Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for September 13th, 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.
Mac Leaphart
Motel Breakfast (independent)
“It’s an upbeat honky-tonk rock & roll record that doesn’t skimp on the craft or stories,” says Leaphart, a South Carolina native who kickstarted his career playing the state’s Lowcountry bar scene. Not long after his first solo record, Line, Rope Etc, arrived in 2009, he moved to Nashville. There, he launched a recurring songwriter’s night called the Southpaw Social Club and strengthened his own writing chops, too, penning songs for other artists’ albums as well as his own. Two years after his last release, Leaphart headed back into the studio with producer Brad Jones and joined by Fats Kaplin, Matt Menefee, and other musicians. “I’m a real big fan of how Jerry Jeff Walker’s albums sound,” Leaphart explains. “They sound like a bunch of guys rolled out of bed, hungover, then stumbled into a studio and pressed record. I’m always going for that laid back vibe. I want it to be real loose and fun.” (edited from artist’s website)
Willie Watson
Willie Watson (Little Operation Records and More)
Unlike his previous solo albums, previous Old Crow Medicine Show member Willie Watson will not be interpreting old standards on this one. “After 30 years of playing music professionally, this is my debut album,” Willie Watson says. “This record is me beating the devil, or the story of what finally did it anyway. I didn’t make any specific pact or anything but I know we’ve been tangled up most of my life. Now that he’s gone I can love myself again.” Along for the ride is an impressive list of musicians that includes Gabe Witcher (Punch Brothers) and Kenneth Pattengale (Milk Carton Kids) as producers, Paul Kowert on bass, Benmont Tench on keys, and Sami Braman of The Onlies on fiddle. (edited from Saving Country Music review)
Also new this week…
Rebecca Frazier – Boarding Windows In Paradise (Amtoco Records) +
Kevin Gordon – The In Between (independent)
Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors – Strangers No More, Vol. 2 (Tone Tree Music)
Greg Loftus – No Kings In The Wild (independent)
Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets – Indoor Safari (Yep Roc Records) +
Lisa Morales – Sonora (Luna Records!)
Reckless Kelly – The Last Frontier (No Big Deal Records)
Shawna Thompson – Lean On Neon (Sun Label Group)
Eliza Thorn – Somebody New (independent) +
Coming out soon … Jerry Douglas, JP Harris, Randall Bramblett, Twisted Pine, Billy Strings, Amy Speace, Eric Bibb, Wyatt Flores, Benjamin Tod, Donavon Frankenreiter, Yasmin Williams, Caleb Klauder & Reeb Wilms, Amythyst Kiah, Dwight Yoakam, and more!
