I seem to have acquired fair few albums that can loosely be termed 'Americana', or at least somewhere in the area of country (but not C+W), folk and indie/folk. I though it would nice to share a thread of recommendations that others may like and perhaps stray from the more usual to the less well known artists.
I read/listen to Pitchforkmedia and NPR All Songs a lot so probably this is where I get my tips and reviews. Bandcamp a great resource too.
For me favourites are people like Wilco, Bonnie Prince Billy, Iron and Wine, Bon Iver, Calexico, Phosphorescent, Sufjan Stevens, Great Lake Swimmers, Gillian Welch and The Handsome Family
Here are my less well know finds;
Hiss Golden Messenger: Lateness of Dancers. No that is not a missprint(sic) Last year's album is a great country/folk record with a slightly bluesy feel. A fine record, 'Haw' is grittier but just as good. Bit similar to the Jayhawks?
Dolorean: Unfazed. Not dissimilar to the above but with a slower gloomier feel. Excellent recording too-and the previous two albums are also very good.
Lia Rose. A cheerier Mary Chapin Carpenter? Several albums on Bandcamp are available-and at 'name your price' too. What is to lose!
Willard Grant Conspiracy: Regard The End. A superb slice of southern gothic folk. Back catalogue a bit variable.
Loads more I could add but this is for starters. Over to you.
Brandi Carlile is an American cross-genre singer songwriter and has been identified with alternative country, indie, and folk music. She's not on the Western side of country, and she can rock at times. Very powerful voice. You might give her a listen.
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by dis
Lambchop - especially earlier ones "How I quit Smoking" or "What Another Man Spills" but all are good.
Califone - "Heron King Blues" or "Roots and Crowns"
The National - "Boxer" or "Allligator"
or go to the darkside - Americana deconstructed ..
J.O.M.F. "fig 5" - utube their version of "Amazing Grace" for a taste
Matmos- "The Civil War"
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by winkyincanada
Neko Case is definitely worth a listen.
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by Huwge
In addition:
Avett Brothers (are they country, alt., Americana???)
Hurray for the Riff Raff
As an album with various artists "Searching for the wrong-eyed Jesus"
I always keep an eye and ear open for ex-Green on Redders Chuck Prophet and Dan Stuart
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by dis
oh, and singer songwriters...
Jim White "Transnormal Skiperoo"
Jolie Holland "Catalpa"
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by Charles44
Originally Posted by Huwge:
In addition:
Avett Brothers (are they country, alt., Americana???)
Hurray for the Riff Raff
As an album with various artists "Searching for the wrong-eyed Jesus"
I always keep an eye and ear open for ex-Green on Redders Chuck Prophet and Dan Stuart
A very definite plus 1 for Chuck Prophet - see him when you can he is truly amazing.
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
One of my favourites in the genre. The track "I Dream An Old Lover" transports me every time. If it doesn't, there's something very wrong with the system. The ambiance that Jeffrey Foucault channels on this disc is deep America and deeply moving.
As your category also includes a Canadian band (Great Lake Swimmers), then it's only fair to mention the Cowboy Junkies, any one of their albums. Margo Timmins' voice is pure nectar.
Jan
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by Bruce Woodhouse
Cowboy Junkies big tick from me. I had forgotten Great Lake Swimmers are 'Canadicana'. Lambchop too often get played at home. 'Is A Woman' a fave although I know it splits opinions
Plenty of others new to me-thanks all
Bruce
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by Bruce Woodhouse
Jan.
Just heard some from Ghost Repeater on Bandcamp. You will definitely like Hiss Golden Messenger
Bruce
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
Thanks for the tip Bruce, will give it a listen. Lambchop gets a lot of play here, Kurt Wagner is a genius! (Thanks to Doug Graham who introduced me to LC two years ago at the Montreal HiFi show).
Jan
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by GraemeH
I once asked Kurt Wagner about the process of composing such wide spartan compositions and he replied 'just like Madonna man, we're just like Madonna....'
G
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by Nick Lees
You've probably tried these already, but Shearwater are excellent, all are very good, but especially their album Rook.
This is one of the best tracks...lovely build-up and brings a lump to my throat every time:
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by ewemon
My list of artists to listen to would be reasonably big as it is one of my fav genres of music.
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by Jeff Anderson
The lines blur sometimes for me between americana, alt-country, and singer/songwriter. But all the below have at least listened to a bit of country as an influence:
Anais Mitchell
Band Of Horses
Dylan Sneed "Texodus"
Hayes Carll (Ewen recommended)
Jason Isbell particularly "Southeastern"
Joe Henry "Short Man's Room", "Reverie"
Josh Rouse (some with pop leanings)
Kurt Wagner & Cortney Tidwell "Invariable Heartache" (recommended here a few years ago)
Laura Veirs (particularly the earlier releases)
Little Sue
Mindy Smith
Nancy Griffith (folky)
Over The Rhine
Patty Griffin
Richmond Fontaine
Rosanne Cash
Ryan Bingham
Tracy Grammer (solo or with Dave Carter)
Hope those don't violate anybody's genre lines too harshly. Good listenin' !!
Jeff A
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by BigH47
Jesse Sykes.
Aren't theses genres totally useless? It's Male/Female, Rock Blues or Classical AFAIC.
Jazzy,Post Punk, Afro, Reggae, Blues anyone?
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by Jeff Anderson
Originally Posted by joerand:
Brandi Carlile is an American cross-genre singer songwriter and has been identified with alternative country, indie, and folk music. She's not on the Western side of country, and she can rock at times. Very powerful voice. You might give her a listen.
Joe
Read she has a new release coming first half of 2015. Always good news.
Jeff A
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by Jeff Anderson
I would also include two favorites:
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss "Raising Sand"
Robert Plant "Band Of Joy" with Buddy Miller, Darrell Scott and Patty Griffin
call it Britanica, maybe.
Jeff A
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by Hmack
Jan-Erik originally posted:
"One of my favourites in the genre. The track "I Dream An Old Lover" transports me every time. If it doesn't, there's something very wrong with the system. The ambiance that Jeffrey Foucault channels on this disc is deep America and deeply moving.
As your category also includes a Canadian band (Great Lake Swimmers), then it's only fair to mention the Cowboy Junkies, any one of their albums. Margo Timmins' voice is pure nectar"
I agree with Jan-Erik on both counts. I have always been a huge fan of the Cowboy Junkies and have most of their albums, although I have just listened to a wonderful version of 'The way I feel' on Spotify that I hadn't heard before.
Big fan of Jeffrey Foucault as well - I have tickets to see him on tour in a few weeks. Try to hear his fantastic album of John Prine covers as well as his other stuff. One of the few instances where I like the covers as much as (if not more than) the originals.
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by Hmack
A few more suggestions:
'Crooked Still' (with Aoife O'Donovan) - for some more folk based Americano
'The Mavericks'
'The Milk Carton Kids' - if you like harmonies that are a cross between the Everlys and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings.
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by Bruce Woodhouse
Originally Posted by ewemon:
My list of artists to listen to would be reasonably big as it is one of my fav genres of music.
Then give us some of the less well known artists and albums maybe?
I think most of us know the usual suspects.
Bruce
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by ewemon
Lou Ford
Slaid Cleaves
Steeldrivers
Band of Heathens
Howard Kaplan
Wayne Hancock
Jamey Johnson
Jason Boland and the Stragglers
Dale Watson
Stacie Collins
Max Gomex
Gibson Brothers
Houdmouth
Del Lords
Time Jumpers
Randall Bramblett
Steep Canyon Rangers
Robbie Fulks
Dirty Guv'nahs
Mando Saenz
Underhill Rose
Departed
Della Mae
Statesboro Revue
Last Train North
Will Hoge
Lincoln Durham
Elephant Revival
Willie Sugercapps
Grayson Capps
Chris Knight
Greencards
Wild Ponies
Pokey LaFarge
Tim Easton
Wheeler Brothers
Tom Russell
Milk Carton Kids
Sons of Fathers
Paul Thorn
Matthew Ryan
Thompson
Adam Carroll
Kelly Willis
Jude Cole
Stoney Larue
Leftover Salmon
Pieta Brown
Doug Seegers
Pat Haney
Dirty River Boys
Ronnie Fauss
Sean Rowe
Reckless Kelly
James McMurtry
Greensky Bluegrass
Hot Rize
Dave Schramm
Jude Johnstone
Shovels and Rope
16 Horsepower
The Great Crusades
Rusty Brothers
James Low
Rainravens
Bob Schneider
Hugo Race and True Spirit
Walt Wilkins
Timesbold
Rainer Ptacek
Howie Gelb
Anne McCue
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Amelia Curran
First Aid Kit
Dawson
David Olney
Parker Millsap
Lake Street Dive
The Boggs
Iron & Wine
Sparklehorse
29 Mules
Danny Schmidt
The Statesboro Revue
Rollie Tussing
Keith Gattis
Magnolia Electric Company
Lucero
Cracker
Martin Sexton
Lily and Madeleine
Will Kimborough
Neal Casal
Pete Droge
Kevin Gordon
Grand Drive
John Fullbright
Cowboy Mouth
Jon Dee Graham
Kasey Anderson
Dan Baird
Big in Iowa
Cindy Bullens
David Baerwald
The Hooblers
The Beat Farmers
Elliot Murphy
Greg Trooper
Lambchop
Chuck Brodsky
Chuck Cannon
Ollabelle
David Grissom
Noah Gundersen
Rachel Harrington
Shannon McNally
Mike Henderson and the Bluebloods
Malcolm Holcombe
Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps
Bryce Janey
JJ Grey and Mofro
Kieran Kane
Kevin Welch
David Lindley
Bobby Mack
Townes Van Zandt
These are off the top of my head. Ok a few are known but I couldn't resist putting them on the list.
If you want more just let me know.
The definition of Americana is very loose so I maybe have abused it every now and again.
Happy listening guys.
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by Hmack
That's a mighty impressive list Ewemon, and of the artists listed, I have only come across:
Slaid Cleaves
Del Lords
Milk Carton Kids - a big +1 for them!
Sean Rowe - another +1
Kevin Welch
Kieran Kane - I would add his partner in the O'Kanes (Jamie O-Hara) and of course the O'Kanes themselves to the list.
Townes Van Zandt - a true legend
I guess I now know what I'll be listening to on Spotify Premium for the next week or so.
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by ewemon
Originally Posted by Hmack:
That's a mighty impressive list Ewemon, and of the artists listed, I have only come across:
Slaid Cleaves
Del Lords
Milk Carton Kids - a big +1 for them!
Sean Rowe - another +1
Kevin Welch
Kieran Kane - I would add his partner in the O'Kanes (Jamie O-Hara) and of course the O'Kanes themselves to the list.
Townes Van Zandt - a true legend
I guess I now know what I'll be listening to on Spotify Premium for the next week or so.
Worst thing is I could go on but had to stop there as dinner awaited.
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by fred simon
One of my favorite kinds of music, and a life-long passion ever since I heard The Band, the granddaddies of it all.
And one of my favorite artists in this genre is the singer/songwriter Liza Day, in whose band I have the great pleasure of playing keyboards. Most of you (or even all of you) will not have heard of her before, but she's the real deal: authentic, tuneful, and soulful.
I joined the band after this recording was made; she continues to write songs of equal power and we hope to record again, sooner rather than later. To anyone who loves this kind of music, I urge you to check her out ... I know you'll dig her!
Posted on: 15 January 2015 by ewemon
Originally Posted by fred simon:
One of my favorite kinds of music, and a life-long passion ever since I heard The Band, the granddaddies of it all.
And one of my favorite artists in this genre is the singer/songwriter Liza Day, in whose band I have the great pleasure of playing keyboards. Most of you (or even all of you) will not have heard of her before, but she's the real deal: authentic, tuneful, and soulful.
I joined the band after this recording was made; she continues to write songs of equal power and we hope to record again, sooner rather than later. To anyone who loves this kind of music, I urge you to check her out ... I know you'll dig her!
Thanks for reminding me about her Fred. I had heard her 2010 effort but she slipped off my radar. She reminds me of another artist whose name is on the tip of my tongue but can't remember. It will come back to me.
