Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for October 21st, 2022. 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.
Joe Ely
Flatland Lullaby (Rack ‘Em Records)
Now, to clarify: Flatland Lullaby is not necessarily what anyone, least of all Ely himself, would ever call a “big” record. It’s the kind of passion project that could have only ever come into focus when the initial target audience extended no farther than the man’s nearest and dearest — namely, his daughter Marie. “It’s basically a little lullaby album that I did for her when she was 2 or 3 years old,” says Ely. Now more than 50 years later, you can very much hear the sonic imprint of that time and place in Ely’s life and career all over Flatland Lullaby. For now, though, Ely’s just happy to have finally put the finishing touches on the weirdest, loveliest little album he’s ever made. And just in time to share it with a world that’s never needed the comfort of a good “Flatland Lullaby” more. (edited from from Ely’s website)
Alex Williams
Waging Peace (Lightning Rod Records)
You won’t find many reviews of Alex Williams without referencing either Waylon Jennings or “outlaw country”, if not both. And for good reason. Williams’ deep baritone and grizzled, gutsy style doesn’t just recall the 70s music of Jennings, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Kris Kristofferson and others but continues a tradition those icons epitomized. It’s more than a musical approach, rather a swaggering way of life; one often watered down in what passes for country in today’s slicker performers. Waging Peace appears five years after Williams’ first release, capturing a tumultuous time that found him questioning life choices and facing the demons that often come attached to the trappings of a career on the road. With this new album, Williams reinforces the musical connections to his rowdy forbearers while forging a path towards a healthier, more stable career that’s only just getting started. (edited from Holler. review)
Also new this week…
Danny Burns – Promised Land (Bonfire Media) +
Charley Carrozo – Blinded Times (self-released)
Anthony D’Amato – At First There Was Nothing (Blue Rose Music)
Grant Dermody – Behind the Sun (self-released)
Will Payne Harrison – Tioga Titan (self-released)
Mike Mangione – Blood & Water (Rodzinka Records) +
Maurice Tani – All In! (Little Village Foundation) +
Coming out in the next few weeks… Angela Easterling, Trampled by Turtles, Sam Bush, Emily Nenni, Angela Autumn, Melissa Carper, Billy Strings, Seth Avett, Maple Run Band, Kenny Shore, Caitlin Rose, Vince Herman and more …
