Recommend me some new (or old) Americana/country/heartland/singer-songwriter etc.
- Thread starter Peteurre
- Start date
Weazel
Friend of Leo's
And our own John Hiatt (from the excellent Stolen Moments album - there is some real good guitar work on that record!):
John Prine
I'm not sure how to categorize, but John was a great story teller, 'folk philosopher' ( ?) almost using simple folk or Country music as his vehicle or Medium to get his thoughts out.
Yet IMO, he really wasn't Country, he kind of transcends it...
Just get his first album, John Prine ( aka Illegal Smile) and you can hear what I mean.
Then get ALL of his albums.
He was an amazing singer and songwriter- a real treasure
I'm not sure how to categorize, but John was a great story teller, 'folk philosopher' ( ?) almost using simple folk or Country music as his vehicle or Medium to get his thoughts out.
Yet IMO, he really wasn't Country, he kind of transcends it...
Just get his first album, John Prine ( aka Illegal Smile) and you can hear what I mean.
Then get ALL of his albums.
He was an amazing singer and songwriter- a real treasure
Attachments
Yes, John Prine was in the back of my head, as I was writing my list of people that I didn't really get into. But I haven't really given him enough playtime to really let it sink in - same with Steve Earle. I will though!
Skyhook
Friend of Leo's
I'm gonna have to recommend The Rainmakers to you.
Their music is so much Americana I feel like I'm listening to a Stephen King novel while eating apple pie.
Also, they rock!
I'll recommend their three first albums and I'll throw some samples your way -
The Lakeview Man:
Hoo Dee Hoo:
Downstream:
Nobody Knows:
Shiny Shiny:
check out that Jakedog guy who hangs here
https://www.gsharper.com/music
https://www.gsharper.com/music
This is a really nice listen. Utterly lovely to relax into a comfy chair, headphones on and just let the world slip by untroubled.
Emmylou's catalogue ( and Rodneys ) is well worth a deep dive. Willy Nelson has the right of it. 'There are two types of people in this world. Those who love Emmylou, and those yet to discover her.'
Paraphrasing slightly there. Not by much though.
If you've not bought a copy of this, do so.
It's often available with a second CD 'White Mansions' as a twofer package.
johnnyASAT
Tele-Meister
KeithDavies 100
Tele-Holic
Band of Heathens.
jglenn
Tele-Afflicted
Liking Charlie Crockett for old school country.
This is a guitar forum so I’m sure you’re into great players. Two of the newer bluegrass stars, Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle are just amazing. Solo or in a band, they’re the new generation of flat pickers. You’re a big Lucinda fan (me too) so don’t miss any of her guitarists solo work. Gurf Morlix, Blake Mills and Kenny Vaughan all have great solo stuff. Vaughan currently plays second fiddle to Marty Stewart which is another act you should check out. If you haven’t heard The Byrd’s “Sweetheart Of The Rodeo” you should. Featuring the late Clarence White (playing the first pull-string Tele) and Gram Parsons (who went on to form The Flying Burrito Brothers), it was the first real “country rock” record to hit the mainstream. Little Feat with Lowell George is another band to check out.
If “Thunder Road” off of Springsteens Born To Run record doesn’t make you a fan, none of his stuff will.
If “Thunder Road” off of Springsteens Born To Run record doesn’t make you a fan, none of his stuff will.
Hi all!
I would really love to get some music recommendations from y'all! I feel like I'm at a point where I'm just listening to the same few records/names over and over again, and find my self searching for something that's "same same, but different"
These are some of the acts that I like or even love:
Lucinda Williams (LOVE her!), Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, Marcus King Band, Doyle Bramhall 2, Tom Petty, Ryan Adams, Gregory Alan Isakov, Kathleen Edwards, Bonny Light Horseman, The Band, Neil Young (Harvest and After the Gold Rush), The War on Drugs, Brandi Carlile, John Moreland (first 3 records), Waylon Jennings...
Have been listening to a bit of John Mellencamp's Scarecrow album, and there might be something there...
Haven't really been able to get into Bruce Springsteen, The Jayhawks, Wilco, Drive-By Truckers...but I might be missing something with some of these..?
But I'm sure there a a ton of music, maybe from lesser known names, that I'm missing.
Hit me!
Have you heard Springsteen's "Nebraska" album? Beautifully stark, rootsy stuff, without the bombast and sincerity-gesturing that sabotages some of his other efforts.
Jeffrey Foucault has some fine songs:
You might also like Dylan's scruffier stuff. Check out his "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid" soundtrack. Most tracks are instrumentals, so you can imagine your own lyrics. Here are a few from that:
And, of course, his "The Basement Tapes" stuff--the simpler versions of the songs in "The Bootleg Series Vol. 11, The Basement Tapes Complete."
This ain't bad, either:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je4Eg77YSSA
Thanks for starting a great thread, by the way!
In terms of Americana, Tom Waits should figure in your listening. 'Mule Variations' is a good start, then back to 'Rain Dogs' to get a feel.
I swear Tom is an influence on the band 'Eels' too. 'Love and Theft' by Bob Dylan has Waitsian elements scattered throughout.
It's a delightful rabbit hole you've stumbled down.
I swear Tom is an influence on the band 'Eels' too. 'Love and Theft' by Bob Dylan has Waitsian elements scattered throughout.
It's a delightful rabbit hole you've stumbled down.
Yes, I actually love that album by Dylan - don't know why he's not on my list. Maybe because he has such a vast back catalog, and a lot of it is just not up my alley. But I do love Blood on the Tracks, Planet Waves (I mean, it IS the The Band playing after all), Love and Theft, Time out of Mind, Modern Times.
I will definitely check out some Waits. He falls in the category of "yes of course I know Tom Waits", only to realize I don't really know any of his albums
I know "Nebraska" is a must listen. I just need to get in tune with the sparse arrangements., and listen to the lyrics and the stories. Except for the obvious "Born in the USA" (the track), my first real exposure to Springsteen was "The Rising", which I liked. But Nebraska is something completely different - less "anthem"
Cjteleforum
Tele-Meister
I just found about this one--
richiek65
Poster Extraordinaire
There's a Tarantino movie in this song
Thinking about Americana, one great exponent was Levon Helm.
His 'Dirt farmer' and 'Electric Dirt' records are worth exploring. Explore via Youtube/streaming before buying, then decide they're brilliant in their own right and buy
Another side of the coin is Mavis Staples and her Dad 'Pops' Staples. Outside the family group of 'The Staple Singers' ( seriously good! ), Mavis and Pops have catalogues to delight and make you ponder. When Pops opens up, I guarantee hairs will rise on the back of your neck. Pops, his guitar, a Fender amp with tremolo running can connect in a visceral manner.
Enjoy the journey
His 'Dirt farmer' and 'Electric Dirt' records are worth exploring. Explore via Youtube/streaming before buying, then decide they're brilliant in their own right and buy
Another side of the coin is Mavis Staples and her Dad 'Pops' Staples. Outside the family group of 'The Staple Singers' ( seriously good! ), Mavis and Pops have catalogues to delight and make you ponder. When Pops opens up, I guarantee hairs will rise on the back of your neck. Pops, his guitar, a Fender amp with tremolo running can connect in a visceral manner.
Enjoy the journey
Frisco 57
Tele-Afflicted
A while back a friend put me on to this guy. Wow, how until now, have I missed hearing Dale Watson!
