Muscadine Bloodline & Josh Meloy Perform "Ain't For Sale"

Favorite Albums of 2024: First Half Report

The top 4 remains unchanged from the first quarter report, but there are big shakeups down the list.

1. The Droptines - s/t

2. Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood

3. Jonathan Peyton - Nothing Here’s The Same

4. Sierra Ferrell - Trail of Flowers

5. John Moreland - Visitor

6. Shane Smith & The Saints - Norther

7. Taylor Hunnicutt - Alabama Sound

8. Josh Meloy - Where You Came From

9. Zach Top - Cold Beer & Country Music

10. Sarah Jarosz - Polaroid Lovers

11-20

11. Blackberry Smoke - Be Right Here

12. Wyatt Flores - Half Life

13. Kelsey Waldon - There’s Always a Song

14. Swamp Dogg - Blackgrass

15. Jesse Daniel - Countin’ the Miles

16. Old Heavy Hands - Small Fires

17. Taylor McCall - Mellow War

18. Kimmi Bitter - Old School

19. Red Shahan - Loose Funky Texas Junky

20. Lost Dog Street Band - Survived

- - - - - - -

More 2024 releases I really like:

Willi Carlisle - Critterland

The Secret Sisters - Mind, Man, Medicine

The Mavericks - Moon & Stars

Adeem the Artist - Anniversary 

Rob Leines - Headcase

Bronwyn Keith-Hynes - I Built a World

Blaine Bailey - Home

The Black Crowes - Happiness Bastards

Stephanie Lambring - Good Mother

Amigo the Devil - Yours Until the War is Over

Cody Jinks - Change the Game

Emily Nenni - Drive & Cry

The Avett Brothers - s/t

Charley Crockett - $10 Cowboy

Pearl Jam - Dark Matter

Katie Pruitt - Mantras

Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well

The Montvales - Born Strangers

Lizzie No - Halfsies

Ellis Bullard - Honky Tonk Ain’t Noise Pollution

Mery Steel - She’s Back!

Willie Nelson - The Border

JJ Grey & Mofro - Olustee

Kim Richey - Every New Beginning

Sam Morrow - On the Ride Here

Jordan Lee King - By and By

Casper McWade - Something for the Pain

and there are many many more, Rich :)

Luke Bryan Shifts Towards Americana to Energize Flagging Career

In his first major evolution in sound since moving from “aw shucks” pop-country to party-centric bro-country early in his career, country superstar Luke Bryan is following the money his heart. Sporting a swiftly growing beard and a messy mop of hair, Bryan spoke with us a few moments about his exploration of what he calls “a more organic, earthly sound.” [sic]

Citing an internal desire to show a more “rustical” [sic] side of himself, Luke has recruited an old adversary in Shooter Jennings to produce his new album. “Except for my Farm EPs, which weren’t really about farming, nobody’s seen that real part of me that, you know, just loves getting my hands in the dirt and also being sad about the plight of coal miners.” [sic]

“Shooter’s gonna be at the board, but he’s also gonna write with me a little,” continued Bryan. “We’re bringing in some of these new fellas like Dylan Proust, Wyatt Meloy, and Tanner Logan or whoever, and do some duets about the opioid pandemic [sic] and job loss in the Midwest; it’s gonna be so much fun!”

“I even went to the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine up in West Virginia and got a tour,” laughed Bryan. I’m pretty much an expert on coal mining now, or at least as much an expert as all those new 20 years olds singing about it.”

Bryan, who has recently gotten in minor online spats over whispers that his career is in decline, is still a major draw live, and continues to have radio hits, though at a much slower pace than his glory days of women shaking it for catfish, and boom boom under his seat or whatever the hell he sang about. He hopes this new era will keep him relevant for years to come. 

The first single from the new project, “Holler in the Holler,” is due to be dropped at mainstream radio in February, though he isn’t sure what the reception will be. “We love radio, but they aren’t always ready for someone forging a brave new path,” said Luke, sweat beads forming at the edges of his newly unkempt hair-do. “This first song’s still got some party time in it, so hopefully that will help us transition to my new totally not contrived sound, while still being a unit-moving beacon for the genre.” 

At press time, Luke was eating a gas station sausage biscuit and watching Moonshiners.