Three mellow rock tracks to bring some perspective in these troubling times

Dunsun – “When the Devil Gets his Way”
-There’s something deeply mysterious and heavy, beyond bluesy, at the heart of this track. I appreciate the depth and sincerity in the composition here. The lyrics are almost scripture in terms of knowing better, yet we continue to choose evil and wrong. “Why does the struggle always win?” Even if you’re not a particularly religious person, this is one of those songs that taps into transcendent and deeply human elements. The vocal has just the right amount of gruffness, in the vein of Chris Stapleton, with a visceral energy that connects for the listener every time. “God gave us hope and a garden to grow, so why do we sow the seeds of doubt?” Amen and amen. This is a hidden gem, for sure.

Grace Campbell – “Hold Me Still”
-When times feel uncertain, sometimes the best thing for your system is to just hold or be held, to be with a loved one who understands you. There are some really wild things happening in our world that can make us feel detached from our human existence; songs like this help us come back to earth in the love that roots us. The song is about a romantic connection, but it’s also about the need to be seen and understood by someone special. The crooning “hold me still” on the chorus is wonderfully rewarding. There’s an accessibility to the vocal tone that I sincerely appreciate with this track. It’s a slow burn, an intimate story, and a song that deserves your full attention. Sit back and enjoy this one, friends.

Watkins – “Clear as mud”
-From the moment you click play on this one, you’re going to hear the steel guitar and wonder why I didn’t curate it into an Americana article. Just hush, you. It’s as much a rock track as it is Americana and it fits with this vibe of chill rock that I’m really feeling today. Beyond that, something about the forward momentum of the percussion and rhythm section feels so comfortable that I wanted to highlight it here. The vocal has this storytelling familiarity to it and I love a good well-placed cliche in the title (says the guy who named the site after an idiom). Also, if you really lean into this song, the genre blending is precisely what makes it sound so good. This could have been on a late 90s country album as easily as a 2010s Americana album. Fans of Steve Earle’s brand of Americana-tinged rock n’ roll will find a lot to like about this sound.