Best New Music from the Blue Ridge and Beyond
Every month our editors curate a playlist of new music, mainly focusing on independent artists from the South. In November, we’re highlighting new tunes from Todd Snider and Bahamas, plus an archival release from the Drive-By Truckers.
Drive-By Truckers
“Sink Hole”
The members of Drive-By Truckers are digging into the archives. On November 14, the Athens-born influential country-rockers will release “The Definitive Decoration Day,” an expanded reissue of the album that boosted the band’s profile significantly. The set also includes the previously unreleased double album “Heathens Live at Flicker Bar, Athens, GA – June 20, 2002,” which features live debuts of many of the tunes on “Decoration Day.” A stripped-down acoustic version of the longtime DBT staple “Sink Hole” features the song’s dark, desperate narrative in compelling raw form. – J.F.
Todd Snider
“High, Lonesome and Then Some”
Master folk veteran Todd Snider always keeps us guessing (and chuckling) with his wry tales and stoner insights, but on the title track of his new album he’s being forthright about his shortcomings. “All she wanted me to be was a half-way decent person, but I’ve always been afraid to change,” Snider sings, addressing a recent breakup, cradled in a laidback roadhouse groove. It’s a vulnerable turn for an artist still evolving after two and a half decades of work. – J.F.
Joshua Hedley
“Fresh Hot Biscuits”
Not one to be pigeonholed, Joshua Hedley has made a career of exploring the breadth of country and western music, and when he drops a new record, you can bet it has a new sound. Hedley’s latest release, “All Hat,” is steeped in the Western swing traditions of Bob Wills and Asleep at the Wheel. “Fresh Hot Biscuits” is vintage gold, with the singalong savvy of an old Opry jingle and healthy doses of classic country guitar runs and Hedley’s own barn dance fiddle. – D.S.
Colter Wall
“1800 Miles”
If you were unsure about Colter Wall’s commitment to remaining outside the mainstream of the modern country music scene, take a listen to “1800 Miles,” the first single from his new release, “Memories and Empties.” It’s no coincidence that the distance from his home in Saskatchewan, Canada, to Nashville is about 1800 miles. A purposeful outsider long on tradition and short on selling out, Wall writes country songs antithetical to the drivel populating most pop country playlists. This is a song, and sound, that traditional country fans will adore. – D.S.
Louisa Stancioff
“Look at Miss Ohio”
Gillian Welch’s “Look at Miss Ohio” has become a standard in the post-2000s Americana and folk movements, with the likes of Counting Crows, the Decemberists, and Valerie June offering takes on the poignant tune. Add Louisa Stancioff, a burgeoning singer-songwriter from Maine, to the list, as she interprets the anthem about a little healthy rebellion with electric organ vamps and a funky backbeat, adding some carefree edge. – J.F.
Trish Plays Bass
“Cherokee Shuffle”
After picking up the upright bass as a teenager and continuing her studies through her college career, Trish Imbrogno went on to hold down the low end in orchestras across the country. In recent years, Imbrogno has made the pivot to bluegrass and country bands, racking up an impressive number of recording and performance credits. “Cherokee Shuffle” is the most recent single from her first bluegrass EP, “Bluegrass Love Songs: Volume One.” It’s a grassy gem that would have Mozart and Beethoven tapping their toes. – D.S.
The Pink Stones
“Cold Eyes of Leaving”
If you like the old school cosmic country of the Flying Burrito Brothers and New Riders of the Purple Sage, you should check out these Georgia upstarts, who deliver the authentic twangy goods on the new album “Thank the Lord…it’s the Pink Stones.” This breezy standout is an ageless heartbreak song, with plaintive pedal steel accenting a tale of unrequited love. – J.F.
Bahamas
“The Bridge”
Juno Award-winning artist Afie Jurvanen, who records under the moniker Bahamas, left the hustle and bustle of the city for the rural life in Nova Scotia. That lifestyle change is notable in “The Bridge,” from his newest record, “My Second Last Album.” There is a breezy openness to the track, which features a groovy rhythm and light and airy flute solos, suggesting that simple country life is apt inspiration for his latest songcraft. – D.S.
