I’m not sure will there ever be a time when I manage to write longer posts, so I guess I’ll stick with these short round-up posts at least for the time being. After all, I don’t want this to became just a playlist thing either. Anyway, here’s a few 2019 albums and singles that I’ve loved during this first month of the year.

Canadian songwriter and storyteller Bob Sumner sings Wasted Love Songs and does it ever so beautifully. You may know Bob Sumner from The Sumner Brothers, but this gently mesmerizing collection of folk/americana ballads is his solo debut. My personal favorite is this album closer Ticket to Ride that you can watch/listen below, but everything else is equally captivating and I highly recommend listening to the whole amazing album. An early treasure from the 2019 music vault.

Bob Sumner Website

I wanted more than a song out of you, the new Charlie Shafter album When I Was Yours & You Were Mine grapped my attention with the first line and didn’t let go until the last note had drifted into the air. Charlie Shafter is a Texas-based singer-songwriter and he has written a really strong album full of gorgeous americana songs. I really love the lyrics on this one. He is such a good storyteller and able to write lines that instantly gets stuck in the heart of the listener. One of my big favourites is this one called Chainsaw. Such a great album.

Charlie Shafter Website

And a small run of great new singles to end this little round-up post. Staying in Texas for all of these. We start with Return, which is an excellent outtake from a forthcoming EP release by Jacob Furr.

Jacob Furr Website

Next up is Matthew McNeal who released a beautiful single on the first week of the year. The song Michael is a moving and soulful tribute to his father who passed away a year ago.

Matthew McNeal Website

And finally the latest single from Jake Paleschic. I’m not exactly sure if and/or when there is an album coming out, but what I do know that both this new single Bad Memories and the previous single Some Days are wonderful.

Jake Paleschic Website

Still a few more quick round up posts before the end of the year lists. Mostly just music, not a whole lot of words.

Starting with a song from the new Colter Wall record Songs of the Plains that is available on Young Mary’s Record Company. This singer-songwriter from Saskatoon maybe don’t need an introduction anymore, because I’m pretty sure that everyone that has any interest towards traditional country music have already spent hours listening to that deep baritone voice singing stories of the past. Here’s the opening song of his great new record.

Colter Wall Website

Travelling across the ocean to Melbourne, Australia to find The Kid From Bourke, the new album from Australian folk singer-songwriter William Alexander. This came out on the 27th of October on Green South Records and I found it just little over a week ago. I haven’t yet really investigated the man and his story, but I’ve done the most important part and I’ve listened to his music. I’ve had this on heavy rotation lately and it’s such a great record. Here’s a video of William Alexander singing the gorgeous album closer Sorrow, Your Only Friend.

William Alexander Website

Well if Colter Wall maybe don’t need an introduction, John Prine definitely doesn’t need one. The legendary songwriter is still writing wonderful music and his latest full-length The Tree of Forgiveness is a magnificent addition to his record vault. This is Summer’s End from the album that came out in April on Oh Boy Records.

John Prine Website

Let’s wrap up this small blog entry with a song by Kashena Sampson. I think I first shared this song something like a year and a half ago, but I don’t think I’ve shared this music video. Plus the album was also released in Europe in 2018, so it’s still relevant too. And of course something as beautiful as this is timeless and therefore always relevant. This is the title track of Kashena Sampson’s album Wild Heart.

Kashena Sampson Website