Rising Appalachia Offer a Tantalizing Collection of Covers
Rising Appalachia’s harmonies on “I Need a Forest Fire” are downright mesmerizing, as they deliver a zeitgeisty performance for one of 2024’s top tracks.
folk
Laurie Lewis Knows We Are Just a Blink Compared to ‘Trees’
Folk singer-songwriter Laurie Lewis reminds us to be kind to each other and appreciate the good things in life, like trees and the natural world—and John Prine.
Steve Dawson Brings a Direct Feel to ‘Ghosts’
Now armed with a full band, Steve Dawson’s songs have more musical heft on Ghosts, resulting in one of his best and more streamlined solo works.
Jessica Pratt Addresses the Mystery Found in the Pitch
On Here in the Pitch, indie folk’s Jessica Pratt offers an aural world where opposites are part of the whole. The best interpretation is to accept the mystery.
The Bird Calls’ ‘Old Faithful’ Is a Deeply Felt Folk Gem
Under the name the Bird Calls, Sam Sodomsky infuses his songs with warmth, gravitas, and the musical wisdom of a well-traveled music fan.
Curtis McMurtry Takes on Spring with ‘The Pollen & The Rot’
In The Pollen & The Rot, folk singer-songwriter Curtis McMurtry casts spring as the season as when sex and longing overwhelm the senses and turn us into beasts.
Cat Power Sings Bob Dylan at the London Palladium
Cat Power and her band are not a simulacrum of Bob Dylan; they gracefully step into the songs, striking the right balance between honoring and making it anew.
Myriam Gendron Hovers Between Balladry and Freer Spaces
Myriam Gendron effortlessly houses old musical DNA in new musical organisms, bridging the original with the traditional to guarantee her music’s timelessness.
Abigail Lapell’s ‘Anniversary’ Is Mournful and Celebratory
Abigail Lapell navigates space somewhere between folk, classic country, and lullabies for songs that harness a productive disquiet on Anniversary.
Iron & Wine Take a Mature Approach to ‘Light Verse’
A mix of mature realism and lingering hope gives Iron & Wine’s Light Verse its heart. Sam Beam only needs to search for sweetness when it’s hidden.
Jackie West Dazzles on the Stunning ‘Close to the Mystery’
Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Jackie West effortlessly transcends genres and generations on her outstanding debut album, Close to the Mystery.
Pokey LaFarge Invites Us to Dance for Our Lives on ‘Rhumba Country’
There’s a joyful element to Pokey LaFarge’s Rhumba Country that may be found in the Lord’s spirit, the pleasure of bouncy rhythms, or the magic of making music.