WHAT's SO GREAT ABOUT THiS WEEK?!! (October 9, 2026)

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

October 9, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

WHAT's SO GREAT ABOUT THiS WEEK?!!

^Star Moles, "Born Again"  single  (Dead Oceans, 26)

We really didn't represent Emily Moales' Highway To Hell sufficiently upon its February release. This follow-up single arrives as the songwriter comes on board with the Dead Oceans label. Of the song, Moales notes it's a painting of real frustration, and the best way I can express that feeling is with a strong voice and words that mythologize. I wouldn't say I'm religious, but I think sometimes my emotions are. 

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Anna McClellan, "Drank Earlier" South Of Dodge EP  (Exploding In Sound, Nov 20)

Originally from Nebraska, McClellan provided backup vocals on Greg Freeman's remarkable new record. Now in New York, she has announced her second EP of the year - almost be easier just to assemble everything into an LP as god intended. A sweet and seemingly simple number, "Drank" features everything from a flute and low brass to a pitch perfect jangle guitar. 

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Lowest Pair, "What I Think About When I Sing About Running" single  (Delicata, 26)

The PNW duo of Kendl Winter and Palmer T Lee released Always As Young As We'll Ever Be way back in January. This new single repeats that record's title, the pair's voices weaving and twining beautifully above acoustic instrumentation that never wears out its welcome. Long as we have your attention, you might want to check out Kendl Winter's lovely 2018 Stumbler's Business. 

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Twisted Teens, "Stalks"  Holy Cross Tigers  (Sub Pop, Nov 6)

Yeah, we're not going to let this one get away. While we've featured just about every Twisted Teens single this year (and there have been plenty), that's more of a comment on the quality of the duo's prolific output as opposed to a result of our lack of imagination. Like most of their output, the video for "Stalks" hits like it was recorded off a late-night public access TV broadcast. 

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Iconic Fugues, "2025 Dream / 2025 Blues"  single  (L'Arme, 26)

Finally, it's a new project/band from Andrew Savage of Parquet Courts. Actually, it's two songs jammed together, sounding a bit like a younger Bill Callahan fronting ... well, Parquet Courts. Please watch your step as you enter the stream-of-consciousness: I recognize everything / From the coin-colored carpet / To the little room I slept in / Where I once found a scorpion / Oh its tail had a lilt / Just like a drunk with a pocketknife. 

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A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER (October 8, 2026)

A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER

good news about good noise

October 8, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

A Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster eliminates any excuse for being caught off-guard with any new release in our kind of music. This week we added news of the second volume of Brent Cobb's Live a Song Write a Memory series. That thing will land on shelves wherever music matters tomorrow (Ol' Buddy, Oct 9). Bay Area acoustic ensemble Crooked Jades returns with Beautiful World on October 26. You can hear their sweet take on New Order's "Temptation" on their Bandcamp camp. British traditionalist Ags Connolly will be freeing his next work in time for Halloween. Yesterday's Man is set for an October 30 release (SofaBurn). Time will tell if it's available for streaming, but we're happy to see Westelaken's In It For the Lack given a street date (Vain Mina, Nov 13). Finally, following her stint in support of Greg Freeman's new record, Anna McClellan returns with something all her own. South Of Dodge EP will be delivered by Exploding In Sound on November 20. 

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Chicago Reader boldly declares that America still needs John Prine (in case you doubted). Their thoughtful longform piece relates the legendary songwriter's story, with an eye towards his recurring jabs at The Man. 

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Ahead of Friday's release of A Mile South Of Heaven, there are several new online appreciations for Jess Williamson. F'rinstance, American Highways interviews the songwriter, who recalls hearing Dolly Parton on the radio as a youngster, and deciding she would be just like Dolly. Paste adds their voice to the tumult with a piece where Williamson chats about dividing her time between Marfa and LA, settling on Shooter Jennings to produce her new sessions, and embracing her banjo. 

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Do we need more supergroups? Turns out that yes we do. This week, Stereogum introduced us to Tommy, a project that brings together Courtney Marie Andrews, Cornelia Murr, Lola Kirke, and Katie Pearlman. No recordings just yet, but you can check out their origin story, inspired by 80s folk music. 

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As you've heard here, Elvis Costello has released a 49th Anniversary edition for his iconic My Aim Is True. The Real Elvis appears on Amoeba's What's In My Bag, providing some great insight into his own musical inspirations and distractions. These weekly things can be very hit-and-miss, but Costello's contribution is thoughtful and revealing. 

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While everything is definitely not right with the world, we took one step in the right direction this week with the first full-scale reunion of Drive-by Truckers and Jason Isbell. JamBase provides details about their Shoalsfest appearance, performing Decoration Day in its entirety. The piece includes a handful of great videos, in addition to the ensemble's take on "Rockin' In the Free World". 

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We've featured plenty of pieces lately on the reconvening of Alabama Shakes. Here is one more. DIYmag visits with Brittany Howard, who shares about waiting for Prince to appear on stage for his planned guitar solo, how plans for an EP blossomed into a proper LP, and Why data centers?

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Our Tuesday appreciation of Greg Freeman's All Set the Bone is still warm. And yet there's more. Our Culture devotes their artist spotlight to him. In addition to including the word bleaken, the interview includes info on the transient nature of Freeman's new project, writing songs about current events without being corny or cheesy, and soundtracking a long drive across the desert Southwest with so much MF DOOM and older hip hop. 

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Are we ready for Friday's new live Cameron Winter album? Then how about the forthcoming documentary from Paul Thomas Anderson? Winter bears his soul, talking to Vulture about the experience: Having Paul close up like he was, I was able to watch his nostrils flare, left-right, left-right, like lights at a train crossing ...

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Americana Podcast: the 51st State features a tet-a-tet between Hayes Carll and Robert Earl Keen. We're hoping Mr Earl Keen doesn't give up his day job, even as the thing relaxes into more of an informal chat, like we like. Hayes delivers a progress report about new recordings with Band of Heathens, a collection of duets, and a project with Corb Lund and John Evans called The Ego Brothers. 

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LOOKBACK MACHiNE: Big Thief

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

October 7, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

We had the great privilege to witness Big Thief Tuesday evening at Red Rocks. Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek, and James Krivchenia have grown into one of the most transcendent live acts in our kind of music. At last night's performance they were joined by Iris Dement and Bill Frisell, artists who reportedly contribute to Big Thief's pending triple LP, Horsepower. No release date has been announced for what will surely launch the band to new levels of appreciation. The handful of tracks from the project that were included in the Red Rocks show hinted at more direct writing and songs that skewed in a country direction. 

For this week's Lookback Machine, we've included a handful of numbers from Adrianne Lenker's solo stuff (noted in the playlist as AL). While both Krivchenia and Buck Meek maintain side projects as well, Big Thief is arguably first and foremost a vehicle for Lenker's artistic vision. While the band, including bassist Justin Felton, are essential to their captivating performance, she is a riveting stage presence and an increasingly arresting guitarist. 

Of course, we'll make some appropriate noise as soon as we have additional news and advance singles. For today, you could do much worse than to stream our Spotify playlist on repeat. 

BiG THiEF: thirty favorites

- "Steamboat" Hours Were the Birds (AL)  (2014)

- "A Love Of Some Kind"

- "Indiana"  a-sides and besides (AL)  (2014)

- "Angels"

- "Masterpiece" Masterpiece  (2016)

- "Vegas"

- "Real Love"

- "Shark Smile" Capacity  (2017)

- "Mythological Beauty" 

- "Mary"

- "Symbol" abysskiss (AL)  (2018)

- "UFOF" UFOF  (2019)

- "Cattails"

- "Forgotten Eyes" Two Hands  (2019)

- "Not"

- "Two Reverse" Song (AL)  (2020)

- "Anything"

- "Not a Lot Just Forever" 

- "Change" Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You  (2022)

- "Certainty"

- "Little Things"

- "Red Moon"

- "Simulation Swarm"

- "Sadness As a Gift" Bright Future (AL)  (2024)

- "Free Treasure"

- "Vampire Empire"

- "Born For Loving You" single  (2023)

- "Incomprehensible" Double Infinity  (2025)

- "Los Angeles"

- "All Night All Day"

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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 (October 6, 2026)

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

October 6, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

IF YOU ONLY LiSTEN to ONE RECORD THiS WEEK

The way Greg Freeman tells it, he wasn't really expecting much attention for his 2022 LP, I Looked Out. A slow but steady parade of appreciation led to the album's 2024 reissue on the Transgressive label. His follow-up, Burnover, showed a careful attempt to gather the pieces of his frayed artistry for popular consumption, in case anyone was listening. The Vermont songwriter was being saddled with the mantle of This Week's Jason Molina, likened to the red-hot MJ Lenderman. In interviews, Freeman demonstrated a penchant for self-effacement and humility: I'm not a particularly interesting person. 

And yet, the masses disagreed, finding charm in his unkempt sound. Early reviews of Greg Freeman's third project, All Set the Bone, are already advancing it for year-end consideration. The thirteen-song collection charges between his most radio-ready work and his most experimental efforts, all of which indicates an increased confidence and a more deliberate artistic direction. Freeman dares listeners to remain atop of changing time signatures, discordant vocals, and lyrics sparking doubt and distrust. The seven-plus minute "Marooned" is fractured into divergent movements, ranging from unexpectedly moving to pummeling guitars: Do you feel your world will shatter at the slightest touch. The electric guitars on "Culture" stomp and scratch atonally, until they're tamed and corralled by horns, Freeman declaring, Blood from a stone / A vacant soul / No culture / And no more rock 'n roll. 

All Set the Bone frees much of what was kept in check on Burnover, giving way to clatter and clamor. Even the set's quieter pieces ("Hail Mary", "Bury Me the Shovel") can seem restless and unsteady. Greg Freeman continues to include piano and horns into his arrangements, which often serve as a compass for listeners who threaten to lose their bearing. The captivating "Bury Me" recalls early Felice Brothers or Bright Eyes' more rambling sessions, including fiddle and banjo alongside a trumpet: Who's Up there shaking this cracked snow globe? "Costs" flirts with a playfulness and (dare we say it) soul, the piano and keys lending to the song's late-night barroom vibe: This life works like a palindrome / You're spit out or spitting up into the great unknown. 

And it's all beautiful. Bruised and vulnerable beneath its occasional guitar-hero residue, Freeman's lyrics unfailingly human, both wider-ranging and more grounded than Molina while keeping hold of the late artist's haunted imagery. On "Next To Nothing": They'll stick you in the streets to fill up pot holes / And cut down state crucifixions from telephone poles / It's not the end of the world / But it sure as hell might be the end of yours. But Freeman is pure, howling heart on All Set the Bone, and moments like "Cahokia" and "Indu" masterfully trade heartbreak for a more major key appeal. The singer urges his vocal beyond its breaking point: All I want to do is look at you / Looking at me with the moonlight in your eyes. Dealing with demons elsewhere allows him room for this kind of heartfelt expression without compromise. "Loser's Prize" builds its Southern rock on urgent piano: When I'm alone I can be anyone / But when I'm with you, I'm me. The sentiment is hard-earned. 

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ROUTES-cast October 4, 2026

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

October 4, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

ROUTES-cast October 4, 2026

^ Pony Bradshaw, "Count the Fires" Through a Glass Darkly  (Dogs Of the South, 26)

- Schaefer Llana, "Skateland Baby" Full Circle  (Strolling Bones, Nov 13)

- Flatland Cavalry, "Hard Lessons" Work Of Heart - Heartstrings  (Lost Highway, 26)

- Erin Enderlin, "Ballad Of Delia Green" single  (Black Crow, 26)  D

- Pug Johnson, "Second Chances" From a Beaumont Bar  (Break Maiden, Oct 23)

- Presley Haile, "Hamilton Honey" Hamilton Honey Pt 2 EP  (Columbia, 26)

- Viv & Riley, "Long Game (ft Rachel Baiman)" Long Memory: 20 Years Of Free Dirt Records  (Free Dirt, Nov 6)

- Will Carlisle, "Gas Station" Universal Bubba  (Signature Sounds, Nov 6)

- River Whyless, "One Of a Thousand" single  (River Whyless, 26)  D

- Upstate, "Corner" Abalone  (Royal Potato Family, Nov 6)

- Hunter Watts, "To Be One" I'm Lost Without You EP  (Valentine, Oct 16)  D

- Zach Stephenson, "Broke My Jaw" I Needed To Hear Me Say It  (radius, Oct 30)

- James Yorkston, "Hard Times Of Old Edinburgh" La Magnifica  (Domino, Nov 27)  D

- Hannah Cohen, "Music and Dreams (Cover Version)" Music and Dreams: 50th Anniversary Edition  (Anthology, Oct 16)  D

- Kyle Kimbrell, "Grocery Cart Ordeal" Lonesome In the Sky  (Cornelius Chapel, Oct 16)

- Sam Burton, "Free Again" Fairweather Friend  (Captured Tracks, Oct 30)

- Brody Price, "Waste" Leaf Miner's Daughter  (Gar Hole, Oct 9)

- King Husky, "Punks In the Beerlight" single  (Hype City, 26)  D

- Chris Gantry, "Catchphrase" Worth Every Nail  (Appalachia, Oct 23)

- Jeffrey Silverstein, "Helluva" Doggone  (Full Time Hobby, Oct 23)

- Woke County Speedway, "Cash Considerations" single  (Halloween On Raspberry Hill, 26)  D

- Lily Seabird, "Bindlestiff" Lightspheres On Their Way  (Lame-O, 26)

- Greg Freeman, "Loser's Prize" All Set the Bone  (Transgressive, 26)

- Emma Ogier, "Hands Tied" Fly 1111  (Lost Highway, Nov 11)

- Hudson Freeman, "Fell Ass Backwards" Doom Country  (Mom+Pop, Nov 6)

- Ryley Walker, "Carrier" single  (AD93, 26)  D

- Federale, "I Want a New Drug" Love & Other Lies  (Jealous Butcher, Oct 30)  D

- Meernaa, "A Promise" Methuselah  (OTTB, 26)  D

- Allison de Groot & Rich Ruth, "Rocks From the Moon" Allison de Groot & Rich Ruth  (Western Vinyl, 26)

- Jens Kuross, "Who I Thought I'd Be" single  (Kuross, 26)  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?!! (October 2, 2026)

ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

October 2, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

We're afield this week, which has put us a bit behind in pushing out our Friday five favorites. Actually, we prepared blurbs for the first four songs, but wanted to make sure we caught all the Friday singles for consideration. Turns out it's just a bunch of dudes this week. 

WHAT's SO GREAT ABOUT THiS WEEK?!! 

Westelaken, "Sometimes" In It For the Lack  (Vain Mina, Nov 13)

Like several other artists, Toronto's Westelaken have chosen not to make their music available on Spotify. But don't let that fool you - these photogenic young men have been creating their interesting country-whispering indie folk for more than a decade. In their video for "Sometimes", they boldly flaunt the taboo of playing basketball in church. It's actually quite a resonant song, and the light through the stained glass suggests a perfect setting. 

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Willi Carlisle, "Gas Station" Universal Bubba  (Signature Sounds, Nov 6)

The third single from Universal Bubba has garnered some attention from high places for its creative use of puppetry, depicting producer Tyler Childers and his band like a long forgotten Muppets outtake. Shout out for the cinematography of the hot dogs on the rollers. This thing barely clings to the rails, but we expect Carlisle's November album to clear some space on many year-end lists. 

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Hudson Freeman, "Fell Ass Backwards" Doom Country  (Mom+Pop, Nov 6)

Don't let anyone fool you that alt.country isn't a contact sport. Freeman (and his partner/collaborator Sophie Brown) drip their doom country all over the stage in this chaotic clip. Something tells us our year-end favorites list for 2026 will all sound like Nirvana with acoustic guitars and pedal steel. Nothing to complain about there. 

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Greg Freeman, "Loser's Prize" All Set the Bone  (Transgressive, 26)

We warned you in yesterday's post that we were far from done hearing about Greg Freeman's third LP. And we're still not done. This final single gives us another basketball-themed clip, along with a busy assortment of animations. It's a remarkable project, both profoundly evocative and deeply original. When I'm alone I can be anyone / But when I'm with you I'm me. 

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Ryley Walker, "Carrier" single  (AD93, 26)

Fact is, this week we're apparently all about the noise. Not just Walker's savage electric scratching. But the mental noise as well: A junkie with a rig in a pink limo / A loser who made it in roofing / Hoping the hail is brick sized / Praying a Kentucky bend folds the world. And the video comes with a bunch of staticky images too! We're going to nominate Ryley Walker to deliver the National Anthem on next week's Thursday Night Football game ...

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A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER (October 1, 2026)

A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER

good news about good noise

October 1, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

Hudson Freeman has our attention. He's called his November 6 LP Doom Country, which pretty much tells us what to expect. JamBase shares a bit more in a quick chat with Freeman, who tags iconic state-named records like Illinois and Nebraska as influences on the project, his first for the Mom+Pop label. ^

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Far be it for us to offer spoilers here, but we'll be spilling more digital ink on Greg Freeman's Friday release of All Set the Bone soon. It's a big week for men named Freeman (no relation, though they both seen pretty short). Range has published a nice interview with Freeman (Greg), who admits that he grew up rooting for the worst (sports) franchises in existence, and that he distrusts people who really really like his music (we're not gonna apologize). 

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Otis Gibbs hosts a fine interview show, available via YouTube. This week he's been chatting with guitarist Larry Campbell, who tells stories about Big Names like Levon, Prine, Dylan, and others. We're linking to just one of these streaming things, but you'll want to check out the others as time permits. It's quite the rabbit hole. 

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You know how in some places you can adopt a highway, committing to picking up trash along a precariously busy road in exchange for putting your name on a sign? Stereogum reports that Jess Williamson has done just that. The fact that she collects discarded fast food bags in her spare time makes us like her more, and increases our anticipation of Williamson's A Mile South Of Heaven next week. 

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We're by no means guitar wonks, but you can count us among the fans of Marissa Anderson's Anthology Of Unamerican Folk Music, released by Thrill Jockey way back in May. KLOFmag has published an interview with the guitarist, who talks about browsing Harry Smith's private record collection, laboring in factories to fund her wanderlust, and introducing activism into instrumental folk music. 

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Did you read our piece in celebration of Ian Noe's excellent Canyon Falls Trailer Band? Why or why not? Either way, you'll want to stop down for Bluegrass Situation/Good Country's piece where they actually talk to the guy (we didn't do that). Among several other things, the East Kentucky songwriter mentions how he was able to get legendary country harmonica cat Charlie McCoy to lay down a few minutes of work on his way to the Grand Ole Opry. 

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Portland's Jeffrey Silverstein will release Doggone on the Full Time Hobby label on October 23. The guitarist sat down with Glide Magazine on the occasion of his "Helluva" single. Silverstein waxes about what makes the Northwest different, the iconic cover photo for his new record, and working with members of Y La Bamba, Rose City Band, Akron/Family, and more. 

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James Yorkston has given us countless opportunities to appreciate his eclectic and prolific output. KLOF announces La Magnifica, which pulls together a career retrospective and thereby serves as a fine entry point. Who else among us can claim they have collaborated with members of the Cocteau Twins, Hot Chip, and Bert Jansch?! If you count yourself among that select crowd, we're pretty sure you're lying. 

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It's October here on the lonesome prairie that is A Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster (our faithfully updated new release calendar). This week we added an October 16 EP from West Coast country-folk guy Hunter Watts. The Valentine label will release I'm Lost Without You. Michael Kiwanuka shared that he's recovering from a stroke, but that he's been able to prepare a new LP from existing sessions. Fudge lands on virtual shelves October 23 via Geffen. Hudson Freeman has plugged in the guitar for his next project. Expect Doom Country on or about November 6 (Mom+Pop). Emma Ogier has served with Bright Eyes, and will be sharing stages with Hovvdy. She's also proclaimed a November 11 release date for a full-length debut, Fly 1111 (Lost Highway). Finally, British folk-rock artist James Yorkston takes a deserved victory lap with his upcoming collection. La Magnifica serves as a retrospective of his prolific career (November 27, Domino). 

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