Okkervil River’s ‘Black Sheep Boy’ Is Still Brilliant at 20
Okkervil River’s complicated and flawed masterpiece, Black Sheep Boy, found inspiration in an unexpected place, ultimately becoming career-affirming.
indie folk
Jeffrey Martin: Emissary of Heartrending Songs
Jeffrey Martin doesn’t just sing a song; he unearths its pain. His songwriting is exhilarating in its honesty and grief, constantly storming forward like a tempest.
Cornelia Murr Has a Hypnotic Way of Expressing Self-Discovery
Cornelia Murr’s new LP finds the artist at her most refined. The songwriting is imaginative and introspective; she has a hypnotic way of expressing self-discovery.
Jesse Welles Sounds Assured on the Multidimensional ‘Middle’
Youthful Arkansas native Jesse Welles has been at it for years but moves beyond protest music to the sophisticated alternative country of Middle.
Miya Folick Explores Desire on ‘Erotica Veronica’
Throughout Erotica Veronica, Miya Folick admirably balances her lyrical introspection with an engaging array of musical styles.
Thin Lear Creates Sumptuous, Low-Key Chamber Folk
Thin Lear is a complete artist in that his influences are impeccable and apparent in his songs, yet he still crafts his own unique, brilliant voice.
Will Stratton Creates Fascinating Characters in Song
Will Stratton is easily one of the finest songwriters working today, but he’s never flashy or over-the-top about it. Points of Origin is Stratton at his absolute best.
Flora Hibberd Casts a Mesmerizing Spell in Bristol
Flora Hibberd’s sonorous voice immediately grabs your attention, which imbues these tapestry-like songs with depth and an ineffable grandeur.
Clara Mann’s Glorious ‘Rift’ Lets the Light In
With its homespun folk tunes, Clara Mann’s Rift is like a tête-à-tête between close friends under a crepuscular sky that leaves you listening to every word with the utmost attention.
Katy Pinke Soars on Her Brilliant Sophomore Album
Katy Pinke’s Strange Behavior continues to showcase thrilling, inventive songwriting but sees her working with a broader musical palette.
Sunny War Creatively Challenges Conventional Musical Norms
Sunny War is a punk rocker who now lives in the country music capital and writes personal folk-based protest songs about our mutual situation.
Richard Dawson Discovers His Way Home on Captivating New LP
End of the Middle is a more streamlined Richard Dawson album that’s no less engaging and perhaps more accessible than his previous work.