Our Top Six Releases Aug 22
Top Six Releases
August 2022
Our Top Six Releases Aug 22
By Rob Dickens
3 Pairs of Boots
Mighty Love
Independent
3 September 2022
3 Pairs of Boots are California-based husband-and-wife duo Andrew Stern and Laura Arias. The pair released their debut album Gone South in 2019 to significant acclaim, as was the case with their follow-up, 2021’s Long Rider.
Most of last year was spent rearranging their home studio and writing, arranging, recording and producing Mighty Love, an impressive collection of twelve songs which at its foundation continues their country, pop harmony aesthetic. This time around, though, they have introduced more intricate songwriting and fresh sounds – multi-faceted instrumentation and enhanced production, helped by the inclusion of friend and poet Wren Winfield, plus drummer Randy Cooke and keyboardist Dave Cohen.
Two highlights alone are “Labor Day” which chronicles shipyard labour riots, “Just Call Him Love” recounts the story of slave then rodeo champion Nat Love and the title track is a perfect indication of the wamth and true tone that you can expect on this record.
Via Hello Wendy
Arlo McKinley
This Mess We’re In
Oh Boy Records
21 July 2022
Cincinnati’s Arlo McKinley‘s 2020 release Die Midwestern was a clarion sign that this was an artist of substance. Getting a signing with John Prine’s Oh Boy Records was a great start and so was the deep voice and robust songwriting on display.
This Mess We’re In really takes his craft to another plain. The album was produced by the highly noteworthy Matt Ross-Spang and recorded at Memphis’ famed Sam Phillips Recording Service, backed with an A-list band – drummer Ken Coomer (Wilco, Uncle Tupelo), pianist Rick Steff (Lucero, Cat Power), guitarist Will Sexton, fiddle by Jessie Munson, guitar and mellotron from Ross-Spang, and vivid string arrangements.
The material reflects McKinley’s maturity and reflects the passing of his mother, best friend and multiple others, as he negotiates through a range of emotions and experiences. The voice is strong and I fully expect to be hearing it tantalising us for many years to come.
Via Jo Corbett Publicity
Dan Tyminski
One More Time Before You Go: A Tribute To Tony Rice
North Star Records
22 July 2022
This monthly series seldom, if ever, has included an EP in its company, such is the abundance of fine music out there at any given time. This month we’re making an exception, for a number of reasons – 1. it’s Dan Tyminski who doesn’t add a lot of music these days to an already glorious career and, when he does, pay attention 2. it’s a tribute to guitar legend Tony Rice who passed away in 2020 3. the players assembled here are legendary – Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Todd Phillips, Molly Tuttle, Billy Strings and Gaven Largent.
Perfectly crafted and packaged, with one original song from Tyminski and some classic Rice material which are interpreted beautifully.
The Deslondes
Ways & Means
New West Records
9 July 2022
The Deslondes are an on-the-surface laconic country band that defies preconceptions, coming from the jazz/funk/soul mecca of New Orleans. The band bats pretty deep, with Dan Cutler, Sam Doores, Riley Downing, Cameron Snyder and John James Tourville all bringing a lot to the collective table. Their self-titled debut was in 2014 and this is their first album in five years (following the striking Hurry Home) and they are making up for lost time, issuing a hefty fourteen-track collection.
Recorded at The Bombshelter in Nashville, Ways & Means features Margo Price, Twain and the multi-instrumentalist Billy Contreras throughout. No one sounds quite like The Deslondes. Prima facie laid back, their grimy everyman slow dusty twang is deceptively sharp and poignant.
Ways & Means is a distinct and absorbing exultation.
Tami Neilson
Kingmaker
Independent
15 July 2022
This album has everything. A potential James Bond theme (“Kingmaker”), a slithering defiant feminist anthem (“Careless Woman”), classic pop (“Baby You’re A Gun”), a Western standard that Willie Nelson loved enough to take a duet spot (“Beyond The Stars”) and a sassy Bobbie Gentry-style Southern narrative (“Green Peaches”). There’s plenty more to love as well in this supreme ten-song offering.
Recorded at Roundhead Studios in Auckland New Zealand, Kingmaker goes even further than its predecessor (2018’s SASSAFRASS!). Neilson’s voice has always been a mighty asset, but here the material is dynamic and provocative, perhaps reflecting the troubled times in which we live and the continued patriachial societal shadow.
One of the albums of the year so far.
Wes Collins
Jabberwockies
Independent
3 June 2022
This is North Carolinian Wes Collins‘s third album, ten songs filtered from a batch of over thirty written since late 2017. The accompanying press release included glowing tributes from Mary Gauthier, Jonathan Byrd and Ordinary Elephant‘s Crystal & Pete Damore (the pair contributing vocals here), so it’s not just me that’s taken with this artist.
An undimmed voice and an acute way with words marks the length and breadth of Jabberwockies, just great story telling with the minimum amount of ornamentation ensuring it does not get in the way of good narratives. It’s not a dance record, but it will make you think.
Collins recorded Jabberwockies with Chris Rosser at Hollow Reed Arts Studio in Asheville, NC, featuring Chris on keyboards, River Guerguerian on drums and percussion, FJ Ventre on bass, and Scott Dameron on most of the songs. Jaimee Harris, Crystal Hariu-Damore and Pete Damore of Ordinary Elephant, and Barry Gray also stepped up to the mic to make the tracks breathe.
Via Broken Jukebox
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More Music Adventures Await!
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Our Top Six Releases Aug 22
Our Top Six Releases Aug 22
Our Top Six Releases Aug 22
August 6, 2022
Did you make a mistake and link the Jenny and James song instead of a Wes Collins song?
August 6, 2022
It is confusing. Wes’s first track is “Jenny and James”, the clip doesn’t mention his name prominently but the still of his album cover is there. So I think we’re good.