I just saw this thread pop back up and noticed that an essential name is missing. The Reivers (4 albums from early 80s to early 90s) were pioneers of the form. John Croslin was a groundbreaker IMO and the band really helped shape all of the Americana that came out of their hometown (Austin, Tx) from 1985 on. Tremendously influential and inventive band. Pop Beloved, End of The Day, and Translate Slowly should be on anyone's short list of "essential Americana " IMO. |
The latest Barton Carroll is really good. |
Doug Seeger, Going Down to the River, 2014 |
Oops - Brian Henneman of Uncle Tupelo/Bottle Rockets. His brother, Tom wrote "Waiting on a Train" IIRC. |
A lot of good choices so far (Hiss Golden Messenger being my personal favorite among them), but there are a few names that I'd add.
First - since the OP mentions Uncle Tupelo/Son Volt/Wilco among his reference points - I'd suggest a quick listen to The Bottle Rockets. Tom Henneman was a guitar tech and "non-member" of Uncle Tupelo and I regard Bottle Rockets as the third "nephew" band. They've done some great stuff over the years (I'm a sucker for sad songs and Waiting on a Train is my gold standard for hard rockin' weepers). I'd think this is close to a "can't miss" recommendation given Todd's stated preferences - although I've been wrong before.
Two other names that immediately come to mind are 16 Horsepower (picture Uncle Tupelo as channeled by a bible thumping hillbilly on psychedelic drugs) and Alejandro Escovedo. When Escovedo was really on his game (roughly 1992 to 2005) , I'd argue that his output held his own with anyone's. An A list name for sure.
Straying further from rock music, Townes Van Zandt is also worth thinking about. Like Escovedo, I think Townes best material is is truly timeless music. |
Check out Amanda Pearcy (singer/songwriter from Austin).
Esp. 2nd CD, Royal Street.
Disclaimer: some personal bias at play here, but it's great stuff. |
A hundred thumbs up for the Matraca Berg recommendation. She's a very talented writer and singer who released a few albums years ago and then dropped out of the Nashville scene, for quite a while except for session work (check out her harmonies on Oh, Cumberland w ELH on the Songcatchers soundtrack, or better yet, her singing lead on that song, which I believe she wrote, on The Dreaming Fields. Her work never quite fit the Nashville mold and so some of the old stuff is a bit overproduced, but if you like Dreaming Fields, check out The Speed of Grace and Sunday Morning to Saturday Night. Most highly recommended.
I'll also give a shout-out to Shelby Lynne's baby sister, Alison Moorer. If you can find it, her duet of Picture w Kid Rock is outstanding. |
Rosanne gets my vote too, nicely done! Also, Matraca Berg wrote the lovely "Back When We Were Beautiful" on Old Yellow Moon with Emmylou and Rodney. |
Dgarretson...Rosanne Cash's new album is indeed excellent! My favorite so far this year, (yes, I know we are only a month into 2014), but still an fantastic release. |
Rosanne Cash, The River and The Thread. This is the one where she fills her father's big shoes. |
Matraca Berg, The Dreaming Fields (2011). |
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The Brothers Comotose: Respect the Van
Blue Rodeo: Five Days in July; Tremelo; The Days in Between
Neko Case: The Tigers Have Spoken; Blacklisted; Middle Cyclone
Dave Alvin: Public Domain
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Nice call on the Deep Dark Woods Rockadanny, enjoying 'the place I left behind' now. will seek out the Birds next, thanks. |
I am digging the Deep Dark Woods and the Stray Birds very much these days. |
I am a pretty big Son Volt/ Uncle Tupelo fan. What more do you need? |
Rpeek,
thanks for the tip about Anais Mitchell's HadesTown
really nice music that reminds me of Tom Waits but more gothic and vibrant |
Boy, I just can't say this enough ... Did you hear Anais Mitchell's brilliant HadesTown? Brilliant! I'm surprised that more people don't know this recording.  Best of the current bunch, IMO, and that's a very good bunch indeed. And did you hear Otis Taylor's banjo records? Run! Run and get these now! Put the baby gently back in her crib first, what a sweetpea she is, look at her sleeping so peacefully. |
Hey guys and girls, if you're at all interested in hearing some new alt-folk from the UK please check out www.leeswitzer.bandcamp.com for free downloads. Thanks |
I "second" the Tom Russell nomination! You may also like James McMurtry and Delbert McClinton. If you lean just a little to the Country side give Billy Joe Shaver and Ray Wylie Hubbard a listen. |
I heard a song of "James Yorkston and the Athletes" and really enjoyed
it was from their "Moving Up Country" album
fwiw |
Check out Middle Brother. They are real fine!! |
Some of my favorites are - (Mostly in or near the category)
Greg Brown - If I had Known
Greg Brown - Dream City
Rosanne Cash - Black Cadillac
Rosanne Cash - Rules of Travel
Eliza Gilkyson - Lost and Found
Sarah Jarosz - Song Up in Her Head
Buddy Miller - Midnight & Lonesome
Buddy Miller - The Best of the Hightone Years
Buddy Miller - Universal United House of Prayer
Rusty Truck - Broken Promises
Gillian Welch - Revival
Neil Finn - One All (Outside the category but a great pop effort) |
John Hiatt "Bring The Family" "Slow Turning" |
Neil Young and Crazy Horse have a new one coming out called "Americana". I don't know whehter it is electric or not. |
Peter Case "The Man With the Blue Post Modern Fragmented Neo-traditionalist Guitar" |
The "Boomchucks" out of Duluth, MN. Alt-country duo, drum and guitar. Jamie Ness writes weird fun cool country/punk songs with a good backbeat from "smokin" Brad Nelson of The "Black Eyed Snakes on drums. |
Thanks everyone! Mike I am enjoying the Henry Manx. Great voice and music. Bongo, I so enjoy Calexico,Steve Earl, and I have seen Lucinda two or three times over the years. I will have to check out many of the other recommendations.
I also have enjoyed Have Gun Will Travel which was recommended on another thread. Johnny is of course The Man!! |
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Dave Alvin, Beat Farmers, Calexico, Steve Earle, Joe Ely, Lucinda Williams |
I will throw in Harry Manx. He wont fit perfectly into any category but maybe closest to this. I am listening to Mantras for Madmen for the first time, picked up today. |
Carrie Rodriguez
Chip Taylor
Guy Clark
Kevin Welch |
Todd Snider
Casey Chambers
Drive By Truckers |
check out drew nelson's "tilt a whirl". |
HERE WE GO, BRING OUT YOUR "iN tHE rEINS" lp. Put it on and foget all your troubles. |
The gourds
Robert Earl Keen
Jayhawks
Steve Earle
Sarah Jarosz
Slobberbone
Green on Red
Trailer Bride |
Two more I have been really enjoying lately, both lean more to the folk side and both are great recordings.
Bowerbirds "The Clearing" (Recorded at Justin Vernon's studio and has a bit of his flavor)
Anais Mitchell "Young Man In America" (Ironically, also a friend of JVernon who often covers a song from this record. Good review on Pitchfork today). |
Great suggestions! I love Naci Griffith. I saw her for free. Nice show!
The John Mellencamp album No Better than this is REALLY Great!! Love the low-fi recording too!
Check out Donna The Buffalo , a really fun Alt. Country Jam band.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2hlRwEY1hI
Perfume Genius new album is near PERFECT!! It sounds like Paul Simon slams into Bon Iver. Lol...
Todd |
not sure if this quite fits but 'Odetta Sings Dylan' is quite good, a very simple classic sound that I have enjoyed many times
thanks everyone! |
A couple that come to mind...
Hiss Golden Messenger "Bad Debt"
J. Tillman "Vacilando Territory Blues" (Former Fleet Foxes drummer...)
Brown Bird "Tautology" ("Salt for Salt" is not bad either)
James Vincent McMorrow "Early In The Morning"
and of course anything that says Calexico on it.... |
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If you like the above music you might like John Mellencamp's "No Better Than This". Great writing and performance plus several different recording venues, each with their own story. |
Tom Russell
Bill Morrissey
Dave Alvin
Nanci Griffith
Jimmie Dale Gilmore |
The Be Good Tanyas and Monsters of Folk have been getting some time on my platter lately. |
Ryan Adams "Ashes & Fire" is pretty close to Gold. Some other excellent new releases include "The Lost Notebooks"(Hank tribute) and Jay Farrar and Yim Yames "New Multitudes"(Guthrie tribute). All sound great on vinyl. |
Thanks folks for all the great sugestions. Keep em coming please.
Dhel, do check out these two great, bands but don't forget the awesome Cave Singers. I posted one for you and everyone to sample .
Timrhu,I am a huge Ryan Adams fan and Gold is a masterpiece! He is for sure Alt Country.
I have seen Lucinda Williams 3 times. Great live band. I recemmend Car Wheels On A Gravel Road of course and Essence ,and her double Live album is fantastic as well ( Live @ The Fillmore)
I forgot to mention a few bands. The Avett Brothers last Album I and Love and You is STELLAR and a must own if you love Alt Country .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq4DsqiW2DI
Mumford and Sons first album was another album that stopped me dead in my tracks for 4 months of straight listening. This may be my top favorite album of the last few years.
Cave singers killer song and video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssN2_B7351U
and a great live acoustic one from The Wood Brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lI6UrXqKhg |
all the ones listed. john hiatt's new cd is great. thanks for the heads up on the new artists. my favorite genre also... |
I've been enjoying Ryan Adams lately. I think he qualifies for this genre. |
Uncle Tupelo-Anodyne, Son Volt-Staightaways, Whiskeytown-Pneumonia, Ryan Adams-Gold. All fit in this category I believe and if you haven't heard any of them, you should. |
I also love a lot of alt/country roots music and share your enthusiasm for the Wood Brothers.
By far my favorite in the genre is Buddy Miller. His writing, guitar playing, musicianship and arrangements are as good as anyone's, in any genre. My opinion, of course. |
