ROUTES-cast July 27, 2025

ROUTES & BRANCHES

featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music

July 27, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

Um ...

IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to ONE RECORD THiS WEEK

... maybe we can't help you. One of the year's most crowded weeks for mainstream americana releases brings us new LPs from some of the more prominent names in our kind of music. What's more, we're also graced with new stuff from genre outliers and fringe dwellers. Honestly, just print out this week's playlist, mount it to the wall, and toss a dart. You're bound to land on something that's worth your time: The welcome return of Patty Griffin, our first true full solo LP from Lucero frontguy Ben Nichols, a fine dose of roots-pop from Night Moves, exquisite folk from Yoshika Colwell. Not to mention good stuff from Tyler Childers and Cory Hanson. Pressed to select just one (1), we might lean towards the intro of Australian indie/folk outfit Folk Bitch Trio, Now Would Be a Good Time (Jagjaguwar). The Staves with a subversive edge, or Haim gone acoustic. The Trio wrap it all in lovely harmonies that speak to tradition, while embracing an attitude and outlook that are entirely of today. 

ROUTES-cast July 27, 2025

^ Folk Bitch Trio, "Hotel TV" Now Would Be a Good Time  (Jagjaguwar, 25)

- Ada Lea, "Midnight Magic" when i paint my masterpiece  (Saddle Creek, Aug 8)

- Why Bonnie, "Fast (Demo)" Bedroom EP  (Fire Talk, 25)

- John Calvin Abney, "Last Chance" Transparent Towns  (JCA, Sep 19)  D

- Yoshika Colwell, "Last Night" On the Wing  (PIAS, 25)

- James Yorkston, "Oh Light Oh Light (ft Johanna Soderberg)" Songs for Nina and Johanna  (Domino, Aug 22)

- Mike Reid & Joe Henry, "Life and Time" Life and Time  (Work Song, Sep 5)  D

- Patty Griffin, "Way Up to the Sky" Crown of Roses  (PGM, 25)

- Briscoe, "Heat of July" Heat of July  (ATO, Sep 19)

- Shovels & Rope, "Hopes & Dreams" single  (Dualtone, 25)  D

- Jr Thomas, "Never Be Another" Jr Thomas in the Eraserhood  (DeepMatter, Sep 26)

- Tyler Childers, "Snipe Hunt" Snipe Hunter  (Hickman Holler, 25)

- Ben Nichols, "While the Stars Disappear" Into the Heart of the Mountain  (Liberty & Lament, 25)

- Will Hoge, "Another Planet" Sweet Misery  (Edlo, Aug 15)

- Cody Jinks, "Lost Highway" In My Blood  (Late August, 25)

- Sierra Ferrell & Nikki Lane, "Lesson in Leavin'" single  (Rounder, 25)  D

- Charley Crockett, "All Around Cowboy" Dollar a Day  (Island, Aug 8)

- Honeydogs, "Kill Switch" Algebra for Broken Hearts  (Jullian, 25)

- Droptines, "Take Too Much" single  (Big Loud, 25)  D

- Wednesday, "Pick Up That Knife" Bleeds  (Dead Oceans, Sep 18)

- Cory Hanson, "Texas Weather" I Love People  (Drag City, 25)

- Chris Staples, "A Cold New York Morning" Don't Worry  (Hot Tub, Aug 5)

- Geckos, "El Techno" Geckos  (Org, Sep 26)

- Bright Eyes, "1st World Blues" single  (Dead Oceans, 25)  D

- Case Oats, "Nora" Last Missouri Exit  (Merge, Aug 22)

- Night Moves, "Trying to Steal a Smile" Double Life  (Domino, 25)

- Trevor Sensor, "When I Had the Gall" A Few Tears of Eros  (High Black Desert, Aug 8)

- Anna Tivel, "White Goose" Animal Poem  (Fluff & Gravy, Aug 29)

- Gwenifer Raymond, "Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark" Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark  (We Are Busy Bodies, Sep 5)

- Nathan Evans Fox, "Hillbilly Hymn (Okra and Cigarettes)" single  (Free Dirt, 25)  D

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To enjoy any Spotify ROUTES-cast, just open Spotify and search for "routesandbranches" to access this most recent playlist, as well as many others from past months.  Or click here for a preview:

ROUTES-cast July 20, 2025

ROUTES & BRANCHES

featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music

July 20, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

In consideration for this week's One Record were a Bandcamp-released celebration of Michael Hurley from Jolie Holland & Max Knouse, a live reminder of Dougie Poole's strong catalog, and Alex G's superb Headlights. While Mr Giannascoli's new project might be the week's best choice, it's always our intention to present as diversified a selection as possible. Towards that end:

IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to ONE RECORD THiS WEEK

This year we've been suitably distracted by a lot of the alt.country and indie folk stuff that's been floated our way. Last Revel's Gone for Good  (Hassle House) reorients us at least temporarily in the roots music wilderness. Marking the outfit's sixth full-length, Gone is produced by fellow Minnesotan Dave Simonett, frontman for Trampled by Turtles. While there are differences and originalities, Last Revel share Trampled's fiddle-fueled energy. At the hands of Vinnie Donatelle, there is a fiery intensity to even the more restrained cuts. The sessions are delivered with a decidedly live and unhewn vibe, an impressive feat given the trio's super-natural harmonies and instrumental interplay. There is a bluegrass accent to Ryan Acker's banjo and Lee Henke's guitar, though Last Revel aren't a genre-bound act. Vocalist Henke wraps his delivery in a grit and a rasp that ensure his band's well-earned alt- , matching the cohort's instrumental passion and emotional investment. 

ROUTES-cast July 20, 2025

^ Last Revel, "Solid Gone" Gone for Good  (Hassle House, 25)

- Whiskey Myers, "Midnight Woman" Whomp Whack Thunder  (Wiggy Thump, Sep 26)

- Margo Price, "Don't Wake Me Up (ft Jesse Welles)" Hard Headed Woman  (Loma Vista, Aug 29)

- Steve Earle & Reckless Kelly, "Bad Girls" single  (Earle Kelly, 25)  D

- Jason Isbell, "Should I Go Missing" Something More Than Free (10 Year Anniversary Edition)  (Southeastern, 25)

- Daniel Donato, "Better Deal Blues" Horizons  (Retrace, Aug 22)  D

- Brothers Comatose, "25 Miles" Golden Grass  (Swamp Jam, Sep 12)

- Caroline Spence, "Fun at Parties" Heart Go Wild  (Spence, Aug 29)

- Dougie Poole, "Beth David Cemetery" At Tubby's  (Wharf Cat, 25)

- John Prine, "Hey Ah Nothin'" Lost Dogs + Mixed Blessings (Deluxe Edition)  (Oh Boy, Sep 12)  D

- Dean Johnson, "Death of the Party" I Hope We Can Still Be Friends  (Saddle Creek, Aug 22)

- Janet Simpson, "Tonight" single  (Cornelius Chapel, 25)

- Amanda Shires, "A Way It Goes" Nobody's Girl  (ATO, Sep 26)  D

- Billie Marten, "Planets" Dog Eared  (Fiction, 25)

- Natalie Bergman, "My Home Is Not In This World" My Home Is Not In This World  (Third Man, 25)

- Julianna Riolino, "Seed" Echo in the Dust  (MoonWhistle, Oct 24)

- Wood Brothers, "Above All Others" Puff of Smoke  (Honey Jar, Aug 1)

- Hermanos Gutierrez, "Elegantly Wasted (ft Leon Bridges)" single  (Easy Eye, 25)  D

- Curtis Harding, "Time" Departures & Arrivals: Adventures of Captain Curt  (Anti, Sep 5)

- St Paul & Broken Bones, "Sushi and Coca-Cola" St Paul & Broken Bones (Oasis Pizza, Oct 10)  D

- Yola, "Amazing" single  (S-Curve, 25)  D

- Alex G, "Oranges" Headlights  (RCA, 25)

- Boo Boos, "Total Thunder" Young Love  (Play it Again Sam, Sep 19)

- Fruit Bats, "Creature From the Wild" Baby Man  (Merge, Sep 12)

- Whitney, "Dandelions" single  (Whitney, Nov 7)  D

- Anna St Louis, "Summer Song" single  (St Louis, 25)  D

- Jeff Tweedy, "Enough" Twilight Override  (dBpm, Sep 26)  D

- Carson McHone, "Downhill" Pentimento  (Merge, Sep 12)

- Autumn Defense, "The Ones" Here and Nowhere  (Yep Roc, Oct 10)  D

- Kyle Morgan & Tamar Korn, "Anthem (ft Wyndham Baird)" Darkening Green  (Jalopy, Aug 15)

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To enjoy any Spotify ROUTES-cast, just open Spotify and search for "routesandbranches" to access this most recent playlist, as well as many others from past months.  Or click here for a preview:

ROUTES-cast July 14, 2025

ROUTES & BRANCHES

featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music

July 13, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

Back in The Day, MTV would present artists in their Unplugged series. Acts from Nirvana and Alice in Chains to 10,000 Maniacs and Clapton would perform their songs before a live audience, trading in their electric instruments for acoustic. Results were varied. More often than not, familiar arrangements wouldn't be tweaked much, simply allowing viewers to enjoy quieter versions of these songs. 

IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to ONE RECORD THiS WEEK

As a longtime member of Philadelphia's Purling Hiss, Mike Polizze unplugged very seldom, encouraging his guitar to fuzz and growl in a maelstrom of psychedelic noise. In 2020, he celebrated the pandemic and parenthood with his debut solo record. Paradise of Bachelors has released a follow-up, Around Sound, a primarily acoustic set that finds Polizze repurposing his band's psychedelia without simply swapping electricity for wood. Guitar remains his focus, though Polizze plays every instrument on the collection, layering keys, drums, bass, and additional guitars in addition to his own Westerberg-esque voice, typically laden with echo. Reportedly inspired by Robbie Basho, Around Sound is loose and charmingly raggedy, from the pastoral trickle of "After the Deluge" to the shambling "Fast Blues". On the title track, Mike Polizze proclaims, I'm just fine when it's simple. It's not Purling Hiss Unplugged, but the artist's sophomore solo project is a lovely swirl of sound for a momentary surrender. 

ROUTES-cast July 14, 2025

^ Mike Polizze, "After the Deluge" Around Sound  (Paradise of Bachelors, 25)

-  Foot Ox, "Horseshoe" A Lighthouse With Silver Dog Eyes  (Ernest Jenning, Aug 29)

- Neko Case, "Wreck" Neon Grey Midnight Green  (Anti, Sep 26)  D

- Geese, "Taxes" Getting Killed  (Partisan, Sep 26)  D

- Jessica Pounds, "Believe Me (ft Nathan Kalish)" single  (Yellow Canary, 25)  D

- Natalie Bergman, "Lonely Road" My Home Is Not In This World  (Third Man, Jul 18)

- Scott Ballew, "Hey Baby" single  (Leisure Rodeo, 25)  D

- David Newbould, "Broken Hearts Are Paint" Average Fidelity Vol 1  (Blackbird, 25)

- T Hardy Morris, "Don't Kill Your Time (to Shine)" Artificial Tears  (Normaltown, Aug 8)

- Laney Jones, "Another Rolling Stone" single  (AHPO, 25)  D

- Marcus King Band, "Here Today (ft Jamey Johnson, Kaitlin Butts)" Darling Blue  (Republic, Sep 26)  D

- Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, "Song to Sing" single  (Republic, 25)  D

- Sunny Sweeney, "Traveling On" Rhinestone Requiem  (Aunt Daddy, Aug 1)  

- Joelton Mayfield, "Speechwriter"  Crowd Pleaser  (Bloodshot, Oct 24)  D

- Travis Roberts, "Hereford Blues" Rebel Rose  (New West, Aug 1)  D

- Brent Cobb, "In Our Hands" Ain't Rocked in a While  (Ol Buddy, 25)

- Ben Nichols, "In the Heart of the Mountain" In the Heart of the Mountain  (Liberty & Lament, Jul 25)

- Hayes Carll, "We're Only Human" We're Only Human  (Hwy 87, Aug 8)

- Otis Gibbs, "Raze" single  (Gibbs, 25)  D

- Dougie Poole, "Vaping On the Job (live)" At Tubby's  (Wharf Cat, Jul 18)  

- Clover County, "Virginia Slim" Finer Things  (Undercover Lover, Sep 26)  D

- Wildmans, "Any Day Woman" Longtime Friend  (New West, 25)

- Molly Tuttle, "Highway Knows" So Long Little Miss Sunshine  (Nonesuch, Aug 15)

- Ruston Kelly, "Pickleball" Pale Through the Window  (Rounder, Sep 12)

- Rachel Baiman w/Viv & Riley, "Kissing Other People" Kissing Other ppl  (Peacedale, Aug 8)

- Waxahatchee & Kevin Morby, "You Found Me" single  (Anti/Dead Oceans, 25)  D

- Rosali, "Slow Pain" Slow Pain: Live and Solo From Drop of Sun  (Merge, Aug 1)  D

- Racing Mount Pleasant, "Your New Place" Racing Mount Pleasant  (R&R, Aug 15)

- Big Thief, "All Night All Day" Double Infinity  (4AD, Sep 5)

- MJ Lenderman, "Just Be Simple" I Will Swim to You: Tribute to Jason Molina  (Run For Cover, Sep 5)  D 

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To enjoy any Spotify ROUTES-cast, just open Spotify and search for "routesandbranches" to access this most recent playlist, as well as many others from past months.  Or click here for a preview:

ROUTES-cast July 6, 2025

ROUTES & BRANCHES

featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music

July 6, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

What with Independence Day falling on Friday this year, there isn't more than a smattering of new full-lengths this week. That said ...

IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to ONE RECORD THiS WEEK

Fact is, even on the busiest of release days, I would still strongly recommend the sophomore record from Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band, New Threats From the Soul (Sophomore Lounge). A one-time force behind such monikers as State Champion, Davis issued Dancing On the Edge in 2023, falling roughly into the lineage of Kurt Wagner, David Berman and Bill Callahan. New Threats is even less beholden to expectations, with songs that stretch beyond the seven-minute mark, characterized by the Kentucky artist's free-associating lyrics. The effect is mesmerizing, like piling elements of your average alt.country band into a box, adding extraneous sonic paraphernalia, then shaking it vigorously. See, f'rinstance the squelchy synths on "Mutilation Falls", the breeze of flute (and clinky toy piano) beneath the lovely "Mutilation Springs", the terrifically complimentary backing vocals throughout (Myriam Gendron, Catherine Irwin, Will Oldham, Grace Rogers, Lou Turner, etc etc). Despite the decidedly generous song length, there is little meandering on New Threats. While it's not easy to say what his pieces are "about", Ryan Davis is a surprising and expressive lyricist, unspooling one worthy phrase atop another: I learned that time was not my friend or my foe / More like one of the guys from work. 

ROUTES-cast July 6, 2025

^ Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band, "Simple Joy" New Threats From the Soul  (Sophomore Lounge, 25)

- Vandoliers, "Valencia" Life Behind Bars  (Break Maiden, 25)

- Honeydogs, "Attic Brain" Algebra for Broken Hearts  (Jullian, Jul 25)  D

- Pink Stones, "If I Can't Win (with You)" Thank the Lord ... It's the Pink Stones  (Normaltown, Sep 19)  D

- Alien Eyelid, "Vinegar Hill" single  (Tall Texan, 25)  D

- Harvest Thieves, "Cowboy Song" single  (Harvest, 25)  D

- Pat Hatt, "Drunk on Leaving" Pat Hatt EP  (Hatt, Jul 11)  D

- James Yorkston, "Moment Longer (ft Nina Persson)" Songs for Nina and Johanna  (Domino, Aug 22)

- Christian Lopez, "Know Your Name" Christian Lopez EP  (Paradox, 25)

- Lera Lynn, "Comic Book Cowboy" Comic Book Cowboy  (Ruby Range, Sep 19)  D

- Boo Boos, "That's Not a Thing" Young Love  (Play It Again Sam, Sep 19)

- Laura Stevenson, "Domino" Late Great  (Really, 25)

- Kolton Moore & the Clever Few, "When We Were Young" A Place That I Call Home  (Motion & Thought, Sep 26)  D

- Kathleen Edwards, "Pine" Billionaire  (Dualtone, Aug 22)

- Grant-Lee Phillips, "She Knows Me" In the Hour of Dust  (Yep Roc, Sep 5)

- Caitlin Canty, "Don't Worry About Nothing" Night Owl Envies the Mourning Dove  (Canty, Oct 2)

- Wildmans, "Take Me" Longtime Friend  (New West, Jul 11)  D

- Ryan Bingham, "Americana (ft Texas Gentlemen)" single  (Bingham, 25)  D

- Tyler Childers, "Oneida" Snipe Hunter  (Hickman Holler, Jul 25)

- Zach Bryan, "Streets of London" single  (Belting Bronce, 25)  D

- Charley Crockett, "Crucified Son" Dollar a Day  (Island, Aug 8)  D

- Ian Noe, "Born in the USA" single  (Lock13, 25)  D

- Nicki Bluhm, "Cumberland Banks" Rancho Deluxe  (Bluhm, Oct 3)  D

- Jesse Welles, "Wild Onions" Pilgrim  (Welles, 25)  

- Son of the Velvet Rat, "Wagon Wheel (ft Ghost and the Machine)"  single  (Rat Music, 25)  D

- Low Water Bridge Band, "Trust the Dark" Honky Tonk Process  (Mountain Sound, Aug 1)  D

- Willi Carlisle, "Wildflowers Growin''"  Winged Victory  (Signature Sounds, 25)

- Jackson & the Janks, "Windowsill" Write it Down  (Jalopy, 25)  D

- Third Mind, "Darkness Darkness" Right Now!  (Yep Roc, Sep 19)  D

- Emily Hines, "UFO" These Days  (Keeled Scales, Aug 1)

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To enjoy any Spotify ROUTES-cast, just open Spotify and search for "routesandbranches" to access this most recent playlist, as well as many others from past months.  Or click here for a preview:

ROUTES-cast June 29, 2025

ROUTES & BRANCHES

featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music

June 29, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to ONE RECORD THiS WEEK

There's a remarkable story behind Vandoliers' fifth full-length. The course of events began very early in frontperson Jenni Rose's life, but was truly set in motion in 2023 at a Tennessee concert when the Texas outfit took the stage in dresses as a protest against the governor's anti-drag bill. As she tells Rolling Stone, that served as her official debut as a trans woman. We encourage you to read the story,  but especially to listen to the Vandoliers' great Life Behind Bars (Break Maiden). Always a fiery performer, Jenni Rose and her band step into their role as the most likely heirs of Old 97s' country-punk mantle. Generously peppered with dashes of pedal steel, fiddle, and trumpet, Vandoliers never wander far from their Texas country roots, especially pairing with Joshua Ray Walker and Taylor Hunnicut on "You Can't Party With the Lights On". Life Behind Bars is driven by Jenni Rose's own story, but is not fettered by the life-and-death subject matter. On the contrary, in embracing her best way forward she has re-energized her band's glorious spectacle. 

ROUTES-cast June 29, 2025

^ Vandoliers, "Bible Belt" Life Behind Bars  (Break Maiden, 25)

- Willi Carlisle, "We Have Fed You All For 1000 Years" Winged Victory  (Signature Sounds, 25)

- SG Goodman, "I'm In Love" Planting By the Signs  (Slough Water, 25)

- Katie Pruitt, "Backseat Driver" single  (Rounder, 25)  D

- Kelsey Waldon, "Let It Lie" Every Ghost  (Oh Boy, 25)

- James McMurtry, "Pinocchio in Vegas" Black Dog & the Wandering Boy  (New West, 25)

- Patty Griffin, "Born in a Cage" Crown of Roses  (PGM, Jul 25)

- Christian Lopez, "Let It Sink In" Christian Lopez EP  (Paradox, 25)  D

- David Mead, "Maybe You've Had Enough (ft Kathleen Edwards)" January San Fernando  (Mead, Sep 19)  D

- Rodney Crowell, "Sometime Thang" Airline Highway  (New West, Aug 29)

- Morgan Wade, "Left Me Behind" Party is Over (recovered)  (Ladylike, Aug 1)

- Cody Jinks, "The Others" In My Blood  (Late August, Jul 25)

- Ashley McBryde, "Rattlesnake Preacher" single  (Warner, 25)  D

- Jason Eady, "Some Things Are Wrong (and that's alright)" single  (Old Guitar, 25)

- Caitlin Canty, "Bird Dog" Night Owl Envies the Mourning Dove  (Canty, Oct 2)

- Owen Temple, "Drought or Flood" single  (El Paisano, 25)  D

- Joseph Decosimo, "Ida Red" Fiery Gizzard  (Dear Life, Aug 15)  D

- Tommy Prine, "Purple Paint" single  (Nameless Knight, 25)  D

- Billy Allen + the Pollies, "Run Baby Run" Black Noise  (Single Lock, 25)

- Durand Jones & the Indications, "Rust and Steel" Flowers  (Dead Oceans, 25)

- Alex G, "June Guitar" Headlights  (RCA, Jul 18)

- Greg Freeman, "Gallic Shrug" Burnover  (Transgressive, Aug 22)

- Laura Stevenson, "I Want to Remember It All" Late Great  (Really, 25)

- Kurt Vile, "Classic Love (ft Luke Roberts)" Classic Love EP  (Verve, Jul 25)  D

- Briscoe, "Roughnecks" Heat of July  (ATO, Sep 19)  D

- Case Oats, "In a Bungalow" Last Missouri Exit  (Merge, Aug 22)

- Ada Lea, "something in the wind" I paint my masterpiece  (Saddle Creek, Aug 8)

- Scott McMicken and THE EVER-EXPANDING, "Heart 'n Split" NEW PURPLE DRESS  (Press On, 25)

- Nadia Reid, "Moment By" single  (Chrysalis, 25)  D

- Folk Bitch Trio, "Moth Song" Now Would Be a Good Time  (Jagjaguwar, Jul 25)

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To enjoy any Spotify ROUTES-cast, just open Spotify and search for "routesandbranches" to access this most recent playlist, as well as many others from past months.  Or click here for a preview:

ROUTES-cast June 22, 2025

ROUTES & BRANCHES

featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music

June 22, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

One big challenge with our If You Only Listen strategy is that weeks like this offer several likely candidates. In principle, we disagree with selecting a single album, but we're also aware that it's better than resorting to your old, musty favorites. This Episode, we've considered recommending Kelsey Waldon's impressive new project, a lovingly fractured album from Little Mazarn, and a reminder that James McMurtry continues to make music that matters. But ...

IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to ONE RECORD THiS WEEK

... you should spend some time with SG Goodman's Planting By the Signs. Simplicity ain't easy. On her third full-length album, the Kentucky songwriter presents her Songs of the Haunted South with as minimal accompaniment as we've heard. Matt Pence's drums are direct, while electric guitars ring ("Fire Sign"), buzz ("Michael Told Me") and fret ("Solitaire"). Without layering or reverb, Goodman's tattered voice is both deeply traditional and reliably unconventional. Even in its untamed state, her delivery is beautiful on "I'm in Love" and on the stirring "Solitaire". The magic Goodman weaves on Planting has become darker, fueled by compassion and loss, her lyrics often repeated like an incantation. It's a striking collection from one of the genre's increasingly valuable voices. 

ROUTES-cast June 22, 2025

^ SG Goodman, "I Can See the Devil" Planting By the Signs  (Slough Water, 25)

- James McMurtry, "Laredo (Small Dark Something)" Black Dog & Wandering Boy  (New West, 25)

- Lukas Nelson, "American Romance" American Romance  (Sony, 25)

- Kelsey Waldon, "Ghost of Myself" Every Ghost  (Oh Boy, 25)

- Will Hoge, "Sweet Misery" Sweet Misery  (Hoge, Aug 22)  D

- Joshua Ray Walker, "I Don't Wanna Be Alone" Tropicana  (East Dallas, 25)

- Brent Cobb, "Take Yer Meds" Ain't Rocked in a While  (Ol' Buddy, Jul 11)

- Carson McHone, "Winter Breaking" Pentimento  (Merge, Sep 12)  D

- Chris Staples, "Doesn't Matter Now" Don't Worry  (Hot Tub, Aug 5)

- Cass McCombs, "Peace" Interior Live Oak  (Domino, Aug 15)

- Billie Marten, "Clover" Dog Eared  (Fiction, Jul 18)

- Bonnie Dobson & Hanging Stars, "Get Together" Dreams  (Loose, Jul 11)

- Scott McMicken and THE EVER-EXPANDING, "One Good Reason" NEW PURPLE DRESS  (Press On, 25)  D

- Wood Brothers, "The Trick" Puff of Smoke  (Honey Jar, Aug 1)

- Left Lane Cruiser, "Broke Down Lines" single  (Alive Natural Sound, 25)  D

- Deep Dark Woods, "Traded in Your Name" single  (Victory Pool, 25)  D

- Dean Johnson, "Before You Hit the Ground" I Hope We Can Still Be Friends  (Saddle Creek, Aug 22)

- Kyle Morgan & Tamar Korn, "Everything is Free" Darkening Green  (Jalopy, Aug 15)

- Jeffrey Martin, "Edge of Lost" single  (Fluff & Gravy, 25)  D

- Anna Tivel, "Animal Poem" Animal Poem  (Fluff & Gravy, Aug 29)  D

- Ben Nichols, "Darkness Sings" In the Heart of the Mountain  (Liberty & Lament, Jul 25)

- Cory Hanson, "Lou Reed" I Love People  (Drag City, Jul 25)

- Little Mazarn, "Great Divide" Mustang Island  (Dear Life, 25)

- Lucius, "Joyride" Joyride EP  (Fantasy, 25)  D

- Fruit Bats, "Stuck in My Head Again" Baby Man  (Merge, Sep 12)  D

- Dears, "Babe We'll Find a Way" single  (Next Door, 25)  D

- Boo Boos, "C'mon Baby" Young Love  (Play it Again Sam, Sep 19)  D

- Wednesday, "Wound Up Here (By Holdin On)" Bleeds  (Dead Oceans, Sep 19)

- Max Knouse, "Chipmunk'd Away" Chipmunk'd Away  (Jealous Butcher, 25)

- Steve Gunn, "Slow Singers on the Hill" Music for Writers  (Three Lobed, Aug 15)  D

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To enjoy any Spotify ROUTES-cast, just open Spotify and search for "routesandbranches" to access this most recent playlist, as well as many others from past months.  Or click here for a preview:

ROUTES-cast June 15, 2025

ROUTES & BRANCHES

featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music

June 15, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

For this week's Episode, we'll forego our traditional one-album recommendation to make room for our traditional half-year favorites list. We'll call it: 

IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to TEN RECORDS THiS WEEK

While we dearly miss the pace of last year's post-a-day, we feel no less invested in our mission of new music discovery. The first half of 2025 has brought us a wealth of stuff to consider for our First Half Favorites list. In compiling our top ten below, we began with a list of more than forty (40) records that have resonated with us over the past six months. The following appear in order of appearance: 

Weather Station, Humanhood  (Fat Possum, Jan 17)

Pigeon Pit, Crazy Arms  (Ernest Jenning, Jan 17)

Fust, Big Ugly  (Dear Life, Mar 7)

Jason Isbell, Foxes in the Snow  (Southeastern, Mar 7)

Free Range, Lost & Found  (Mick, Mar 28)

Brown Horse, All the Right Weaknesses  (Loose, Apr 4)

Will Johnson, Diamond City  (Keeled Scales, Apr 4)

Colin Miller, Losin'  (Mtn Laurel, Apr 25)

Florry, Sounds Like ...  (Dear Life, May 23)

Alan Sparhawk & Trampled by Turtles, Alan Sparhawk & Trampled by Turtles  (Sub Pop, May 30)

If we're being perfectly honest (we are), in the next couple months, we're most looking forward to the release of albums by SG Goodman, Ryan Davis & Roadhouse Band, Ben Nichols, Ada Lea, and Greg Freeman. And Anna Tivel. You can see a complete, up-to-the-minute accounting of stuff on the horizon on our Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster. Now, onto to process of building our favorites list for the second half of 2025. 

ROUTES-cast June 15, 2025

^ Max Knouse, "Mint and Tobacco" Chipmunk'd Away  (Jealous Butcher, Jun 13)  D

- Janet Simpson, "Used to Be" single  (Cornelius Chapel, 25)

- Ryan Davis & Roadhouse Band, "Monte Carlo/No Limits" New Threats From the Soul  (Sophomore Lounge, Jul 25)

- Laura Stevenson, "I Couldn't Sleep" Late Great  (Really, Jun 27)

- Mike Polizze, "Around Sound" Around Sound  (Paradise of Bachelors, Jul 11)

- Julianna Riolino, "On a Bluebird's Wing" Echo in the Dust  (MoonWhistle, Oct 24)  D

- Trevor Sensor, "Heaven's a Big Disgrace" A Few Tears of Eros  (High Black Desert, Aug 8)

- Hallelujah the Hills, "Superglued to You (ft Lydia Loveless)" DECK  (Discrete Pageantry, 25)

- Kathleen Edwards, "Say Goodbye Tell No One" Billionaire  (Dualtone, Aug 22)

- Iron & Wine, "Robin's Egg (ft I'm With Her)" single  (Sub Pop, 25)  D

- Kissing Other ppl, "Ashes of American Flags" Kissing Other ppl  (Peacedale, Aug 8)

- James Yorkston, "A Moment Longer (ft Nina Persson)" Songs for Nina and Johanna  (Domino, Aug 22)

- Los Straitjackets, "High Wire Act" Somos Los Straitjackets  (Yep Roc, Sep 19)  D

- Last Revel, "Go On" Gone for Good  (Hassle House, Jul 18)  D

- Jesse Welles, "Pilgrim" single  (Welles, 25)  D

- Joshua Ray Walker, "Keys to the Tacoma" Tropicana  (East Dallas, 25)  D

- Kashus Culpepper & Sierra Ferrell, "Broken Wing Bird" single  (Big Loud, 25)  D

- Margo Price, "Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down" Hard Headed Woman  (Loma Vista, Aug 29)  D

- Tyler Childers, "Nose On the Grindstone" Snipe Hunter  (Hickman Holler, Jul 25)  D

- Bones Owens, "Old Time Low" Best Western  (Black Ranch, Sep 19)  D

- Caroline Spence, "Where the Time Goes" Heart Go Wild  (Spence, Aug 29)

- Otis Gibbs, "Eastside" single  (Wanamaker, 25)  D

- Gasoline Lollipops, "Tennessee Nights" Kill the Architect  (ALP, 25)

- Patrick Sweany, "Ain't it Hell" Baby It's Late  (Nine Mile, Aug 1)

- Murder by Death, "Sorry" Egg & Dart  (MbD, 25)

- Yoshika Colwell, "In Bloom" On the Wing  (Blue Flowers, Jul 25)

- Micah P Hinson, "Oh Sleepyhead" single  (Ponderosa, 25)  D

- Leon Bridges, "Hold On" single  (Columbia, 25)  D

- Jr Thomas & Eraserhood Sound, "By Your Side" Jr Thomas in the Eraserhood  (DeepMatter, Sep 26)

- Mavis Staples, "Godspeed" single  (Anti, 25)  D

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