Most of the nation might be dealing with freezing temperatures this weekend, but at least the music is hot. This week brought us some great new country and Americana songs from a variety of top-notch artists. From up-and-comers and new faces to some of Music Row’s finest, this weekend’s soundtrack is shaping up to be a good one.
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No matter what the weekend throws your way, the list of new tracks below has something to fit the mood. We’ve got deeply moving story songs, a frank discussion about mental illness, a dash of humor, and just about everything in between.
Must-Hear New Country and Americana Songs from This Week
“The Fight” by Leslie Jordan 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
Singer/songwriter Leslie Jordan announced her new album The Agonist with “The Fight” earlier this week. She adapted several of her late grandfather’s poems into a collection of powerful songs for the forthcoming concept album. “The Fight” is only the tip of the iceberg.
I’m a sucker for a concept album and The Agonist is no exception. Aside from the endlessly cool inspiration behind the record, though, Jordan’s songwriting is superb and her voice is gorgeous. Additionally, the rough-around-the-edges vintage arrangement makes “The Fight” a standout track from an album of fantastic songs.
“Ghosts Are Weak” by The Devil Makes Three 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
The Devil Makes Three’s forthcoming album is shaping up to be among their best work. Spirits carries a handful of running themes including death and loss. There are also doses of unflinching social commentary and optimism. The topic of addiction comes up multiple times on the record as well. The latest single, “Ghosts Are Weak” is about the people that songwriter Pete Bernhard lost due to drug use—whether the drugs killed them or their habits forced him to remove them from his life.
In recent years, The Devil Makes Three has developed an interesting blend of vintage rock and Americana. Spirits sees them honing that sound to a razor’s edge and “Ghosts Are Weak” is a perfect example of the band’s evolution.
“Place They Call Home” by The Castellows featuring Cleto Cordero 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
The Castellows are quickly becoming a favorite group among fans of traditional-sounding country music. Their instrumentation is about as down-home as it gets and the trio of sisters’ blood harmony harkens back to groups like The Judds and The Stanley Brothers. All of that is on full display with their latest release, “Place They Call Home.”
A song from the perspective of Mother Earth, it’s a critique of humanity as a whole. However, it’s done with love underpinned by hope. The addition of Flatland Cavalry’s Cleto Cordero’s voice to this track makes it that much better. I didn’t know I needed to hear Cordero and the Castellows together until I pressed play on this one.
“Haunted” by Kane Brown featuring Jelly Roll 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
Kane Brown released his long-awaited new album The High Road today along with the music video for “Haunted.” The Jelly Roll collaboration is a frank look at mental illness with a focus on suicidal thoughts and depression. In the opening verse, Brown sings about how all the money he has made and the success he’s found didn’t bring him peace. In short, this one is deep.
I’m going to be honest, here. I don’t like the arrangement on this one. The drum machine and other production choices create a sound that, to my ears, is pretty far away from country music. Additionally, Jelly slips into a bit of a flow in his verse, showing his hip-hop roots. However, removing any country music snobbery, this is a great song. More than, that it’s an important song. Here we have a pair of the biggest names in mainstream country music admitting to thinking about ending it all. Things like this help remove the stigma around seeking treatment for mental illness and being open about one’s struggles. I just hope this one reaches the people that need to hear it.
“Crystal Methodist” by Kasey Tyndall 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
Kasey Tyndall’s latest single “Crystal Methodist” is so much fun. It hits the sweet spot between country and rock and Tyndall’s attitude here feels like a nod to “Redneck Woman”-era Gretchen Wilson. The song’s subject matter is in the same vein as well. Anyone who grew up in a small town or rural areas throughout the South or Midwest will likely feel like this one is about their hometown.
“Crystal Methodist” ticks several boxes for me. Tyndall’s voice is top-notch and this track packs a little humor and a truckload of attitude. Then there’s the driving rhythm section that makes it almost impossible to sit still. Also, it contains some downright killer guitar solos. All in all, it’s a fantastic tune and I’m pretty sure it could be the new official song of the town where I grew up.
“I Don’t Give a Damn About Football” by The Doohickeys 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
The Doohickeys released their debut album All Hat, No Cattle today, and “I Don’t Give a Damn About Football” is a standout from the 12-track collection. The duo isn’t what you’d call a novelty act but it’s clear that they’re having fun and not taking things too seriously. That good-time feeling is infectious.
With the Super Bowl right around the corner, football is a hot topic for countless people across the nation. However, there are plenty of people who tune out the moment the sport comes up in conversation. “I Don’t Give a Damn About Football” feels like a timely release but will be relevant every year for the foreseeable future. More than that, it’s a great example of the duo’s tongue-in-cheek songwriting and their traditional-leaning country sound.
Featured Image by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CMT
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