Three brand new tracks in the Americana and Folk Rock world that stand out from the crowd

Whiskerman – “Junkman”
-Sometimes I don’t really “listen” to the blues so much as I FEEL the blues. And boy oh boy did I FEEL this track right from first listen. It’s perfect. I mean… everything from the effect on the guitars to the expressive style of the vocal feels absolutely right. Do I understand the lyrics? Not really. Does it matter? Not a all. Because I FEEL this song. This is a track that transports me to a place I’ve never been… it’s Beale Street… it’s Frenchman Street… It’s dusky and dark; it’s mysterious and captivating. I don’t know the junkman. I don’t understand his world, but I can’t look away.

Ellie Grace – “Crooked Laugh”
-If you’re looking for some genuine electric guitar energy that propels a track along, check out this new song from Ellie Grace. There’s an understated element to the way the vocal hits the track, but it works really well with the way the guitars and rhythm section pop. The whole vibe is the intersection of Americana and folk rock for this syrupy anthem about wanting to be with someone that just can’t happen. The line about knowing what could have been and taking the blame for it is really deep. There’s a lot of emotional energy captured in the sometimes-dissonant chord choices. I don’t know exactly how to say this, but I feel an almost grungy undertone in some of these sections and it frankly works here. Ellie Grace has created something truly unique. Give it a spin.

Joshua C. Edwards – “Shake Hands with the Devil”
-I’ve always enjoyed folk music with a side of theology, but this track is more than a side. This whole lyrical concept is loaded in something deeply spiritual and powerful. The sentiment is that we all shake hands with the Devil sometimes. It’s about what some traditions might call sin. There’s a haunting sense created by the chord structure and choices that makes the song have an intriguing, almost indulgent darkness to it. There’s a hypnotic, repeated sentiment about how we all shake hands with the devil. In the second half of the track, the guitars turn into almost Sirens as they cry out. You just have to hear it.