PopMatters’ Best Folk Albums celebrates and explores some of the most compelling folk music releases of 2024. Each record weaves stories that honor cultural roots while embracing experimentation to capture a spectrum of human experience. These albums transcend genre boundaries, merging folk with Americana, indie rock, Afrobeats, and even electronic influences. Yet, each entry remains firmly grounded in the folk ethos of connection and storytelling. Whether exploring themes of identity, grief, resilience, or environmental consciousness, these works demonstrate folk music’s enduring power to articulate universal truths. Through their unique voices and innovative approaches, these artists affirm that folk music reflects not just history but is a vibrant platform for creativity and expression.
10. Dawn Landes – The Liberated Women’s Songbook (FunMachine Music)
Dawn Landes’ The Liberated Women’s Songbook is a radical homage to the enduring calls for equal rights. The album reinterprets songs from the 1971 Liberated Woman’s Songbook, a collection steeped in the folk tradition of storytelling and activism. In tracks like “The Housewife’s Lament”, Landes channels current feminist themes with intensity while avoiding anachronisms. Elsewhere, she takes on women’s and workers’ rights and labor histories as rallying calls. An anthemic call for equity, the album gives an unapologetic perspective in order to inspire.
Her music incorporates rich arrangements, with a fusion of folk, Americana, and even elements of jazz, allowing her to elevate traditional storytelling. The album’s cultural relevance is paramount as it taps into ongoing demands to view women’s rights as inalienable. In a time where empowerment and personal agency are increasingly threatened if not already cut, Liberated Woman’s Songbook offers a voice of solidarity and strength.
9. John Moreland – Visitor (Thirty Tigers)
John Moreland’s Visitor is an introspective exploration of isolation and self-discovery crafted during intentional seclusion. After stepping away from the pressures of touring and disconnecting from modern distractions, Moreland produced a stripped-back acoustic record. This endeavor is a stark contrast to his previous electronic-laden work. The album opens with a pessimistic view of the future, seen through societal breakdown and personal estrangement. Tracks like “The Future Is Coming Fast” reflect his concerns about rapid technological change and its emotional toll, capturing a sense of helplessness against external forces. Disconnection is also an evident theme throughout. “Gentle Violence” is downright sad, the refrain offering no form of solace as he sings, “A gentle violence / Miles of silence / Separating you and me.”
Yet, Visitor is not solely about despair. In “One Man Holds the World Hostage,” Moreland probes the destructive actions of an individual who manipulates power for personal gain. The song critiques the individual’s emotional inadequacy, “he’s afraid of his feelings,” and their deceptive nature. The line “bulletproof and big as Jesus” positions this figure as untouchable and misguided, contrasting religious symbolism and the abuse of power. Whereas others see this as a depiction of Trump, the anonymity creates the possibility of sliding any contemporary egomaniac into the narrative. Moreland’s portrayal of this character underscores the tension between control and responsibility, with a stark reminder of the destructive outcomes when the former is unchecked. Unequivocally, Visitor is about the personal journey to understand one’s place in a tumultuous world.
8. Ekuka Morris Sirikiti – Te Kwaro (Nyege Nyege Tapes)
Te Kwaro by Ekuka Morris Sirikiti is a testament to folk music’s enduring power to preserve, celebrate, and share cultural heritage. Rooted in the Acholi traditions of Uganda, the album captures rich oral histories and storytelling. He calls on these crafts to share traditions, commentary on social issues, or even personal drama, such as the portrayal of his sister-in-law in “Mito Mon Omeg.u” Recorded live, his masterful lukeme playing is captivating. Tracks like “TTEC ME OT JOK” and “Akemu Mede Ipwodo Dako” pulse with the percussion rhythms and spirited vocals, mirroring the communal energy and connection of shared stories and traditions.
Critically, Sirikiti’s ability to preserve the essence of traditional Ugandan music while adapting it to modern sensibilities marks a significant achievement in contemporary folk. As noted in the PopMatters review, his approach is not just about nostalgia but about ensuring the vibrancy of his heritage remains relevant in today’s world. The album’s immersive instrumentation and soulful delivery create an experience that resonates beyond borders, inviting listeners into the world of Ugandan culture.
7. Jane Weaver – Love in Constant Spectacle (Fire)
Love in Constant Spectacle positions Jane Weaver as a true innovator. As a forewarning, little on the album coheres; this is intentional and creates an exciting multi-layered psychedelic folk sound. Tracks like “Emotional Constant” and “Love in Constant Spectacle” highlight Weaver’s ability to weave poetic lyricism with avant-garde musical elements. Here, she explores the dualities of love, where certainty meets ambiguity. This focus is sonically reaffirmed as she relies on her musical certainty to convey the complexities of ambiguous emotion.
Weaver’s fusion of folk with electronic, new wave, and art-pop influences allows her to push the boundaries of the genre. She retains folk’s emotional core while challenging conventions through experimentation, creating a fresh, modern approach. Culturally, Weaver’s work reflects broader conversations about fluidity and creative innovation. Her refusal to adhere to genre limitations mirrors societal shifts toward greater openness in artistic and, by default, individual experimentation. With Love in Constant Spectacle, Weaver stands apart from the other artists listed. That is precisely her intent with this album and, in doing so, solidifying its impact on the folk genre.
6. Rising Appalachia – Folk & Anchor (Independent)
Rising Appalachia delivers stunning reinventions of folk traditions in Folk & Anchor. The sister duo of Leah Song and Chloe Smith integrates modern social consciousness into timeless melodies, emphasizing folk music as a dynamic, living art form. Their rendition of Erykah Badu’s “On and On” infuses soulful harmonies with messages of resilience and empowerment. Likewise, their version of Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released” resonates as a plea for justice in today’s complex social-political climate. From here, the context for their “I Need a Forest Fire” is set. The track ties personal transformation with eco-consciousness, nodding to folk predecessors like Woody Guthrie.
Folk & Anchor illuminates the folk tradition of borrowing, adapting, and recontextualizing music, making this album more than a collection of covers. In doing so, Rising Appalachia situates itself on a musical continuum reflecting history and modernity. Here, Folk & Anchor initiates a dialogue, as each reinvention creates space for a unique voice and, as a result, an individualized perspective. Through their distinctive blend of traditional sounds and modern themes, Rising Appalachia affirms the role of folk music as both a historical art form and a vibrant platform for cultural expression.
5. Phosphorescent – Revelator (Verve)
Revelator is a masterpiece of emotional awareness and minimalist beauty. Crafted by Matthew Houck under his musical persona, Phosphorescent, the album is built on self-reflection. The title track relies on minimalist instrumentation to amplify raw, poetic lyrics, evoking imagery of emotional fatigue. As highlighted in “Wide as Heaven”, he draws listeners into his contemplation and vulnerability. The subtle layering of strings, percussion, and ambient effects creates an atmospheric backdrop that perfectly complements the album’s reflective tone.
Unlike Houck’s earlier narrative-driven works, Revelator prioritizes emotional resonance over storytelling. This directs the listener to Phosphorescent’s unfiltered introspection. Throughout, Phosphorescent is careful to deconstruct the complexities derived from self-meditations. The album refutes easy resolutions; instead, he seeks to untangle messy, often painful truths. It captures the zeitgeist of collective reflection, making it an artistic achievement and a cultural touchstone for emotional resilience.
4. Hannah Frances – Keeper of the Shepherd (Ruination)
Hannah Frances’s Keeper of the Shepherd fearlessly confronts themes of grief, religious trauma, and personal reflection. She blends experimental folk elements with traditional storytelling to create a unique sonic experience that is both deeply personal and widely relatable. Frances enhances the emotional depth of her narratives by incorporating atmospheric textures, subtle electronic influences, and acoustic arrangements. The title track, for instance, is underscored by brushed drums and electric guitar fingerpicking, bolstering the lyrical depiction of grief. The album’s raw emotional depth is rooted in Frances’ exploration of loss, spiritual disillusionment, and the complex healing process. Tracks like “Woolgathering” and “Floodplain” offer a cathartic release, as her voice invokes the styles of Joni Mitchell.
Keeper of the Shepherd speaks to the broader cultural conversations surrounding personal identity, grief, and the search for meaning. Given the increasing conversations around autonomy and healing, the album’s religious questioning and trauma themes are timely. Frances’s work taps into the broader cultural discourse around navigating grief and disillusionment while searching for understanding in an uncertain world.
3. Laura Marling – Patterns in Repeat (Chrysalis/Partisan)
Laura Marling’s Patterns in Repeat reflects her ongoing exploration of identity and emotional authenticity. Across the album, she undertakes themes of parenthood and the cyclical nature of life. She explores how these patterns shape both individual identity and emotional experiences. “Child of Mine” highlights the delicate balance between the desire to protect, nurture, and guide while acknowledging the inevitability of letting go. The album redresses Marling’s parenthood complexities and the broader emotional inheritance passed down through generations.
Indeed, the emotional inheritance can often feel weighted. The opening lyrics of the title track illuminate a sense of exhaustion with familial repetition: “That you’d walk into a room / Tell me for the millionth time / The many fine points to tell your story / Like ‘Calabasas was in bloom’ / You know I’m frankly unaware of all how that is supposed to move me.” However well-intentioned, the repetition of the same anecdotes persists across generations despite the emotional weight. The lines speak to a generational disconnect, as the narrator seems to struggle with connecting to the same narratives that are so meaningful to the person telling them.
As explored in the album’s PopMatters review, Marling’s songwriting has evolved to reflect a conscious awareness of the patterns of repetition in relationships. Indeed, she reflects on the constant tug-of-war between wanting to forge a new path and acknowledging the patterns of the past. As such, Pattern in Repeat is not sentimental but instead grounded in fundamental, often challenging truths.
2. Mustafa – Dünya (Arts& Crafts)
With Dünya, Mustafa intricately fuses cultural heritage and modernity to create an intimate full-length debut. Grounded in the traditions of Turkish folk music and reimagined through contemporary production, the album explores themes of identity, displacement, love, and resilience. For the Canadian Sudanese singer, these themes are deeply personal. For example, “Gaza Is Calling” unravels a bittersweet tale of loss and estrangement. The lyrics recall a childhood Palestinian friend whose social and emotional disconnect grew greater as Gaza’s occupation continues unabated. Through shared heritage and experience, Mustafa attempts to reconnect. Yet these efforts are met by silence, extenuating the distance. As he sings, “You wear that scarf like it’s a vein / Always pack your mothers plates /You won’t let anything else escape /And I can’t write you a letter,” his voice tinged with melancholy.
Dünya, translated from Arabic to “the world in all its imperfections”, offers heartfelt lyrical intensity. Each track is a mosaic of personal stories and broader reflections, blending the ancient and the modern to create something strikingly original. This album isn’t just a collection of songs—it’s an exploration of identity, resilience, and being.
1. Adrianne Lenker – Bright Future (Double Infinity)
Adrianne Lenker’s Bright Future is a masterclass in poetic intimacy, offering a glimpse into her innermost world. Lenker captures the quotidian with a poet’s precision, laying bare her heart in each line. In “Ruined”, she is unguarded. In conjunction with the piano, her voice creates a profoundly personal atmosphere. Similarly, “Real House” turns over memories, seeking new ways of understanding, with Lenker delivering the line, “Every shard holds the whole, but I’m still bleeding from the break,” with raw honesty.
Lenker invites us into a space where vulnerability is heard and deeply felt. Her lyrics are vivid, offering emotional clarity and poignant insight. In “Free Treasure,” her voice trembles over acoustic strums, highlighting the fragility of connection. Meanwhile, “Evol” plays with words and sounds, its loose restraint revealing another side of her artistry. As noted in a previous PopMatters review, “Do not take restraint to indicate incapability.” Indeed, what makes Bright Future remarkable is its ability to distill complex emotions into moments of simplicity. Lenker’s artistry lies in her restraint, allowing silence and space to speak as loudly as her words and music.