Another one of these short round-up posts of songs/albums that I’ve fallen in love with during the early parts of 2019. This time we shall visit a creek, a canyon and two mountains.

Tiffany Williams is a songwriter from eastern Kentucky who currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee. She released her timeless and beautiful debut EP When You Go on the 18th of January. Every song has become a friend, but the song that I hold really close to my chest is this one called Big Enough To Be A Mountain.

Tiffany Williams Website

Charles Wesley Godwin is an americana songwriter from West Virginia and his new album Seneca came out on the 15th of February. According to him it’s an autobiography of an Appalachian boy. It’s a damn impressive one too and full of fabulous songwriting. He really engaged me into this story Seneca Creek with the very first lines and then softly carried me through the captivating song. A great song from a great album.

Charles Wesley Godwin Website

Moving on Toronto, Canada for the new Abigail Lapell album Getaway that came out on the 1st of February on Coax Records. It’s quite comforting to get lost in the ethereal beauty of this mesmerizing folk album. A highly recommended activity after a tough day at the factory. This song Shape Of A Mountain is a perfect ending to this enchanting getaway from the everyday.

Abigail Lapell Website

And last station tonight is Dallas, Texas and Joshua Ray Walker’s brilliant debut album Wish You Were Here that came out on State Fair Records on the 25th of January. I posted a live version of Canyon late last year, but I still haven’t posted the official music video for this honest and powerful song. This is a crime against good music, so it’s time to make amends. Oh and even though I keep on raving about Canyon, this song is just one part of the JRW story. The whole new record is impressive from first note to last.

Joshua Ray Walker Website

Ok, let’s do another quick round-up post tonight. This is in a more pop setting. Have to live up to the subtitle of this blog every now and then. Plus I love this stuff obviously. So here’s a small pop goes the world video post.

Norwegians with Norman are first in line. I Was A King first came to my attention when Norman Blake and Robyn Hitchcock produced their You Love It Here album back in 2012. They have a new album Slow Century coming out 8th of March on Coastal Town Recordings. This forthcoming pop treasure was also produced by Norman Blake from my all-time faves Teenage Fanclub. The second single Hatchet is magnificent and kind of like the foundation of my music taste in less than 3 minutes. The focus of this blog has drifted towards country/folk music, but this is sort of where this all began and I love this so much.

I Was a King at Facebook

Next up is a new favorite Pretty Matty from Toronto, Canada. I don’t know a whole lot about them, but recently I stumbled upon their new single Kicked Out. It’s a damn good and catchy power pop song and there’s a great music video for it too. I need to check out the EP they released last year while waiting for new songs to arrive.

Pretty Matty at Facebook

Moving on to Durham, UK for the new Martha single Love Keeps Kicking. A new Martha album will be released by Big Scary Monsters on the 5th of April. Here’s the awesome music video for the single and title track Love Keeps Kicking.

Martha Website

Final stop tonight is Utrecht, Netherlands and new The Maureens album Something in the Air that just came out on Meritorio Records. I haven’t even listened to the whole record, but I have this song 20 Years for the Company on the new weekly playlist and I really like it. My kind of pop music for sure and I look forward to giving this more attention during the coming days/weeks.

The Maureens Website

Hey a blog entry that is not just a somewhat irrelevant playlist post. These songs have all be on the playlists though. So you have already heard these, if you are following them. Anyway, here’s a small round-up post of a few amazing songs that I’ve madly fallen in love with during these first months of the year.

Starting off with the first single South from the forthcoming Damien Jurado album In the Shape of a Storm. A new Damien Jurado album is a parade-worthy event even on its own, but the news that the album will be released by Mama Bird Recording Co (USA) and Loose Music (UK/Europe) made me immensely happy. Damien Jurado joining Mama Bird family just makes perfect sense. The album is due out on the 12th of April, but here’s the beautiful and sparse first outtake South.

And because I’m so slow with my blog writings, there’s actually also a gorgeous second single available. Damien Jurado originally wrote this song Lincoln back in 1998 for his 3rd album Ghost Of David and now this hidden treasure will finally see the light of the day as the album opener of In The Shape of a Storm.

Damien Jurado Website

One of my big new favorites is New Orleans-based country/folk songwriter Esther Rose. The excellent Father/Daughter Records released her new single Don’t Blame it On the Moon on the 6th of February and I’ve been somewhat obsessed with this wonderful song. I also highly recommend her 2017 album This Time Last Night that I managed to miss back then (further proof that you need better music sources than this little blog).

Esther Rose at Facebook

Steve Sloane is a Toronto-based songwriter who used to release rather remarkable albums under the name Hinindar. Now he uses his own given name and released a new album Near Death on the 3rd of February. I’m not sure do I have the words to describe it, but I have the heart to feel it. Exceptional art. This song Let All In in particular has given me a shoulder to lean on during the last few weeks. Another blog favourite Julie Arsenault sings beautiful harmonies on the song.

Steven Sloane / Hinindar at Facebook

Next up is the title track The Question of the new Anna Tivel album that will be released on the 19th of April by Portland-based Fluff and Gravy Records. This is one of my most anticipated albums of the year, because I love her songwriting and I have full trust in the producer Shane Leonard to add even further magic into her moving songs.

Anna Tivel Website

Let’s wrap this little blog entry with Love Can’t Be the Only Reason to Stay by Le Ren. Such a powerful song and this magnificent music video directed by Ali Vanderkruyk makes the impact of the song even stronger. Love sure can’t be the only reason to stay. That’s it for now, hopefully another post sometime soon-ish, but no promises whatsover.

Le Ren Website