The Best Roots Music Albums of 2023

So far!

I contributed to No Depression’s list of best roots music albums of 2023 so far. It was fun! But…most of the albums I chose didn’t end up on the final list alas.

So I figured I’d share my own personal list. It’s from 10th best to bestest best. Enjoy!

10. Jess Williamson—Time Ain't Accidental

Jess Williamson’s wistful, horny travelogue sidles up to various Jonis and Emmylous before picking up that drum machine and heading towards its own hippie highway.

9. The War and the Treaty—Lover’s Game

Country blues? Country gospel? Country R&B? The War and The Treaty is all of those. They sing like they’re going to burn down every genre they can get to.

8. Various Artists—Fish & Poi: Hawaiian Independent 78rpm Discs ca. 1945-56

Ian Nagoski’s Canary Records is an essential reissue label that explores the byways of lost American traditions. Like all his discs, this collection of Hawaiian independent discs is essential.

7. Samantha Fish and Jesse Drayton—Death Wish Blues

Fish and Dayton’s country blues thrusts up against rockabilly, funk, and hair metal, and leaves them all filthier than it found them.

6. Infinity Crush—sestinas

Caroline White’s languid dream pop folk is all hazy longing and poetic effervescence. I wish a label would pick her up.

5. Shania Twain—Queen of Me

Twain’s return was largely ignored, but with a roughened voice her resolutely inauthentic country pop arguably sounds better than ever. “Giddy Up!” lodges in your hind brain like an ABBA hook, and even a backhoe won’t get it out.

4. Sunny War—Anarchist Gospel

Profane political singalong folk blues; a soundtrack for revolution.

3. Luther Davis & Hus Caudill —Old-Time Galax-Style Twin Fiddling

Old time sawing by two Virginia fiddlers; so raw and lovely it’s painful.

2.Lankum—False Lankum

Irish freak folk weirdos release another album of dark traditional ballads and mystic noise. Of course they named a reel after the English occultist.

1. Various Artists—Ears of the People: Ekonting Songs from Senegal and the Gambia

The Ekonting is an instrument similar to the banjo, and this is a stunning album of contemporary performances. As I said in my No Depression review, “a joyful collection, highlighting a musical tradition distant enough to provoke wonder and familiar enough to love.