featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music
December 3, 2023
Scott Foley, purveyor of dust
I'm rooting for the americana genre. I'm hoping the artists, the labels, reps, the listeners will appreciate that the only way forward in this genre that's largely defined by the past is to loosen those ties and embrace what the future holds. There's a lot of good being done in our kind of music, which is why I enjoy assembling this State of the Genre list at the close of each year.
These aren't necessarily the best of the genre, or even our own personal favorites. For this list, we pull together the artists that are leading the americana charge, folks whose artistry defines what the genre sounds like today, and those who might be tugging the notoriously stubborn genre in new directions. Some of these records are ensuring a wider reach, a more inclusive identity to a categorization that has too often been homogeneous. Sometimes this means addressing societal issues, pushing back against the status quo, ensuring that the kernel of rabble-rousing that once gave roots music its edge still has a voice.
Not all of the albums below are even snugly classified as americana. Some hail from the indie or alternative genre, where acts like Wednesday and Ratboys add pedal steel and the suggestion of twang to their grungy mix. boygenius, Waxahatchee, Jess Williamson and singer-songwriters from the indie folk ilk are drawing the attention of more nonpartisan listeners, critics, and bloggers. And the slow leak of soul into our kind of music continues with Allison Russell, Kara Jackson and others. In a similar fashion, you'll find Charles Wesley Rogers, Taylor Childers, and Zach Bryan influencing more mainstream country listeners to widen their own genre lines. This diversity happens not just sonically, but culturally. Sexually, racially, socially, politically. Whether it's the intention of these acts or not, these forces are altering how many of us regard americana, and the push, the pull, and the dialog are all very welcome.
In the weeks to come here at R&B HQ, we'll be celebrating our own favorite songs and albums of 2023, several of which might (or might not) appear below. But this is a good place to start in surveying the twelve months passed. This Episode officially marks the launch of our monthlong celebration of what has mattered to us in 2023. We'll lay these out in order of appearance.
STATE of the GENRE 2023
listed in order of appearance
- Margo Price, Strays and Strays II (Loma Vista, Jan 13 and Oct 13)
- Sunny War, Anarchist Gospel (New West, Feb 3)
- Brit Taylor, Kentucky Blue (Cut a Shine, Feb 3)
- War & Treaty, Lover's Game (Mercury, Mar 10)
- boygenius, the record and the rest ep (Interscope, Mar 31 and Oct 13)
- Wednesday, Rat Saw God (Dead Oceans, Apr 7)
- Kara Jackson, Why Does the Earth Give Us People To Love (September, Apr 14)
- Esther Rose, Safe To Run (New West, Apr 21)
- Bella White, Among Other Things (Rounder, Apr 21)
- Joy Oladokun, Proof of Life (Amigo, Apr 28)
- Jason Isbell & 400 Unit, Weathervane (Southeastern, Jun 9)
- Jess Williamson, Time Ain't Accidental (Mexican Summer, Jun 9)
- Tommy Prine, This Far South (Nameless Knight, Jun 23)
- Joanna Sternberg, I've Got Me (Fat Possum, Jun 30)
- Gabe Lee, Drink the River (Torrez, Jul 14)
- Colter Wall, Little Songs (Black Hole, Jul 14)
- Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, City of Gold (Nonesuch, Jul 21)
- Turnpike Troubadours, Cat In the Rain (Bossier City, Aug 25)
- Zach Bryan, Zach Bryan and Boys of Faith EP (Belting Bronco, Aug 25 and Sep 22)
- Allison Russell, The Returner (Fantasy, Sep 8)
- Tyler Childers, Rustin' In the Rain (Hickman Holler, Sep 8)
- Margo Cilker, Valley of Heart's Delight (Fluff & Gravy, Sep 15)
- Charles Wesley Godwin, Family Ties (Big Loud, Sep 22)
- John R Miller, Heat Comes Down (Rounder, Oct 6)
- Abby Hamilton, #1 Zookeeper (of the San Diego Zoo) (Blue Gown, Oct 13)
- Flatland Cavalry, Wandering Star (Interscope, Oct 27)
- Jaime Wyatt, Feel Good (New West, Nov 3)
- Jeffrey Martin, Thank God We Left the Garden (Fluff & Gravy, Nov 3)
- Chris Stapleton, Higher (Mercury, Nov 10)
- Daniel Donato, Reflector (Retrace, Nov 10)
Next Episode: Our Favorite Songs of 2023
Dec 17: Christmas Christmas
Dec 24: Our Favorite Albums of 2023
Dec 31: Our Favorite Covers of 2023
ROUTES-cast December 3, 2023
- Ruston Kelly, "Belly Of the Beast" single (Rounder, 23) D
- Wyatt Flores, "Orange Bottles" Life Lessons EP (Island, 23)
- Ashley Monroe, "Over Everything" single (Monroe, 23) D
- Cody Jinks, "Sober Thing" Change the Game (Late August, Mar 22) D
- Corb Lund, "Out On a Win" El Viejo (New West, Feb 23)
- Mike & the Moonpies, "Three Marlenas" single (Prairie Rose, 23)
- Charles Wesley Godwin, "Winter's Come and Gone" Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Geffen, 23)
- Zach Russell, "Playing House" Where the Flowers Meet the Dew (Carlboro, 23)
- Cactus Lee, "Big Rattler" Big Red (709 Recording, 23) D
- John Vincent III, "That's Just the Way It Is Babe" Songs For the Canyon (Concord, 23)
- Low Water Bridge Band, "Clarke County Clay" Back To the Valley (Low Water, 23) D
- Chatham County Line, "Magic" Hiyo (Yep Roc, Jan 26)
- Jon Dee Graham, "Goin' Back To Sweden" Only Dead For a Little While (Strolling Bones, 23)
- Mol Sullivan, "Eggshells" Goose (Sullivan, Jan 26)
- Addy, "Hudson" Temperance (addy-4addy, 23) D
- Johanna Warren, "Lunar Landing" Rockfield Sessions Vol 1 (Warren, 23)
- Matthew 'Doc' Dunn, "Camerawoman" Fantastic Light (Cosmic Range, 23)
- Matthew Logan Vasquez, "Parade - Frank's Full Moon Saloon" Frank's Full Moon Saloon (Vasquez, Feb 16) D
- Frontier Ruckus, "On the Northline" On the Northline (Loose, Feb 16) D
- Futurebirds, "Rodeo (live)" Thanks Y'All (Live) (No Coincidence, 23) D
- Mama Zu, "Lip" Quilt Floor (Cosmic Twin, Feb 23) D
- Cody Dickinson, "All Night Long" single (Petaluma, 23) D
- JJ Grey & Mofro, "Rooster" Olustee (Alligator, Feb 23)
- Swamp Dogg, "Kneeling Drunkard's Plea" Light In the Attic & Friends (Light In the Attic, 23)
- Cut Worms, "Cigarette Burns Forever" Moping In Style: Tribute To Adam Green (Capitane, 23) D
- Jenny Lewis, "Puppy and a Truck (Live From Eastside Bowl)" single (Blue Note, 23) D
- Grandaddy, "Cabin In My Mind" Blu Wav (Dangerbird, Feb 16)
- Langkamer, "Jenny" single (Breakfast, 23) D
- Ma'aM, "Filthy Hound" Rules 2 Ramblin' (Ma'aM, 23) D
- Delines, "San Leandro Lament" single (El Cortez, 23) D
--------------------------
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:
No comments:
Post a Comment