Best New Music from the Blue Ridge and Beyond
Every month our editors curate a playlist of new music, mainly focusing on independent artists from the South. In December we’re highlighting new tunes from Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Sharon Van Etten.
Sharon Van Etten & the Attachment Theory
“Afterlife”
“For the first time in my life I asked the band if we could just jam,” stated Sharon Van Etten, upon announcing the upcoming self-titled album (out February 7) with her backing crew the Attachment Theory. The record’s lead single is a synth-heavy rock tune that captures the spirit of spontaneous composition, with Van Etten’s enchanting vocals guided by a dance-ready beat and gentle cascades of keyboards. – J.F
Bonnie “Prince” Billy
“Our Home”
Idiosyncratic indie-folk tunesmith Will Oldham (AKA Bonnie “Prince” Billy) decided it was time for his Nashville sessions, so he traveled to Music City and worked with producer David Ferguson on new album “The Purple Bird,” which comes out on January 31. First single “Our Home” features bluegrass great Tim O’Brien, who trades verses with Oldham on the rootsy tune that celebrates the fabric of family traditions. – J.F
Lucinda Williams
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
On her latest project, iconic singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams did what no other artist has dared to do—enter the hallowed Abbey Road Studios to record songs of The Beatles. “Lucinda Williams Sings the Beatles From Abbey Road” finds her offering interpretations of a dozen tracks—both classic hits and deep cuts—on the seventh volume of her “Lu’s Jukebox” series. Williams’s take on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is stunning, proving that, even at the age of 71, she remains a relevant and powerful presence in American music. – D.S.
Bartees Strange
“Sober”
Versatile indie artist Bartees Strange veers into the territory of wide-open heartland rock in this charging track from the upcoming album, “Horror,” which drops next year. The song has an uplifting arrangement, with a high-energy groove and some 80s guitar crunch, but Strange gets vulnerable in lyrics, as he sings about leaning on booze during relationship failures. – J.F.
The Greyboy Allstars
“Slip The Grip”
Originally concocted as a musical troupe to support noted San Diego jazz musician DJ Greyboy, the aptly named Greyboy Allstars have managed to put together an illustrious 30-year career and become all-stars in their own rite. The group recently released their eighth studio album, “Grab Bag; 2007-2023,” a collection of nine previously unreleased tracks from the latter half of the band’s career. “Slip the Grip” is pure jazzy soul, with Robert Walter’s organ and Karl Denson’s saxophone wrestling over a delicious funk groove. – D.S.
Loose Cattle
The Shoals
(featuring Patterson Hood)
Musicians in New Orleans can’t help but be influenced by the cultural collisions taking place in the Crescent City. It should come as no surprise, then, that one finds hints of jazz, folk, country, and garage rock in the offerings on “Someone’s Monster,” the latest release from Loose Cattle. “The Shoals,” which features a guest spot from Drive-By Truckers frontman Patterson Hood, trends towards the latter, with gritty guitar and fiddle supporting Kimberly Kaye’s haunting vocals. – D.S.
Denison Witmer
“Older and Free”
Denison Witmer gets an assist from Sufjan Stevens in this pastoral folk song that celebrates the freedom of escaping the burnout of day-to-day responsibilities. Witmer wrote the song after a hike in Pennsylvania’s French Creek State and it’s teeming with idyllic imagery that fits the airy acoustic arrangement. Stevens, who produced the track, also adds his patented gentle-voices harmonies to the sweeping chorus. – J.F.
John R. Miller
“Garden of Fools”
Inevitably, the creation of an album calls for tough decisions, and great songs often end up on the cutting room floor. This is exactly what happened last year when John R. Miller put together his critically acclaimed release “Heat Comes Down.” Now, a year later, Miller is releasing two tracks, “Outset of the Breeze” and “Garden of Fools,” via a seven-inch vinyl single, that weren’t included on the original release. “Garden of Fools” is another stellar offering from Miller, and fans of the songwriter will be glad it’s seeing the light of day. – D.S.
Cover photo: Bonnie “Prince” Billy worked with Johnny Cash’s longtime engineer Dave Ferguson on his new album. Press Photo courtesy of the Billions Corporation
