ROUTES-cast April 27, 2025

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

April 27, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

We're approaching the one-third point for 2025, so maybe it's time for a list. Following are our thirty (30) favorite albums for the year-to-date, listed in order of appearance. We call it:

IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to THiRTY RECORDS THiS YEAR

Weather Station, Humanhood  (Fat Possum, Jan 17)

Luther Russell, Happiness For Beginners  (Curation, Jan 17)

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

Benjamin Booker, Lower  (Fire Next Time, Jan 24)

Jim White & Trey Blake, Precious Bane  (Fluff & Gravy, Jan 31)

Massy Ferguson, You Can't Tell Me I'm Not What I Used To Be  (North and Left, Feb 4)

Horsebath, Another Farewell  (Strolling Bones, Feb 7)

Gary Louris, Dark Country  (SHAM, Feb 14)

James Felice, Little Ones  (Million Stars, Feb 14)

Sunny War, Armageddon In a Summer Dress  (New West, Feb 21)

Patterson Hood, Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams  (ATO, Feb 21)

Jesse Wells, Middle  (Wells, Feb 21)

Will Stewart, Moon Winx  (Earth Libraries, Feb 28)

Fust, Big Ugly  (Dear Life, Mar 7)

Tobacco City, Horses  (Scissor Tail, Mar 7)

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

Jason Boland & the Stragglers, Last Kings Of Babylon  (Proud Souls, Mar 14)

Charley Crockett, Lonesome Drifter  (Island, Mar 14)

David Ramirez, All the Not So Gentle Reminders  (Blue Corn, Mar 21)

Lola Kirke, Trailblazer  (One Riot, Mar 21)

Palmyra, Restless  (Oh Boy, Mar 28)

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

Rachel Brooke, Sings Sad Songs  (MAL, Mar 28)

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

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

Bon Iver, SABLE, fABLE  (Jagjaguwar, Apr 4)

Turnpike Troubadours, Price Of Admission  (Bossier City, Apr 4)

Julien Baker & Torres, Send a Prayer My Way  (Matador, Apr 18)

Jerry David DeCicca, Cardiac Country  (JDC, Apr 25)

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

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ROUTES-cast April 27, 2025

^ Greg Freeman, "Point and Shoot" Burnover  (Transgressive, Aug 22)  D

- Colin Miller, "Lost Again" Losin'  (Mtn Laurel, 25)

- Joe Kaplow, "Part Of My Heart" single  (Sonder House, 25)  D

- Jerry David DeCicca, "Frozen Hearts" Cardiac Country  (JDC, Apr 25)

- Foxwarren, "Yvonne" 2  (Anti, May 30)

- Minus 5, "Let the Rope Hold Cassie Lee" Oar On Penelope  (Yep Roc, May 30)

- Hallelujah the Hills, "Crush All Night (ft Sad13)"  DECK  (Discrete Pageantry, Jun 13)

- Adrianne Lenker, "Two Reverse (live)" Live At Revolution Hall  (4AD, 25)

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

- Durand Jones & the Indications, "Flower Moon" Flowers  (Dead Oceans, Jun 27)

- Curtis Harding, "There She Goes" single  (Anti, 25)  D

- Billy Allen + the Pollies, "If You Want Me To Stay" Black Noise  (Single Lock, Jun 20)  D

- Sweet Megg, "Bridge and Tunnel (Dance With Me)" Never Been Home  (Sweet Megg, May 16)  D

- Jessica Lea Mayfield, "Groomed (ft Scott Avett)" Choose Myself EP  (JLM, 25)  D

- Hayes Carll, "Progress Of Man (Bitcoin & Cattle)" We're Only Human  (Hwy 87, Aug 8)  D

- Mike Frazier, "Oregon Stars" April Days  (Geneva, 25)

- Lukas Nelson, "Pretty Much" American Romance  (Ace, Jun 20)

- Lowtimers, "Charlotte" Cracks  (Alabama Sound Co, May 16)  

- Turnpike Troubadours, "Searching For a Light" Price Of Admission  (Bossier City, 25)

- Whiskey Myers, "Time Bomb" Whomp Whack Thunder (Wiggy Thump, Sep 26)  D

- SG Goodman, "Satellite" Planting By the Signs  (Slough Water, Jun 20)

- Steve Earle, "Long May You Run" Heart Of Gold: Songs Of Neil Young Vol 1  (Cinema, 25)

- Kelsey Waldon, "Tiger Lillies" Every Ghost  (Oh Boy, Jun 20)

- Drayton Farley, "Everything Goes South" single  (Hargrove, 25)  D

- Jobi Riccio, "Wildfire Season" single  (Yep Roc, 25)  D

- Shinyribs, "Salt On My Tail" Leaving Time  (Nine Mile, 25)

- Nicole Lawrence, "When I Get Home" Time In Love  (Durango, May 13(

- Wood Brothers, "Witness" Puff Of Smoke  (Honey Jar, Aug 1)  D

- Muireann Bradley, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" single  (Verve, 25)  D

- Amanda Fields, "Redbird (ft Megan McCormick, Odessa)" single  (Are and Be, 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 April 20, 2025

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

April 20, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

Of course, our intentions are pure, even if we struggle (re: fail) to publish a review every week. Will this spotty record improve going forward? No, likely not. Nevertheless, we'll continue to float our weekly Spotify ROUTES-cast every Sunday, populated with precisely thirty (30) new tracks. We also forge ahead with A Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster, our prudently updated  new release calendar. Just recently we've added new stuff from artists like Foxwarren, Pine Hill Haints, Murder By Death, Gasoline Lollipops, James McMurtry, Vandoliers, Willi Carlisle, Brent Cobb and so many more. 

ROUTES-cast April 20, 2025

^ Julien Baker & Torres, "Bottom Of a Bottle" Send a Prayer For Me  (Matador, 25)

- Adrienne Lenker, "Happiness (live)" Live At Revolution Hall (4AD, Apr 24)  D

- Little Mazarn, "The Gate" Mustang Island  (Dear Life, Jun 20)  D

- Bonnie Dobson & Hanging Stars, "Baby's Got the Blues" Dreams  (Loose, Jul 11)  D

- Yoshika Colwell, "There's Got To Be a Loser Babe" On the Wing  (PIAS, Jul 25)  D

- Billie Marten, "Leap Year" Dog Eared  (Fiction, Jul 18)  D

- Elijah Johnston, "Ideas" Stupid Soul  (Strolling Bones, Jun 20)  D

- Ruen Brothers, "Mama Don't" single  (Yep Roc, 25)  D

- Buffalo Nichols, "In the Name Of God" single (AFB, 25)  D

- Brittany Howard, "Pale Pale Moon" Sinners Soundtrack  (Sony, 25)  D

- Dead South, "Joey" single  (Six Shooter, 25)  D

- Kristina Murray, "After Midnight Special" Little Blue  (Normaltown, May 9)

- Drew Kennedy, "Halo" Drew Kennedy  (BMG, May 16)  D

- Ken Pomeroy, "Flannel Cowboy" Cruel Joke  (Rounder, May 16)

- Jesse Daniel, "Time Well Spent For a Man (ft Charles Wesley Godwin)" Son Of the San Lorenzo  (Lightning Rod, Jun 6)

- I'm With Her, "Standing On the Fault Line" Wild and Clear and Blue  (Rounder, May 9)

- Mike Frazier, "Pyramids In the Sky" April Days  (Geneva, Apr 25)

- James McMurtry, "Black Dog & the Wandering Boy" Black Dog & the Wandering Boy  (New West, Jun 20)  D

- Turnpike Troubadours, "Heaven Passing Through" Price Of Admission  (Bossier City, 25)

- Gold Dust, "Whatever's Left" In the Shade Of the Living Light  (Gold Dust, May 16)

- Vandoliers, "Life Behind Bars" Life Behind Bars  (Break Maiden, Jun 27)  D

- Lillie Mae, "Hardest Part" Let's Go Dancing: Songs Of Kevn Kinney  (Tasty Goody, 25)

- Brent Cobb & the Fixins, "Ain't Rocked In a While" Ain't Rocked In a While  (Ol Buddy, Jul 11)  D

- Young Gun Silver Fox, "Late Night Fast Train" Pleasure  (Blue Elan, May 2)  D

- Pearl Charles, "Just What It Is" Desert Queen  (Taurus Rising, Apr)

- Angela Perley, "LA Cowgirl" single  (Perley, 25)  D

- Nicole Lawrence, "Way It Is" Time In Love  (Durango, May 16)  D

- Louisa Stancioff, "Strange Currencies" single  (Yep Roc, 25)  D

- Folk Bitch Trio, "The Actor" single  (Jagjaguwar, 25)  D

- Beirut, "Villa Sacchetti" Study Of Losses  (Pompeii, 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 April 13, 2025

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

April 13, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of pollen

ROUTES-cast April 13, 2025

- Bon Iver, "There's a Rhythm" SABLE, fABLE  (Jagjaguwar, 25)

- Ben Kweller, "Killer Bee (ft Flaming Lips)" Cover the Mirrors  (Noise, May 30)

- Esther Rose, "The Clown" Want  (New West, May 2)

- David Newbould, "Coin Flip" single  (Blackbird, 25)  D

- Joe Kaplow, "Favorite Song" single  (Sonder House, 25)  D

- Glass Hours, "Adaline" single  (Cornelius Chapel, 25)  D

- Mike Delevante, "Don't Count Me Out" September Days  (Truly Handmade, 25)

- Clarence Tilton, "Fred's Colt (ft Marty Stuart)" Queen Of the Brawl  (Tilton, 25)  D

^ Turnpike Troubadours, "A Lie Agreed Upon" Price Of Admission  (Bossier City, 25)  D

- Muscadine Bloodline, "Hittin' My Stride (ft Ben Chapman)" And What Was Left Behind  (Stancaster, 25)

- Brown Horse, "Far Off Places" All the Right Weaknesses  (Loose, 25)

- Florry, "First It Was a Movie Then It Was a Book" Sounds Like ...  (Dear Life, May 23)

- Matt Woods, "Children Of the Children" single  (Lonely Ones, 25)  D

- Eli Winter, "For a Fallen Rocket" Trick Of the Light  (Three Lobed, May 2)

- Will Johnson, "Unfamiliar Ghost" Diamond City  (Keeled Scales, 25)

- Caroline Spence, "Soft Animal" single  (Spence, 25)  D

- Dean Johnson, "Lake Charles" single  (Sub Pop, 25)  D

- Murder By Death, "Wandering" Egg & Dart  (MBD, Jun 13)  D

- Caamp, "Drive" Copper Changes Color  (Mom + Pop, Jun 6)  D

- Kassi Valazza, "Shadow Of Lately" From Newman Street  (Fluff & Gravy, May 2)

- Cold Specks, "Cold Goodbye" Light For the Midnight  (Mute, 25)

- Anderson East, "I'd Do Anything" Worthy  (Rounder, May 30)

- Valerie June, "Inside Me" Owls Omens & Oracles  (Concord, 25)

- Gasoline Lollipops, "Humanity" Kill the Architect  (ALP, Jun 13)  D

- Hayden Pedigo, "Long Pond Lilly" I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away  (Mexican Summer, Jun 6)  D

- Paco Cathcart, "Invasive Species" Down On Them  (Wharf Cat, May 2)

- Liam St John, "Greyhound Bus Blues (ft Molly Tuttle)" single  (Mercury, 25)  D

- Drunken Prayer, "Selfishness Of Man" Thy Burdens  (Dial Back Sound, Jun 6)

- Willi Carlisle, "Work Is Work" Winged Victory  (Signature Sounds, Jun 27)  D

- Scott Hirsch, "Future King" Lost Padres  (Echo Magic, 25)  

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 April 6, 2025

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

April 6, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

ROUTES-cast April 6, 2025

^ Brown Horse, "Verna Bloom" All the Right Weaknesses  (Loose, 25)

- SG Goodman, "Fire Sign" Planting By the Sign  (Slough Water, Jun 20)  D

- Free Range, "Concept" Lost & Found  (Mick, 25)

- Lonesome Shack, "Trying To Forget" single  (Owl Head, 25)  D

- Bones Of JR Jones, "Shameless" Radio Waves  (Bones, Jun 20)

- Hailey Whitters, "High On a Heartbreak" Corn Queen  (Pigasus, Jun 6)  D

- Larry Fleet, "Lotta Women" single  (Fleet, 25)  D

- Sterling Drake, "Ozark Rose (ft Timbo)" Shape I'm In  (Calusa, May 2)

- Cody Jinks, "Snake Bit" single  (Late August, 25)  D

- Kelsey Waldon, "Comanche" Every Ghost  (Oh Boy, Jun 20)  D

- Jack Van Cleaf, "Using You" JVC  (Dualtone, May 9)

- Clay Street Unit, "Where Have You Gone" single  (Sony, 25)  D

- Have Gun Will Travel, "Mission To Nowhere" single  (Burke, 25)  D

- Jessica Lea Mayfield, "Never Coming Back" single  (JLM, 25)  D

- Ophelias, "Cicada" Spring Grove  (Get Better, 25)  

- New Pornographers, "Ballad Of the Last Payphone" single  (Merge, 25)  D

- Night Moves, "Hold On To Tonight" Double Life  (Domino, Jul 25)  D

- Lucius, "Do It All For You" Lucius  (Fantasy, May 2)

- Craig Finn, "Crumbs" Always Been  (Tamarac, 25)

- Jerry David DeCicca, "Good Ghosts (ft BJ Cole)" Cardiac Country  (JDC, Apr 25)

- Ben de la Cour, "Stuart Little Killed God (On 2nd Avenue)" New Roses  (Jullian, Jun 6)  D

- Adam Melchor, "Change Of Heart" Diary Of Living  (Many Hats, May 23)

- Andrew Duhon, "Hand Me Down Love" Parish Record  (Well Kept Secret, 25)

- Lily Seabird, "Arrow" Trash Mountain  (Lame-O, 25)

- Will Johnson, "Sylvarena" Diamond City  (Keeled Scales, 25)

- Allo Darlin', "Tricky Questions" single  (Slumberland, 25)  D

- Pine Hill Haints, "Drinking With the Prince" Shattered Pieces Of the True Cross  (Single Lock, May 30)  D

- Heather Maloney, "Wingin' It (ft Darlingside)" single  (Signature Sounds, 25)  D

- Waterboys, "Kansas (ft Steve Earle)" Life Death and Dennis Hopper  (Sun, 25)  D

- Sarah Jane Scouten, "Peddling In Heartache" Sweetest Homewrecker EP  (Light Organ, 25)      

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 March 30, 2025

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

March 30, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

A relatively tough week to target just one release for your listening pleasure (if you only listen to one this week). We gave some real thought to choosing Rachel Brooke's return to the fray with a lovely bare bones collection, and considered shining some light on Sam Outlaw's nonessential compilation of excellent recent singles. Palmyra's debut album for Oh Boy Records? Half Gringa's unexpected new project? All good stuff, and all worth your ears (if you listen to more than one this week). However ... 

If You Only Listen To One Record This Week

Sofia Jensen wrote parts of the debut Free Range record before they left their Chicago high school. Now 21, Jensen's Lost & Found (Mick Records) loosely chronicles the transition into young adulthood. With the help of producer Tommy Read, the songwriter pared the initial fifty songs to a leaner thirteen which were set to tape with bassist Bailey Minzenberger, Jack Henry on drums, and the newly arrived Andy Pk who contributes pedal steel. 

Like Sun June or Why Bonnie, Free Range seesaw between noise and quiet, a lo-fi indie folk dusted with touches of country. There's a darkness around me without you, Jensen sings on "Ringing", a song that builds piece by piece, spare acoustic guitar to brushed pedal steel, piano overlaid with supporting vocals: All I want now is to go to sleep. "Service Light" seems another near lullaby, an acoustic strum over ambient birdsong. Though Jensen's voice is typically layered and mixed atop the instrumentation, there's a vulnerability to their delivery. Their voice breaks on "Faith" backed by sweet pedal steel: Tracing your outline just to prove you were here. These are among the quieter moments. 

Alternately, Lost & Found can jangle and buzz with blunt grunge guitar. "Hardly" and "Concept" ensure that Free Range aren't dismissed as another bootgaze act. "Concept" presents the record's most complete and confident song, with a melodic progression and a sharp guitar break. Sofia Jensen is an admitted admirer of Elliott Smith (Bandcamp offers their acoustic cover of "Between the Bars"), an inflluence heard most readily on "Chase"

Lost & Found never relies on pretty, and even under the influence of breezy harmonica or chiming pedal steel, the songs don't fall prey to the country parody common to other young indie artists. "Big Star" recalls Waxahatchee's recent work, while the shuffling title track interrupts the laconic sway with a buzzing electric solo: I heard the sound of a fire truck / It made me reach out to touch your arm. Free Range finally fully earns their boots on "Storm", bouncy rhythms and harmonium beneath country keys and Jensen's downcast lyric: You knew then that I'd be gone / When the morning light fell in your palm. 

Often, the most engaging artists are those whose development and artistic maturity happen beneath the spotlights, where we might watch a songwriter like Sofia Jensen step into their potential. There is no pretense on Lost & Found, and while Free Range's second album finds the band increasing in confidence, we're still fortunate enough to witness the edge and volatility, the sparks that can fly from a young and talented act. 

This week and every week we've populated A Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster with a steady stream of new release announcements. Latest additions have included forthcoming stuff from Gold Dust, Marc Ribot, Foxwarren, Jesse Daniel, Hallelujah the Hills and many more. Follow the link to see the entire sprawling mess. 

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ROUTES-cast March 30, 2025

^ Free Range, "Big Star" Lost & Found  (Mick, 25)

- Colin Miller, "Porchlight" Losin' (Mtn Laurel, Apr 25)

- This Is Lorelei, "Dancing In the Club (ft MJ Lenderman)" Box For Buddy Box For Star (Deluxe)  (Double Double Whammy, Apr 25)  D

- Gold Dust, "An Early Translation Of a Later Work (ft J Mascis)" In the Shade Of the Living Light  (Gold Dust, May 16)  D

- Foxwarren, "Listen2me" 2  (Anti, May 30)  D

- Dutch Interior, "Horse" Moneyball  (Fat Possum, 25)

- Hannah Cohen, "Summer Sweat" Earthstar Mountain  (Bella Union, 25)

- Hallelujah the Hills, "Fake Flowers At Sunset" DECK  (Discrete Pageantry, Jun 13)  D

- Cass McCombs, "Priestess" single  (Domino, 25)  D

- Half Gringa, "Karman Line" Cosmovision  (Isabel Olive, 25)  D

- Julien Baker & TORRES, "Dirt" Send a Prayer My Way  (Matador, Apr 18)

- Attention Bird Utopia, "Best Of Kings" Best Of Kings  (here here, Jun 6)

- Rachel Brooke, "I'm Doing Just Fine" Sings Sad Songs  (MAL, 25)  D

- Lowtimers, "Lonely Company" Cracks  (Alabama Sound Co, May 16)

- Jesse Daniel, "My Time Is Gonna Come" Son Of the San Lorenzo  (Lightning Rod, Jun 6)  D

- Sam Outlaw, "Do You Really Love Me" Nonessential Sam Outlaw  (Black Hills, 25)

- Clover Country, "Good These Days" single  (Undercover Low, 25)

- Chaparelle, "Playing Diamonds Cashing Checks" Western Pleasure  (Mom + Pop, Apr 18)

- Cactus Lee, "Got a Heart Like Rainwater Blues" Cactus Lee  (Western Vinyl, 25)

- Mike Frazier, "What's Wrong With Me" April Days  (Geneva, Apr 25)

- Kathleen Edwards, "Traveling Alone (ft Jason Isbell)" Covers  (Dualtone, 25)

- Shinyribs, "Shitty Music" Leaving Time  (Nine Mile, Apr 25)

- Pug Johnson, "Waxahachie" El Cabron  (Break Maiden, 25)

- Deep Dark Woods, "Ruby" single  (Victory Pool, 25)  D

- M Ross Perkins, "I Feel So Dumb" What's the Matter M Ross  (Karma Chief, May 2)

- Palmyra, "Stones Throw" Restless  (Oh Boy, 25)

- Marc Ribot, "When the World's On Fire" Map Of a Blue City  (New West, May 23)  D

- Susto & Holler Choir, "Double Crown" Susto Stringband Vol 1  (New West, 25)

- I'm With Her, "Find My Way To You" Wild and Clear and Blue  (Rounder, May 9)

- Alison Krauss & Union Station, "North Side Gal" Arcadia  (Down the Road, 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 March 23, 2025

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

March 23, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

If You Only Listen To One Record This Week

Lola Kirke is hardly the first actor to try their hand at music. She actually recorded her debut EP nearly a decade ago, though her new Trailblazer full-length is the first we've taken notice of her in any capacity. Produced by the reliable hand of Daniel Tashian, the album excels in striking an appealing balance between country and pop without short-changing either audience.

Trailblazer serves as the companion piece to Kirke's recently published collection of personal essays, Wild West Village (Not a Memoir Unless I Win An Oscar, Die Tragically, or Score a Country #1). The book shares anecdotes about growing up in New York, the daughter of a hard rock drummer and a fashion designer, and Kirke's record follows suit. "Raised By Wolves" is a pop gem featuring Todd Lombardo on mandolin and banjo, the singer wise to her own fight or flight youth: Baby ain't it a strange thing / Learnin' how to love from scratch. 

Lola Kirke specializes in serial oversharing on both projects, describing a portrait of her mother on the Natalie Hemby cowrite "Marlboro Lights & Madonna" and later her father on a fuzz and twang tribute: He showed me Zeppelin III / He showed me how to drive. Despite the evident dysfunction, Kirke's songs aren't about placing blame as much as they are about celebrating the quirk: I'm havin' a breakdown, she sings on the drinkin' ballad "Hungover Thinkin'", a cowrite with Liz Rose, A cry and a Coke. Pahl's droopy pedal steel slides between weeping and cosmic on Trailblazer. 

Now living in Nashville, Kirke's heart still beats for the Big Apple: When I die lay me down six feet beneath 14th Street. Powered by Tashian's electric guitar, "Bury Me In NYC" rumbles like a surfacing subway train. But musically, Trailblazer never strays far from Nashville. Written with Ashley Monroe, "2 Damn Sexy" drops affirmations like Gwen Stefani fronting a chugging Wilburys. "Easy On You" and "241's" trade in straightforward contemporary country, with the singer drinking' to forget on the latter: It takes two to take the edge off / Two more to buzz like busted neon. 

Daniel Tashian's mantel is no doubt home to an impressive assortment of awards for his role as producer and cowriter for Kacey Musgraves' Golden Hour, among the foremost country-pop projects. He loans his veteran band to Kirke for Trailblazer, including pedal steel player Russ Pahl, Fred Eltringham on drums, and bassist Lex Price. The sessions sound bright and current, but the personality that sparkles through the lyrics and the delivery belongs to Lola Kirke. The singer/author/actress charms like Jenny Lewis (another actress with proven musical integrity). 

On the other hand, if your time allows for additional listens, check out A Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster, our single-mindedly updated new release calendar. This week's adds include new stuff from notables like Alan Sparhawk with Trampled By Turtles, Scott Hirsch, Drunken Prayer, Lukas Nelson, Durand Jones, and many more. 

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ROUTES-cast March 23, 2025

^ Lola Kirke, "Trailblazer" Trailblazer  (One Riot, 25)

- Silverada, "New Madrid" Texas 42 EP  (Prairie Rose, 25)

- Van Plating, "Yesterday Got In the Way (ft Kelly MickWee)" single  (Singular, 25)  D

- Muscadine Bloodline, "Way Too High (2010)" ... And What Was Left Behind  (Stancaster, Apr 11)

- Clover County, "Nothin' At All" single  (Undercover Lover, 25)  D

- Lukas Nelson, "Ain't Done" American Romance  (Sony, Jun 20) D

- Benjamin Dakota Rogers, "This Ol' Way" single  (Good People, 25)  D

- Samantha Crain, "B-Attitudes" Gumshoe  (Real Kind, May 2)

- Shannon McNally, "It's Gonna Be a Long Night" single  (Queen Maeve, 25)  D

- David Ramirez, "Waiting On the Dust To Settle" All the Not So Gentle Reminders  (Blue Corn, 25)

- Durand Jones & the Indications, "Been So Long" Flowers  (Dead Oceans, Jun 27)  D

- Taylor Rae, "Telluride (ft Sierra Hull)" The Void  (TaylorRae, Apr 18)  D

- Mike Delevante, "Rain Never Came" September Days  (Truly Handmade, Apr 11)  D

- Drunken Prayer, "Rock Of Ages" Thy Burdens  (Dial Back Sound, Jun 6)  D

- Kora Feder, "Detroit Summer" Some Kind Of Truth  (Feder, 25)

- Ben de la Cour, "I Must Be Lonely (ft Gin Wife)" New Roses  (Jullian, Jun 6)  D

- Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto, "Spektator" Electric War  (Easy Eye, Apr 18)

- Will Johnson, " All Dragged Out" Diamond City  (Keeled Scales, Apr 4)

- Esther Rose, "Had To" Want  (New West, May 2)

- Minus 5, "Blow In My Bag" Oar On Penelope  (Yep Roc, May 30)

- Dutch Interior, "Wood Knot" Moneyball  (Fat Possum, 25)

- Ed Kuepper & Jim White, "16 Days" After the Flood  (Kuepper, 25)  D

- Lucette, "Rodeo Clown" Nice Girl From the Suburbs EP  (Prairie Blue, 25)

- Lonnie Holley, "A Change Is Gonna Come" Tonky  (Fat Possum, 25)

- Jeremy Bradley Earl, "Days Turn Around" Four Songs EP  (Woodsist, 25)

- Alan Sparhawk & Trampled By Turtles, "Stranger" Alan Sparhawk & Trampled By Turtles  (Sub Pop, May 30)  D

- Westerlies, "Paradise (ft Sam Amidon)" Paradise  (Westerlies, Jun 16)  D

- Beirut, "Tuanaki Atoll" A Study Of Losses  (Pompeii, Apr 18)

- Jensen McRae, "Savannah" I Don't Know How But They Found Me (Dead Oceans, Apr 25)  D

- Scott Hirsch, "When Things Fall Apart" Lost Padres  (Echo Magic, May)

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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 March 16, 2025

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

March 16, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

Since 1997, the Oklahoma Music Hall Of Fame and Museum has inducted more than 130 artists, representing a fair mix of legends and folks with whom we're frankly unfamiliar. After so many years and recognitions, it's perhaps surprising that they're just now getting around to celebrating The Boys From Oklahoma, a handful of very worthy red dirt artists including Cross Canadian Ragweed, the Great Divide, Stoney LaRue, and Jason Boland & the Stragglers. Which brings us to:

If You Only Listen To One Record This Week 

Last we heard from Jason Boland and co., they had delivered a 2021 concept album centered around a story of alien abduction. Now a Texas resident, the songwriter and bandleader has curated a rewarding discography that ably occupies the frontiers of country music's hybrid sub-genres. Their eleventh record, The Last Kings Of Babylon, returns the act back down to earth with a Lloyd Maines-produced selection of songs just this side of country. 

Since his debut on 1999's Pearl Snaps, Boland has presented his songs in a classic country baritone, one of the most capable singers in the genre. Even a significant medical setback wasn't enough to sour his vocal appeal, as heard on "Next To Last Hank Williams". The opener establishes a couple themes from Last Kings: Most notably the band's commitment to a life on the road. Granted, it's far from an original stance, but Boland's songs manage to avoid many of the tropes and cliches to which much red dirt and Texas country tend to fall. "Next To Last" is good-natured and sharp with self-deprecation, asking When he's gone will anybody care? Fast forward to the record's end, the swaying "Irish Goodbye", and the singer's recognizing when it's time to move on: A welcome's been worn / Like a jacket that's torn / I believe I should be moving on. 

Maines and Boland spent just two days recording Last Kings, a fact that belies the album's terrific live sound. The driving "Truest Colors" showcases Nick Gedra's mandolin and one of the songwriter's most melodic choruses. The Stragglers' cohesion shines through as well on their run through fellow Okie Randy Crouch's rowdy "Ain't No Justice", featuring AJ Slaughter's thick guitars racing alongside Andrew Bair's electric keys. The ensemble's bluegrass chops shine on "Farmall", with close harmonies, steel guitar and Gedra's fiddle. The weed-forward "High Time" (Let's put some smoke up in the air) is immediately juxtaposed against the slower tempoed "One Law At a Time", with Boland boasting that I don't break more than one law at a time, whether that's honoring his marital vows or keeping his dog on a leash. 

In addition to their note-by-note recitation of the Crouch track, the Stragglers add a few other covers from their repertoire, including "Drive", originally by Jason Eady, Jamie Lynn Wilson, and Kelly Mickwee. On Last Kings, the tempo is goosed just a touch, and Gedra's mandolin shares space with an organ and layers of electricity that add a low-end thump. Jimmy LaFave's Oklahoma classic "Buffalo Return To the Plains", is given its due respect as well. The new project honors Jason Boland's commitment to adding an extra jolt of live energy to the studio set. 

I've been here before with one eye on the door, Boland sings, Because I know how this story will end. The road veteran hardly sounds tired and worn on Last Kings Of Babylon, even as he knows his way across the country's blacktop grid. On "Take Me Back To Austin", he acknowledges that he can become stir crazy when he's holed up too long in his rural home. Even as Jason Boland & the Stragglers take their well-earned victory lap after more than a quarter century of this stuff, their eleventh studio collection demonstrates the life left in their tank. 

... if you bookmark only one new release calendar this week, you could do worse than A Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster, our reverently updated run through what's on the horizon. This week, we've added news of upcoming stuff from Eli Paperboy Reed, Chad Price Peace Coalition, Florry, Matt Daniel, Heavy Diamond Ring and several more. 

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ROUTES-cast March 16, 2025

^ Jason Boland & the Stragglers, "Next To Last Hank Williams" Last Kings Of Babylon  (Proud Souls, 25)

- Charley Crockett, "Never No More" Lonesome Drifter  (Island, 25)

- Kristina Murray, "Fool's Gold" Little Blue  (Normaltown, May 9)

- Cody Jinks, "Put the Whiskey Down" single  (Late August, 25)  D

- Morgan Wade, "East Coast" single  (Ladylike, 25)  D

- Sterling Drake, "In My Dreams" Shape I'm In  (Calusa, May 2)  D

- John Howie Jr & Rosewood Bluff, "Who Needs the Neon" Return Of ...  (Schoolkids, Apr 18)  D

- Tobacco City, "Buffalo" Horses  (Scissor Tail, 25)

- Paradise Motel Lounge, "Dead and Rotting" Welcome To the ...  (Halloween On Raspberry Hill, 25)

- Palmyra, "Palm Readers" Restless  (Oh Boy, Mar 28)

- Wilder Blue, "When the Last Light Fades" Still In the Runnin'  (Hill Country, 25)

- Brown Horse, "Radio Free Bolinas" All the Right Weaknesses  (Loose, Apr 4)

- Fust, "What's His Name" Big Ugly  (Dear Life, 25)

- Florry, "Hey Baby" Sounds Like ...  (12XU, May 23)  D

- Tony Kamel, "Makin' It Work" We're All Gonna Live  (Blue Corn, Apr 17)

- Ruston Kelly, "Slide" Dirt Emo Vol 2 EP  (Rounder, 25)

- Jason Isbell, "Crimson and Clay" Foxes In the Snow  (Southeastern, 25)

- Hannah Cohen, "Dusty" Earthstar Mountain  (Congrats, Mar 28)

- Joe Pug, "Flood In Color (live)" Lie At the Old Town School Of Folk Music  (Pug, Apr 18)

- Matt Pond PA, "Bring On the Beginning" single  (Sonder House, 25)  D

- Jake Xerxes Fussell, "Close My Eyes" single  (Fat Possum, 25)  D

- Judy Blank, "Pony" Lil' Mood EP  (Rounder, 25)

- Son Of the Velvet Rat, "Inland Empire (ft Ghost and the Machine)" single  (Rat, 25)  D

- Pearl Charles, "Middle Of the Night" Desert Queen  (Taurus Rising, Apr)

- Neil Francis, "Broken Glass (ft Say She She)" Return To Zero  (ATO, 25)

- Eli Paperboy Reed, "Stop Talking In Your Sleep" Sings Walkin' and Talkin' and Other Smash Hits!  (Yep Roc, Jun 6)  D

- Ben Kweller, "Depression (ft Coconut Records)" Cover the Mirrors  (Noise, May 30)

- Bon Iver, "If Only I Could Wait (ft Danielle Haim)" SABLE,fABLE  (Jagjaguwar, Apr 11)

- Florist, "Moon Sea Devil" Jellywish  (Double Double Whammy, Apr 4)  D

- Drayton Farley, "My Mind Is a Radio" single  (Hargrove, 25)  D

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