Tag: 2020s
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Magnolia Record Club Presents Spotify Singles Vol. 2, 2022
Second volume in the series – see Magnolia Record Club Presents Spotify Singles for the first volume. Manufactured and distributed by Dualtone, but labelled only as Magnolia Record Club. This one includes: It’s a great collection – mostly from the Spotify studios. Likely digitally recorded though they don’t say, but sounds great.
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Billy Strings, Renewal, 2021 on Rounder
I first heard of Billy Strings because he started showing up in YouTube recommended videos next to lots of other performers I follow – sometimes actually duetting with them, other times just at the same festivals or similar stages. Seems like the classic word-of-mouth artist, making it by spending his time on the festival circuit,…
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Dawes, Misadventures of Doomscroller, 2022 on Rounder
I’m a huge fan of Dawes going back to Nothing is Wrong in 2011 and look forward to everything they put out. (They’re also playing the Cabot Theater in December). There’s more long-form instrumental work here – two tracks clocking in at 9 minutes plus. Those longer, proggier songs may be to distract you from…
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Lilli Lewis, Americana, 2021 Self-Released
Feels oddly appropriate to post this one the week of Thanksgiving – Lilli Lewis’ Americana, which is as much an assertion as title – claiming the right to her music as Americana: When Lewis was featured in the Americana Music Association’s virtual “Black Equity in Americana: A Conversation” live-stream, she stated: “Black artists and black…
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American Aquarium, Lamentations, 2020 on New West
How could you not love a band that takes its name from “I am trying to break your heart”? BJ Barham’s writing here is based on the book of Lamentations in the Bible, transposed to modern American life. My copy is a limited edition colored vinyl (gold with silver & red marble) that New West…
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Los Lobos, Native Sons, 2021 on New West
This is a three sided LP, with an etching on the fourth side. Los Lobos, proud Angelenos, covering songs by other Los Angeles bands, including folks like Stephen Stills, Jackson Browne, and the Beach Boys, but also Lalo Guerrero, Thee Midnighters, and Percy Mayfield. The band sounds great as ever, and I love hearing their…
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Sara Watkins, Under the Pepper Tree, 2021 on New West
I’ve been a big fan of Sara Watkins going back to Nickel Creek, I’m With Her, and her solo work. Great versions of “Pure Imagination” and “Tumbling Tumbleweeds.” Produced by Tyler Chester and with guests from I’m With Her and Nickel Creek My copy direct from New West
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Erika Lewis, A Walk Around The Sun, 2022 self-released
I knew Erika Lewis from Tuba Skinny, of which I’m a huge fan, so I picked up this solo album when I heard it had been released. It was produced by John James Tourville of The Deslondes. It’s a different register than the Tuba Skinny repertoire – more in a roots / americana / even…
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Stella Donnelly, Flood, 2022 on Secretly Canadian
Nothing to do, so far as I can tell, with the They Might Be Giants album of the same name. Donnelly is Australian in the vein of Courtney Barnett and cites Barnett and Billy Bragg as influences. This was her second solo album and was written at least partly during the pandemic. Co-produced by Donnelly…
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Various Artists, Magnolia Record Club Presents NPR Tiny Desk Concerts, 2022 on Dualtone
Sadly, heard last week Bob Boilen is retiring from NPR Music. This record collects some strong performances from the Tiny Desk concert series – but really there are so many gems in the series it is just a bit of a taste: Selections make sense for Magnolia Record Club and fit generally their curation (it…
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Rachel Kiel, Dream Logic, 2020, Self-Released
Kiel is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from North Carolina. This is her fourth full-length album, and features a bunch of guests, including Mitch Easter and Robert Sledge (Ben Folds Five). It was recorded and co-produced by Jeff Crawford. My copy via VNYL curation, on translucent blue vinyl. Not likely something I’d have picked up myself…
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Jenny Don’t and The Spurs, Fire on the Ridge, 2021 on Fluff and Gravy Records
One of the great finds curated for me by VNYL, to which I used to subscribe. Something of a cowpunk / outlaw country outfit from Portland OR (not normally thought of as the home of country music). Jenny Connors (aka Jenny Don’t) previously fronted a punk outfit called DON’T along with Kelly Halliburton who also…
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Billy F Gibbons, Hardware, 2021 on Concord Records
Billy Gibbons is best known as one third of ZZ Top, but has released a lot of music under other side brands as well. This LP, his third “solo” recording, came out in 2021 and is Gibbons working with Mike Fiorentino, Matt Sorum, and Chad Shlosser. I also saw Gibbons at the Cabot Theater in…
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Laura Veirs, My Echo, 2020 on Raven Marching Band Records
Portland Oregon singer-songwriter who’s been putting out consistently strong records since 1999’s self-titled debut. Produced by Tucker Martine, with a set of musicians including Karl Blau, Justin Chase, Steve Moore, and Tim Young and guest spots from Bill Frisell, M. Ward and Jim James. My copy (on pink translucent vinyl) via Newbury Comics in Boston.
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Various Artists, AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex, 2020 on BMG.
Hal Wilner produced tribute to Marc Bolan & T. Rex, featuring a wide variety of artists and styles. Wilner was also said to be working on a documentary but died in 2020 after assembling the album. The film was made by Ethan Silverman as one that “Celebrates the life and work of glam rock pioneer…
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Chrissie Hynde, Standing in the Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan, 2021 on BMG
I’m a sucker for a cover album, especially one dedicated to a specific artist. I’m also a huge fan of both Bob Dylan and Chrissie Hynde, so it should not be surprising I was excited to find this record. Hynde is joined by The Pretenders‘ James Walbourne and engineer/producer Tchad Blake, but the instrumentation and…
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Angel Olsen, Big Time, 2022 on Jagjaguwar.
I’ve long been a fan of Angel Olsen, going back to Burn Your Fire For No Witness in 2014. This release was a Secretly Society selection in June of 2022. Jonathan Wilson (who has also produced albums by Dawes, Mia Doi Todd , Bonnie Prince Billy, Billy Strings, and Father John Misty) produced, alongside Olsen.
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Various Artists, Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine vol. 2, 2021 on Oh Boy Records (OBR-063).
Second volume of tributes to John Prince via Oh Boy. Great collection of songs and versions, but standouts for me include Brandi Carlile’s “I Remember Everything,” Valerie June’s “Summer’s End,” and Jason Isbell’s “Souvenirs.” Volume 1 I have digitally, but also is on my wantlist for a vinyl version if I can locate one. Volume…