Ruston Kelly and Caroline Spence lead the pack this week.
Runaway June
New Kind of Emotion
The new line-up doesn’t yet have a cohesive identity the way the original trio did; this set essentially functions as a debut album, and it’s solid enough in that regard. A better timeline makes space for these SHeDaisy, early Chicks influences in the 90s revival. Alas.
Travis Roberts
Rebel Rose
If country’s going to continue to embrace a beefier “rock” aesthetic, I’d prefer Roberts’ version to the Zieders/N. Smith buttrock variety. The best tracks here actually nod to pop-punk / emo, in the sense that Roberts isn’t at all afraid of a hook or a melody.
Stephen Wilson, Jr.
Blankets [EP]
He remains more “interesting” than “great,” but I’ll take that from someone mainstream-adjacent enough to land a random CMA nod, I suppose. The Smashing Pumpkins cover is a dreadful slough, but the other tracks here are all solid, if treading “Son of Dad” water.
Ruston Kelly
Through the Window
The tension between his trademark “dirt emo” aesthetic and the contentment and joy that run through the songwriting here works in a way that’s surprising. That there’s some great steel guitar in the mixes makes a difference. He gives good mope, but this vibe suits him.
The Brothers Comatose
Golden Grass
It’s definitely giving String Band more than it is ‘grass, but I’m in no way getting mad over the semantics of that when a record is as fun– and often funny – as this one is. The obvious comparison is to Old Crow Medicine Show, who are also at their best at their most ribald.
Caroline Spence
Heart Go Wild
Lovely and understated, which actually makes this stand out more in a year when so many artists in this corner of the country universe are taking some big, bold alt-country swings. As ever, her vocal tone is tremendous, and more folks need to be paying attention.
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