Three Americana tracks that are a bit sweeter than you expect (in a good way)

Sara Trunzo – “One Small Step”
-I hate that I do this, but I think every time I’ve written about Sara Trunzo so far I’ve mentioned how much she reminds me Olivia Ellen Lloyd. To be honest, though, since Lloyd won my album of the year a few years back, it’s pretty high praise. This track from Trunzo has this wonderfully rich Americana instrumentation that provides the perfect base for her beautiful vocal style. There’s something about the little lifts in the middle of the phrasing that makes it feel like listening to an old friend. I’m not sure where this was recorded, but what I do know is that the color on it is delightfully warm. I feel like I’m sitting in a cabin or maybe an old storefront with this warm, classic energy to it. Even when the full band enters, the track still makes room for the vocal and lyrical energy to seep through for the listener. This is just a delightful track and deserves to be widely heard.

Alex McCulloch – “Silver Spoon”
-Right from the start, this track hits with some Prine-like visceral storytelling. The “one side dialog” style invites the listener right into the narrative. The line about the guy stumbling away like he had been beaten in a fight honestly feels like a Kristofferson line. The whole composition has this unhurried vibe to it that I appreciate. There’s a happenstance, a frolicking energy to the song that appeals really well for a summery Americana vibe. The beat keeps it moving along while the sometimes-strained nature of the vocal makes it feel emotional and meaningful. Taken together, the storylines blend together for a commentary on wealth, hard work, and finding purpose in life. It’s folk music through and through, telling the stories of common people.

Thrifty Kid – “Two Steppin'”
-It’s a dance song about dancing. It’s also a song about hard work and wishing you were done with work. This is a classic mid-20th century song right at the intersection of country and rock music. This is the stuff your grandparents (or maybe great grandparents) were dancing to. I appreciate the quality of the guitar work and the sincerity of the vocal. It’s a sound that feels timeless yet still has some “pop” to it. The lyrics have that sweet, charming energy of hoping to be with someone special. It’s got some “wanna hold your hand” innocence and simplicity, but it still works. The ending, “that dream’s over” does feel a bit melancholy, all told, but the rest of the bouncy energy feels optimistic enough to keep the track on rotation for your summery Americana vibes.