1/2way thru ‘26. There’s been a lot of awesome new music released so far! I’ve listened to a lot of new music. I don’t get paid to. I’m not with any label. I just really like to do this. Here are my top 50 new albums this year: non-industry driven alt/indie/cowboy/reddirt/country/swamp/rock/funk/bluegrass and all the things that make music Americana. Feel free to comment, that’s the fun in these! Honorable Mentions- because it’s fun to listen to new music and sounds. If you haven’t heard any of these, give them a listen, they’re all worth it! (in no particular order): Cordova’s, Back to Life The Kruse Brothers, Heartbreak and Honky Tonk Sophie Gault, Unhinged Kashus Culpepper, Act I The Delines, The Set Up The Hanging Stars, Just A Day Paul Cauthen, Book of Paul *49 Winchester, Change of Plans *Reverend Stomp, Mescalero Ranger Ovven, Gnawing At The Cord Ratboys, Singin’ to an Empty Chair Jackson Pines, Wheel Steinza, Steinza Was Here! Noah Kahan, The Great Divide: The Last Of The Bugs Kenny Hotopp, The South Looks Good On You *The Olympians, In Search of a Revival Garrett Boys, It Runs Deep Southall, Kinfolk Benjamin Tod, Vengeance and Grace William Clark Green, Watterson Hall The Brook and The Bluff, Werewolf Kiki Cavazos, Goodbye Blues Kip Moore, Reason To Believe Aubrie Sellers, Attachment Theory Velvet Daydream, Smoke and Mirrors Champagne Bubblebath, Mixtape: Volume One Yarn, Saturday Night Sermon Bella White, A Sign In The Weather Rick Shea, Smoke Tree Road Rodney Crowell, Then Again Flatland Cavalry, Work of Heart Red Clay Strays, Grateful Courtney Marie Andrews, Valentine Sad Daddy, Ozark Shine Doc Lewis, Between The Lovin’ And The Leavin’ *Oklahoma Space Program, Oklahoma Space Program Jason Eady, Tulsa Turnaround SUSTO & SUSTO String Band: Susto Stringband (Volume 2) Telander, This Rules Enjoyed all of these, some I need more time with, some I wanted more from, but on the whole, it’s been a solid year and I know a lot of these are high on my friends lists, so I’ll give them all more plays. I’m sure there are tons I haven’t heard yet and though this isn’t all, it’s only a drop in the hat. The next 50 really piqued my interest. Probs had either more time, or they instantly jived with my mood/time and places I listened to them. Always makes for a good debate… *Top 4 Album Covers, non Ai generated, from this entire group- I’ll do a post on top 50 album covers soon too! #newmusic #indiecountry #altcountry

New album by @BenJarrellMusic and the Night Sights is out! So many good songs! These guys rock, congrats to them on this new one!

It’s about that time for all the new releases to drop! Here’s what’s dropping tomorrow that I’ll be listening to on the way to my last Dads weekend with my oldest daughter at Miami of Ohio! Also, got some crazy cool photos today in Chicago. Always good to spend some time in the city city. Anyways… Here’s my list: JP Harris, Shaving A Dead Man, (Bloodshot) Josh Rouse, Museums and Women, (New West) Wooten Hill, How Did We Get Here, (Parker & Yon) Jake Karlik Band, Jake Karlik Band, (Horton) Pug Johnson, From a Beaumont Bar, (Break Maiden) Randy Lee Riviere, New Blue Mexico Dida Pelled, I Wish I Was A Single Girl Again, (La Reserve) Clara Cloud, As Above Jimmy Webb, Yours for the Taking: The Found Songs of Jimmy Webb, (Sun) Brothers Osborne, Watertown, (MCA Nashville) Rayland Baxter, True Violet, (ATO) Jacob Hackworth, What Took You So Long, (MCA / Goat Island Sound) Isabel Dumaa, Reverie, (Lucille / Republic) Marfa, We'll All Be Okay, (Big Machine / ASCEND) Colby T. Helms, One for the Losers, (Photo Finish) Matt Lang, Ain't That Bad Molly Tuttle, 9 to 5 (Live), (Nonesuch) Chris Gantry, Worth Every Nail, (Appalachia Record Co.) Tom Savage & The Mill·Rights, Give In To The Sound, (Rabid Ear Music) Muireann Bradley, Blackwood Pew, (Fontana / Verve Forecast) Bernie Taupin, The Sea Has No Mercy, (Vertigo) Peter Autio, Country, Soul, and Rock N’ Roll Ali Tod, Self-Titled Exile, Look Out, Heart #NewMusicFriday #Americana #altcountry @ilovehonkytonk

Happy Thursday morning! Jamming out to Meg and the Wheelers newest album, Honky Tonk Wisdom from this past May. This gals fun! I love the traditional with their twist! They’re playing tomorrow night at Reggie’s in Chicago, opening for William Elliot Whitmore. Hope everyone has a great day! #NewMusicAlert

Listening to TK and the Holy Know Nothings this morning. Celebrating the completion of this restaurant interior. Called NY Munchies and located in the location of the former Lulas Cafe: 1631 Edison Rd., South Bend, IN. No rulers and no tape, I did this entire thing freehand and by hand in 21 total working days. I’m exhausted. Now onto the school gig. Hope everyone has a great Tuesday! @muralarts #muralart

My little one chose to have her birthday party at this cool county park called Love Creek. We managed to commandeer the one brand new pavilion- about 2 miles deep into the old growth forest. Kids had a blast running through the woods and climbing trees and soaking in the nature. Cost was a cake and some caramel apples. Probably the best kids birthday I’ve been to in a while! Anyways, listening the new Chloe Kimes this morning. Great album, her songs are tongue in cheek hilarious but also beautifully crafted. Digging it. Everyone enjoy your Monday!

I got close to finishing last night, but now it’s Saturday! Listening to old school De La Soul today, “A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturday” from De La Soul Is Dead. I was a freshman in high school when this came out! Saving my energy for the ND/BYU game tonight. Go Irish!

Getting close to done. I thought I’d finish yesterday but sigh, only so much energy to paint when you’ve already worked a full 8 hrs. I’m listening to this new self titled album by the Cashville Trash Pandas. HFS that is some angry punk/country that you definitely need in your life. About time we got some more of this kind of stuff! Give them a spin, it’s some wild jams!

Just put in my two weeks. Got a new position as a 4th/5th grade teacher! And I can walk to work! Feeling fortunate! I’ll be sad to let some of these kids go, but it’s a pay increase and the benefits are outstanding. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

That was a wicked sunrise this morning! Listened to Levi Fosters new album, Appalachian Funk Tree on the way in to work today. Great soundtrack to a gorgeous drive. Hope everyone has had a great Thursday! @LeviFosterMusic