Rural

John Renbourn – Faro Annie

Style: Folk Rock, Folk Baroque, British Blues

Moods: Rootsy, Warm, Rural, Morning, Mellow

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Sitar, Upright Bass, Vocal Harmonies, Fiddle, Harmonica, Drums

Edith Frost – Wonder Wonder

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Alt-Country, Slowcore

Moods: Reflective, Sentimental, Rural, Lonely, Melancholy, Twangy, Romantic, Longing, Contemplative, Depressive, Heartfelt, Introspective, Love, Rootsy

Jim White – Waffles, Triangles & Jesus

Style: Americana, Singer/Songwriter, Alt-Country

Moods: Drifter, Surreal, Poetic, Twangy, Colorful, Eccentric, Sunny, Uplifting, Playful, Observational, Contemplative, Warm, Rural, Sentimental, Storytelling

J.J. Cale – Okie

Style: Americana, Country Rock, Roots Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Moods: Road Trip, Carefree, Confident, Sunny, Romantic, Summer, Reflective, Warm, Breezy, Rural, Mellow

Musical Qualities: Groovy, Lush, Bluesy, Smooth, Rhythmic

Norman Blake – Old and New

Style: Progressive Bluegrass, Folk, Americana

Moods: Rural, Rootsy, Sunny, Bittersweet, Energetic, Joyful, Storytelling, Summer, Warm

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Fiddle, Cello, Banjo, Dobro

Michael Hurley & Pals – Armchair Boogie

Style: Outsider Folk, Country Blues, Singer/Songwriter, Americana

Moods: Back Porch, Relaxed, Tender, Melancholy, Uplifting, Contemplative, Heartfelt, Eccentric, Introspective, Playful, Raw, Rootsy, Rural

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Home Recording, Sparse, Lo-Fi, Bluesy, Catchy

Jackie-O Motherfucker – Bloom

“I am not me” the chorus sings repeatedly, a spell to dissolve the ego and deconstruct the myth of American individualism, leaving fertile ground for a collective vision of abundance to bloom. The open-door band of multi-instrumentalists shakily weave through a suite of haunting drone seances, raggedly tender folk sing-a-longs, liberated group improvisations and triumphant post-rock discord. Once again Jackie-O Motherfucker continues their forward march to a beautiful anarchic world without losing touch with its roots in the weird American underground.

Califone – Quicksand/Cradlesnakes

Style: Weird Americana, Country-Psych

Moods: Back-porch, Rustic, Cryptic, Surreal, Lethargic, Pastoral, Impressionistic, Autumnal, Eclectic, Hypnotic, Meandering, Rootsy, Twangy, Sunny

Musical Qualities: Electro-acoustic, Repetitive, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Loops, Percussive, Improvisation

Emmylou Harris – Pieces of the Sky

Style: Country, Singer/Songwriter

Moods: Autumnal, Heartbreak, Longing, Sentimental, Tender, Rustic, Bittersweet, Introspective, Warm

Musical Qualities: Lush, Vocal Harmonies, Soft, Melodic

Instrumental Music of the Southern Appalachians

Style: Appalachian Folk, Piedmont Blues

Vibe: Pastoral, Rootsy, Morning, Rustic, Bright, Spiritual, Warm, Passionate, Contemplative

Musical Qualities: Solo Instrumentals, Acoustic, Melodic, Sparse, Fingerstyle

Instruments: Fiddle, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Dulcimer, Harmonica

Jackie-O Motherfucker – Flags of the Sacred Harp

Style: Free-Folk, Weird Americana

Moods: Weary, Melancholy, Pastoral, Communal, Tender, Meandering, Bittersweet, Hopeful, Rustic, Haunting, Murky, Rainy, Sombre, Rootsy

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Vocal Harmonies, Droney, Thematic, Loose

John Prine – John Prine

Style: Singer-Songwriter, Country, Americana

Moods: Playful, Sunny, Humorous, Political, Rustic, Storytelling, Rebellious, Conscious, Loner, Twangy

P.G. Six – Starry Mind

Style: Folk Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Acid Folk, Americana

Moods: Reflective, Spring, Tender, Sunny, Warm, Breezy, Romantic, Intimate, Rustic, Bright, Contemplative, Fantasy, Introspective, Poetic, Retro, Uplifting, Mellow

Bert Jansch – Jack Orion

Style: Folk Baroque, English & Scottish Folk Music

Moods: Medieval, Romantic, Storytelling, Rural, Intimate, Morning, Rootsy, Melancholy, Passionate, Mellow

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Sparse, Fingerstyle, Technical

Wet Tuna – Water Weird

Style: Country-Psych, Folk-Funk, Jam Band

Vibe: Aquatic, Summer, Warm, Groovy, Spacey, Laid Back, Playful, Stoned

Musical Qualities: Rhythmic, Atmospheric, Improvisation, Loose, Lo-Fi

Bill Callahan – Apocalypse

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Americana, Folk Rock

Moods: Road Trip, Reflective, Earthy, Observational, Deadpan, Poetic, Contemplative, Existential, Morning, Storytelling

Gram Parsons – GP

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Country, Cosmic American Music

Moods: Reflective, Heartbreak, Longing, Bittersweet, Sentimental, Twangy, Warm

Musical Qualities: Vocal Harmonies, Melodic, Lush, Soft

MV + EE – Barn Nova

Style: Weird Americana, Country-Psych

Moods: Warm, Romantic, Sunny, Rustic, Summer, Meandering, Carefree, Uplifting, Playful

Musical Qualities: Fuzzy, Melodic, Dense, Loose

Ulaan Passerine – Sun Spar

Style: Shadow Americana, Free Folk, Country-Drone, Post-Rock

Moods: Western, Haunting, Ritualistic, Impressionistic, Meditative, Rustic, Cinematic

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Instrumental, Droney, Atmospheric

Old Fire – Voids

features vocals from Bill Callahan, Emily Cross (Loma), Adam Torres, & Julia Holter

Style: Haunted Folk, Ambient Americana, Southern Gothic

Moods: Desolate, Bleak, Haunting, Western, Cinematic, Stark, Sombre, Rustic, Melancholy, Brooding, Contemplative, Depressive, Nocturnal, Alienation, Dystopian, Impressionistic, Lonely, Moody, Mournful, Mythic, Noir, Personal

Musical Qualities: Suite, Atmospheric, Slow, Sampling, Electro-acoustic, Droney

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

John Fahey – The Yellow Princess

Style: American Primitive Guitar, Appalachian Folk, Avant-Folk

Moods: Contemplative, Spring, Pastoral, Bluesy, Meditative, Rustic, Mellow, Hypnotic, Rootsy, Nature

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Fingerstyle, Instrumental, Sparse, Progressive

Joan Shelley – The Spur

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Chamber Folk

Moods: Reflective, Poetic, Intimate, Lonely, Loving, Wise, Compassionate, Tender, Soothing, Contemplative, Bittersweet, Rustic, Peaceful, Melancholy, Intricate, Pastoral

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Lush, Vocal Harmonies, Soft, Melodic

Eli Winter – Eli Winter

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

MV & EE with Golden Road – Gettin’ Gone

Style: Country-Rock, Psychedelic Americana

Vibe: Sunny, Ragged, Warm, Freewheelin’, Messy, Tender, Romantic, Rustic, Raw

Musical Qualities: Fuzzy, Loose, Vocal Harmonies, Jams, Dense

Mickey Newbury – Better Days

Style: Country, Singer/Songwriter

Vibe: Bittersweet, Reflective, Breakup, Intimate, Introspective, Melancholy, Poetic, Sombre, Longing

Musical Qualities: Lyrical, Sparse, Acoustic, Slow

Bill Callahan – Woke on a Whaleheart

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Americana, Alt-Country

Vibe: Observational, Deadpan, Earthy, Reflective, Rustic, Confident, Warm, Storytelling, Contemplative, Loner

Qualities: Lush, Choral Vocals, Lyrical, Rhythmic, Simple

Mickey Newbury – I Came to Hear the Music

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Progressive Country

Vibe: Introspective, Reflective, Heartfelt, Bittersweet, Longing, Lush, Warm, Soothing, Rustic, Tender, Sentimental, Spiritual, Contemplative, Intimate

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Lyrical, Melodic, Orchestral, Polished, Background Vocals

Matt Sweeney & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Superwolf

Style: Americana, Singer/Songwriter, Alt-Country, Slowcore

Vibe: Tender, Bittersweet, Stark, Cryptic, Storytelling, Melancholy, Lethargic, Poetic, Autumnal, Heartfelt, Mellow, Playful

Musical Qualities: Lyrical, Soft, Sparse

Horseback – Piedmont Apocrypha

Style: Gothic Drone-Folk, Mystical Americana, Ritual-Psych

Vibe: Shadowy Spiritual Journey; Western Ghost Stories; Backporch Mysticism;
Apocalyptic, Cathartic, Haunting, Rustic, Ritualistic, Loner, Dark, Perilous, Murky, Intertwined

Musical Qualities: Droney, Suite, Improvisation, Thematic, Dynamic, Atmospheric

Instrumentation: Electric Guitar, Harmonium, Organ, Vocals, Percussion

Magnolia Electric Co. – Josephine

While Magnolia Electric Co’s final record is still tinged with the weariness & melancholy that pervades all of Jason Molina’s previous work, Josephine also feels imbued with vital life force, bittersweet romance, and hopefulness that make it uplifting despite the odds.
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Recommended if you dig dobro & lap steel, ditch-trilogy Neil young, and autumnal contemplation

P.G. Six – Slightly Sorry

Style: Loner Folk, Weird Americana, Folk Rock, Singer Songwriter

Vibe: Peaceful, Melancholy, Reflective, Romantic, Gentle, Rustic, Warm, Autumnal, Bittersweet, Breezy, Contemplative, Lethargic, Mellow, Intertwined

Musical Qualities: Soft, Lush, Lyrical, Vocal Harmonies, Acoustic, Atmospheric

John Carter – Fields

Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Country-Jazz, Jazz Theater

Vibe: Rural, Historical, Sombre, Resolute, Intertwined, Passionate, Storytelling, Determined, Resolute, Heartfelt, Complex, Theatric, Conceptual

Musical Qualities: Suite, Acoustic, Progressive, Collective Improvisation, Polyphonic, Dynamic, Technical

Jackie-O Motherfucker – Liberation

Style: Free Folk, Mystical Americana, Drone, Free Improvisation, Post-Rock

Vibe: Weary, Hopeful, Rustic, Communal, Spiritual, Ragged, Eerie, Melancholy, Deconstructed, Hypnotic, Communal, Haunting, Raw, Suspenseful, Intertwined

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Dynamic, Lo-Fi, Atmospheric, Droney, Group Vocals, Dub FX

Instrumentation: Electric Guitars, Vibraphone, Flute, Drums, Violin, Cello, Clarinet, Saxophone, Banjo, Melodica, Sitar, Electronics, Turntable, Keyboards, Trumpet, Electric Bass

Neko Case – Blacklisted

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

Hiss Golden Messenger – Terms of Surrender

Vibe: Contemplative, Tender, Soothing, Warm, Bittersweet, Rustic, Open, Pastoral, Light

Themes: Family, Existential, Spirituality, Love

Musical Qualities: Soft, Melodic, Vocal Harmonies, Atmospheric Production, Lyrical

Instrumentation: Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Banjo, Piano, Organ, Harmonica, Mandolin Synthesizer, Electric Bass, Lap Steel Slide Guitar, Omnichord, Drums, Percussion

Neko Case – Furnace Room Lullaby

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

Moon Bros – These Stars

Style: Americana, Folk

Vibe: Pastoral, Breezy, Sunny, Morning, Rustic, Warm, Rootsy

Instrumentation: Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar, Pedal Steel, Upright Bass, Drums, Harmonica

Hiss Golden Messenger – Poor Moon

Style: Americana, Country Soul, Singer/Songwriter, Folk Rock

Vibe: Warm, Introspective, Existential, Rustic, Mystical, Reflective, Uplifting, Christian

Musical Qualities: Lush, Melodic, Lyrical

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Beware

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Americana, Loner Folk, Slowcore-Country

Vibes: Contemplative, Bittersweet, Warm, Loner, Mellow, Uplifting, Love, Break-up, Intimate, Heartfelt, Playful, Soothing, Intertwined

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Lush, Lyrical, Vocal Harmonies

Mark Lanegan – Field Songs

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Grunge Folk, Americana

Vibe: Depressive, Lonely, Regretful, Gruff, Ragged, Lethargic, Rustic, Haunting

Akron/Family – Set Em Wild, Set Em Free

These guys are my favorite American Rock band. Every album they’ve released explores different sides of rock, folk, experimental and psychedelic music in such a natural, unforced way that my mind usually envisions them jamming by a campfire in the woods. What’s even better is I imagine I’m there with them singing along and worshipping the great creative spirit that inspires their music. There’s such an unpretentious, inclusive sense of community and spirituality in their music that I can’t help but feel welcomed and embraced into the family.

Jackie O Motherfucker – Change [Tour Edition]

Style: Free Folk, Mystical Americana, Post-Rock

Vibe: Ragged, Deconstructed, Rustic, Warm, Communal, Ritualistic, Messy, Raw, Triumphant, Mystical, Eerie

Musical Qualities: Group Vocals, Collective Improvisation, Acoustic, Loose, Lo-fi

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Vibraphone, Slide Guitar, Fiddle, Saxophone, Drums, Upright Bass

Jerry David Decicca – Understanding Land

Style: Americana, Singer/Songwriter, Folk

Vibe: Peaceful, Rustic, Deadpan, Mellow, Lethargic, Nature, Warm, Morning

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Slow, Vocal Harmonies, Lush, Simple

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Lap Steel & Pedal Steel Guitars, Strings, Upright Bass, Vibraphone, Tabla, Bongos

Angels of Light – We Are Him

Style: Gothic Americana, Experimental Folk-Rock

Vibe: Rustic, Creepy, Surreal, Autumnal, Nihilistic, Disturbing, Dark, Bittersweet, Rootsy

Musical Qualities: Acoustic, Rhythmic, Repetition, Vocal Harmonies

Jackie-O Motherfucker – Freaker Pipe

Style: Free Folk, Post-Rock, Free Improvisation, Experimental

Vibe: Ritualistic, Murky, Witchy, Haunting, Mysterious, Raw, Hallucinogenic, Rustic

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Dynamic, Dissonant, Droney, Live, Lo-Fi

Big Blood – Dark Country Magic

Style: Gothic Country, Occult Folk, Psych Folk

Vibe: Witchy, Rustic, Foreboding, Folkloric, Mystical, Surreal, Autumnal, Cryptic, Ritualistic

Jason Molina – Eight Gates

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Americana, Slowcore

Vibe: Lament, Depressive, Intimate, Lonely, Rustic, Mournful, Dark

Musical Qualities: Sparse, Lyrical

Instrumentation: Voice, Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Organ, Cello

Califone – Heron King Blues [Deluxe]

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

Hiss Golden Messenger – Quietly Blowing It

Style: Country-Soul, Singer/Songwriter, Americana

Vibe: Uplifting, Bittersweet, Introspective, Political, Rural, Mellow, Warm

Musical Qualities: Lush, Groovy, Melodic, Anthemic, Polished, Lyrical

The Third Mind

Style: Psychedelic Jam Band

Vibe: Bluesy, Cosmic, Meandering, Pastoral, Rustic

Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Riffs

Hoyt Axton – My Griffin Is Gone

Style: Progressive Country, Singer/Songwriter, Americana

Vibe: Nature, Autumnal, Morning, Rustic, Pastoral, Sunny, Uplifting, Warm

Musical Attributes: Lush, Melodic, Lyrical, Orchestral

Califone – Roomsound

Style: New Weird Americana??Vibe: Bluesy, Contemplative, Earthy, Morning, Pastoral, Rootsy, Rustic, Psychedelic, Warm??Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Percussive, Rhythmic, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Electronics

Sam Amidon – The Following Mountain

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

Hiss Golden Messenger – Haw

Style: Country-Soul, Americana, Singer/Songwriter

Vibe: Passionate, Rootsy, Rural, Spiritual, Triumphant, Uplifting, Warm, Contemplative, Introspective

The Pentangle – Reflection

Style: British-Folk, Jazz-Folk

Vibe: Rootsy, Warm, Mellow, Morning, Rural, Carefree, Breezy

Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Vocal Harmonies, Progressive, Melodic

Califone – All My Friends Are Funeral Singers

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

Anna & Elizabeth – The Invisible Comes to Us

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.

Sixteen Horsepower – Folklore

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

Jim White and Marisa Anderson – The Quickening

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.

Mike and Lal Waterson – Bright Phoebus

Style: British Folk, Country-Influenced
Vibe: Contemplative, Earthy, Introspective, Melancholy, Rootsy, Rural, Storytelling
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Vocal Harmonies, Lyrical, Melodic, Simple, Sparse

Bibio – Ribbons

On his latest, producer/composer/multi-instrumentalist Bibio blends serene folk pop, lush instrumentation, pastoral guitar instrumentals, nature field recordings, Walt Whitman-esque lyrics and beat-oriented grooves into the perfectly crafted springtime album. Ribbons feels like daydreaming in a garden or out in the woods under a tree or by a trickling stream.

Ryley Walker – Golden Sings that have been Sung (Deep Cuts Edition)

Ryley Walker’s virtuosic fingerpicking and intricate folk-rock songwriting vibe heavily with a backing band of Chicagoan jazz musicians, including upright bass, drums, Rhodes and electric guitar. The first LP of this release is a studio album of jazzy folk rock songs for fans of Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks or Tim Buckley’s Happy Sad, while the Bonus Lp of this “Deep Cuts edition” is a 40 min live improvisation on one of the album cuts that probably beats anything on the studio LP. It’s rad to be able hear both the concise, song-centric studio side and the loose jammy side of this exciting artist in the same release.

Neil Young – Harvest

Album Information: Released in 1972 on Reprise Records 2009 reissue, mastered from original analog tapes