Another set of albums/songs that are dear to me and came out during the past few months. Starting this one with this southern burner from a long time favourite Andrew Bryant. I really love this Mississippi-based songwriter and his voice and words always resonates with me deeply. His new album Sentimental Noises came out on the 1st of May and it’s an excellent addition to his impressive discography. Here’s my own early favorite Something Else. Listen to / buy the whole album by hitting the Bandcamp links on the player.

Andrew Bryant Website
Andrew Bryant at Facebook

Moving over to Toronto, Canada, but sticking with the long time favourites. A new song from NQ Arbuckle was the most pleasant surprise and Love Songs For the Long Game was just as great as I expected. Oh how I’ve missed his voice and songwriting. What a song.

NQ Arbuckle at Facebook
NQ Arbuckle Website

Texas country singer-songwriter Joshua Ray Walker from Dallas is getting ready to release his sophomore album Glad You Made It. The album is coming out on he 10th of July on State Fair Records, but there’s a couple of advance singles available and both are pure gold. Here’s the music video for Voices and True Love with the Bandcamp link for pre-orders and such. So damn good and I can’t wait to hear the whole album.

Joshua Ray Walker Website
Joshua Ray Walker at Facebook

The blog was pretty much on hold for a while, because I was sick for eight weeks and just did the playlist during that time. I’ll never catch up completely, but I’m gonna make a few quick round of posts of the albums that carried me through the past few months. Starting things with the new wonderful Ron Sexsmith album Hermitage, which is probably my favourite album of 2020 so far. I loved him in the late nineties and 00s, but somewhere along the way I lost track and a there’s a record or two I haven’t even heard. Something that I need to rectify, because my love for Ron is now as strong as ever. Hermitage is full of gorgeous songs like Glow In the Dark Stars, Think of You Fondly, Morning Town and Whatever Shape Your Heart Is In. I might just as well list them all, because these beautiful, kind-hearted songs and that warm and familiar voice formed the shoulder I needed during a few long nights.

Ron Sexsmith at Facebook
Ron Sexsmith Website

While Ron Sexsmith is a long time favourite, Canadian folk-country songwriter Joey O’Neil is a new one and her music has been one of my favorite new finds of the year. Her sophomore album Ever Ahead came out on the 10th of April and it has been on heavy rotation ever since. Here’s Joey O’Neil singing wonderful Badlands for her copilot and trusty companion Oblio. Listen to / buy the whole beautiful album by hitting the links on that Bandcamp player.

Joey O’Neil at Facebook
Joey O’Neil Website

Another big new favorite has been Jeremy Ferrara and his debut full-length With Every Change. I’m kinda ashamed really, because after falling in love with the advance singles I searched my inbox and saw an old email from him that I had missed. I need to be better at that email game so such treasures don’t slip through my fingers. Anyway, this is a very heartfelt, captivating and beautiful folk album and I love it to bits. Here’s one of the personal favourites Ourselves. Listen to / buy all the other equally amazing songs by hitting the links on the Bandcamp player.

Jeremy Ferrara at Facebook
Jeremy Ferrara Website

Let’s wrap this first round-up post with a song from the magnificent new Maybel album. I found them, because I love the songs I’ve heard from Lauren Spear aka Le Ren and she formed Maybel with Ali Hendra, Loris Kecaj and Fez Gielen. Their debut album Gathering came out on Vain Mina Records on the 10th of April. Check out the whole album over at Bandcamp after listening this brilliant song called Can’t Abandon My Love.

Maybel at Instagram

Major news alert! A new Courtney Marie Andrews album Old Flowers is coming out 5th of June on Loose Music / Fat Possum Records. I can’t wait to hear the album and see her perform these songs about a week later at the STHLM Americana festival. The album also features another personal hero Twain on bass, celeste, mellotron, pedal steel, piano, pump organ, wurlitzer and background vocals. Here’s the beautiful first single called If I Told.

Courtney Marie Andrews Website
Courtney Marie Andrews at Facebook

Chase Weinacht from Austin, Texas released a new single on 29th of February. It’s called Leap Day, came out on Keeled Scales and sounds utterly wonderful. A welcome return, because I don’t think I’ve heard solo Chase since the 2011 self-released albums Moon Country and Here Cinema (just listening to these records while I write this and still enjoying them a lot). If you enjoy this gorgeous new single, check out his great band Marmalakes as well.

Marmalakes Website
Chase Weinacht at Keeled Scales