Americana (US country/folk) thread
Posted by: Bruce Woodhouse on 14 January 2015
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.
Bruce
Joe
Read she has a new release coming first half of 2015. Always good news.
Jeff A
Thanks Jeff. I preordered the vinyl a few weeks ago. Looking forward to it's arrival in March 
ewemon you have a strange definition of "a few".
ewemon you have a strange definition of "a few".
Lol I am a very strange man.
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.
Good call H, just listened to 'One Red Rose'.... album ordered.
Thanks !
ewemon you have a strange definition of "a few".
Lol I am a very strange man.
Could you provide some recommendations, based on your obviously broad experience? Which artists from your lists would you actually recommend to someone looking to expand their listening in this genre.
ewemon you have a strange definition of "a few".
Lol I am a very strange man.
Could you provide some recommendations, based on your obviously broad experience? Which artists from your lists would you actually recommend to someone looking to expand their listening in this genre.
If you can give me a few of the artists in this genre that you like I will see what I can do for you.
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.
Good call H, just listened to 'One Red Rose'.... album ordered.
Thanks !
Personally still think his first is possibly his best. I have heard trax with him and a full band that haven't been released and they are absolutely brilliant.
Luckily I have 3 copies of his first album so if I wear out one I still have another to play.
A lot of stuff to check out here....but just listened to some tracks off Casualties of Cool....very nice, right up my street. Thanks Timjoebill
Formerly pretty well known but flying under the radar these days it seems.
"...as a versatile document of country and folk music that actually rocks, you could do a LOT worse than check it out. Shocked collaborates with the likes of Taj Mahal, Levon Helm and Garth Hudson from The Band, Pops Staples of The Staple Singers, fiddler Byron Berline, do-everything-fix-it-man, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, and of course, Uncle Tupelo." http://www.adioslounge.com/
Blackberry Blossom is a particular favourite.
One of my finds of the last couple of years is Jimmy Lafave. This isn't always cheerful, but I love it.
Sadly my pile of vinyls is gone long time and really i can't make a list like Ewemon did. I remember i still do have some 33s by Hobo Jim on Flyin' Fish black stuff. Or other vinyls by i.e. The Shady Grove Band always on Flyin' Fish. These are Canadian.
But i did not part from three albums you'll maybe find interesting
I would dig some Poco's discography as well.......Townes Van Zandt......... There's really quite a lot to discover (or discover again if you like) out there. I do have some Prince Billy records but i do not simply like what they call neo folk and I'm sure i'm tragically forgetting hundreds of good artists and records.
ewemon you have a strange definition of "a few".
Lol I am a very strange man.
Could you provide some recommendations, based on your obviously broad experience? Which artists from your lists would you actually recommend to someone looking to expand their listening in this genre.
If you can give me a few of the artists in this genre that you like I will see what I can do for you.
Neko Case, Wilco and Michelle Shocked spring to mind as artists that I listen to who would be classified in this Genre.
Sadly my pile of vinyls is gone long time and really i can't make a list like Ewemon did. I remember i still do have some 33s by Hobo Jim on Flyin' Fish black stuff. Or other vinyls by i.e. The Shady Grove Band always on Flyin' Fish. These are Canadian.
But i did not part from three albums you'll maybe find interesting
I would dig some Poco's discography as well.......Townes Van Zandt......... There's really quite a lot to discover (or discover again if you like) out there. I do have some Prince Billy records but i do not simply like what they call neo folk and I'm sure i'm tragically forgetting hundreds of good artists and records.
Good call keeping hold of those!
Americana is a very wide genre. But heres a stellar album from my collection. My favourite of Bela's. Monumental!
An album so good i made it my avatar. Visionary progressive hippy bluegrass from one of my favourite musicians!
Americana is a very wide genre. But heres a stellar album from my collection. My favourite of Bela's. Monumental!
New Grass Revival!
An album so good i made it my avatar. Visionary progressive hippy bluegrass from one of my favourite musicians!
Now i have it! I don't know the record up here but i knew this one (and think i had it)
Contains imho the best cover of Glen Campbell's Gentle on my mind evenif i can't remember who wrote it first. Maybe i'm wrong as for what i see both lps came out in 1967.
(everytime Nilsson's Everybody's talking take me somewhere else)
An album so good i made it my avatar. Visionary progressive hippy bluegrass from one of my favourite musicians!
Now i have it! I don't know the record up here but i knew this one (and think i had it)
Contains imho the best cover of Glen Campbell's Gentle on my mind evenif i can't remember who wrote it first. Maybe i'm wrong as for what i see both lps came out in 1967.
(everytime Nilsson's Everybody's talking take me somewhere else)
John did it first!
An album so good i made it my avatar. Visionary progressive hippy bluegrass from one of my favourite musicians!
Now i have it! I don't know the record up here but i knew this one (and think i had it)
Contains imho the best cover of Glen Campbell's Gentle on my mind evenif i can't remember who wrote it first. Maybe i'm wrong as for what i see both lps came out in 1967.
(everytime Nilsson's Everybody's talking take me somewhere else)
John did it first!
Ha. he wrote it. The royalties from that song left him free to do his own musical thing for the rest of his life. His back catalogue is deep and very rewarding. He was a very special musician who is practically unknown out of bluegrass circles. Anyway heres a taster from the album..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-SXk40DQzA