Here are 10 new country and Americana songs we have on heavy rotation.
Videos by Wide Open Country
"Tattoos," Tyler Childers
We already shared a couple of tracks from Tyler Childers' incredible debut album Purgatory last week, but we just can't get enough. "Tattoos," a poignant love song laced with Appalachian-born poetry, is Childers at his best.
"Weakness," Margo Price
Margo Price released her unannounced EP Weakness at the end of July and the surprise record is filled with the same smart, well-crafted honky tonk songs and vulnerability that made last year's Midwest Farmer's Daughter such a success. The title track to the four-song EP has Price writing her bio in the opening line, "Sometimes I'm Virginia Woolf, sometimes I'm James Dean." The rollicking song is a reminder that Price is one of the strongest voices in country music today.
"Long Way Down," Sara Evans
Sara Evans is back, y'all. The powerhouse singer released her eighth studio album, Words, last month. In case you forgot what made Evans one of the standout vocalists of the late 90s and early aughts, take a listen to "Long Way Down." The rip-roarin' bluegrass-tinged song about telling an unfaithful lover to go to hell in no uncertain terms is what country radio has been missing.
"Nice Things," Mickey Guyton
Mickey Guyton's 2015 single "Better Than You Left Me" was criminally ignored by country radio. But Guyton is back with "Nice Things," a tender and affirming song about knowing your worth. The song, co-written by Guyton, Liz Rose and Stephanie Chapman, feels like the emotional clarity you'd get after a kitchen table conversation with Dolly Parton. Don't miss out on this one.
"I'd Sing About You," Joe Nichols
Joe Nichols has always been an example of the younger generation carrying on traditional country music. "I'd Sing About You," a sweet song about getting lyrical inspiration from love, has a Tom T. Hall feel. Fair warning: it will probably be stuck in your head all day, but you won't mind a bit. Read our review of his new album, Never Gets Old.
"Can't Stop Shakin'," Whitney Rose
Whitney Rose perfectly blends '60s girl group sounds with a little Wanda Jackson countryfied groove on "Can't Stop Shakin'," the first release from her upcoming second album Rule 62.
Ray Wylie Hubbard (with Lucinda Williams and Eric Church), "Tell the Devil I'm Gettin' There As Fast As I Can"
There's a reason Ray Wylie Hubbard is called the Wylie Llama. Everything the country legend says is something you can take to the bank. The title track to Hubbard's forthcoming album finds the Texas wordsmith collaborating with Lucinda Williams and Eric Church and the result is outlaw country magic.
Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer, "The Color of a Cloudy Day"
Sisters Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer release their long-awaited collaborative album Not Dark Yet on Aug. 18. Lynne and Moorer's voices are never more beautiful than on "The Color of a Cloudy Day," written by Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires.
Chris Hillman, "She Don't Care About Time"
As a member of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, Chris Hillman was a progenitor of the brand of California country rock that ruled the '70s and inspired countless artists. Hillman's upcoming record Bidin' My Time, features a re-recording of The Byrds' 1965 single, "She Don't Care About Time." The tune, written by Gene Clark, was the b-side to the band's massive hit, "Turn Turn Turn." Hillman's updated version, produced by Tom Petty, pays tribute to the classic country rock sound while sounding as fresh and young as ever.
"Turmoil and Tinfoil," Billy Strings
Billy Strings, a Michigan-born bluegrass wunderkind, is prepped to set the Americana world on fire with his upcoming album Turmoil and Tinfoil. The title track to the album is a hard-driving, devil-may-care, head banger for the bluegrass set.
https://soundcloud.com/devon-4-1/turmoil-tinfoil
