Three unique and (dare I say) progressive approaches to making Americana music

Ramsey Thornton – “Lie to myself”
-Everything about this track caught my attention. The string work, the vocal, and the unique rhythmic structure all pulled me in different directions in the best way ever. The comparison I want to make is with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. I remember the first time I heard Bela Fleck’s unconventional banjo work I was completely blown away. I feel similarly about Ramsey Thornton and this style of songwriting. I love the line “waited too long looking for a song to sing.” The song is about being yourself and getting out there to give what you have to give. It’s a great message and packaged in a tune you have never heard before (in the best way possible).

Jacob Reed Torrisi – “Daylight burns”
-There are a lot of ways to describe the sound that Torrisi creates on this song, but I think the best way to put it is rowdy Americana with a healthy base of rock influences. It’s a bit in the rockabilly vein, for fans of longtime Americana styles. The vocal harmonies on this track really do a nice job of creating a warmth. It sounds like the kind of song that would be fun to sing in a round with a bunch of other like-minded country-tinged music fans. The lyrics are about day to day consistency and seeing positive developments over time. All told, it’s a big ole rock n’ country tune about staying the course in life. It’s just the kind of encouragement I need right now and I bet some of y’all will like it as well.

Taylor Burlage – “Younger than my father”
-The acoustic guitar on this song is absolutely impressive. Burlage also has one of those timeless voices that seems to transcend the song itself. Burlage reminds me a bit of what I liked when I first found David Ramirez. There’s an inflection and tone in Burlage’s voice that just makes you believe what he has to say. The lyrics are introspective and witty in the way that good folk and Americana music often is. The comforting acoustic work is met with contemplative lyricism that is sure to permeate for many of our more traditional readers.

[Link unavailable at time of publication.]