Blanco River
Imagine country rock where the country is more folk and less honky-tonk; the rock more blues, less metal. Such is the music on Sons of Fathers’ self-titled debut, lumped misleadingly by some under the dreaded catchall phrase of Americana.
Capitol/EMI
San Francisco Bay Area-based Ancient Future was all about “world fusion” before world music was even a genre. To honor the band’s reunion this summer after a 15-year performance hiatus, Capitol/EMI is giving their fifth and most accessible disc its first digital release.
Tompkins Square
With the exception of a fiddle here and some bass there, two acoustic guitars are all one gets with this gem of an album (vinyl and download only) — but that’s plenty.
Appleseed
Bromberg’s first album came out in 1971 and featured a song written with and guest-starring George Harrison on slide, “The Holdup.” Such a collaboration so early in one’s career speaks volumes about the caliber of this multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter.
McCoury Music/Preservation Hall Recordings
Dixieland meets bluegrass: Right off the bat, the fact that both use banjo comes to mind. But imagining the result of such a union isn’t easy.
