Tilly and The Wall – Heavy Mood
Midwestern indie pop quintet Tilly and The Wall are out with their follow-up to 2008’s…read more→
Gary Clark Jr. – Blak and Blu
Gary Clark Jr. is at a crossroads. His new major label is poising the musician…read more→
Corb Lund – Cabin Fever
Alberta native and Juno award winning singer/songwriter Corb Lund is often described as a Canadian…read more→
Sera Cahoone – Deer Creek Canyon
Seattle singer-songwriter Sera Cahoone has spent her career in obscurity despite having played with bands…read more→
Trainwreck Riders – Ghost Yards
The San Francisco indie Americana four piece the Trainwreck Riders return with their third album,…read more→
Waves of Fury – Thirst
Somerset, England band Waves of Fury are out with their debut rock album, Thirst. Recorded…read more→
Cahalen Morrison and Eli West – Our Lady of the Tall Trees
Our Lady of the Tall Trees from Cahalen Morrison and Eli West continues to blend…read more→
Jim Byrnes – I Hear the Wind in the Wires
Juno award winning country blues singer Jim Byrnes is out with the unexpectedly delightful album…read more→
Stars – The North
Toronto indie pop band Stars are out with their sixth full length, The North. The…read more→
Ronnie Fauss – I Am The Man You Know I’m Not
Dallas based singer-songwriter Ronnie Fauss is known for his series of well-crafted alt-country / Americana…read more→
Ben Folds Five – The Sound of the Life of the Mind
It’s been 13 years since Ben Folds Five’s last album, 1999’s Biography of Reinhold Messner,…read more→
Will Johnson – Scorpion
Will Johnson delivers his first solo album in 8 years with Scorpion. In those eight…read more→
Iris DeMent – Sing The Delta
Iris DeMent is considered one of the finest singer-songwriters of her generation and one of…read more→
Field Report – Field Report
It’s been a long road traveled for Chris Porterfield who watched his former bandmates in…read more→
Joshua James – From the Top of Willamette Mountain
Following the success of his 2007 debut, The Sun Is Always Brighter, and 2009′s Build…read more→
The Ampersands – This is Your Adventure Too
New York and Providence, RI based band The Ampersands have been around for a few…read more→
Andrew Bird – Hands of Glory
Andrew Bird has had quite the busy year with a sonic art exhibition at the…read more→
The Sumner Brothers – I’ll be There Tomorrow
Vancouver’s The Sumner Brothers (Brian and Bob) are back with their sophomore full length, I’ll…read more→
Say Brother – All I Got is Time
Columbia, SC five-piece Say Brother is out with their debut album, All I Got is…read more→
Matthew Ryan – In the Dusk of Everything
Matthew Ryan completes his trilogy of personal introspective albums that began with 2010’s Dear Lover…read more→
John The Conqueror – John The Conqueror
John The Conqueror is a Philly based band comprised of Mississippi natives and cousins Pierre…read more→
Paws, Waiters, Sex Hands & Dolfinz – Split 12″
Edinburgh based label Song, By Toad, is out with their early 2012 session release, a…read more→
Anderson East – Flowers of the Broken Hearted
Nashville-based singer/songwriter Anderson East is out with his debut double LP, Flowers of the Broken…read more→
Mike Behrends – Lonesome for Handsome
Young Minneapolis singer-songwriter Mike Behrends follows-up his debut full-length New Feet with Lonesome for Handsome,…read more→
Fort Frances – The Atlas
Chicago indie band Fort Frances released The Atlas in 2011, a concept album where the…read more→
Sic Alps – Sic Alps
You may not have heard of the Bay Area band Sic Alps, but the respected…read more→
Thee Oh Sees – Putrifiers II
San Francisco band Thee Oh Sees may be one of the most prolific around, with…read more→
The Maldives – Muscle for the Wing
Seattle band The Maldives have undergone some major changes since their last full length, Listen…read more→
Andy Shauf – The Bearer of Bad News
Andy Shauf is slowly making a name for himself as one of Canada’s emerging songwriting…read more→
The Cairo Gang – Corner Man
Record Dept has reviewed a number of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy albums, including 2010’s Wonder Show…read more→
The Brendan Hines – Small Mistakes
Singer/songwriter/guitarist and actor Brendan Hines, who performs as The Brendan Hines, is out with his…read more→
Moon Duo – Circles
San Francisco’s Moon Duo – Ripley Johnson (of Wooden Shjips) and Sanae Yamada – are…read more→
Bill Fay – Life is People
Success in the music business can be a gamble despite a songwriter’s talent and perseverance.…read more→
Chris Knight – Little Victories
Kentucky singer/songwriter Chris Knight writes working man songs that reflect life struggles through a gritty,…read more→
A.C. Newman – Shut Down The Streets
A.C. Newman of The New Pornographers fame has a new solo album, Shut Down The…read more→
Long Distance Salvation: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska
What began as the bored and contemplative musings of a music blogger on a road…read more→
Kevin Brown – The Beloved Country
The Beloved Country is the newest release from Eastern Washington singer/songwriter Kevin Brown, following up…read more→
Seapony – Falling
Seapony’s sophomore album, Falling, continues where their debut, Go with Me, leaves off with another…read more→
JKutchma & The Five Fifths – Pastoral
After a self-financed national tour in 2010, country punk band Red Collar went on hiatus,…read more→
Rayland Baxter – Feathers & Fishooks
The son of acclaimed pedal steel guitarist Bucky Baxter (Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle),…read more→
Gordie Tentrees – North Country Heart
Canadian singer-songwriter Gordie Tentrees is out with his fifth full-length North Country Heart, a follow-up…read more→
Murder by Death – Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon
Murder By Death’s sixth full-length and first for Bloodshot Records, Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon, continues…read more→
Aaron Embry – Tiny Prayers
California native Aaron Embry is a longtime musician and producer, fronting indie rock band Amnion…read more→
Benjamin Gibbard – Former Lives
One of most talented singer/songwriters of our generation, Ben Gibbard, is finally out with his…read more→
Black Prairie – A Tear in the Eye is a Wound in the Heart
A Tear in the Eye is a Wound in the Heart is the second full…read more→
Jenn Rawling and Basho Parks – Take the Air
Male/female duo Jenn Rawling and Basho Parks share their love of country folk music on…read more→
Keaton Henson – Dear…
The debut album Dear… by 23-year-old Keaton Henson was inspired by a traumatic break-up and…read more→
Art Garfunkel – The Singer
In 2011, Legacy released a collection of Paul Simon’s solo recordings titled The Songwriter, so…read more→
American Aquarium – Burn. Flicker. Die.
The title track off of Raleigh, NC based American Aquarium’s latest album Burn. Flicker. Die.…read more→
Dark Dark Dark – Who Needs Who
Minneapolis based indie folk band Dark Dark Dark is known for their unique blend of…read more→
Reuben and the Dark – Man Made Lakes
Reuben Bullock is a Calgary based musician known locally as a phenomenal roots/folk singer/songwriter. His…read more→
The Fresh & Onlys – Long Slow Dance
San Francisco’s The Fresh & Onlys are no longer simply a garage rock sensation. With…read more→
Morriconez – Cloud of Dust, Cry of Death
Morriconez (formerly Jjango Cleefworth Morriconez) is the latest incarnation of singer/songwriter Jeffery Wentworth Stevens (George…read more→
Frightened Rabbit – State Hospital EP
State Hospital is the first Frightened Rabbit release since 2010’s The Winter of Mixed Drinks…read more→
Catherine Irwin – Little Heater
Louisville’s Catherine Irwin co-founded the seminal alt-country group Freakwater with Janet Bean in 1989, establishing…read more→
Menomena – Moms
2012 saw multi-instrumentalist/co-singer Brent Knopf depart the unconventional indie rock trio Menomena to focus on…read more→
Johnsonville City Nights – Johnsonville City Nights
British band Johnsonville City Nights bring out the authentic sounds of American alt-country over the…read more→
Ryan Bingham – Tomorrowland
New Mexico born, SoCal based troubadour Ryan Bingham has had a meteoric couple of years…read more→
Dana Falconberry – Leelanau
Austin-based singer/songwriter Dana Falconberry is out with another lovely solo album Leelanau which is filled…read more→
The Avett Brothers – The Carpenter
North Carolina quartet The Avett Brothers are out with their latest full-length The Carpenter –…read more→
Mumford & Sons – Babel
Mumford & Sons took the world by storm these past couple years with bold and…read more→
Band of Horses – Mirage Rock
After two solid albums on Sub Pop, Band of Horses moved to their first major…read more→
Freelance Whales – Diluvia
Diluvia, the second release from Queens, NY band Freelance Whales, is the grand culmination of…read more→
Jess Morgan – Aye Me
British singer/songwriter Jess Morgan follows-up her 2010 debut All Swell with Aye Me, a collection…read more→
The Mountain Goats – Transcendental Youth
The Mountain Goats are singer/songwriter John Darnielle (guitar), Peter Hughes (bass), and Jon Wurster (drums)…read more→
Foghorn Stringband – Outshine The Sun
Outshine The Sun, the latest album from traditional country and Appalachian folk group Foghorn Stringband,…read more→
Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys – Release Your Shrouds
Michiganites Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys bring a lively enthusiasm and their own unique take…read more→
The Sheepdogs – The Sheepdogs
Since Record Dept. last reviewed Saskatchewan rockers The Sheepdogs – 2010’s Learn and Burn –…read more→
The Last Names – Wilderness
Kingston, NY husband/wife duo and Bishop Allen band members Justin Rice and Darbie Nowatka are…read more→
The Cactus Blossoms – The Cactus Blossoms
If you are looking for fresh traditional country then you are going to love The…read more→
Allah-Las – Don’t You Forget It
Los Angeles quartet Allah-Las met while working at Amoeba Records and have been steadily gaining…read more→
Dylan LeBlanc – Cast The Same Old Shadow
Shreveport, Louisiana singer/songwriter Dylan LeBlanc follows-up 2010’s Paupers Field with the lovely and haunting Cast…read more→
The xx – Coexist
Young South London trio The xx took they world by storm with their 2009 self-titled…read more→
Angel Olsen – Half Way Home
After a highly-acclaimed debut EP, Strange Cacti, Angel Olsen’s debut full-length Half Way Home is…read more→
Balmorhea – Stranger
Balmorhea’s 2010 release Constellations was a simple and intimate collection of compositions that were both…read more→
Strand of Oaks – Dark Shores
Philadelphia based musician Timothy Showalter – a.k.a. Strand of Oaks – is out with his…read more→
Tom Eddy – The Bread Maker’s Blues
Seattle musician Tom Eddy, of Beat Connection and Doldrums, is out with his second EP,…read more→
Grizzly Bear – Shields
Shields – the fourth album by Grizzly Bear – continues the evolution of the band’s…read more→
Noah Gundersen – Family
Family is the third EP from talented up and coming musician Noah Gundersen. Armed with…read more→
Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits
It comes as no surprise to me that Britt Daniel (Spoon) and Dan Boeckner (Wolf…read more→
Dinosaur Jr. – I Bet on Sky
I Bet on Sky marks the third studio album (following 2007’s Beyond and 2009’s Farm)…read more→
Right Away, Great Captain! – The Church of The Good Thief
Atlanta, GA based musician Andy Hull – frontman of the rock band Manchester Orchestra –…read more→
Calexico – Algiers
Calexico is consistently one of the best bands around, whether it is playing live shows…read more→
Neil Halstead – Palindrome Hunches
Neil Halstead – the driving force behind shoegazers Slowdive and dream pop band Mojave 3…read more→
Joan Shelley – Ginko
Louisville singer-songwriter Joan Shelley is out with her sophomore release, Ginko. Shelley’s lovely, clear vocals…read more→
Whispering Pines – Whispering Pines
L.A. band Whispering Pines is a Laurel Canyon inspired five-piece whose eponymous record is a…read more→
Sean Rowe – The Salesman & The Shark
Troy, NY singer/songwriter Sean Rowe recently released his fourth album, The Salesman and The Shark,…read more→
District Attorneys – Slowburner
Young up and coming Georgia band The District Attorneys released their debut full-length of southern…read more→
Ivan & Alyosha – All The Times We Had
Seattle band Ivan & Alyosha have released a follow-up to their 2011 EP Fathers Be…read more→
Woods – Bend Beyond
Brooklyn band Woods is out with Bend Beyond – their second indie/folk rock album in…read more→
Pure Bathing Culture – Pure Bathing Culture
Duo Daniel Hindman (guitar) and Sarah Versprille (vocals, keys) are Pure Bathing Culture, a duo…read more→
Denver – Denver
Denver is an up-and-coming acts in Portland, OR right now – a rare traditional country…read more→
Buffalo Killers – Dig. Sow. Love. Grow.
Cincinnati-based rock band Buffalo Killers released their fourth album, Dig. Sow. Love. Grow. The trio,…read more→
Matthew E. White – Big Inner
Matthew E. White – known regionally as the lead in the Richmond, VA improvisational jazz…read more→
Patterson Hood – Heat Lightning Rumbles In The Distance
Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood releases his fourth solo album of gothic Southern country-rock, Heat Lightning…read more→
Shovels and Rope – O’ Be Joyful
Charleston, SC’s Shovels & Rope are the talented husband/wife musicians Cary Ann Hearst (solo singer/songwriter…read more→
Cat Power – Sun
Early aught indie-darling Chan Marshall (a.k.a. Cat Power) has emerged from some tough personal struggles…read more→
Two Gallants – The Bloom and The Blight
San Francisco, CA folk- rock duo Two Gallants are out with their fourth full-length of…read more→
Old Crow Medicine Show – Carry Me Back
Nashville string band Old Crow Medicine Show is out with their fourth studio album of…read more→
Southeast Engine – Canaanville
Last spring, Athens, Ohio band Southeast Engine released their fifth album, Canary. Now the folk…read more→