Americana’s Upstate Transform (Again!) in ‘You Only Get a Few’
Upstate’s You Only Get a Few pairs the unfamiliar discomfort of touring musicians surviving a pandemic – whose lives were already in flux – with the familiar.
indie folk
The 10 Best Early Billy Bragg Songs
In his first records, Billy Bragg slashes and burns his way through the political and personal struggles of early adulthood with youth’s passion and idealism.
‘The Collected Works of Neutral Milk Hotel’ Are Newly Re-Issued
Essentially a re-issue of a 2011 box set with Neutral Milk Hotel’s recorded work, their legacy remains unparalleled even if there’s not much new to exhume.
ZG Smith Prefers Living a Life of Mystery As a ‘Nighttime Animal’
ZG Smith’s indie folk EP, Nighttime Animal, sonically recreates the mystery of what it feels like to be present in the moment when everything seems strange.
The Mountain Goats Brought a Secular Sense of Spirituality to ‘Heretic Pride’
The Mountain Goats’ Heretic Pride is the sound of connection and change of direction, a way for John Darnielle to connect his audience with a new joyful sound.
The South Rises Again on Pony Bradshaw’s ‘North Georgia Rounder’
In a world of increasing homogenization, Pony Bradshaw reveals the jumbled absurdity of the US South in all its confederate glory on North Georgia Rounder.
Sunny War Preaches Raw Realism in ‘Anarchist Gospel’
Sunny War is one of the most promising, exciting voices in American roots music. Anarchist Gospel is a testament to clear-eyed persistence and gritty hope.
Lisa O’Neill Addresses the Personal and Cosmic on ‘All of This Is Chance’
On All of This Is Chance, Irish folk singer Lisa O’Neill turns the attention to herself, with what might be her most personal collection of songs yet.
Southwestern Indie Rocker Brian Lopez Drops “3000 Stories” (premiere)
Brian Lopez of XIXA and Calexico fame premieres “3,000 Stories”, the first single from his new album TIDAL that’s releasing this summer.
Babehoven’s Indie Folk-Pop Feels a Little Undercooked on ‘Light Moving Time’
Babehoven’s Maya Bon is a strong vocalist with a good sense of melody, and it’s the vocal melodies that keep Light Moving Time engaging.
Joan Kelsey’s Grief Inspires the Astonishing ‘Standing Out on the Grass’
Joan Kelsey’s Standing Out on the Grass is a minor miracle, with unforgettable melodies and unique arrangements colliding softly into a dreamlike gem.
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The 10 Best Folk Albums of 2022
The Best Folk Albums of 2022 give a broad taste of the year’s most ingenious, brought to us by long-time notables, indie greats, and newcomers alike.
