featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music
November 27, 2022
Scott Foley, purveyor of dust
Beneath all of this blog's clutter and
noise lies the opinion that americana music only exists in relation to other
stuff. There is no such thing as “pure” americana – by its nature, by
definition it’s a hybrid of genres. Which, by our reckoning, is what makes it potentially
fascinating, with countless possible variations.
We’ve put together this list over the past
couple years, proposing records that are defining the americana genres. Artists
who are adding to the basket, or who are taking the thing in new directions.
These aren’t as a rule the genre’s bestsellers, thought they might be. Most are
prominent enough to have risen to a certain level of attention. They’re also
not on this list because they’re my own favorites – though that list is on its
way. Not all of these artists are looking forward. Some are staking their claim
solidly in trad territory. Which is forward-looking in some instances.
Finally, in the sludgy wake of the
Grammys announcements, it must be said strongly how egregiously out of touch
these mainstream recognitions have become (and I wouldn’t leave the Americana
Honors out of this accusation). Beyond just the eye roll that these missteps
merit, it’s disheartening the degree to which they fail to serve the future of all
kinds of music (not just ours). Dear Grammy Committee: Is Willie Nelson REALLY
the best thing you’ve heard this year? Is there REALLY nothing more worthwhile
than this posthumous collection of Dr John tracks?!
If the answer is YES, let’s put
the padlock on this thing and call it deceased. I’ll stop pretending that there’s
life in these bones, and will happily go back to listening to other types of
music that matter (because there’s a lot of good music out there). On the other
hand, it’s my sense that the artists and albums listed below are continuing to
keep the blood pumping into our kind of music. They make it worthwhile for us
to check our IN-box on a regular basis, to keep one eye fixed restlessly on the
months to come, eager to herald new artists and new sounds.
STATE of the GENRE 2022
listed here in order of appearance
- Aoife O'Donovan, Age of Apathy (Yep Roc, Jan 21)
- Brent Cobb, And Now Let's Turn To Page ... (Buddy, Jan 28)
- Big Thief, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You (4AD, Feb 11)
- Hurray For the Riff Raff, Life on Earth (Nonesuch, Feb 18)
- Hailey Whitters, Raised (Pigasus, Mar 18)
- Ian Noe, River Fools & Mountain Saints (Lock13, Mar 25)
- Paul Cauthen, Country Coming Down (Velvet Rose, Apr 1)
- Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Crooked Tree (Nonesuch, Apr 1)
- Orville Peck, Bronco (Columbia, Apr 8)
- Lucius, Second Nature (Mom + Popo, Apr 8)
- Joshua Hedley, Neon Blue (New West, Apr 22)
- 49 Winchester, Fortune Favors the Bold (New West, May 13)
- Zach Bryan, American Heartbreak (Belting Bronco, May 20)
- SG Goodman, Teeth Marks (Verve, Jun 3)
- Angel Olsen, Big Time (Jagjaguwar, Jun 3)
- Caamp, Lavender Days (Mom + Pop, Jun 24)
- Willi Carlile, Peculiar Missouri (Free Dirt, Jul 15)
- John Moreland, Birds in the Ceiling (Old Omens, Jul 22)
- Amanda Shires, Take It Like a Man (ATO, Jul 29)
- Lee Bains + Glory Fires, Old-Time Folks (Don Giovanni, Aug 5)
- Kelsey Waldon, No Regular Dog (Oh Boy, Aug 12)
- Charley Crockett, Man From Waco (Son of Davy, Sep 9)
- Nikki Lane, Denim & Diamonds (New West, Sep 23)
- Tyler Childers, Can I Take My Hounds To Heaven (Hickman Holler, Sep 30)
- Ashley McBryde, Presents Lindeville (Warner, Sep 30)
- Courtney Marie Andrews, Loose Future (Fat Possum, Oct 7)
- Plains, I Walked With You a Ways (Anti, Oct 14)
- Gabe Lee, Hometown Kid (Torrez, Oct 28)
- Melissa Carper, Ramblin' Soul (Mae Music, Nov 18)
- Caitlin Rose, CAZIMI (Pearl Tower, Nov 18)
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To enjoy our weekly 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:
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