Laureate – “adagio for a fleeting moment”-I wouldn’t say I “like” this song so much as I feel it in my bones. Everything from the delicate acoustic to the heartfelt lyrics all resonate with me. It’s a well-written song with a careful production …
Category: Folk
Three Americana tunes that pull from the past to inform the present
John Davey – “Summer Nightwind”-When I first heard this track from John Davey, I couldn’t help but think of Andrew Combs. That’s high praise in these Americana circles. Everything from the guitar work to the vocal phrasing is at a high level on …
Three indie folk tunes with pop elements that make them stand out
Claire Hawkins – “Bad”-I really appreciate the quality of Claire Hawkins’ voice on this track. The lyrics are easy to follow and connect with. There’s a poetic sincerity to the track that makes it emerge from the crowd. Hawkins seems like the kind …
Three emotionally moving folk duos you *must hear* in 2023
The Sweeplings – “Can I Have Forever With You?”-If you’re a fan of folk duos, you’ll find a lot to like in this remarkable song from the Sweeplings. The vocal performance is particularly magical. The instrumentation is good, but the jazzy style of …
Three folk tracks heavily influenced by classic pop music (in the best way possible!)
Jordan Hart – “The End”-I’m a sucker for great harmonies, so you know I had to say “yes” to this track on the intro alone. The rest of the track is also incredible. Hart’s songwriting uses dynamics to really pull the listener into …
Three acoustic tracks with an Americana soul and a moving emotional sensibility
Jon Kenzie – “The Heart of This”-If you’re a fan of acoustic, bluesy music, you’ll find a lot to like in this song from Jon Kenzie. There’s a heaviness to the track that is unavoidable. It feels like an emotionally weighty track that …
Album Review: Ernest Aines debut Spiral Bound – Trailblazing pop singer songwriter
Layered vocals on the first track piqued my interest right away with this new album from Ernest Aines. From there, I was interested in the pointed variety of the songs on the album. This review introduces Ernest Aines to the wider pop singer …
Three new indie folk tracks oozing with acoustic goodness
Clayton Nile Young – “Chisel and Stone”-Nothing says country music like a good metaphor. “Mark my words in chisel and stone” to mark the declaration of intent here, this is a song about a serious person. It’s a bit about loneliness, but mostly …
Three singer songwriters bringing unique creativity to music today
Tommy Ashby – “Comeback Kid” (Binaural Acoustic Version) [feat. Lydia Clowes]-I don’t know exactly all of the fancy production elements of this song, but what I do know is that it sounds great. The vocal blending, in particular, is absolutely fantastic. We’ve featured …
Three folk singer songwriters who will remind you why you enjoy the genre
Dan Pallotta – “Couldn’t Make It Rhyme”-The first time I heard this song from Dan Pallotta, I thought “okay, here’s a guy who has spent some time with John Prine’s records.” Since Prine is one of the foundational “sounds” of our site, I …
