Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for February 9th, 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.
Seth James
Lessons (Qualified Records)
He’s got the sound of fellow Texan Delbert McClinton, that’s for sure. Now he’s got an album of 11 Delbert songs, too, to pay tribute for all of the Lessons he’s taught him. As Seth says, “Delbert is the personification of the great spirit of American music. There is no finer example of authenticity. His music is untamed, resilient, plainspoken, and honest to its core. It does not abide by any rules, it does not seek approval, and it does not compromise. I owe a debt to Delbert McClinton that I could never repay.”
The Steel Wheels
Sideways (Big Ring Records)
Virginia-based folk rockers The Steel Wheels have been making good music for nearly 2 decades. This year, they’re meditating on “resilience and survival” – the two touchstones of their new album. Per usual, the band find themselves inspired both by traditional American music (specifically string band music from Virginia) and contemporary folk, roots, and bluegrass. This time, though, the band also drew from a deep well of inspiration that we all might recognize: the forced isolation of the global Covid19 pandemic. Though they started as an all-acoustic group, they have slowly incorporated more electronic and produced elements into their sound. The result? An engaging and surprising mix (the percussion beats against the banjo picking is absolutely irresistible) that’s hard to resist; I found myself listening straight through the album on repeat. (edited from Folk Alley review)
Also new this week…
American Patchwork Quartet – American Patchwork Quartet (Carolina Jasmine Records)
The Dead South – Chains & Stakes (Six Shooter Records) +
Madi Diaz – Weird Faith (-Anti Records)
Missy Raines & Alleghany – Highlander (Compass Records) +
Tyler Ramsey – New Lost Ages (Soundly Music) +
Bruce Robison – In The Woods (The Next Waltz) +
Sour Bridges – Down & Out (self-released)
Jeff Talmadge – Sparrow (Berkalin Records) +
Coming out soon … Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz, Albert Cummings, Hurray for the Riff Raff, The High Hawks, Béla Fleck, Vanessa Peters, Joe Pug, Corb Lund, Waxahatchee, Anna Moss, Sierra Ferrell, Rees Shad, Kitchen Dwellers, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, JJ Grey & Mofro, Aoife O’Donovan, The Coal Men, Charley Crockett, Pi Jacobs, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, Lost Dog Street Band and more!
