My blogging activity outside the weekly round-up and playlist has been next to none for various of reasons. That probably remains the case for the foreseeable future, but I try to make a couple of quick posts to share some songs / albums / videos that I’ve loved during the recent months. Starting from Tulsa, Oklahoma with a long-waited new solo album from Jesse Aycock. After excellent Flowers & Wounds (2014), he has been a member of Hard Working Americans and a trusted sideman for other excellent artists. Now he is back with a gorgeous solo album that ranges from mellow folk rock balladry to catchy (should be) rock hits with a fair amount of pop sensibility. What a beautiful record.

Moving on to Canada for the latest single Tangled from singer-songwriter Kelly Sloan. Two songs out so far and both are pure gold. I can’t wait to hear more from her and hopefully there’s a full album on the horizon, because it sure sounds like Kelly Sloan and producer Jeff McMurrich are on to something magical.

Kelly Sloan Website
Kelly Sloan at Facebook

Speaking of timeless future treasures. Long time favorite Evan Cheadle from Victoria, British Columbia is about to release a new album Fault Line Serenade on the 11th of June. There’s a couple of great singles out there already. The latest one First Morning Light just surfaced in the form of a beautiful animated music video. Rest a while on its gentle sway and then hit that pre-order button on Bandcamp.

Evan Cheadle Website
Evan Cheadle at Facebook

More reasons to set a camp outside a record store or do a pre-order at Bandcamp. I was thrilled to hear that Joe Bourdet is finally releasing a full album (thanks to Lara from the excellent Petal Motel blog to first breaking the news). I loved Joe’s Seamist / El Capitan single a few years back and shared it on this blog too. If you are into 70s folk rock and california sounds, you are going to love this one. Not that I’ve heard the whole thing, but I know it’s going to be a great one. I recently shared the opening song on the playlist, so here’s the other beauty that is already available on Bandcamp. It’s called Call You Friend and I love it to bits.

Joe Bourdet Website
Joe Bourdet at Facebook

Another quick round up of early 2021 favorites. Kicking this off in Montreal, Canada with classic country gold from singer-songwriter Bobby Dove. Hopeless Romantic has been my favorite album during the past week and I also purchased a digital copy on Bandcamp day. Such a special record and I love it to bits. Here’s a couple of great examples from the album.

Bobby Dove Website
Bobby Dove at Facebook

Next some California country from Lowstar Rodeo. This is a solo project by Kevin Carducci from The Easy Leaves. I’m not actually familiar with the band and I think just stumbled upon this when I did my weekly bandcamp new releases search routine. I instantly liked it and the feeling has only grown stronger during the last few weeks and therefore I also picked this one on Bandcamp day. My own favorite song is Toward the Light, which is one of the best pandemic songs I’ve heard.

Lowstar Rodeo at Facebook
Lowstar Rodeo Website

This one by singer-songwriter and upright bassist Melissa Carper isn’t out before next week, but after hearing the three advance singles, I’m fully convinced that Daddy’s Country Gold will be one of my favorite albums of the year. Just perfect timeless country gold. Here’s a couple of these gorgeous singles (Bandcamp didn’t have playable songs, but you can pre-order it there)

Melissa Carper Website
Melissa Carper at Facebook

Last station on this roundabout is Louisiana. Singer-songwriter Quinn Pilgrim’s great new album Jericho Dream came out on the 22nd of January on Partially Sealed Records. It’s neither on the Partially Sealed Records Bandcamp or Quinn’s personal Bandcamp, but you’ll find it from the streaming services. My own favorite is Helpless One that gives some Townes vibes. Excellent record as a whole too and definitely a name to keep an eye on.

Quinn Pilgrim at Bandcamp

A blog post that is not a playlist. Who would have thought. Well it might be just a one-off and there are hardly any words, but anyway, I wanted to highlight a few releases that might not be that high profile in the grand scheme of things, but mean the world to me. Kicking things off in Montreal, Quebec with Isaac Vallentin’s gorgeous third album “…” that came out on the 3rd of February. Here’s the music video for Winter Song along with my own favourite, almost ten minutes long The Ballad of Nunangat that honour the lives and voices of Indigenous Canadians.

Isaac Vallentin Website

Moving on to Bristol, UK for the brand new Clara Mann EP Consolations that came out last week on Sad Club Records. I pretty much came a fan of singer-songwriter Clara Mann during my first spin of her debut single I Didn’t Know You Were Leaving Today last November. I instantly loved it and I’ve felt the same way about every Clara Mann I’ve heard to date.

Clara Mann at Facebook

Back in Canada for another treasure from the February 26 release vault. Former Harlan Pepper Dan Edmonds released a new charming solo album Good Fortune Assembly. The song The Morning is just pure gold. Dan Edmonds, Luka Kuplowsky and Caitlin Woelfle-O’Brien create some magic together there and the music video is also excellent.

Dan Edmonds at Facebook

Let’s wrap this small blog entry in Los Angeles, California with the sweetest music video I know. It’s the ending song Love Me When I Go To Sleep from the new Steady Holiday album Take The Corners Gently. Such a lovely and heartfelt video. I love it wholeheartedly. Goes without saying that the album is also excellent.

Steady Holiday Website
Steady Holiday at Facebook