Americana has never been better with the quality of music, diversity of styles, and the artists’ demographics in terms of race, gender, and wealth.
Throughout Woodland, Americana songwriters Gillian Welch and David Rawlings underscore the sinews of relationships that are stretched but never torn.
Molly Tuttle brings in high-powered guests for Crooked Tree, a wide-ranging collection of excellent bluegrass and folk songs, but she’s the star of the show.
If you ask a critic or music fan to define Americana, be prepared for an avalanche of diverse responses of opinion. Still, superb songwriting is essential.
The artists in this year's list all use their music to create a sense of unity. Whether it is the acknowledgment of shared oppression, or in contrast, the visibility of identity, Best of Folk Music 2020 is defined by its ability to form a musical common ground.
Gillian Welch does and does not fit within alt-country. Her 2001 album is unique because it moves beyond the scene’s conventions and prominent attributes.
