ROUTES & BRANCHES
featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music
October 18, 2024
Scott Foley, purveyor of dust
As promised, we were off the proverbial grid for a couple days last week. For this week's Episode of WSGATW?!! we're actually bending our own rules a bit by folding in songs from the last TWO weeks. We're also highlighting SIX cuts (because we can). Fact is, there's been so very much good new stuff lately that it's tough to decide what to leave on the cutting floor. While we won't advise you to ignore this Episode, we'd suggest you follow it up by streaming our last couple Spotify ROUTES-casts. And follow us while you're there.
WHAT's SO GREAT ABOUT THiS WEEK?!!
Flatland Cavalry, "Three Car Garage" Flatland Forever (Interscope, Nov 8)
One of four unreleased songs reportedly included on the beloved six-piece band's retrospective celebration of a decade together, "Three Car Garage" was written for their 2015 Come May EP. Fast forward ten years and Cleto Cordero and co. were nominated for ACM's Group Of the Year (but lost to <checks notes> Old Dominion). The imminently likeable song seems a throwback to simpler times, when a quality stringband arrangement and a singalong chorus could take you far. Memories paint the walls, tell our story / A modest montage / About you and me and our three car garage.
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Rose City Band, "Lights On the Way" Sol y Sombra (Thrill Jockey, Jan 24)
There is really nothing new under Ripley Johnson's sun as Rose City Band, and that's fine. This first single from the psychedelic country-rock outfit recalls "Touch Of Grey" era Dead, with the fluid pedal steel of Barry Walker and the group-sing chorus. Johnson created more challenging music during his days with Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo, but his cosmic americana has never been more satisfying than it has been lately with Rose City.
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Lilly Hiatt, "Shouldn't Be" Forever (New West, Jan 31)
John Hiatt's girl has been sharing some adventurous singles since '21's Lately, stuff that has challenged her reputation as an occupant of the americana lane (including an excellent cover of the Church's "Under the Milky Way"). With its ripping electric guitar and bright production, this second single from her 2025 full-length continues to push expectations, portraying Hiatt as an edgy pop singer-songwriter: I come from a place where we don't fuck around / Los Angeles roots, feet ain't on the ground / Don't say what you mean, just do what you say / We like it best in action that way.
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Wussy, "Sure As the Sun" Cincinnati Ohio (Shake It, Nov 15)
More Wussy? Yes. More Wussy. As Stereogum has declared, It's Wussy season. Where the first single from Cincinnati Ohio featured Lisa Walker, "Sure As the Sun" shifts the focus to Chuck Cleaver, whose deadpan delivery contrasts with what he calls one of my more hopeful songs. The chorus proclaims, Believe in everyone. Cue the horns.
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Brennan Wedl, "Heartland" single (Wedl, Oct 16)
In "My Father's House", as heard on his classic Nebraska, Springsteen spoke of attempting to atone for his own father's shortcomings. Brennan Wedl's new single draws inspiration from Bruce's story, relating her own experience of how divorce in the heartland challenged everything she valued. The Nashville songwriter's newest in a recent series of singles features just Wedl's own guitar and vocals, joined by Jack McLoughlin's pedal steel for a track as bare and direct as the songs that populate Nebraska. Her voice reaching for its upper limits: I miss the way it was when we were together / Because together was my heaven.
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Fantastic Negrito, "I Hope Somebody's Loving You" Son Of a Broken Man (Storefront, Oct 18)
We'll close with two of the most impressive mutton chops and one of the year's deepest soul tracks from Xavier Dphrepaulezz, aka Fantastic Negrito. Like a rediscovered number from a bargain bin cutout, "I Hope" drinks from the stream of Solomon Burke or Etta James, a heartfelt loverboy testimony that highlights the performing songwriter's unreal flair. And sideburns.
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