

Other than a vague idea of how her debut album sounded like, we knew almost nothing about Jess Williamson the moment we walked into the dark backroom of a Nijmegen venue to listen to her songs. Or at least try to, as the audience seemed to be more interested in catching up with their buddies before Kevin Morby took the stage. That being said, our most vivid image of that night is staring at the stage as Williamson played the broodingly gorgeous “Heart Song” off her forthcoming album. We had to go up and tell her we could get her to play a few shows back in Portugal. That never happened, but 100% of her future albums ended up being featured here. Of course they were. “Sorcerer” is the latest instalment in a perfect streak of stellar records. It’s out now.
Plus: new tracks by Josiah Johnson, Tommy Alexander, Sumbuck, The Jayhawks, Rose City Band, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Chris Maier, Owen, Silverbacks, Crack Cloud, Hanni El Khatib, Khruangbin, SINEAD O’BRIEN, KATE NV, Jim White and Marisa Anderson music, neubauten.org, I Break Horses, Phoebe Bridgers, Nicole Atkins, Perfume Genius, LA PRIEST, Charli XCX, Happyness, and Lily Hayes.
We’re pretty sure you won’t run out of interesting things to keep you occupied during your forced quarantine period, but we’ll still add something to that. The Deslondes’ Sam Doores has just released his first solo LP in quite a while, and you can use it to remember how nice life could be when it was still normal. Plus: new tracks by Shabaka & the Ancestors, Soccer96 & Alabaster dePlume, Protomartyr, LIFE, Porridge Radio, The WIYOS, Viagra Boys, SINEAD O’BRIEN, U.S. Girls, Girlpool, Yves Tumor, Seasick Steve, Margo Price, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Jim White & Marisa Anderson music, Willie Nelson, Whiskey Wolves of the West, Don Gallardo, Norah Jones, Mandy Moore, Anna Burch, Kate Bollinger, Sharon Van Etten, and JFDR.
It’s been too long since we’ve heard from Frazey Ford – our playlist wasn’t even around when she released “Indian Ocean” back in 2014. Fortunately, the wait is over, and we’re delighted to have our favorite soulful Americana singer-songwriter back. This week, we bring you a couple of songs off “U Kin B The Sun” plus new tracks from John Moreland, Lilly Hiatt, Whitney Rose, Lady Lamb, Heather Woods Broderick, Sharon Van Etten, Brandy Clark, Nicole Atkins, Jason Isbell, Brent Cobb, Christopher Paul Stelling, Desure, James Steinle, Nathaniel Rateliff, Built to Spill, Sufjan Stevens & Lowell Brams, Toby Hay, Alex Rex, Califone, Shopping, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, and Amanda Shires.
Bolachas Now Playing, a new music Spotify playlist updated every Tuesday.
Two months after its release, one of our favorite albums of the year is finally streaming. “The Horizon Just Laughed” is (yet another) landmark in Damien Jurado’s vast discography and our album of the week. Plus: new songs by Colter Wall, Donnie Fritts, the Mountain Goats, Jim James, Jason Isbell, The Donkeys, The Nude Party, The Essex Green, Let’s Eat Grandma, Angélique Kidjo, Gorillaz, Underworld & Iggy Pop, The Beths, BODEGA, Ulaan Markhor, Marc Ribot, and The Innocence Mission.
Bolachas Now Playing, 25/2018 (#152):
Colter Wall – Calgary Round-Up
Donnie Fritts – You Better Move On
Damien Jurado – 1973
Damien Jurado – Lou-Jean
The Mountain Goats – Song for Sasha Banks
Jim James – Throwback
Jason Isbell – Crystal Clear
The Donkeys – Unusual
The Nude Party – Wild Coyote
The Essex Green – Sloane Ranger
Let’s Eat Grandma – It’s Not Just Me
Angélique Kidjo – Once in a Lifetime
Gorillaz – Lake Zurich
Underworld & Iggy Pop – Get Your Shirt
The Beths – Future Me Hates Me
BODEGA – Jack in Titanic
Ulaan Markhor – At the Gate
Marc Ribot, Steve Earle & Tift Merritt – Srinivas
The Innocence Mission – Green Bus