Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for September 27th, 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.
Randall Bramblett
Paradise Breakdown (Strolling Bones Records)
Randall Bramblett is a dreamcatcher of sorts. He captures images from the airy vaults where they recline, waiting to be downloaded by sensitive souls like him. Of course, translating them into a musical format requires some shapeshifting, so he blends jazz, country, folk, gospel, rock, and soul. For his latest, Paradise Breakdown, Bramblett once again pulls down a rich tapestry of images woven from an eclectic blend of styles and genres. The topics while being typical (love & loss, nostalgia & mortality, joy & disappointment) have a Bramblett edge & slant that average songwriters seldom explore. Once again, Randall Bramblett has given us something to hang onto when everything else goes to hell. A glimmer of light to mark the way across while showing you what lies in wait below. (Edited from No Depression review)
Billy Strings
Highway Prayers (Reprise Records)
Billy Strings is the best live performer on planet earth, any genre, and perhaps, any era. Future generations will be talking about Billy like we talk now about The Beatles, Elvis, and Bill Monroe now, except Billy takes it to an entirely other universe of improvisation and experimentation, while remaining unflinchingly a bluegrass artist. Even Strings himself admits openly that the best way to imbibe in his music is in the live setting. He’s never going to sell millions of studio albums, but that doesn’t mean he can’t get into the studio between shows and see what kind of trouble he can get into. In this case, it’s 20 original songs co-produced with Jon Brion. Simply put, the album finds the artist pushing expectations, the record as a whole beautifully spotlighting his too-often-overshadowed lyricism alongside his masterful picking. Highway Prayers is a gorgeous extension of the artist’s work in shaping bluegrass for a modern audience. (edited from Saving Country Music)
Also new this week…
JD McPherson – Nite Owls (New West Records)
Heather Pierson – Back To The Light (Vessel Recordings)
Julian Taylor – Pathways (Howling Turtle Records)
Wreckless Strangers – Blue Sky Fantasy (independent)
Coming out soon … Kasey Chambers, Mindy Smith, Twisted Pine, Mean Mary, Dan Reeder, Amy Speace, Eric Bibb, Wyatt Flores, Benjamin Tod, Yasmin Williams, Caleb Klauder & Reeb Wilms, Willie Nelson, Amythyst Kiah, Dwight Yoakam, and more!
