WHAT's SO GREAT ABOUT THiS WEEK?!! (August 14, 2026)

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

August 14, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

WHAT's SO GREAT ABOUT THiS WEEK?!!

Samantha Crain, "Tvshki cha foha" single  (Crain, 26)

Samantha Crain is quietly amassing quite a nice collection of singles lately. This new one features support vocals from fellow Oklahoma Native American Ken Pomeroy, as well as some solid percussion from Ramsey Thornton. When we looked up the title on our free online Choctaw translator, it came back with Hello friend / I understand / Thank you for your kindness. Crain herself, however, translates it, Lie down and rest / Tired one / You have strength, and we've got to be honest that we trust Crain here. 

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Tallest Man On Earth, "Deliver Me From Trying" Just Beyond Endless Mountain  (Anti, Oct 9)

You enjoy horses? Boy have we got a video for you. Kristian Matsson's new single from the just-announced album features his familiar delivery, as well as his sometimes impenetrable lyrics, though the arrangement updates the TMOE sound a bit. It's like a bonfire blues / To a shivering god ... We don't know what it means, but we like it. And, to be honest, we're just happy to have a video to share. 

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Allison de Groot & Rich Ruth, "Nervion" Allison de Groot & Rich Ruth  (Western Vinyl, Oct 2)

Perhaps you're in the mood for banjo, but maybe clawhammer from another planet? The Canadian player has received all the accolades for her trad work. Rich Ruth is the stage name for multi-instrumentalist Michael Ruth, who was set to produce a record for de Groot until the project went way left. With contributions from Spencer Cullum and Patrick McGonigle, the record promises to take folk, old-timey and bluegrass where it's probably never been. 

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Sadurn, "Never Tell Me" The Underworld  (Run For Cover, Oct 16)

It's not necessary that you have fun in your video. Sometimes it's just enough to chase horses around a field. But we're all about the music here, and we're increasingly eager to hear the rest of Sadurn's October full-length. It's not enough to keep us together / But I'm in love with the sleeve of your dress / I'm in love with your shoulder - this is a lovely, midtempo number with a sweet lyric, even if the video plays like Blair Witch reinterpreted by Sid and Marty Krofft. 

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Panamint, "Wrapped Around Your Finger" (Paramint, 26)

... aaaand, of course, we'll finish things off for the week with a Post Malone cover. This one comes courtesy of singer-songwriter Anna St Louis and Jarvis Taveniere of Woods, performing under the name Panamint. The duo opt for a light-as-foam approach, encouraging Posty's pop in more of a late-night direction. 

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A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER (August 13, 2026)

A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER

good news about good noise

August 13, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

Hey, what's new? If you're looking for a literal answer, check out our compulsively updated new release calendar, A Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster. Over the past week, we've added new announcements from folks like the Yawpers, whose Teething should reach us on or about September 4 (DTTW). After almost calling it quits, Uncle Lucius are in it to win it. They'll unleash Open Eyes Broken Heart on September 25 (Boo Clap). What we really want is a Gourds project. That said, we're pleased to see Kev Russell's Shinyribs looking to October 9 for the appearance of his Real Alligator (Spaceflight). Nothing wrong with a new Joan Shelley record, even if it's a deluxe edition of something we've already got. Over and Even + Demos includes ... well, demos of songs from those sessions (No Quarter, Oct 16). Finally, we can always count on Caroline Rose for boundary-challenging stuff. See, f'rinstance, Gentling the Horse At Walt Whitman Mall, set for an October 23 release (SUCK). 

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^ Our updates lately have paid frequent attention to the forthcoming record by Nate Amos and This Is Lorelei. NME has shared a good, long profile of Mr Amos. Among other info, the piece notes that next month's The Singer In My Band, gets closer to roots music than Amos has before. We expect this to be one of the more impactful indie-roots releases for the year. 

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This is neat. In conjunction with this week's release of her Bluegrass Women album, Lindsay Lou is releasing a four-part documentary about the creation of the record, which celebrates the female contribution to the history of bluegrass music. Part 1 is on her YouTube page. 

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We love Waylon Payne's recent Wayward LP, and have always felt he would be able to write a great memoir. Short of that happening, we're here for Americana UK's conversation with the songwriter, wherein he talks about the family business, playing with Willie Nelson's beard, and being taken in by a drag queen. 

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We've been sharing new Chaparelle singles as they're released, eager for the duo of Zella Day and Jesse Woods to declare their plan for a full-length. While we're biding our time, Grateful Web tells of Bleeding Hearts, a documentary about the act that will be debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival. 

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Here's a concerning update to the store we shared a few weeks ago about the suspension of activity at Levon Helm Studios. It's being alleged that Amy Helm's reported mismanagement might have included a degree of financial impropriety. Stereogum has more info. Unless it's disappeared behind their cruel and imposing paywall. You might want to check if Pitchfork's account is available. Otherwise you'll just have to search for yourself. 

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Thee Sacred Souls are presently on tour with LA Lom and the Womack Sisters. Glide Magazine catches up with the bass player, Sal Salmano, to chat about how the tour came together. 

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Eric Bachman was at Wuxtry Records in Athens, Georgia. A new video reveals his haul following a  crate diving session.  It should be noted that Bachman's Crooked Fingers produced Swet Deth in February. 

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Last week we bemoaned the shuttering of Brooklyn Vegan, among our most valued music blogs. Andrew Sacher, one of the site's longtime writers, has introduced Unhappy Place, a Substack where he'll be publishing his reflections on new music for the time being. You might considering subscribing as a strategy for upping your flow of email. Yesterday's post highlighted a handful of great new alt.country tracks!

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Saving Country Music unveils info about Hello Honky Tonk, a new collection by Kaitlin Butts. It certainly didn't hurt her cause that Butts carried a key role in the video for the unrivaled Song Of the Summer, Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas". 

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LOOKBACK MACHiNE: Handsome Family

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

August 12, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

Handsome Family have only become odder the more they have played it straight. Brett and Rennie Sparks have remained true to their outsider vision, even when their "Far From Any Road" became one of popular music's most unlikely hits as the theme song for the opening season of True Detective in 2014. While Brett's sturdy, sober delivery makes any Handsome Family song immediately recognizable, Rennie's lyrics make them exceptional. Dark, hallucinatory, concerning. Answering the question of how it might sound if the Brothers Grimm were products of our own age, turning to roots music rather than written fables. 

"Far From Any Road" aside, Handsome Family have never been embraced by the mainstream of our kind of music, though any playlist of gothic americana would be incomplete without their contribution. The Sparks have pre-announced a Spring 2027 tour, which kindles hope for their first new stuff in a couple years. We would make a case for In the Air, Singing Bones, and Last Days Of Wonder as the height of Handsome Family's dark arts, even as more recent projects continue to sound great. 

We include here a few covers, including the duo's take on a Bottle Rockets tune, and another reinterpreting Wilco's "Capitol City". Both Smothered and Covered and Scattered offer some strong trad work, as well as their requisite run through Dylan's catalogue. But Handsome Family succeed on their own terms, checking the novelty box simply by following their own bent, sincere muse. 

 

HANDSOME FAMiLY: thirty favorites

- "Arlene" Odessa  (1995)

- "Everything That Rises Must Converge" 

- "Drunk By Noon" Milk & Scissors  (1996)

- "Lake Geneva"

- "Weightless Again" Through the Trees  (1998)

- "My Sister's Tiny Hands"

- "Stalled"

- "Giant Of Illinois"

- "So Much Wine" In the Air  (2000)

- "Don't Be Scared" 

- "All the TVs In Town"

- "Cold Cold Cold"

- "Natalie Wood" Smothered and Covered  (2002)

- "24-Hour Store" Singing Bones  (2003)

- "Bottomless Hole"

- "Far From Any Road"

- "Fallen Peaches"

- "Your Great Journey" Last Days Of Wonder  (2006)

- "Flapping Your Broken Wings" 

- "Little Sparrows" Honey Moon  (2009)

- "A Thousand Diamond Rings"

- "Drinking Beer On the Road" Scattered  (2010)

- "Caterpillars" Wilderness  (2013)

- "1000 Dollar Car" While No One Was Looking: Toasting 20 Years Of Bloodshot Records  (2014)

- "Gold" Unseen  (2016)

- "Back In My Day" 

- "Capitol City" single  (2019)

- "Joseph" Hollow  (2023)

- "King Of Everything" 

- "To the Oaks" 

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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:

IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to ONE RECORD THiS WEEK (August 11, 2026)

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

August 11, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to ONE RECORD THiS WEEK

NYC songwriter/guitarist Margaret Glaspy has ranged across a good amount of stylistic territory for an artist who has just released their fourth full-length. Glaspy's aptly-titled Emotions and Math (2016) introduced her as a confident performer, a purveyor of songs with teeth and sophistication. While 2020's Devotion has been dismissed as Glaspy's foray into synth-pop, the project is successful in its ability to package her songs in a more major key, in addition to acknowledging her diverse vocal ability. Co-produced by partner Julian Lage, Echo the Diamond (2023) brought back Glaspy's electric guitar, and delivered some of her edgiest sounds to date. An EP of covers, last year's Golden Heart Protector spoke to some of her stylistic influences, from Wilco to Lucinda. Margaret Glaspy's new I Am Both (ATO) positions itself smartly at the intersection of these varied expressions. 

For her new sessions, Glaspy turned to Joe Henry for production. A veteran singer-songwriter, Henry has earned a reputation for his austere economy of sound, both as a producer and a performer. For I Am Both, he brings some frequent collaborators to support Glaspy, including drummer Jay Bellerose, Patrick Warren on keys, and bassist Ross Gallagher. The result is a first-take immediacy, an artfully light touch that belies the teeth of Margaret Glaspy's lyrics. While she has always tended towards more skeletal arrangements, these new sessions are almost entirely acoustic, presenting the songs in as close to folk settings as we've heard from Glaspy. The singer opts for a conversational sung/spoken delivery for songs like the title track and "I Thought She Was a Song". 

Many of the pieces on I Am Both highlight the practice of carrying contradiction, both in terms of identity and in our interpersonal connections. One of the record's rare electric guitar sightings, "Petty" begins, Can't you read my mind / I thought telepathy was a requirement for love. "James and Marie" is a sketch of a relationship set to a drum shuffle. Glaspy observes, She once thought he was a god / Now he's a boy that's flowed. The narrator of "I Thought She Was a Song" recalls their admiration for a free-spirited high school classmate. Glaspy has spoken of taking a reset approach to her writing, resulting in a consistent sophistication and thoughtfulness that is by turns artful and direct. 

Like Anna Tivel or Tamara Lindeman of Weather Station, Margaret Glaspy exercises a keen eye for moments in time that speak to a more abiding truth. On the album watermark, "Michigan", she asks, You said you didn't need me / Well who's standing in whose driveway.  The song plays like a familiar Greenwich folk number. Among the collection's fullest cuts, "That Rose" finds Glaspy exercising her poetic pen: I dreamt you looked into the clouds like they were my eyes / You made them blush - the clouds got shy / And made a red sky. She addresses the value in simply showing up on "Reminder": Doing nothing is something I do too well. 

Working with Joe Henry to retool her sound has served to bring her vocal and lyrical gifts to the forefront. Always a skilled if restrained guitarist, Glaspy's instrumental gifts are complimented as well, especially in light of Bellerose's expressive percussion. I Am Both is quite a percussive record, in terms of vocal flow and guitar. Margaret Glaspy's exercise in restraint actually speaks to her boldness and artistic courage, her singing both fragile and confidently wielded. On the title cut, her spoken/sung recitation echoes Gil Scott-Heron: He said I lived too close to the train tracks / Well if you ask me I'm just a little too far back / I like a little whistle in my life. 

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ROUTES-cast August 9, 2026

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

August 9, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

ROUTES-cast August 9, 2026

^ Mama's Broke, "Old-Fashioned Love Song" Reunion  (Free Dirt, Aug 28)

- Ocie Elliott, "Her Eyes Dart Round" Felice County Fair (Celebration Of the Felice Brothers)  (Sony, Oct 16)

- Low Gap, "Amtrak Train" single  (Cloverdale, 26)

- Bonnie Prince Billy, "London May (Live In the City Of Ghosts)" Ghosts Of American Psychonauts  (No Quarter, Sep 18)  D

- Muireann Bradley, "True Love Will Find You In the End" Blackwood Pew EP  (Verve, Oct 23)  D

- Riley Downing, "Helen & Gene" Landfill Poetry  (Oh Boy, Aug 28)

- Kacy Lee Anderson, "Giving In" Hello I'm Irrelevant  (Earth Libraries, Oct 23)  D

- Palmyra, "Pick Me Up" Cheap Beer EP  (Oh Boy, Sep 18)

- Margo Cilker, "Little White Cross" Little White Cross  (Fossil, Oct 9)  D

- Sierra Ferrell, "Trying To Love You" single  (Rounder, 26)  D

- Sam Burton, "I'm a Stranger" Fairweather Friend  (Captured Tracks, Oct 29)  D

- Silverada, "Second Hand" Living Proof  (Edgewater, 26)

- Star Room Boys, "Why Do Lonely Men and Women Break Each Other's Hearts" Why Do Lonely Men and Women Break Each Other's Hearts  (Strolling Bones, Sep 25)  D

- Shaun Couture, "Scratch Off Ticket" single  (General Store, 26)  D

- Futurebirds, "Pretty Eyes" Far Out Country  (Dualtone, Sep 4)

- Left Arm Tan, "Rolling Under the Stars" When Tigers Smoked  (LAT, Oct 9)  D

- Steve Earle & Los Lobos, "Volver a Celaya" single  (New West, 26)  D

- Tre Burt, "Hold Me Slowly Till I Float" single  (Oh Boy, 26)  D

- Lucy Dacus, "Clay Pigeons" Sittin' With Blaze: Tribute To Blaze Foley  (Lost Art, 26)

- Danielle Ponder, "Sun and Moon" Everything Has Changed  (Dead Oceans, Oct 9)  D

- Margaret Glaspy, "Reminder" I Am Both  (ATO, 26)

- Deloyd Elze, "Drive Like I Never Been Hurt" Nellene (Extended)  (Concord, 26)  D

- This Is Lorelei, "Oh No Now My" Singer In My Band  (Matador, Sep 11)  

- Fort Frances, "Parliament Lights" Fort Frances EP  (Roadblock, 26)  D

- Hollow Hand, "Heavy Metal T-Shirt" Wish Road South  (Loose, Sep 4)

- Lake Street Dive, "You're Never Around" single  (Dive Not Drive, 26)  D

- Alabama Shakes, "Garden" I Must Be Dreaming  (Island, Aug 28)  

- Westside Cowboy, "Dobro" It Goes On  (Island, Aug 21)  D

- Way Dynamic, "Officially" Massive Shoe (Reissue)  (Jagjaguwar, Oct 2)

- @, "Punish My Mind" Autosmile  (4AD, Oct 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:

WHAT's SO GREAT ABOUT THiS WEEK?!! (August 7, 2026)

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

August 7, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

WHAT's SO GREAT ABOUT THiS WEEK?!!

As we've stated, there is no shortage of good new singles on an average week. We can disappear down a deep dark hole mining for just the right songs. We also appreciate a fun video, though we have absolutely none of those this week. Good stuff, though, so just close your eyes and make up your own visuals. 

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Futurebirds, "Pretty Eyes" Far Out Country  (Dualtone, Sep 4)

All of the sudden Futurebirds strike gold. At this point we've heard about half of their forthcoming double LP, Far Out Country, and it's been fine. Over the years we've had no problem representing their slightly sticky alt.country to our playlists, but nothing has hit like this pretty, simple ballad: We're gonna learn to fight it, like it or not / So come on give in to me, dust to divinity. 

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Left Arm Tan, "Rolling Under the Stars" When Tigers Smoked  (LAT, Oct 9)

There's a great story behind Left Arm Tan's return, and we're hoping they'll tell it as the release date approaches. For now, we're happy to share the initial single from When Tigers Smoked. So much to like here, from the insistent low-end pulse to the watercolored pedal steel, and those border-adjacent horns. While we wait for more, we'd recommend you all listen to the band's superb three-album run from 2013-2018: Alticana, Lorene, El Camino ...

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Kacy Lee Anderson, "Giving In" Hello I'm Irrelevant  (Earth Libraries, Oct 23)

Known for her work as one-half of Kacy & Clayton, Canada's Kacy Lee Anderson returns with one of the best LP titles of the year. Where her duo tended towards trad and pastoral, this debut single offers a more updated profile. From her publicity: she's writing the songs she wants to hear, whether anyone else cares or not. Not always the most advisable move, it seems to be working just fine here. 

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Odyssey Cult, Vol 3  (Silver Current, Aug 21)

Here is the only song we've ever represented that has been likened to Lemmy-era Hawkwind. The project of guitarist Ethan Miller, there is certainly a heavy-osity to this one. The evolving outfit's third project includes contributions from an impressively diverse range of friends, from legendary drummer Steve Shelley and squaky sax-player Zoh Amba to long-lost vocalist Paula Frazer. 

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Margo Cilker, "Little White Crosses" Little White Crosses  (Fossil, Oct 9)

The Washington State songwriter turned to Bruce Robison to co-produce her third full-length, following Pohorylle and Valley Of Heart's Delight. Comments Cilker, You could definitely call it a concept record. If that concept is that I got really sad and went to Texas. "Little White Crosses" covers a 2022 song by Christy Hays, a writer who also deserves to be discovered (have you heard "Don't Let Me Die In California"?). 

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A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER (August 6, 2026)

A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER

good news about good noise

August 6, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

Here's where we provide readers with a quick and incomplete survey of some of the more engaging stories and sights we've collected this week during our regular jaunts across the 'net. While we strive to populate our own site with as much original content as possible, we're eternally grateful for our fellow bloggers, many of whom are listen among our Good Place To Start links. One of our favorite stops has been Brooklyn Vegan, especially valuable for information regarding new singles. Unfortunately, BV was effectively gutted this week, the operation seemingly shuttered by the site's parent group. With other conglomerators crouching behind a paywall or shutting down altogether, the voices of independent music writers are increasingly valuable. 

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^ Sam & Louise Sullivan perform under one of the least sexy names in all of popular music. Perhaps this is not a surprise, their excellent new Love & Devotion project recorded by a pair of Quaker school teachers from Philadelphia. We hope Stereogum's recent interview hasn't disappeared behind a paywall, but give it a try anyway. 

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Wow. Has it really been since 2019 that we were gifted a new LP from Pieta Brown? We share Twangville's enthusiasm about Dreamin' Of, due later this month. The singer-songwriter spills the details in an interview addressing borrowing her mother-in-law Iris Dement's touring van. And more. 

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Jon Spencer has been an essential force in the continuing fight to land the sound of punk-blues music in every garage in the country. He speaks freely to Retrofuturista on the heels of June's Songs Of Personal Loss and Protest, holding court about overwhelming municipal sewers, the importance of Little Richard in light of the current administration, and Devo's great drummer. 

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We fell in love with Mary In the Junkyard's recent debut, Role Model Hermit. DIY offers a nice interview with the trio, who liken the process of readying their project to giving birth to a horse. 

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As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of Racing Mount Pleasant's self-titled debut, the outfit visits KEXP for a wonderful thirty-minute set. They've brought along a violin, a sax, and a pocketful of ambitious progressive folk. 

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While we're enjoying some video content, Paste has cornered Case Oats for a short acoustic set during Wilco's Solid Sound festival. 

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We'll be featuring a new single from This Is Lorelei's forthcoming album very soon. As an apertif, please enjoy this week's long-form interview with the project's ringleader, Nate Amos. Also a member of Water From Your Eyes, the indie rock rascal (their words) chats about growing up the son of bluegrass legend Bob Amos, being banned from Distrokid for uploading too many epic drone dirges, and mainlining Blink 182's All the Small Things on repeat. 

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NYT Popcast offers a nice, long conversation with Conor Oberst, who has been creating music in one form or another since his mid-teens. 

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The talented members of the talented trio, Magic Tuber Stringband wander through the extensive library of Thrill Jockey Records to pull and share some of their favorite and most influential albums from their archives. Thank goodness they are talented, since Magic Tuber Stringband is a phenomenally bad name for a music act. 

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A Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster is our way of keeping track of all the year's new and forthcoming releases. This week we added news of Down & Dirty, the down & dirty new LP from David Quinn, awaiting an August 28 street date. Valerie June has announced the pending arrival of Brighter Blue, a new EP courtesy of the Concord label (Sep 11). We're looking forward to hearing some live stuff from Bonnie Prince Billy. No Quarter will release Ghosts Of American Psychonauts come September 18. Ian Noe has (finally) set a date for his long (long)-awaited new record. Canyon Falls Trailer Band will appear wherever music matters on September 25 (Leo13). Finally, Kacy Lee Anderson (one-half of Kacy & Clayton) is looking to October 23 for the unleashing of a solo project, Hello I'm Irrelevant via Earth Libraries. 

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LOOKBACK MACHiNE: Mojave 3

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

August 5, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

As declared on yesterday's post, this week's Lookback playlist observes the 4AD label's release of remastered editions of Mojave 3's five-LP oeuvre, creatively titled Mojave 3 (1995-2006). While Neil Halstead, Rachel Goswell and Ian McCutcheon served as a marginal note in our kind of music, it's worth your indulgence. Listeners might recognize notes of more familiar artists like Iron & Wine, Horse Feathers, or Beachwood Sparks/GospelbeacH, though the recordings of Mojave 3 are set apart in light of Halstead's distinctly British sensibility. Tangential links might also be drawn to earlier work from Cowboy Junkies and even Jayhawks. 

What with our always-forward orientation, it's been too long since we spent time with the songs of Mojave 3. Previewing our playlist served to remind us how relevant this stuff remains, how Halstead's artistic formula has proven visionary if not underappreciated. 

MOJAVE 3: thirty favorites

- "Love Songs On the Radio" Ask Me Tomorrow (1995)

- "Sarah"

- "Tomorrow's Taken"

- "You're Beautiful"

- "This Road I'm Traveling" single (1998)

- "Between Us" single (1998)

- "Go Lady Go" single (1998)

- "All I Want" single (1998)

- "Who Do You Love"  Out Of Tune (1998)

- "Give What You Take" 

- "Some Kinda Angel"

- "To Whom Should I Write"

- "In Love With a View"  Excuses For Travellers (2000)

- "Trying To Reach You"

- "My Life In Art"

- "Any Day Will Be Fine"

- "Prayer For the Paranoid"

- "Bringin' Me Home"

- "Girl From the North Country" single (2000)

- "Bluebird Of Happiness" Spoon and Rafter (2003)

- "Starlite #1"

- "Tinkers Blues"

- "She's All Up Above"

- "Too Many Mornings"

- "Between the Bars"

- "Star In the Sky" single (2006)

- "Truck Driving Man" Puzzles Like You (2006)

- "Breaking the Ice"

- "Big Star Baby"

- "The Mutineer" 

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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:

IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to ONE RECORD THiS WEEK (August 4, 2026)

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

August 4, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

Back atop the proverbial horse after our week of wayfaring. Fortunately, it hasn't been an especially eventful time for new stuff (though it's our contention that there's always new music if you know where to look). 

Our Tuesday posts are dedicated to celebrating just one record from this constant stream of novelty, knowing that it requires work to keep up with what's new. 

IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to ONE RECORD THiS WEEK

This week we're going to direct your valuable attention back to the late 90s and 00s, when Mojave 3 grew out of the dissolution of Slowdive. Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell (with an evolving cohort including drummer Ian McCutcheon) projected Slowdive's shoegaze forward, opening the hazy buzz to emphasize elements of folk, country, and pop. Over the span of their five (5) records, that evolution included regular use of pedal steel, which occasionally lent Mojave 3's music a subtly rural air. 

The legendary 4AD label has remastered and reissued the British band's LPs in a lovely box set (Mojave 3: (1995-2006) that has since sold out, though the records are individually streamable). Mojave 3 was introduced on 1995's Ask Me Tomorrow, a project that dealt in a low-key psychedelic shoegaze, sometimes trading out Slowdive's electric hum for a more acoustic setting. The band's follow-up, 1998's Out Of Tune, found Halstead and Goswell increasingly defining a more distinct, heavier direction, incorporating more pastoral pop influences in addition to keys and electric guitar. Later collections paid greater attention to melody and songcraft, flirting less with with any country influences. 

Beginning in 2002, Neil Halstead began devoting increased time to solo and side projects (2008's Oh! Mighty Engine is especially worth your attention). Following the release of 2006's Puzzles Like You, Mojave 3 declared a hiatus, and an eventual reformation of Slowdive made any further recordings unlikely. 

Our celebration of Mojave 3's reissues will continue on tomorrow's Episode, when we look back at thirty of our favorite songs from the act's relatively short run. 

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ROUTES-cast August 2, 2026

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

August 2, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

ROUTES-cast August 2, 2026

^ Elijah Wolf, "texaco lights" track star  (Mtn Laurel, 26)  D

- Little Gold, "Pissin" Public Dog  (Tall Texan, 26)

- James Steinle, "Ragged Gunner" single  (Soggy Anvil, 26)  D

- Next Of Kin, "Dimestore Jesus" single  (Next Of Kin, 26)  D

- Chris Gantry, "Boldness Of Spirit" Worth Every Nail  (Appalachia, Oct 23)  D

- David Quinn, "Long Time Gone" single  (Quinn, 26)  

- Lindsay Lou, "I've Endured" Bluegrass Women  (Work Of Bart, Aug 14)

- Billy Strings, "Mill Town Flood" So Much For Goodbyes  (Reprise, Aug 28)

- Mountain Grass Unit, "Suspicion" Appalachian Smoke  (Dualtone, Aug 27)

- Colby T Helms, "Armed and Dangerous" One For the Losers  (Photo Finish, Oct 23)  D

- Angela Autumn, "Heavy Tobacco" Believer  (Gar Hole, Sep 11)

- Ian Noe, "Heidelberg Fisherman's Ball" Canyon Falls Trailer Band  (Lock13, Sep 25)  D

- Bures Band, "Delta" single  (Love Police, 26)  D

- Son Volt, "Serenade Song" Sound Signal Serenades  (Transmit Sound, Aug 28)

- Krista Shows, "Done My Time" single  (Shows, 26)  D

- Kyle Kimbrell, "Helmet Head" Lonesome In the Sky  (Cornelius Chapel, Oct 16)  D

- Ned Collette, "Commandeered Parade" Mixed Light  (Collette, Aug 28)

- Richard Thompson, "Cocaine Walking Booze Talking" Hippies Thugs and Heroes  (New West, Oct 16)  D

- Charlie Parr, "Rooming House" Rooming House  (Smithsonian, Oct 16)  D

- Pieta Brown, "Glitter Town" Dreamin' Of  (Righteous Babe, Aug 21)

- Shannon Lay, "What Does It Mean" Past the Veil  (All the Best, 26)

- Flora Hibberd, "Shelley" Mammoth  (22Twenty, Oct 16) D

- Brennan Wedl, "Let's Be Models" Brennan Wedl  (Anti, Aug 21)

- Sunken Man, "Hearts" Sunken Man  (Single Lock, Sep 25)

- Lawrence Rothman, "Kamakaze (ft Amanda Shires)" Here Lies Love/Sawdust To Stardust  (KRO, Sep 25)

- Yawpers, "Words On Shirts" single  (DTTW, 26)

- Valerie June, "Smokestack" Brighter Blue EP  (Concord, Sep 11)  D

- Sir Richard Bishop, "Sweet Lips Spiritual" Hillbilly Erotica  (Drag City, 26)

- Michael Nau, "Bless Your Wheels" Blue Anymore  (relearn to boogie, 26)

- Caleb Nichols, "A Feeling Of a Feeling Of a Feeling" Stone Age Is Now: Poems From Lithic  (Royal Oakie, Oct 2)  D

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MiSSiNG, PRESUMED HAViNG a GOOD TiME

We're afield this week, roaming on-and-off-the-grid, succumbing to distraction at every turn. While we might find a moment of clarity now and then, there's a good chance we won't have the time to honor this week's daily posting commitments. If something does show up, consider it a bonus. Otherwise, watch this space, and we'll see everyone on the other side of this tangle. 

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ROUTES-cast July 26, 2026

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

July 26, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

ROUTES-cast July 26, 2026

^ Orville Peck, "Too Little Too Late" Mule  (Warner, Sep 17)  D

- Charles Wesley Godwin, "Hallelujah High" Christian Name  (Big Loud, 26)

- Chaparelle, "Two Steps Closer" single  (Western Pleasure, 26)  D

- Cody Jinks, "Know It All" In My Blood (Deluxe)  (Late August, 26)  D

- Mac Cornish, "I Fear (It's Becoming Clear)" Wayfaring Woman  (Cornish, Sep 25)

- Mo Pitney, "Happy Hour" Outskirts Of Town  (Curb, Mar 26)  D

- Wilder Blue, "Chasin' the Sun" Cinco  (Hill Country, Aug 28)  D

- Sally Rose, "Trash Heap Mountain Treasure Baby (ft Palmyra)" Feral  (Rose, Nov)  D

- Maya de Vitry, "Adaptation" All My Faith  (Mad Maker, 26)

- Fruition, "I'm Not Afraid" Something More  (Bloodshot, Aug 28)

- Katie Pruitt, "Little Boxes" Fools For the Fleeting  (Rounder, Sep 18)

- John Prine, "World Without Love" Found Dogs  (Oh Boy, Oct 9)  D

- Ray Wylie Hubbard, "Look What the Cat Drug In" Reel 2 Reel 4 Real  (WylieWorld, Aug 21)

- Buddy Miller, "Don't Look Back (ft Dan Penn)" Buddy Miller  (New West, Sep 11)  D

- Son Volt, "Coalfield Wars" single  (Transmit Sound, 26)

- Jayhawks, "American Midnight" Sanctuary Park  (SHAM, Aug 28)

- Brennan Wedl, "Two Dollar Pistol" Brennan Wedl  (Anti, Aug 21)

- Rayland Baxter, "The Fool" single  (ATO, 26)  D

- Stef Chura, "Danny" Dancing Alone On the Concrete  (Saddle Creek, Oct 2)  D

- Nathaniel Rateliff, "Aerosol Ball" Felice County Fair: Celebration Of the Felice Brothers  (Sony, Oct 16)

- Nicole Atkins, "Singing In the Mirror" Drama  (Sun, Sep 17)

- Sera Cahoone, "Not How I Hoped" I've Missed You All These Years  (Sub Pop, Aug 28)

- Ned Collette, "Curious Thing" Mixed Light  (Collette, Aug 28)  D

- Johanna Samuels, "Full Story" Sorry Kid  (Jealous Butcher, Aug 13)

- Sam & Louise Sullivan, "Since I Left" Love & Devotion  (Historic New Jersey, 26)

- Lambchop, "New World Wave" Punching the Clown  (Merge, Aug 21)

- Alex Izenberg, "South California Blues" single  (Mexican Summer, 26)  D

- Alex Dupree, "I Can See Her In Your Eyes" Talking To the Dog  (Scissor Tail, Aug 14)

- Greg Freeman, "Indu" All Set the Bone  (Transgressive, Oct 2)  D

- Wild Pink, "500 Is the New 250" Still Coming Down  (Fire Talk, Aug 21)

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WHAT's SO GREAT ABOUT THiS WEEK?!! (July 24, 2026)

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

July 24, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

WHAT's SO GREAT ABOUT THiS WEEK?!!

Greg Freeman, "Indu" All Set the Bone  (Transgressive, Oct 2)

All I want to do / Is look at you / Looking at me with the moonlight in your eyes. Much has been said about our kind of music, but seldom has it been deemed romantic. Of all people, Greg Freeman has delivered the year's sweetest moment via the first single from his October record. It's nice to be reminded that lasting musical gems like "Indu" are still possible. 

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Sally Rose ft Palmyra, "Trash Heap Mountain Treasure"  Feral  (Rose, Nov)

Here's a charming bit of feral folk that very few are talking about so far. Backed by a couple members of Palmyra, Rose's little acoustic number lands with the innocence of early Lily Seabird or like an outtake from Dragon New Warm Mountain. Tbh, we don't even recall where we came across this, but it's been spinning on repeat ever since. 

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Orville Peck, "Too Little Too Late"  Mule  (Warner, Sep 17)

Is this exactly what we hoped Orville Peck's new record might sound like? Yes. Yes it is. The very buff singer (has he always been this muscly?) bouncing from pose to pose, the clappy mechanics, and Orville locking eyes meaningfully with a horse. Happy, happy Friday. 

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Alex Izenberg, "South California Blues" single  (Mexican Summer, 26)

We likened Izenberg's 2024 record to the sad boy pop of the late Richard Swift. Dripping with pedal steel, and arriving with a video featuring surfers and mermaid, this second single from an inevitable follow-up is a melancholy psychedelic-flavored treat. We're not fond of sand, so we'll wait in the car while you stroll meaningfully along the shore. 

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Stef Chura, "Danny" Dancing Alone On the Concrete  (Saddle Creek, Oct 2)

We don't feature much from Detroit these days, but we're happy to present the first single from Stef Chura's first project in seven years. For this tough-as-nails roots rocker, David Barbe put Chura in touch with Peter Buck and Mike Mills, formerly of REM, both of them featured on this cut. Since it might be awhile before we have something new from Lydia Loveless, "Danny" will more than suffice. 

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A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER (July 23, 2026)

A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER

good news about good noise

July 23, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

Back again for updates to A Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster, our routinely updated new release calendar. Buddy Miller is ubiquitous in our kind of music, which is why it's surprising that it's been fifteen (15) years since his last solo album. This will be rectified with the September 11 release of his new self-titled project (New West). On the other hand, Greg Freeman released his very good last record less that a year ago. Transgressive Records has announced a follow-up, All Set the Bone, all set for an October 2 appearance. We're still awaiting the first single from Left Arm Tan's reunion album. But the band has set October 9th for the release of When Tigers Smoked! Minnesota folker Charlie Parr is working with Smithsonian Records to share Rooming House, slated for an October 16 street date. That same date, you'll want to set aside your allowance for that Felice Brothers tribute we've mentioned. Felice County Fair is hitting virtual shelves courtesy of Sony Music. 

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^Aaron Lee Tasjan is presently touring behind his new Get Over It, Underdog LP. Over the years, we've come to appreciate how he readily and intelligently speaks his mind. This refreshing habit recently resulted in a handful of concertgoers leaving his show, apparently offended by his song, "I Love America Better Than You". We're not familiar with suggest.com, but we suggest you look at their chat with ALT in which he gives his own account of the episode. 

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We've been adding singles to our ROUTES-casts from Sam & Louise Sullivan's Love & Devotion, released tomorrow (Friday). Paste calls them the next great family band, and elaborates on their lofty claim in a recent piece. The siblings address their ceramics side hustle, their shared love of the Roches' Seductive Reasoning, and unsuccessful poets who become English teachers. 

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The Guardian catches up with Brittany Howard and Alabama Shakes as we eagerly await August 28th's I Must Be Dreaming. Read all about the events leading up to the trio's reunion, as well as some info about the direction of their forthcoming project. 

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It makes us happy that Jobi Riccio is garnering increased attention for her Face the Feeling collection. Check out Bluegrass Situation's interview to find out more about Riccio's connection with John Prine, migrating from a weird hippie town in Colorado to Nashville, and the best pen she ever owned. 

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We believe Free Dirt Records does trad right. If you concur, or if you're not certain what they do, you'll want to check out Daily Bandcamp's celebration of the label's second decade. The piece also includes several streamable instances of their artists' work. 

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The Overeducated & Underemployed video blog wrangles the very well educated and quite busy David Barbe, producer/musician/director of the Music Business Certificate Program at University Of Georgia. The thorough interview touches on his work as a bassist for Sugar, his work as a drummer for Drive-by Truckers, and the impact of a 1976 Lynyrd Skynyrd show. 

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We're genuinely fond of Styrofoam Winos' recent Any River record from last month. Trevor and Joe from the band wander into the studios for Raven Sings the Blues to sing the praises of a pair of under-the-radar LPs. One of them is called The Singing Hobo and His Hobos!

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We've been following Have Gun Will Travel since their earliest years, including last year's Voyager Golden EP. Americana UK pins down frontguy Matt Burke, and provides a nice overview of the act's past, present, future. We realized that we completely missed their "Angry Monkey" single in May!

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One of last year's most interesting tribute records spoke to the national pastime of covering Neil Young. A pair of follow-up albums have been announced, both benefiting Bridge School and arriving on November 6. Heart Of Gold, Vol 2 and 3, will feature tracks from artists like Tyler Ballgame, MJ Lenderman, Lucinda Williams, and so many more. Read more at the KLOFmag blog. 

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LOOKBACK MACHiNE: Felice Brothers

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

July 22, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

Last week's announcement of Felice County Fair: A Celebration Of the Felice Brothers (Sony, Oct 16) pleased us beyond measure. We're typically a tentative fan when it comes to tribute collections, which can be hit-and-miss, but this one seems especially promising. In addition to Bright Eyes (whose "Wonderful Life" we included in last week's ROUTES-cast) contributors include Nathaniel Rateliff, Deer Tick, Old Crow Medicine Show and more. 

The news triggered in us memories of our initial discovery of Felice Brothers prior to the 2007 release of Tonight At the Arizona, back when Catskill brothers Ian, James, and Simone recorded tracks for Through These Reins and Gone in chicken coops and subway stations. Those earliest tapes are unavailable for streaming (as are a few other collections), but we have enough to assemble this week's thirty favorites streaming below. If we really wanted to muddy the waters, we would include some of the stuff Simone recorded under his own name and beneath the Duke & the King moniker, as well as James' very good Little Ones from last year. We also chose to leave off anything from 2015's Felice Navidad holiday EP. 

But what's below ably represents the ramshackle outfit, from their lovably diy material to more current material that is admittedly more polished though still loose. We'll quote Ian Felice here, who responds to the tribute sessions in typically charming, albeit cryptic fashion: Now imagine animal crackers, goldfinches, quiz shows and chestnut vendors and just know that things will continue as they always have. The only difference is that there will be a tribute record to the Felice Brothers, but know that, in general, things will progress more or less as they always have; the coyotes will continue to chase rabbits through the heather and the windblown tents of circus folk will tumble down the canyons. 

FELiCE BROTHERS: thirty favorites

- "Roll On Arte" Tonight At the Arizona  (2007)

- "Hey Hey Revolver"

- "Your Belly In My Arms"

- "Rockefeller Druglaw Blues"

- "Take This Hammer"

- "Frankie's Gun!" Felice Brothers  (2008)

- "Wonderful Life" 

- "Love Me Tenderly" 

- "Whiskey In My Whiskey"

- "Penn Station" Yonder Is the Clock  (2009)

- "Run Chicken Run"

- "Cooperstown"

- "Fire At the Pageant" Celebration Florida  (2011)

- "Honda Civic"

- "River Jordan"

- "Dream On" God Bless You Amigo  (2012)

- "Lincoln Continental"

- "Bird On a Broken Wing" Favorite Waitress  (2014)

- "Cherry Licorice" 

- "Aerosol Ball" Life In the Dark  (2016)

- "Plunder"

- "Special Announcement" Undress  (2019)

- "Poor Blind Birds" 

- "Days Of the Years"

- "Jazz On the Autobahn" From Dreams To Dust  (2021)

- "To-Do List"

- "Inferno"

- "Crime Scene Queen" Valley Of Abandoned Songs  (2024)

- "Flowers By the Roadside"

- "Younger As the Days Go By"

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IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to ONE RECORD THiS WEEK (July 21, 2026)

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

July 21, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to ONE RECORD THiS WEEK

Waylon Payne's 2020 album served as a comeback following years wandering in the wilderness. The songwriter, musician, and actor had come of age in the family business, as the son of Sammi Smith and Jody Payne. One of our five favorite LPs for the year, Blue Eyes the Harlot the Queer the Pusher & Me eloquently tells Payne's story of addiction, sobriety, redemption, identity, and legacy. The follow-up, Wayward, asks what's next? when the writer has already shared so much. 

Payne is a masterful songwriter in the continuing lineage of country music writers. Where Blue Eyes served as a confessional, Wayward returns to simply telling good stories. A tidy bow can't be affixed to a story like Payne's, so new songs like "The Roses" and "Watch Him Die" continue to mine these rich personal narratives. But, by and large, Waylon Payne has brought us a selection of tunes about the struggle 'n strife of everyday life. A cowrite with Pam Tillis, "Looking For a Feeling" addresses our individual search for meaning and drama: We all get high and low / Turning over every stone. The Latin-inflected "Caramelo" tells a tragic Romeo & Juliet lovestory set to horns and rousing percussion. 

The new project again pairs Payne with award-winning producer Frank Liddell, celebrated for his work with Miranda Lambert and Lee Ann Womack. Alongside Eric Masse, Liddell provides a bed of classic country and soul not unlike Shelby Lynne's records. Wayward's arrangements are both slightly retro and timeless, supported by a veteran band featuring Matt Chamberlain (drum), Glenn Worf (bass), Jedd Hughes (guitar) and the great Chuck Leavell (keys). On "Looking For a Feeling" and "Holding On To Lonely", Payne and his supporting band cruise through bright-sounding, melodic country rock. The latter, written with Charlie Worsham, challenges us to push against our comfort zones in search of companionship. As a vocalist, Payne recalls Rodney Crowell and Guy Clark, a singer who is capable of showy moments, but who opts for tasteful restraint. 

Many of Waylon Payne's best songs follow him into those dramatic, larger-than-life episodes. He relates an especially harrowing dream in "Hell Is Empty", and is haunted by a friend's death on "Watch Him Die": I struggle not to hate myself daily for the way it all went down. Elsewhere, "The Roses" is a masterclass in simplicity of phrasing and arrangement. With its strings and jazz-adjacent bridge, "The Delta" charts a lazy, lilting course into deception: Make believe that you really love me / And tell me so as we walk through the moon. With half of Wayward written solely by Payne, the writer collaborates elsewhere with Ashley Monroe, Miranda Lambert, Matraca Berg, Aaron Raitiere and others. 

One of the project's highlights, "Weed By the Wall" demonstrates Payne's abiding patience and unadorned beauty: I am a freight train / Forged out of steel / I am a highway rolling west in the morning / My hands on the wheel / I am a full-grown man / I stand alone / And I sacrifice nothing for the sake of the cause / I am God and nature / I am a weed by the wall. Most impactfully, Waylon Payne ends the song and the album with the simple statement, I am a songwriter. Like his parents before him, Payne is currently touring with Willie Nelson's band, embracing the inheritance that was left him. While the path leading to this moment might have been a genuinely dramatic one, Wayward finds the artist seemingly comfortable in his role as country songwriter. 

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ROUTES-cast July 19, 2026

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

July 19, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

As far as we're concerned, this is the best that we do. We serve our followers most valuably by drawing your attention to the new stuff we track down from week to week, month to month, etc. Is every single thing we include here essential? Naw. While we think it all fits, and that some slice of our audience will enjoy this or that, we know that only a handful of these songs will probably make it beyond this year's short attention span. But from one Episode to the next, we tell a story about what we call our kind of music. It's a story we assume you want to hear (otherwise, what are you doing here). You'll find a gob of our ROUTES-casts at the Spotify link below, which will also gain you access to several years' worth of year-end favorites lists, Lookback Episodes, and plenty of holiday lists. Ho ho ho:

ROUTES-cast July 19, 2026

^ Willi Carlisle, "Mason Jar At the Center Of the World" Universal Bubba  (Signature Sounds, Nov 6)  D

- Two Runner, "Roadrunner" Porchlight  (Gar Hole, Aug 28)

- Chris Acker, "Overdrafted" single  (Gar Hole, 26)  D

- Mama's Broke, "Build It Up" Reunion  (Free Dirt, Aug 28)

- Candi Jenkins, "Holding Out (On Moving On)" single  (Cloverdale, 26)  D

- Waylon Payne, "The Delta" Wayward  (Big Loud Texas, 26)

- Elizabeth Cook, "Girls Of Atomic City" Great Television  (Agent Love, Aug 13)

- Jason James, "One More Cry" Cut the Chain  (Heart Of Texas, Sep 11)

- Gasoline Lollipops, "Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning" single  (GasPops, 26)  D

- John R Miller, "Steering Wheel Drums" The Great Unknowing  (Rounder, 26)

- Presley Haile, "Longtime Lonely" Hamilton Honey Pt 1 EP  (Columbia, 26)

- Riley Downing, "Hurt To Fall" Landfill Poetry  (Oh Boy, Aug 28)

- Bright Eyes, "Wonderful Life" Felice County Fair: Celebration Of Felice Brothers  (Sony, Oct 16)  D

- Leon III, "Invisible Ink" Candy Cigarettes  (MonoSonic, Sep 18)  D

- True Mountain Laurel, "Holy Hell" Angel So Bad  (Birthday Cake, Aug 28)

- Lawrence Rothman, "Word's a Weapon" Here Lies Love/Sawdust To Stardust  (KRO, Sep 25)

- Jess Williamson, "Goodbye To All That" A Mile South Of Heaven  (New West, Oct 9)  D

- Tyler Ballgame, "Live It Down" single  (Rough Trade, 26)  D

- Julia Jacklin, "I Wish (ft the Maes)" The Gem  (4AD, Sep 25)

- Hank Heaven, "I Wanna Be Your Man" Welterweight EP  (Nice Life, Aug 14)  D

- Aaron Lee Tasjan, "Clown Show" Get Over It Underdog  (Blue Elan, 26)

- Lily Seabird, "Portal To the Past" Lightspheres On Their Way  (Lame-O, Oct 2)

- OK Cowgirl, "Cruise the Town" Rhinestone Cowgirl  (Easy Does It, Aug 21)  D

- Attic Abasement, "Player Sky" Moonlight Passes On  (Father/Daughter, Aug 14)

- Horse Feathers, "Like Lavender (demo)" Words Are Dead (Deluxe Edition)  (Kill Rock Stars, Aug 28)

- Clay Street Unit, "Kids (Live From Charlotte, NC)" Live From the Road Vol 1  (Leo33, Aug 21)  D

- Fenne Lily, "Thank You Sorry" Win Win  (Nettwerk, Oct 22)  

- Jake Xerxes Fussell, "Rock Island Line" Old Beloved Path  (Fat Possum, Sep 18)  D

- St Paul & Broken Bones, "Mess I Made" single  (Oasis Pizza, 26)  D

- Leon Bridges, "Tears Of Joy" Happiness Anytime  (Columbia, Sep 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:

WHAT's SO GREAT ABOUT THiS WEEK?!! (July 17, 2026)

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

July 17, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

WHAT's SO GREAT ABOUT THiS WEEK?!!

Bright Eyes, "Wonderful Life" Felice County Fair: Celebration Of Felice Brothers  (Sony, Oct 16)

Such a thoughtful gift for the lover of all things Felice and Oberst in your life. This lovingly assembled collection features a great lineup of artists paying tribute to the Brother Felice. Here we'll cite the frontguy for Bright Eyes himself: Whatever little checkmarks in my heart need to be checked to make the perfect music, they check all those things. The poetry is there, the soulfulness is there, the song craft

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Jess Williamson, "Goodbye To All That" A Mile South Of Heaven  (New West, Oct 9)

As devoted admirers of Jess Williamson's work, we didn't necessarily need to her follow her friend Katie Crutchfield down the road to Saint Cloud. Nevertheless, that's what she seems to be doing with her first project for New West. Produced by Shooter Jennings and featuring the Mastersons as her accompanists, "Goodbye" is a fine intro to what should be a great collection. 

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Candi Jenkins, "Holding Out (On Moving On)"  single  (Cloverdale, 26)

Another very strong single from Ms Jenkins, who also gifted us a cover of Fred Eaglesmith's "Trucker Speed" a few weeks ago. With producer Andrija Tokik, there should be a full-length on the horizon featuring more of this seemingly effortless country cheer. 

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Hank Heaven, "I Wanna Be Your Man" Welterweight EP  (Nice Life, Aug 14)

This is the sweetest lovesong we've heard featuring the line, I got my own place but got no rent to pay / Cause it turns out the landlord is in prison. It's the debut single from a just-announced EP from the New York songwriter, who has also served with folks like Del Water Gap and Samia. Chances are you'll also want to their "Thread" single from a few weeks ago. 

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Tyler Ballgame, "Live It Down" single  (Rough Trade, 26)

Tyler Ballgame's January full-length is one of our favorite debuts of 2026. This follow-up single from the fascinating performer slides nicely alongside those songs. It's rhythms and progressions remind us a bit of Lindsey Buckingham's "Second Hand News", without those unnecessary bow-bow's. 

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A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER (July 16, 2026)

A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER

good news about good noise

July 16, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

If you're thinkin' that the Rolling Stones' new record is the biggest story of the week, boy have we got news for you! Our Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster delivers a jawdropping calendar of new releases so you never miss a thing. Since we last spoke, we added a newly announced project from traditionalist Jake Xerxes Fussell. With a September 18 street date, The Old Beloved Path will appear courtesy of the Fat Possum label. That same day, it seems we'll be graced with a new Orville Peck record. You can thank Warner for the arrival of Mule. We're cautiously optimistic about Leon Bridges' Happiness Anytime album (Sep 25, Columbia), as long as it doesn't sound like Jimmy Buffett doing reggae. Jess Williamson's next LP, A Mile South Of Heaven, marks her debut with a new label. New West will release the collection on October 9. Finally, Willi Carlisle's next is a double-CD produced by Tyler Childers. Universal Bubba will bear a Signature Sounds imprimatur come November 6. 

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^ We meaningfully included Bella White's A Sign In the Weather among our favorites for the first half of the year. Bluegrass Situation chats with the songwriter about relocating to New Orleans, being unable to record at the Deslondes' studio so doing so in the house next door, and Muji pens. 

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Aaron Lee Tasjan's Get Over It Underdog appears wherever music matters this Friday. The songwriter speaks to Glide Magazine about the influence of Todd Snider. And also Mitch Hedberg. And Jonathan Winters ...

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News has spread that Amy Helm has been removed from the Board for Levon Helm Studios, and that any future Midnight Ramble plans are suspended. Hm. Showbiz 411 has a few details. 

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Here at R&B HQ, we're rumored to be allergic to bluegrass. While that's only situationally true, we're impressed with the news that Lindsay Lou will be releasing an album paying tribute to the women who helped lay the foundation of bluegrass. Co-conspirators are plenty, including Sarah Jarosz, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, and many more. Grateful Web details the project, and also includes the trailer for a multi-part documentary about the sessions. 

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In the week's oddest story, Charley Crockett has booted satanic doo-wop act Twin Temple from his tour. Saving Country Music saves country music by exploring why they were there in the first place, and why there are there no longer. Also, we're hereby updating our byline to read featuring the very best of americana, alt.country, roots music, and satanic doo-wop. 

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Oh no: More bluegrass! The revolving door known as Old Crow Medicine Show has welcomed back Chance McCoy for their current tour. No doubt inspired by our recent Lookback Machine segment, Bluegrass Standard checks in with the multi-instrumentalist to see if he's up for the challenge. 

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Newport Folk Festival has released a series of videos called Sea To Shining Sea, talking to artists about the importance of music in the 250 years of our country. Sierra Ferrell, who seems to have been on the road for the past 8 years, offers some perspective around Mindy Smith's "Come To Jesus". Also, let's encourage more of our artists to wear grills and facial piercings. As a national treasure, Ferrell can pull it off. 

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When is it still legal to perform Grateful Dead covers? When you're Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Relix reports that the duo are continuing what they call their Acoustic Reckoning concert series. You can also read a fuller article for the small cost of your email address!

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Finally, we're impressed with River Shook's recent self-titled collection. Good Country shares our appreciation, and interviews Shook about building the album around their vocals, striking out with labels, and what was up with that Mightmare thing. 

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