Three outstanding new Americana tracks that will remind you the genre is alive and well

Della Moorman – “Smoke in the Room”
-When the first line of a song is, “there’s a ghost in the jukebox, there’s dust on the floorboards” you know you’re in for a treat. Name me one artist on Music Row who would even think to start a track with that kind of depth and resonance? And the kicker… the song gets better the more you listen. Of all the things to enjoy about the classic country instrumentation here, one of my favorite elements of the track is the fact that it doesn’t rush. In a world where every country “hit” has to be a line dance or a beer shooting track, this one feels like a well-deserved slow burn… after all, there’s smoke in the room. The metaphor is clear. The heat in the track is evident right away and well worth the spin.

Sarah Golden and Nathan K. – “Who is Gonna Rebuild LA”
-This is a love song. This is also a protest song. This is a political ballad. This is a witness to a generational crime. Sarah Golden and Nathan K. have written a song that would make Pete Seeger proud, which is a heck of an accomplishment. It’s a slow, careful, expressive song about the state of the world. Reminding me of the message of Tyler Childers, “Long Violent History,” there’s a beautiful message to the song that transcends political party and leans into human rights. This is one of those songs that reminds me that, unfortunately, terrible times bring us beautiful art. As much as I like this song, I hope we never have to sing a message like this again.

Sweetbreads – “The Anvil”
-A prominent banjo always catches my attention with a new submission, so when I clicked play on this track I was captured immediately. The lead vocal is tender and charming, pulling the listener right into the story. Something about the crooning “youuuuu” on the chorus feels deeply comforting. The repeated refrain “you are good” comes across like a mantra, a welcome reminder in a world that so often feels like its spinning off its access. There’s a tenderness to this recording that I really appreciate, even while it has layers and depth beyond the surface. Stylistically I’d put this in the same company as a David Rawlings and Gillian Welch brand of Americana.