It’s time for everyone at Lonesome Highway to put their writing implements down, turn off the computers and reflect on the year that is about to end.
The months have passed by like a speeding train and we find ourselves at the end of the line, looking back at all the wonderful music that has come our way.
It never gets taken for granted, all the long hours put into creating a new release, all the inspiration and perspiration that it takes to finally realise that goal. However it should be noted that not every release we receive will make the review process. It is simply because we like to spend time with music that moves us in a way that provides us with the inspiration to write about it. This is no reflection on the submissions but rather down to personal and subjective taste, as well as time commitments.
At Lonesome Highway we like to pay due respect to the process and we listen to as much new music as our daily activities will allow. We continue to be inspired by the depth of talent and the range of musical visions out there. We have been privileged to be in contact with a number of like-minded artists, PR companies and labels who understand what we have set out to do at Lonesome Highway. We also receive a large number of communications that fall outside the increasingly wide-ranging definition that is Americana. Often, we are included on the basis of music activity only with no real discernment for our core ethos and focus.
Here are the thoughts of our chief scribes when push comes to shove and we are asked to pick our own personal favourites over the year.
DECLAN CULLITON
Traditional Country
1. Kelsey Waldon - No Regular Dog
2. Emily Nenni - On The Ranch
3. Charley Crockett - Lil’ G.L. Presents: Jukebox Charley
4. Pug Johnson & The Hounds - Throwed Off and Glad
5. Jim Lauderdale - Game Changer
6. Sunny Sweeney - Married Alone
7. Joshua Hedley - Neon Blue
8. Jake Penrod - Million Dollar Cowboy
9. Kaitlin Butts - What Else Can She Do
10. Melissa Carper - Ramblin’ Soul
11. Ashley McBryde - Presents Lindeville
12. Cody Jinks - Mercy
13. 49 Winchester - Fortune Favors The Bold
14. Sad Daddy - Way Up In The Hills
15. The Broken Spokes - Where I Went Wrong
16. Brennen Leigh - Obsessed With The west
17. Sterling Drake - Roll The Dice
18. Courtney Patton - Electrostatic
19. Alex Williams - Waging Peace
20. Hailey Whitters - Raised
Americana and Non-Country
1. Florence Dore - Highways & Rocketships
2. Shawn Williams - Wallowing’ In The Night
3. S.G. Goodman - Teeth Marks
4. Rich Hopkins & Luminarios - Exiled On Mabel Street
5. Angel Olsen - Big Time
6. The Hanging Stars - Hollow Heart
7. Mariel Buckley - Everywhere I Used To Be
8. Native Harrow - Old Kind Of Magic
9. The Sadies - Colder Streams
10. Dean Owens - Sinner’s Shrine
11. Michelle Rivers - Chasing Somewhere
12. The Prescriptions - Times Apart
13. Ian Noe - River Fools And Mountain Saints
14. Ian M Bailey - You Paint The Pictures
15. Amy Ray - If It All Goes South
16. Carson McHone - Still Life
17. Bonny Light Horseman - Rolling Golden Holy
18. The Delines - The Sea Drift
19. Joan Shelley - The Spur
20. Mary Gauthier - Dark Enough To See The Stars
Tribute Album
Something Borrowed, Something New: A Tribute to John Anderson
Covers Album
Cowboy Junkies – Songs of The Recollection
Compilation Album
Various Artists : American Railroad:
Gigs of the Year
1. Sierra Ferrell @ The Button Factory, Dublin
2. Florence Dore @ Dee’s Cocktail Lounge, Nashville
3. Charley Crockett @ The Workman’s Club, Dublin
4. Jesse Daniel @ 6th and Peabody, Nashville
5. Kristina Murray @ American Legion Post 82, Nashville
6. S.G. Goodman @ Riverside Revival, Nashville
7. The Felice Brothers @ Whelan’s Dublin
8. Kelsey Waldon @ Riverside Revival, Nashville
9. The Hanging Stars @ Billy Byrne’s Kilkenny
10. Jim Lauderdale @ Exit Inn, Nashville
11. Jesse Dayton @ Kytelers Inn, Kilkenny
12. Shannon McNally @ Dee’s Cocktail Lounge, Nashville
13. Whitehorse @ The Wash, Eastside Bowl, Nashville
14. Hurrah For The Riff Raff @ Whelan’s, Dublin
15. Sunny Sweeney @ The Wash, Eastside Bowl, Nashville
16. Margo Cilker @ Cleere’s, Kilkenny
17. Lyle Lovett @ The Wash, Eastside Bowl, Nashville
18. Shawn Williams @ The Vinyl Tap, Nashville
19. Anais Mitchell @ The Pepper Canister, Dublin
20. Annie Keating @ The Whale Theatre, Greystones
STEPHEN RAPID
Traditional Country
Jim Lauderdale - Game Changer
Sunny Sweeney - Married Alone
Jake Pernod - Million-Dollar Cowboy
Wesley Hanna - Brand New Love Potion
Joshua Hedley - Neon Blue
The Broken Spokes - Where I went Wrong
Matt Castillo - How The River Flows
The Western Express - Lunatics, Lover & Poets
Laura Benitez and The Heartache - California Centuries
Skinny Dyck - Palace Waiting
David Gideon - Lonesome Desert Strum
Alex Key - Neon Signs And Stained Glass
Brennan Leigh - Obsessed With The West
Geoffrey Miller -Leavin’ 101
Steve Hammond - Honky Tonk Record Club Number 1
Matt Hillyer - Glorieta
Emily Nenni - On The Ranch
Sam Platts & The Plainsmen - West Side
Tobias Berblinger - The Luckiest Hippie Alive
Carter Felker - Even The Happy Ones Are Sad
A Welcome Return
Danni Leigh - Walkin’ On A Wire
Close Harmony
The Williams Brothers - Memories To Burn
The Cactus Blossoms - One Day
The Brother Brothers - Cover To Cover
Americana and Non-Country
Shawn Williams - Wallowin’ In The Night
Michael McDermott - St. Paul Boulevard
Michael Weston King - The Struggle
Ashley McBryde - Presents Lindeville
49 Winchester - Fortune Favours The Bold
Teague Brothers Band - Love & War
This Lonesome Paradise - Nightshades
Rod Picott - Paper Hearts and Broken Arrows
Grey DeLisle - Borrowed
Triggers & Slips - What Do You Feed Your Darkness
Luther Black and the Cold Hard Facts - Moment Of Truth
Jason Boland and the Stragglers - The Light Saw Me
Nikki Lane - Denim & Diamonds
Daniel Meade - Down You Go
Ragland - Guardian
Anders Thomsen - Seven Songs
Merle Jagger - Trash Talking Guitars
Hermanos Gutierrez - El Bueno Y El Malo
Martha Spencer - Wonderland
Robin Lane - Dirt Road To Heaven
Ian M Bailey -You Paint The Pictures
Compilations
Various Artists - JR: A Tribute to Johnny Cash
Various Artists - Live Forever: A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver
Various Artists - Something Borrowed, Something New: A Tribute to John Anderson
Gigs Of The Year
The Brother Brothers @ The Cellar, Dublin
Jesse Dayton @ Kilkenny Roots Festival
PAUL McGEE
The choices that I have made for my year-end lists come from music that I have personally reviewed. There are so many other albums that have impressed and moved me but I have decided to focus on actual review albums for my top picks.
Top 12 Favourite albums
Katie Spencer - Edge Of the Land
My Politic - Missouri Folklore: Songs and Stories from Home
Jay Byrd - At Home Again
Sylvie - Sylvie
Rod Picott - Paper Hearts and Broken Arrows
Audrey Spillman - Neon Dream
Steve Dawson - Gone, Long Gone
The Mystix - Tru Vine
Luke LeBlanc - Fugue State
Clever Hopes - Artefact
Eric Brace and Last Train Home - Everything Will Be
Fellow Pynins - Lady Mondegreen
Best Irish Album
Pete Kavanagh - Join Up the Dots
Best Irish reissue
Andy Irvine/Paul Brady
Best UK Folk Album
Concrete Prairie - Concrete Prairie
Best Compilation
Paul Kelly - Time
Best Retrospective
Bobby Allison and Gerry Spehar - Delta Man
Live Gigs
C2C Tour Weekend @ 3Arena, Dublin
Kilkenny Roots Festival
Oh Boy Records Tour @ The Cellar, Dublin
Courtney Marie Andrews @ Liberty Hall, Dublin
Felice Brothers @ Whelan’s, Dublin
Fellow Pynins @ The Cobblestone, Dublin
Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen @ Whelan’s, Dublin
Tenille Townes @ The Workman’s Club, Dublin
The Cowboy Junkies @ NCH, Dublin
Honourable mention also for the Dublin theatre tour of Girl From the North County which ran at the 3Olympia Theatre, in June/July last. It reimagined the legendary songs of Bob Dylan, like you’ve never heard them before and writer and director Conor McPherson received fulsome praise from Dylan himself when the Broadway production opened. Dylan stated that “To be associated with Conor is one of the highlights of my professional life. It goes without saying the man is a genius for putting this thing together and I’m thrilled to be a part of the experience. My songs couldn’t be in better hands.”
EILÍS BOLAND
Albums of the Year
Peter Rowan - Calling You From My Mountain
The Local Honeys
The Slocan Ramblers - Up The Hill and Through the Fog
I Draw Slow
Sunny Sweeney - Married Alone
The Hanging Stars - Hollow Heart
Rayna Gellert & Kieran Kane - The Flowers That Bloom in Spring
Shawn Williams - Wallowin’ in the Night
Dean Owens - Sinner’s Shrine
Something Borrowed, Something New: A tribute to John Anderson
Gigs of the Year
Peggy Seeger - The Home Place, Bellaghy
The Slocan Ramblers - Omagh Bluegrass
The Hanging Stars - Kilkenny Roots
Margo Cilker - Kilkenny Roots
Jesse Dayton - Kilkenny Roots
The Hen House Prowlers - Westport Folk & Bluegrass
The StillHouse Junkies - Westport Folk & Bluegrass
Marty Stuart & his Fabulous Superlatives - London O2
Jason Isbell - The Olympia, Dublin
Billy Strings - O2 Forum, London
Films of the Year
An Cailin Ciuin
Liquorice Pizza
Emily
The Menu
She Said
Elvis
Top Gun
Bones And All
ARTIST’S CHOICES
KRISTINA MURRAY
Right On – Banditos
The best effort yet from one of the most underrated rock bands in the country; this album is sublimely reflective of Banditos diverse sound blending true blue rock-n-roll with blues, country, boogie-woogie, soul, and top-notch songwriting. Plus, it’s just pure fun, from top to bottom. Mary Richardson’s voice is just unreal; be sure to see them live when you can. Favorite Tracks: title track; Waves; Said and Done.
Scoundrel - Sam Burchfield
Had never heard of Sam Burchfield until this record and I am so glad I found him. Reminds me a little of Danny O’Keefe. Interesting songwriting and sonic arrangement; excited to be a new fan of his. Feels like this record has been criminally overlooked by the Americana world and I hope that changes for Sam in 2023. Favorite Tracks: title track; Cold Steel; Sugar Cane.
No Regular Dog - Kelsey Waldon
Another killer record by a long-time friend. Shooter Jennings and Kelsey were a great pair to create this record together; she has honed her sound and writing, and delivers these songs with conviction and, as always, you can hear her great love and reverence for country music. Dig it! Favorite Tracks: Tall and Mighty; Season’s Ending; title track.
Palomino - Miranda Lambert
I’ve been a fan of Miranda since her debut record and I think she just keeps getting better at making albums. Not only does she know how to write, she knows how to curate co-writers and songs that put together classic albums. Some really clever and beautiful lines on this record. Miranda is a hero. Favorite Tracks: That’s What Makes The Jukebox Play; In His Arms.
BOBBY DOVE
In 2022 I scored a Charley Pride record called Charley Pride Gold and the soundtrack to Honeysuckle Rose on vinyl! My friend Charlie Treat based in Nashville put out a great record recently in November 2022 called “Into the Wild Mystic Mountain” - The Sadies released “Colder Streams” album which has the last works of the formative member and one of my inspirations, the late great Dallas Good, and my friend and fellow queer Canadian country artist Mariel Buckley put out “Everywhere I Used to Be”
MICHAEL WESTON KING (My Darling Clementine)
New Albums:
The Delines - The Sea Drift
Margot Cilker - Pohorylle
John Fulbright - The Liar
Kevin Morby - This Is A Photograph
Jessie Buckley and Bernard Butler - For All Our Days That Tear the Heart
Michael Head & the Red Elastic Band - Dear Scott
Bill Callahan - Reality
Arctic Monkeys - The Car
Eliza Carthy - Queen Of The Whirl
Honourable mentions for friend’s album:
Danny George Wilson - Another Place
Kathryn Williams - Night Drives
Dean Owens - Sinners Shrine
Re-issues:
William Bell - Never Like This Before - The Complete ‘Blue’ Stax Singles 1961-1968’ on Ace
Various - The Golden Age Of Peter Bogdanovic on Cherry Red
Various - David Hepworth Deep 70s - Underrated Cuts From a Misunderstood Decade
Rodger Wilhoit - The Social World Of Rodger Wilhoit
Various - You Showed Me - The Songs Of Gene Clark on Ace
Creedence Clearwater Revival - At the Royal Albert Hall, April 14, 1970
Films:
Kurt Vonnegut - Unstuck In Time
Elvis
The Banshees of Inisherin
The Worst Person In The World
EMILY NENNI
Teddy and the Rough Riders - self titled. It’s a great record start to finish. It’s country, it’s rock, and it’s current but there’s something warm and familiar ability it. Produced by Margo Price, she was pretty pregnant at the time and invited me into the vocal booth with her to sing harmonies together. That was pretty special. I’m such a fan of Jack Quiggins and Ryan Jennings songwriting, and it’s engineered by my favorite guy to do it, Jake Davis.
Kelsey Waldon - No Regular Dog. I can’t express how much I admire Kelsey for making music with such integrity, and like her past releases, this record is so true to her. That being said, it’s so relatable. She pays homage to her upbringing and writes with vulnerability and strength. Sweet Little Girl always gives me chills.
Joshua Hedley - Neon Blue. I consider myself to be a honky tonk woman, and this record is another prime example of what makes Josh a honky tonk man. He’s truly keeping traditional country music alive and I love how this record is just as country and western as his debut, Mr. Jukebox, but it’s a twostep through a different decade. And any record with a Roger Miller song on it gets two thumbs up from me.
Erin Rae - Lighten Up. She writes with such compassion and empathy, and her songs are a reflection of how beautiful a person Erin is. Modern Woman and True Love’s Face are just two off the record that hit me hard the first time I listened to them. The world could use a whole lot more people who think about people and understand them like she does.
Orville Peck - Bronco. It’s a beautiful record and these songs brought the house down at the Ryman. I just love the following Orville has; it’s people from all walks of life and a lot of folks you’re not going to see at some country shows. I appreciate what Orville does and how he may turn on non-country loving folks to country music, and shows the honky tonk crowd that fans of the music don’t all look the same. It’s very special.
MARIEL BUCKLEY
Kelsey Waldon - No Regular Dog
I was stoked that Kelsey Waldon and I were releasing music on the same day this year, and this record was a constant staple since its drop in the summer time. A warm, inviting companion with great songs throughout, it plays year-round like an old friend.
Megan Thee Stallion - Traumazine
I’m aware that this probably comes out of left field for some, but this is such a no nonsense, powerful record with undertones of feminism and that underdog spirit I just can’t resist. It fully slaps.
Caitlin Rose - Cazimi
I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s been eagerly awaiting her return to music, but this album is awesome. This album proves her commitment to quirky, thoughtful songwriting and unexpected arrangements, but still full of ear worms and memorable moments.
Teddy & The Roughriders - Self-Titled
This one was a tour-van staple, right up my alley for a roadie with pals or driving to the next cold beer. Female-produced, fun, well-executed, tight and a great listen back-to-back to back. Can’t wait to see this band live!
Skinny Dyck - Palace Waiting
Had to throw props to a fellow Canadian and one of my fav dudes making tunes, this EP may have snuck under a few radars but these 6 songs are near perfect and carry Skinny’s signature laissez-faire panache. He’s one to watch in a big way.
ALMA RUS
River Fool’s & Mountain Saints by Ian Noe
I love the skinny’s pictures he paints. You can see and feel Appalachia so clearly, through haunting and cinematic lenses.
World Without Tears by Lucinda Williams.
This album has always and will always mean a lot to me, so it’s not really unique to this year. Lucinda Williams has been my top artist on Spotify for 2 or 3 years in a row. Her songs feel like old friends to me, raw and real, sexy and serene, and while it’s hard to choose one favorite, this may be my favorite album of hers.
Deprecated by John R. Miller
This album feels so good. I hope and pray that one day I’ll get to see people the way that John R. Miller illustrates them in his songs.
Long Time Coming by Sierra Ferrell
How can one not be on the Sierra Ferrell train? I believe she is probably the best singer in country and Americana music right now.
Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson
I’ve always loved Willie of course, but this past year I got into the habit of listening to this album through. Feels like you’re walking with Willie through the desert.
Pieces of the Sky by Emmylou Harris
Emmylou sings of sadness and longing so beautifully, and this album is my favorite example of that.
The Deslondes by The Deslondes
The Deslondes make me feel like I’m chilling by the Mississippi River on a sweet summer day. Their music is fun and honest.
Strange Country by Kacy & Clayton
This album is dramatic and beautiful. I love her voice.
Viva Terlingua by Jerry Jeff Walker
London Homesick Blues is definitely my favorite track on that one, too.
DEAN OWENS
To be honest I haven’t listened to a lot of new music this past year, but done a lot of revisiting records that I’d either forgotten about or missed first time around. My friends Calexico released a great new record El Mirador. It’s always a good day when a new Calexico record is released into the world. Their records have been the soundtrack to many, many road trips over the years. There are some killer tracks on the new record. The new Gaby Moreno record - Alegoría is beautiful. I’m not picking these records just because both artists feature on my new record Sinner’s Shrine. They’re fab records. Gaby has a stunning voice and there’s a great feel to this new record.
I’ve really enjoyed The Killers new album - Pressure Machine. They’re not a band I’ve listened to much, but a good friend recommended I check it out and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s got an interesting theme running throughout the whole album and there are some killer tunes on there. My friends Neilson Hubbard and Joshua Britt made the video for the track Quiet Town. The War On Drugs record - I Don’t Live Here Anymore is a lovely thing. I always find their music kinda comforting. Their sound has something of the 80’s about it. In a good way. I hear Dylan, The Waterboys and 80’s Springsteen vibes. I enjoyed the new Wilco album - Cruel Country and my buddy Grant Lee Phillips released a cool new record All That You Can Dream.
An album I really fell in love with this year is Talk Talk’s Laughing Stock. I love Mark Hollis and Talk Talk, but never gave this album much of a chance first time around. I have it on vinyl now and it’s a stunning piece of work, as is Mark’s solo album, which I’ve also listened to a lot this past year. I’ve really been enjoying rediscovering David Sylvian’s - Secrets Of The Beehive. A lovely, warm and rich sounding record. I need to get that on vinyl. Another old album that’s been played a lot this year is the beautiful Changing Places by the Tord Gustavsen Trio. This album has accompanied me on many a train journey from my new home in the Scottish Borders up to my beloved Edinburgh, to visit family and friends.
SHAWN WILLIAMS
I’m still digging albums from 2021, so many good releases, but here are my favourites from 2022
The Kills - No Wow (The Tchad Blake Mix)
Ryan Adams - Chris
Ryan Adams - Romeo & Juliet
Wet Leg - Wet Leg
Father John Misty - Chloe
Carson McHone - Still Life
Morgan Wade - Acoustic Sessions
Caroline Spence - True North
RICHARD OLSON (The Hanging Stars)
I’ve never been hip and I never will be. I’m always late to the party and I always leave last as you can clearly see below. So, in no particular order here is some music, old and new, that I’ve enjoyed over this blessed year of 2022.
Night Beats - That’s All You Got (Single 2020)
I’ve always been a latent fan of the Nightbeats ever since my old band supported them at a grotty London venue a good few years back. But this neo garage soul banger has proved to be a reliable and comforting friend during what’s been a challenging year for me.
Farmer Dave Scher - Ocean Eyes (EP 2020)
The Beachwood Sparks multi-instrumentalist dives deep into the Pacific Ocean on this starry eyed, wave crashing beauty of a song that draws from everything west coast to Enya. Perhaps the defining song of the New Spacore Movement. Thanks Curation Records.
Anne Briggs - Blackwater Side (Album 1971)
Anne is a constant companion of mine and should be as celebrated as any Joni or Karen Dalton. As a matter of fact, I’ve always seen her as the UK version of Karen Dalton. But that’s probably a silly thing to say. Her voice makes me feel safe in the knowledge that it’ll all come tumbling down upon us at some point or another. And you know what? That’s cool.
Sylvie - Falls on Me (EP 2021)
Kindred spirits of The Hanging Stars for sure. These guys got the production, songwriting, voices and performance all nailed down in the same barge we also loiter. The fact that they named themselves after an Iain Matthews song only makes me love them more
Spacemen 3 - Playing With Fire (Album 1989)
The first few days being away on our two-week European tour in November I felt out of place and ill at ease. However, medicine was about to be administered in the shape of a lonesome walk through a grey drizzling Hamburg dock with this album in my headphones. Sadness turned to bliss in 46 minutes and 45 seconds.
Barbara Keith - Detroit or Buffalo (Album 1970)
My guiding star at the moment when it comes to discoveries of songs and deep cuts old or new is our friend and main Choogler Bobby Lee who turned me on to this. Everything you ever wanted from a country rock album released in 1970. You do the maths.
AGS CONNOLLY
Discoveries
Derrick McLendon - a superb singer and songwriter from Texas/Louisiana. I find his earthy songs bring Chris Knight and Guy Clark to mind
Richard Inman - Richard is known in the serious Canadian songwriting circles but his lack of online presence meant it took a while for me to encounter his stuff. I’m very glad I did
Greg Brown - I’m sure many will (rightly) scoff at me taking so long to properly hear Greg. Not sure how these songs escaped me before now but his lyrics are great and demand repeated listens.
Rediscoveries
Christopher Cross - yes, that one. ‘Yacht rock’ it may be but I feel dim for not focusing on him before. Songs, voice, chops - it’s all there.
Brooks & Dunn - stuff like this was talked about as being desperate and outdated when I started learning about country music, but in reality these guys had some great songs that were undeniably true country.