Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for May 12th, 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.
Bruce Cockburn
O Sun O Moon (True North Records)
In 53 years of writing and recording, there’s been an undercurrent of spirituality in the music of Canadian Bruce Cockburn. He’s always had a knack for painting a picture of his Christian faith in a way that doesn’t hit you over the head, using the beauty and mystery of the natural world to illustrate the wonder of it all. Cockburn will turn 78 this month, and after a tough collective few years for all of us, Bruce brings out themes of faith, mortality, love, conflict and climate in this beautiful collection of songs. Recorded at on/off band member, album producer & pal Colin Linden’s backyard studio in Nashville, the album features some quality guests – from Buddy Miller and Sarah Jarosz to Shawn Colvin and Allison Russell. (edited from ICKmusic review)
Abe Partridge
Love In The Dark (Baldwin County Public Records)
Love in the Dark, previously heralded by a tour-only EP called Alabama Skies. The whole collection of songs derives from a previously readied album that, paused by the pandemic, then became an expanded edition bringing in newer songs, too. The songs run the gamut of heaviness and humor but the underlying earnestness of Partridge’s approach to songwriting, which he takes very personally, creates common threads that you’ll find throughout his work. One of Partridge’s musical activities is in field recording the music of Appalachian Serpent Handler traditions, which resulted in the podcast Alabama Astronaut, documenting some of his experiences. Partridge is also an established painter with a large art show currently running in Alabama and painting takes up a fair amount of his time. Devoted to these different pursuits, he continues to write songs and perform to create a very specific connection and communication with audiences. (edited from Americana Highways interview)
Also new this week…
Kevin Daniel – The Life and Adventures of Kevin Daniel (Organic Records) +
Bill Filipiak – aka Billium (Vidlicity Records) +
Graber Gryass – Waking Up (Spaceman Orbits)
The Malpass Brothers – Lonely Street (New Day Entertainment)
Parker Millsap – Wilderness Within You (Okrahoma Records) +
The Rough & Tumble – Only This Far (self-released)
Special Consensus – Great Blue North (Compass Records)
Coming out soon… Marty Stuart, The Milk Carton Kids, Robert Ellis, Caitlin Canty, Leftover Salmon, Paul Simon, Special Consensus, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Austin Gilliam, The South Austin Moonlighters, Jess Williamson, Ruen Brothers, Sara Petite, Son Volt, Lucinda Williams, Shinyribs, Tim O’Brien, Queen Esther, Miles Miller, Rufus Wainwright, Brennen Leigh, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Parker Ferrell, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Caitlin Canty, Lori McKenna and more!
