Well-worn territory yields pay dirt for Americana champs

Americana continues to provide one of the most nourishing genres for both established and up-and-coming artists, as evidenced by a slew of new highly-recommended albums. 


Artist: Kiefer Sutherland
Title: Down In A Hole (Ironworks Music)
You might like if you enjoy: Emitt Rhodes, Shooter Jennings, Kris Kristofferson
Tell me more: The good news for fans of actor Kiefer Sutherland is that his new debut album Down In A Hole is a solid and highly-recommended artistic effort that blends Americana, folk rock and alt-country styles with style and substance. The sparse acoustic ballad "I'll Do Anything" and piano-and-guitar blending "Calling Out Your Name" display the artist at his most confessional, but other tracks also highlight the 49-year-old Sutherland's knack for constructing top-tier songs while mining real life experiences tackling life's highs and lows. The rocking "Can't Stay Away," infectious "Going Home," sweeping "Calling Out Your Name" and Johnny Cash-styled "Shirley Jean" are among the other standout originals (co-written by Sutherland and producer Jude Cole) on the disc. Sutherland has an easy-on-the-ears raspy baritone and sings with honesty that recalls the delivery of a young Bob Dylan or Merle Haggard. Information: kiefersutherland.com.

Purchase 'Down In A Hole' here



Artist: Bobbo Byrnes
Title: Motel Americana (Bobbo Byrnes)
You might like if you enjoy: The Fallen Stars, Dawes, Steve Earle
Tell me more: As a member of the Fallen Stars, Bobbo Byrnes has long proven himself as a key voice on the international Americana scene. On his new solo album Motel Americana, the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist continues to successfully explore roots rock and alt-country, focusing on the slightly quieter and more nuanced regions of Americana. The songs bask in a sonic glow that fuses his own voice with those of singers Tracy Byrnes and Ben Riddle and a wide range of acoustic and electric instruments (Bobbo himself handles guitar, bass, mandolin, pedal steel, dobro and more!). The infectious mandolin-anchored "APB," shimmering "I May Never Know" (love the B3 work courtesy of Rami Jaffee on this one) and confessional "Hate This Town" are among the terrific songs on the dozen-song set. Information: songsandwhispers.com or bobbo.org.




Artist: The Coal Men
Title: Pushed To The Side (Vaskaleedez Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Mo Pitney, the Mavericks, Dwight Yoakam
Tell me more: Bigger isn't always better. The Nashville-based trio known as the Coal Men offers up plenty of magic via beautiful songs that are beautifully rendered by singer-guitarist-mandolin player Dave Coleman, drummer-vocalist Dave Ray and bassist Paul Slivka. The trio (aided by special guest keyboardist Seth Timbs) across Pushed To The Side. There are upbeat songs on the 12-song album (the driving "Fast Rider" and honky tonk delight "Speeding Like a Demon" for sure), but the majority of originals here thrive via sparse and relatively quiet presentations centered on artful arrangements; the lovely "Depreciate," introspective "Pushed to the Side," ethereal "Travis" and melodic "Stones River" benefit from quiet sonics and lyrics immersed in tangible emotion and honest stories. Information: TheCoalMen.com.

Get 'Pushed to the Side' right here




Artist: Hymn for Her
Title: Drive Til U Die (Hymn for Her)
You might like if you enjoy: Bright Blue Gorilla, Brown Bird, Alabama Shakes
Tell me more: Making music that is so potent the listener feels as if they can touch it sums up the sound and approach of Americana duo Hymn for Her. Lucy Tight and Wayne Waxing's latest album Drive Til U Die crackles with fire on countrified alt rockers (the blistering "Devil's Train," the psychedelic "Milkweed") and captures a lust for life even on the ballads (the pretty "Mazzy Star" and acoustic "Seas of Croatia"). Writing about what you know is almost always the best advice for indie artists, and because Hymn for Her live on the road (the duo call a 1961-vintage Bambi Airstream towed by a Ford van home) there is an authenticity about their blend of blues, alt-country, rock and folk that is infectious. The aforementioned "Seas of Croatia," rousing "Hi Ho Silver" (written about the challenges of hitching and unhitching their home on wheels), lovely "Acetylene" and disc-ending bluesy rocker "The Road Song" provide an inspired glimpse into the lives of the original Hymn for Her. Information: HymnforHer.com.

Buy 'Drive Til U Die' here



Artist: Lauren Adams
Title: Somewhere Else (Lauren Adams)
You might like if you enjoy: Mary Chapin, Carpenter, Carol Martini, Alice Wallace
Tell me more: On her latest album Somewhere Else, Los Angeles singer-songwriter Lauren Adams mixes the sounds of modern-day Americana, '70s soft rock, blues and authentic roots music in the service of original material. Adams has a straightforward style of songwriting that benefits from her nice soprano voice as well as a number of guest players and a solid line-up of players who bring richness to the wide range of material. One of Adams' greatest strengths comes in that each song is its own little slice of life, with a sparse ballad ("Heavy, Heavy Heart"), intimate folk rocker ("Miss You") or playful country rocker "We Try Harder" each taking the listener to a very different place. The album closes with a powerful reworking of John Anderson's "Seminole Wind," a powerful roots rocker that is bolstered by vocal harmonies, Nick Kirgo's electric guitar work and a strong Native American-minded environmental message delivered by Adams with emotional force. Information: LaurenAdams.com.

Purchase 'Somewhere Else' here


Robert Kinsler