young friend – “the real deal”
-This is a song about contrast; there’s a story about a family member losing everything in a broken marriage and how the main character here doesn’t want to follow a similar fate. What a concept! There’s a raw, expressive style to the song that absolutely stands out from the crowd. This is how I imagine Hank Williams would make music if he lived in this generation; it captures sentiment and raw emotion in a way that’s frankly challenging to put into words. The vocal has a rawness to it that accents the lyrics and the surrealist production elements make it feel like an alt country track right on the periphery of the genre in the best way possible.
Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms – “Gold in Your Pocket”
-If you’re a fan of Roy Acuff and classic country music, you simply have to hear this track. It’s one of the best examples of classic country I’ve heard in years. Everything from the toe-tapping beat to the timeless vocal expression feels like a treat to the ears. The lyrics are a simple message about prosperity and flourishing if the relationship could just work out. It’s a story of hope and promise. I appreciate the way the classic songwriting makes the track feel like it could be from the first half of the 20th century. In fact, I was so uncertain, I searched to make sure this wasn’t a cover! How’s that for a compliment to a contemporary artist? Great work all around. It’s a song so good, I wish my Acuff-loving grandfather was still around for me to play it for him.
Lucas Pasley – “Til the end”
-Americana can be bright and cheery, but it can also be sad and melancholy. This track has a bit of that darkness to it, but it’s not inherently sad; it’s more… intimate. There’s a truly unique energy to this song about how intimacy shows us the deep personal essence of who they are. The haunting fiddle work and minor key structure here creates a real sense of the unknown with this song. The line, “you don’t get the day without taking the night” is about loving all of a person, even what happens in the darkness. It’s a sultry and captivating concept. I’ve never quite heard a song that was so intimate and haunting at the same time; it definitely is perfect for spooky season.
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