Newcomb and Cleaves teamed up for the third time in early 2022 between Covid surges to record a new batch of songs, Slaid’s first in five years. Familiar themes of struggle and resilience will be a surprise to no one. As Scrappy puts it, “This album speaks to the hopeful, the hard-working, the battered, confused, and the sad. But above all to the believers in the city of freedom that we heard in the stories of our youth and all those FM radio hits.” The first single, “Through the Dark,” was co-written with Slaid’s long-time collaborator and life-long friend, Rod Picott. Slaid describes it simply as “a song about offering comfort in hard times.” “More than 20 years into his career, Slaid Cleaves just keeps getting better . . . There are few contemporaries that compare. He’s become a master craftsman on the order of Guy Clark and John Prine.” -Austin Chronicle
Willie Nelson
I Don’t Know A Thing About Love: The Songs of Harlan Howard (Sony Legacy Recordings)
Amongst the nearly 150 albums that Willie Nelson has released, he has a number of amazing full-album tributes to songwriters from Kris Kristofferson and George Gershwin to Ray Price and Cindy Walker. Adding to that list is a new studio album dedicated to songwriting legend Harlen Howard who has scores of country hits including a number that crossed over to pop and even R&B charts. A member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall Of Fame, Howard wrote hits for Ray Charles (“Busted”), Buck Owens (“I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail”), Conway Twitty (the title track), Bobby Bare (“The Streets Of Baltimore”) and so many more. Produced by longtime collaborator Buddy Cannon and featuring a murderers’ row of crack Nashville musicians.
Also new this week…
Michael Cleveland – Lovin’ Of The Game (Compass Records) +
Drayton Farley – Twenty On High (Hargrove Records) +
Karen Jonas – The Restless (self-released)
Marilyn Jordan – Both Things Are True (self-released)
New Earth Farmers – The Good Ones Got Away (self-released)
The Panhandlers – Tough Country (Make Wake Artists)
Wire Troop – Wire Troop & Friends Play Your Country Music Favorites (and More) (independent)
Coming out soon… Lance Roark, Eric Bibb, Adam Klein, Dom Flemons, Darling West, Lynn Miles, Doug Paisley, The Cash Box Kings, Matt Andersen, Peter Case, Mighty Poplar, Rachel Baiman, Lauren Morrow, Joey Frendo, Nickel Creek, Taj Mahal, Marty Stuart, Natalie Merchant, The Milk Carton Kids, Robbie Fulks, Robert Ellis, Caitlin Canty, The Infamous Stringdusters, Bella White, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and more!
