Yoakam’s return, jamgrass, and southern blues-rock.

‘I Don’t Know How To Say Goodbye’ by Dwight Yoakam and Post Malone

First release from Dwight Yoakam in nine years, and it’s a good one. This upbeat track with a heavy drum and bass rhythm and almost drowning in steel is what I was hoping for from F1 Trillion. Something about Dwight’s southern drawl and Post’s pop-tinged almost carelessly thrown out vocals works really well. I guess we just had to wait for the country icon to take control and give us some painful lyrics against a honky-tonk sound: thank you Dwight, Posty listen to your elders.

‘Homewrecker’ by Willow Avalon

Willow might just be the artist I’m most excited about this year. With an entirely unique light yodel/natural vibrato to her voice, this ‘Southern belle raising hell’ (coolest tagline for an artist) is taking it one step further on this new track. Homewrecker feels like a modern version of a Loretta Lynn or Dolly Parton classic, maybe even a story told from Jolene’s point of view. There’s also a very fun electric element to this one that I can only imagine would work so well live.

‘Downbeat’ by Ben Chapman

Ben Chapman’s style sits somewhere in the southern-funk-blues-rock world but there’s no doubting how much confidence is infused into this soulful groove track. The music is what I love on this one, but there’s some good storytelling on here too – a story of ‘small town trouble with something to prove’ with a catchy chorus. A bit of a Brent Cobb feel, no surprise considering they’re both Georgia natives.

‘Here I Go’ by Yonder Mountain String Band

This is just cool, a pioneering jamgrass band that’s been authentically paving the way for the modern bluegrass movement for a little while. Not just great instrumentation though, there are some really nice vocal harmonies in the chorus, but the little moments like the guitar picking growing out of the first chorus, the sweeping low notes from the fiddle, and the mandolin in the jam break is what I turn to this music for.

‘Country Song Came On’ by Luke Bryan

Skip and I’m not even sorry about it. I’m sure you’ll hear it repeatedly if you tune into a country radio station, or another song that sounds exactly like it.

‘King of Dallas’ by Abby Anderson

Abby’s biggest hit, ‘Heart On Fire In Mexico’, is her biggest hit because it feels original, it’s some strong storytelling and it’s got a gorgeously sultry Latin beat to it – ‘King of Dallas’ doesn’t quite meet that. I could see it being big on country radio though, it leans more towards the mainstream sound with a country-ish sound and her becoming-staple almost trap beat.

‘Our Time In The Sun’ by Jeremie Albino

Love the high-hat that pushes forward from a barely audible start into a blues-rock rhythm that could’ve come out of the 60s. Really enjoyed this track, it’s one for anyone who loves an older sound and a southern smoky feel. The production quality might feel a little low for a twenty-first century release (I’m no expert so can’t comment further) but I’m pretty sure that might just be the old-time feel he’s going for. I’m not mad about it honestly, I’ll still happily have this one on repeat.

‘Caramel Whiskey’ by Lauren Freebird

This is the first time I’ve come across Lauren but I don’t think it’ll be the last time I hear of her. She’s got a very powerful raspy voice with a strong soulful sound, definitely leaning more towards blues-rock, but with a title like ‘Caramel Whiskey’ and lyrics like ‘you’re everything I need, the honey to my tea, when you’re kissing me it’s like caramel whiskey’ I think this one would appeal to plenty of southern music lovers.