Pullman Climb Out of Retirement with the Exquisite ‘III’
The post-rock ambient instrumental quintet Pullman’s first album in 25 years is a mysterious, rough-hewn delight.
folk
The Best Music of 2025/Feature Sub Head/Featured: Top of Home Page/Features/Lists/Music/Music Features/PopMatters Picks
The 25 Best Folk Albums of 2025
The year’s best folk albums transcend genre boundaries, yet each entry remains firmly grounded in the folk ethos of connection and storytelling.
Amy Speace Offers Stripped-Down Acoustic Intimacy
Amy Speace keeps folk traditions alive. With just her guitar and her voice, she inspires, entertains, and reminds us why heartfelt storytelling never goes out of style.
Adeline Hotel’s New LP Is a Shimmering, Low-Key Masterpiece
Dan Knishkowy’s ever-evolving indie collective Adeline Hotel open a new chapter with the breathtaking Watch the Sunflowers.
Jesse Welles Sings Out for Truth and Justice
Jesse Welles is being hailed as the new voice of a generation and his milestone tour stop at San Francisco’s legendary Fillmore Auditorium shows why.
Bob Dylan Scholarship Comes in ‘Through the Open Window’
Through the Open Window does something ambitious in exploring Bob Dylan’s early development and capturing the essence of a scene.
Emmylou Harris Live Reissue Yields Welcome Discoveries
One of Emmylou Harris’s most unusual releases, Spyboy expands her catalog, offering many revelatory glimpses into a unique facet of her artistry.
Terry Klein Melds Texas Hill Country Music and Folk
Is this folk or is this country music? Terry Klein doesn’t choose as much as he shows the connections between the two. Suffice it to say, this is Texas music.
William Prince Moves ‘Further From the Country’
William Prince’s mix of character studies and thoughtful meditations combines for an album with staying power. Further From the Country looks at change and distance.
Caitlin Canty on Songs, Storms, and Staying True
Americana’s Caitlin Canty is sharpening her skills and continuing to build a body of work that reflects resilience, quiet strength, and resolute honesty.
Robert Plant Is Still Enthusiastic About His Discoveries
If you were to stumble into a pub somewhere in Wales late on a rainy evening, Robert Plant’s Saving Grace is precisely what you’d want to hear.
Reissue of Classic Folk LP Shows Joan Baez in Transition
A new reissue of Farewell, Angelina, shows Joan Baez in strong form, singing the work of Bob Dylan, Donovan, Pete Seeger, and Woody Guthrie.