J.J. Cale – Really
LP, Shelter Records, 1972 Style: Singer/Songwriter, Roots Rock, Americana Moods: Heartbreak, Sunny, Swagger, Road Trip, Rustic, Rootsy, Mellow, Reflective, Warm, Angsty Musical Qualities: Bluesy, Groovy, Polished
LP, Shelter Records, 1972 Style: Singer/Songwriter, Roots Rock, Americana Moods: Heartbreak, Sunny, Swagger, Road Trip, Rustic, Rootsy, Mellow, Reflective, Warm, Angsty Musical Qualities: Bluesy, Groovy, Polished
ft. jaimie branch, Tyler Damon, Sam Wagster, Cameron Knowler, David Grubbs, Ryley Walker, & Yasmin Williams
FFO: Jim O’Rourke (Bad Timing / The Visitor), William Tyler, Ry Cooder Instrumentals, Gastr Del Sol, Elkhorn, Moon Bros, Appalachian Folk, Leo Kottke, Jack Rose
Style: Avant-garde Chamber Jazz, Afro-Carribean Jazz, Gwoka
Moods/Themes: Ancestry, Ritualistic, Meditative, Hypnotic, Communal, Rootsy, Poetic, Sombre, Elegant, Flowing, Warm, Mystical
Musical Qualities: Polyrhythmic, Percussive, Acoustic, Repetitive, Improvisation, Technical
Instrumentation: Upright Bass, Bèlè Drum, Ka Drum, Trumpet, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals, Cello, Violin
Personnel: Sathima Bea Benjamin – Vocals; Kenny Barron – Piano; Buster Williams – Upright Bass; Billy Higgins – Drums
Style: Vocal Jazz, Spiritual Jazz, Ballads, Traditional
Vibe: Healing, Flowing, Warm, Airy, Spiritual, Soothing, Sombre, Heartfelt, Elegant, Uplifting, Bittersweet, Intimate, Morning, Peaceful, Reflective, Rootsy, Sentimental,
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Soft, Improvisation, Slow, Polished, Lyrical, Lush
Style: Dream Folk, Jazz-Folk, Warped Americana
Vibes: Warm Melancholy, Springtime Reflection, Rootsy, Early Afternoons in the Garden, Dreamy, Intertwined, Heartfelt
Musical Qualities: Lush; Improvised Arrangements; Studio-as-an-Instrument, Melodic, Vocal Fx
Instrumentation: Banjo, Saxophone, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Flute, Acoustic Bass, Synthesizers, Piano
Style: Brit-Folk, Chamber Folk, Jazz-Folk
Vibe: Flowing, Morning, Breezy, Warm, Medieval, Sentimental, Rootsy, Mellow, Pastoral, Uplifting
Musical Qualities: Vocal Harmonies, Acoustic, Traditional, Melodic, Improvisation
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitars (Fingerstyle), Vocals, Upright Bass, Sitar, Dulcimer, Banjo, Recorder, Harmonica, Electric Guitar, Drums
Style: American Primitivism, Acoustic Blues, Folk
Vibe: Meditative, Loner, Morning, Rustic, Spring, Spiritual, Pastoral, Bittersweet, Hypnotic, inspiration, Melancholy, Nature, Raw, Warm
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Technical, Fingerstyle, Instrumental, Sparse, Progressive
Style: Gnawa, Spiritual Jazz
Vibe: Ceremonial, Hypnotic, Communal, Ritualistic, Spiritual, Uplifting, Serpentine, Warm, Desert, Tribal
Musical Qualities: Polyrhythmic, Acoustic, Repetitive, Chants, Improvisation, Microtonal
Instrumentation: Guimbri, Tenor Saxophone, Percussion, Group Vocals, Clapping
LP, Anti- Records, 2002 (2016, RE) Style: Gothic Americana, Alt-Country, Singer/Songwriter Vibe: Bittersweet, Rebellious, Haunting, Western, Passionate, Energetic, Longing, Anthemic, Breakup, Depressive, Heartfelt, Introspective, Twangy, Rustic, Sentimental
Style: Alt-Country, Americana, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Bittersweet, Warm, Angsty, Rustic, Heartfelt, Confident, Passionate, Twangy, Love, Breakup, Reflective, Sentimental, Lush, Rootsy
Instrumentation: Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Lap Steel & Pedal Steel Slide Guitars, Fiddle, Electric & Upright Basses, Drums, Vocal Harmonies, Banjo, Mandolin, Organ, Accordion
Style: Americana, Folk
Vibe: Pastoral, Breezy, Sunny, Morning, Rustic, Warm, Rootsy
Instrumentation: Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar, Pedal Steel, Upright Bass, Drums, Harmonica
Style: Folk, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Warm, Spring, Rootsy, Peaceful, Tender, Morning, Rustic, Lethargic, Nature
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Vocal Harmonies, Melodic
Style: Mystical Americana, Free Folk, Post-Rock, Drone
Vibe: Haunting, Meandering, Rootsy, Rustic, Nocturnal, Mysterious, Deconstructed, Ragged, Communal, Murky, Abstract, Lethargic, Hallucinogenic, Raw
Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Instrumental (except B1,C1), Loose, Lo-fi, Dynamic, Droney, Noisy, Group Vocals (B1), Harmonies (B1, C1)
On this self-titled collaboration, acid folk luminaries Helena Espvall (Espers) and Masaki Batoh (Ghost) create mysterious and earthy interpretations of traditional Medieval, Swedish, Japanese, and Finnish folk songs, plus a Son House cover, an original, and a handful of free improvisations.
Style: Creative Music, Future Jazz, Organic Beat Music, Pan-Americana, Art Pop
Vibe: Romantic, Sci-Fi, Determined, Triumphant, Colorful, Eclectic, Communal, Futuristic, Groovy, Rootsy, Spiritual, Warm
Musical Qualities: Thematic, Polyphonic, Percussive, Polyrythmic, Percussive, Improvisation, Electro-Acoustic, Progressive
Style: Folk, Acoustic Blues, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Outsider, Rebellious, Melancholy, Storytelling, Intimate, Philosophical, Personal, Political
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Sparse, Bluesy, Lyrical
Style: Psychedelic Folk, Drone Rock
Vibe: Passionate, Hypnotic, Weary, Cathartic, Rootsy, Sorrowful
Musical Qualities: Repetitive, Driving, Droney, Dynamic
Style: Gothic Americana, Experimental Folk-Rock
Vibe: Rustic, Creepy, Surreal, Autumnal, Nihilistic, Disturbing, Dark, Bittersweet, Rootsy
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Rhythmic, Repetition, Vocal Harmonies
Ry Cooder’s beautifully spacious ambient-western compositions are a transcendent pairing with this meditative, expansive film.
Style: Progressive Bluegrass, Americana, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Energetic, Heartfelt, Rootsy, Communal, Passionate, Sunny, Warm
Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Lyrical, Fast, Technical
Instrumentation: Mandolin, Fiddle, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Banjo, Upright Bass
Style: English Folk, Celtic Folk
Vibe: Flowing, Pastoral, Melancholy, Heartfelt, Intimate, Rootsy, Storytelling
Musical Qualities: Sparse, Acoustic, A Cappella (A2, A5, B1-3, B5)
Style: Post-Bop
Vibe: Joyful, Energized, Driving, Rootsy
Musical Qualities: Melodic, Improvisation, Acoustic, Technical
Style: Free-Bop, Avant-Jazz
Vibe: Jubilant, Kinetic, Energetic, Abstract, Chaotic, Rootsy
Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Acoustic, Polyphonic, Complex, Live
Style: New Weird Americana, Warped Folk Rock, Psych Folk
Vibe: Twangy, Cryptic, Mythic, Surreal, Mysterious, Rustic, Mellow, Warm, Rootsy
Musical Qualities: Percussive, Loops, Electro-Acoustic, Rhythmic, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Improvisation
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Percussion, Organ, Piano, Vocals, Electronics, Cello, Electric Guitar, Pump Organ, Bass
Style: Singer/Songwriter, Slowcore, Americana
Vibe: Apathetic, Bittersweet, Breakup, Contemplative, Depressive, Humorous, Intimate, Lethargic, Loner, Love, Melancholy, Mellow, Moody, Personal, Rootsy
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Sparse, Simple
Style: Gnawa
Vibe: Ritualistic, Hypnotic, Communal
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Percussive, Group Vocals, Chants, Repetition, Improvisation
Style: New Weird Americana??Vibe: Bluesy, Contemplative, Earthy, Morning, Pastoral, Rootsy, Rustic, Psychedelic, Warm??Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Percussive, Rhythmic, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Electronics
Style: New Weird Americana, Post-Modern Appalachia, Jazz-Folk
Vibe: Autumnal, Earthy, Imaginative, Lush, Morning, Peaceful, Rootsy, Rustic, Warm, Contemplative
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Melodic, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Improvisation, Progressive, Lyrical
Instrumentation: Fiddle, Drums, Banjo, Vocals, Percussion, Saxophone, Acoustic Guitar, Drum Machine, Percussion, Electric Bass, Organ Synthesizers, Flute
Collaborators: Leo Abrahams, Shahzad Ismaily, Sam Gendel,
Milford Graves, Chris Vatalaro, James Sultan
Style: Country-Soul, Americana, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Passionate, Rootsy, Rural, Spiritual, Triumphant, Uplifting, Warm, Contemplative, Introspective
Style: Appalachian Folk, Folk Blues, American Primitive Guitar??
Vibe: Bittersweet, Rural, Spiritual, Intimate, Pastoral, Warm, Rootsy??
Musical Attributes: Acoustic Fingerstyle, Solo Performance, Sparse, Technical
Style: Irish Folk Music, Celtic Folk
Vibe: Rootsy, Passionate, Communal, Depressive, Rebellious, Triumphant
Musical Attributes: Vocal Harmonies, Droney, Acoustic
Style: New Weird America, Alt-Country, Psychedelic Americana, Chamber Folk
Vibe: Rustic, Rootsy, Bittersweet, Psychedelic
Musical Attributes: Chamber, Percussive, Studio-as-an-instrument, Rhythmic, Electro-Acoustic, Loops
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Vocals, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Fiddle, Mallet Percussion, Horns, Electronic Percussion, Upright Bass, Electric Bass, Piano
The Invisible Comes to Us is a haunting, modern take on Appalachian and Irish folk songs. Beautiful close-harmonies, banjos and acoustic guitars are juxtaposed with droning atmospheres of woodwinds, Moog bass, pump organ, and euphonium. Guest musicians include Jim White on drums and Susan Alcorn on slide guitar.
Style: Gothic Country, Americana, Chamber Folk?Vibe: Rustic, Sombre, Murky, Rootsy, Ominous, Loner, Western, Melancholy, Moody, Dark?Musical Attributes: Acoustic Instrumentation (Banjo, Upright Bass, Cello, Acoustic Guitar, Accordion, Piano), Atmospheric, Droney, Slow, Lyrical?Lyrical Themes: Alienation, Religious, Christian, Storytelling
Style: Experimental Singer-Songwriter, Soul Blues, Psychedelic Soul
Vibe: Imaginative, Bluesy, Cathartic, Conscious, Cosmic, Spiritual, Heartfelt, Passionate, Psychedelic, Rootsy, Bittersweet, Poetic
Lyrical Themes: Existential, Afro-Futurism, History, Racism, Reflective
Musical Attributes: Atmospheric, Lyrical, Improvisation, Raw, Studio-as-an-Instrument
Instrumentation: Vocals, Piano, Synthesizers, Keyboards, Saxophone, Trombone, Percussion
Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Jazz
Vibe: Abstract, Communal, Exploratory, Rootsy
Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Poly-Free Improvisation, Dynamic
This impressionistic and contemplative collaboration channels deep American folk roots through free flowing improvisations. The panoramic and sensitive drumming of Jim White (Dirty Three, Cat Power, etc) is a perfect match for Marisa Anderson’s primitivist guitar sensibilities, which feel both immediate and abstract.
Originally released in 2005 on Locust
Drag City Reissue (2020)
Format: LP
Style: Chamber Folk
Vibe: Mellow, Morning, Melancholy, Rootsy, Ethereal
Style: British Folk, Country-Influenced
Vibe: Contemplative, Earthy, Introspective, Melancholy, Rootsy, Rural, Storytelling
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Vocal Harmonies, Lyrical, Melodic, Simple, Sparse
Originally released in 2003 on Merge Jealous Butcher Indie Exclusive Reissue (2019) Format: LP, Blue
Style: American Primitive Guitar, Folk
Vibe: Rootsy, Eclectic, Raw
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Lo-fi, Sound Collage, Vignettes, Bluesy, Instrumental
Released in 2019 on Western Vinyl Format: LP
Released in 1965 on Elektra Records Recorded in 1964 Format: LP
Released in 1967 on Impulse! Records Recorded August 19, 1966 Format: LP
Released in 2001 on Future Farmer Records Format: LPx2, 45rpm
Released in 1973 on Warner Bros. Records Format: LP
Another interesting one from Fahey, side A consists of some amazingly intricate guitar duets with Woodrow Mann, including my favorite Fahey song “Jaya Shiva Shankarah”. Side B takes a strange turn though…halfway through the title track a 10-piece dixieland band kicks for a few tracks of New Orleans-style jazz. The album closes in a more familiar place with a contemplative solo piece that most Fahey fans would dig.
Originally released in 1969 on Warner Bros. Records 1973 Pressing Format: LPx2
“Human hearts and pain should never be separate, then they wouldn’t tear themselves apart both trying to fit”. The first album under the Magnolia Electric Co. name touches on the loneliness and depression of much of Jason Molina’s work, but it also contains a fair amount of the hope, light, and perseverance one needs in times of struggle. The musicians here were recorded live in a room by the great Steve Albini, featuring slide guitar, fiddle, and beautiful vocal harmonies from Molina’s band members. With its mix of melancholy Americana, country-tinged rock, and stripped back folk, What Comes After the Blues feels like a continuation of Neil Young’s great ditch trilogy.
1967 Originally Released in 1965 on Takoma Records 1967 Reissue Format: LP
Album Information: Released in 1967 on Takoma Records Includes 15-page book of stories and song notes
Album Information: Released in 1967 on Takoma Records This album was originally released on 100 copies in 1959, but was re-recorded in 1967 for this issue This album is included in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for being considered culturally significant.