Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for March 29th, 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.
Alejandro Escovedo
Echo Dancing (Yep Roc Records)
At age 73, Escovedo continues to reshape his ever-changing sound and experiment with the boundaries of Americana music. “This record breathes a second life into these songs,” says Alejandro Escovedo of Echo Dancing, the Americana pioneer’s new album where he reconceptualizes the songs of his storied career. The variety of songs range from his short-lived rock quartet Buick MacKane, rarities from his ‘80s alt-country outfit The True Believers, to the celebrated songs of his solo discography from his debut album all the way to his most recent album, The Crossing.
The Secret Sisters
Mind Man Medicine (New West Records)
I first stumbled upon The Secret Sisters when I reviewed their eponymously titled debut album in 2010, when sibling acts were ‘all the rage.’ How they’ve got to 2024 and still be releasing an album as wonderful as this is beyond my comprehension; but tells us a lot about Laura and Lydia’s inner strength, which remarkably comes out in their songs without even a hint of bitterness. To all extents and purposes, the two sisters who ‘sing as one’ can’t change their formula after all of these years; and why should they? But the ‘kicker’ here is that they have progressed into a new stratosphere of songwriting with no two albums sounding the same; apart from their beautiful and hypnotic voices being at the forefront. ‘On paper’ the album shouldn’t be that special but there is something really, really special about the way their voices combine on their own songs, that with the clever and intricate production combine to create something truly magical from start to finish. (edited from Rocking Magpie review)
Also new this week…
Scott Ballew – Rio Bravo (La Honda Records)
Scott H Biram – The One & Only Scott H. Biram (Bloodshot Records)
Kimmi Bitter – Old School (independent) +
Domenic Cicala – Bitter Blues (Tortured Artist Records)
The Coal Men – Everett (Vaskaleedez Records)
Sue Foley – One Guitar Woman (Stony Plain Records)
Sarah King – When it All Goes Down (Ringleader Records)
Josh Langston – Tastes Like Sin (Dusty Road Records) +
Sentimental Family Band – Sweethearts Only (Tomika Records) +
Emily Triggs – The Great Escape (independent)
Sarah Shook and the Disarmers – Revelations (Abeyance Records) +
Coming out soon … Cedric Burnside, Pi Jacobs, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, Lost Dog Street Band, Pokey LaFarge, Grant Langston, Old 97’s, Tim Easton, Charley Crockett, Iron & Wine, Chris Smither, David Myles, Anna Tivel, Richard Thompson, Kim Richey, Yarn, Silverada, The Mavericks and more!
