The RGM Inbox: March 2023 Country Edition
Country music comes in all shapes and sizes, from the traditional to what we used to call Alt-Country to pop country. We’ve not even mentioned Americana, which covers any musical style with roots in the USA, from Folk to Gospel to Blues etc. We hope the RGM Inbox Country Edition will shine a light on the variations available so that even the most hardened naysayer might find something to enjoy in the genre. And to those who love country music, you might find something you’ve missed, so please join us.
Nothing screams country music more than twangy tales of heartbreak. Luckily we have just the thing to tick that box in Bella White. Unbelievably still in her early twenties, singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist White has announced her new album ‘Among Other Things’ set for release on April 21st via Rounder Records. The album was produced by Jonathan Wilson and features Buck Meek of Big Thief on guitar. To mark the occasion, White has released a new single, ‘Break My Heart’. With such crushing lyrics as “I was always waiting for it to all fall apart. You said you had one foot out the door from the start. So it's almost like you meant to break my heart” It sounds like Bella has been to the well despite her youth. Bella White will be hitting the road to promote the album, including a UK show at Black Deer Festival in June, with more dates to be added.
Originally released in 1987 (three years before Travis Tritt made his Warner Bros debut) 'Proud Of The Country' is the perfect introduction to the career of Travis Tritt. Unfortunately, the Copperhill Records release was limited to 1000 copies and is now selling for more than three figures on the used market. For those unable to track down a copy, the good news is 'Proud Of The Country' will debut on streaming services on May 26th, 2023. As a taster, ‘Get A Little Rowdy’ from the album is available now and guaranteed to please Tritt’s legion of fans (30 million career album sales and counting). For those of us, who love physical media, I wonder if an LP re-release and/or CD release might be on the way? Did someone say Record Store Day? I'm kidding, but we remain hopeful.
The Cadillac Three have released a new video for their latest track 'Hillbilly', which is the first taste of music from the band in two years and features guest vocals from Elvie Shane and virtuoso fiddling from Ketch Secor (Old Crow Medicine Show). The Cadillac Three mix of country storytelling and big guitar rock groove is always welcome; and bloody good fun. Frontman Jaren Johnston is in constant demand as a songwriter and producer so it’s always good to see him back at the day job.
photo by Shiloh Hughes
While we are talking Country music that Rocks, look no further than Lubbock, TX act Pecos & The Rooftops. Newly signed to Warner Records, their debut single for the label ‘5 AM’ mixes plenty of melody with no little amount of muscle thanks to some pretty aggressive guitar tones. The band made waves in 2019 with ‘This Damn Song’ earning an RIAA Platinum certification racking up more than 250 million streams globally. 'This Damn Song' and '5 AM' showcase the big voice and songwriting grit of frontman Pecos Hurley via a sound that will appeal to both country and classic rock fans. To build on this success, the band are on the road with US dates booked deep into the summer of 2023.
Welcome to the latest edition of Sounds on Sunday, an occasional series where we showcase new and upcoming releases perfect for a relaxing Sunday (or any other day, for that matter). For this episode, our musical choices seem to be centred in Canada, with a nod to Norway and the Middle East. So join us as we listen to, and hopefully learn more about, Justine Giles, Drea Lake, Marthe Halvorsen, and Tenise Marie.