Haunted Like Human – “Growing Pains”-It’s not just because the word history is in the first line of this song that I ended up thinking of historical origins. In fact, there’s a haunting timelessness to this composition that made me think of bygone …
Tag Archives: roots music
Three tracks in the Americana and roots music traditions that will have you longing for your loved ones
Matthew Payne – “Better Times”-I’ve featured Matthew Payne in the past and it’s easy to hear why he’s become a repeated “yes.” This music is the real deal. Everything from the gentle acoustic to the highlighting steel guitar feels like a sweet, meaningful …
Three soulful Americana tracks that will stop you in your tracks due to their timeless character
Kurt Lee Wheeler – “Portland (Grass version)”-I’m a big fan of when a first line of a song really pops. This one goes, “It’s not that I hate leavin’ Portland, it’s that I hate losin’ you.” Wow. Heartache, purpose, direction, sentiment, emotion… it’s …
Three new tracks to show what’s great about the timelessness of Americana music
Dillon Gaige and Trent Brown – “Walk Into My Arms”-Sometimes you hear a song that just taps into something so much deeper than what meets the ear. That’s evident with this song that these guys are expressing some sincere sentiments. It’s a love …
Three stunning harmony bands to love in 2023
The Wildwoods – “West Virginia rain”-I love the harmonies on this track. There’s some really clever songwriting on this tune as well, with hat tips to other songs about West Virginia. The classic country elements play well with classic folk elements. The main …
Three Americana tracks that will be perfect for your weekend playlist
Joyce Harding – “Preacher”-If you’re a fan of plaintive folk singer songwriters, you’ll find a lot to like about Joyce Harding’s latest “Preacher.” The lyrics are about seeking truth and finding your way. The main lyric is asking about scripture that might give …
Three new Americana tracks that will remind you of the good old days
Erika Lewis – “A thousand miles”-If you’re looking for an old time country sound, look no further than Erika Lewis. The slowed down song feels like it was ready made to sway with a dear one. Lewis sings with a tone that reminds …
Three singer songwriters smashing genre conventions for some fascinating new music
Noah Derksen and Brooke Palsson – “Look at me now”-Fans of the Chris Stapleton vibe in country music will find a lot to like about this song from Noah Derksen. That is to say it’s more Americana than country. It’s more soul than …
Book Review | Americanaland: Where Country and Western Met Rock n’ Roll by John Milward
If you’re a fan of Americana music and don’t know much about its history, read this new book Americanaland by John Milward. The book gives the history and context to a beautifully deep and rich genre of music. In fact, the book spends …
Three retro soulful bluesy tracks that blow the doors off the Americana genre
Mara Kaye and Carl Sonny Leyland – “Dystopian blues”-They DO make music like they used to. I’m not sure a professional musicologist would guess that this song is from 2021. It sounds like it’s a hundred years old and brand new all at …
