Erika Goldring/Getty Images
...
JD McPherson—with Jason Smay on drums—performs in Nashville in 2015
Erika Goldring/Getty Images
Rootsy American music—for lack of a better name (although some people are callin' it Americana or Ameripolitan[1])—is all I listen to these days. It calms me down, keeps me going when things get unsavory and streams out of my guitar (and/or iPhone) every time I pick it up.
In its seeming simplicity, I hear countless nuances, bottomless sadness and joy, winks to the past and nods to the future. I hear new pickup sounds and effects that often send me sprinting to eBay, not to mention guitar riffs and solos that sometimes send me back to the drawing board.
Anyway, if you've spent your year listening to, well, anything other than "rootsy American music," and if you're interested in checking out what you've missed, you'll find some solid recommendations below. Enjoy!
JD McPherson, Undivided Heart & Soul[2]
The Oklahoma-bred retro rocker branches out a bit on his third album, Undivided Heart & Soul. “I love rock and roll all the way through Rockpile, through T. Rex and the Stooges," McPherson told us. "All those things are fair game to soak up into what we do.” Highlights include the Radiohead-meets-Duane-Eddy shimmy of “On the Lips,” the angular “Lucky Penny” and the simply brilliant “Hunting for Sugar,” but the entire disc is full of surprises. Check out my 2017 interview with JD right here. (New West Records)[3]
Marty Stuart, Way Out West[4]
Way Out West, Stuart's ode to the American West, is packed with engaging tunes and fine guitar playing, courtesy of Stuart and Kenny Vaughan. Best of all, Stuart gives his Clarence White Tele a workout throughout. Highlights include the title track, "Whole Lotta Highway (with a