Stand in the Joy by William Prince
Stand in the Joy is the kind of album that you can get lost in – Prince’s voice and songs are as soothing as they are poignant. Best listened to with your eyes closed.
Sweet Anhedonia by Ben de la Cour
Sweet Anhedonia is richly textured and darkly beautiful. It is filled with characters fighting through disappointment and hardscrabble lives, all brought to life via the warmth and earnestness of de la Cour’s voice.
Boomerang Town by Jaimee Harris
From the depths of the songwriting to the emotion of the performances, Boomerang Town has a maturity that makes it hard to believe that it is only Harris’ sophomore album.
Death Wish Blues by Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton
Two noteworthy guitar slingers – one from Kansas City (Fish) and one from Texas (Dayton) – team up for a rousing dose of blues and fierce rock and roll.
Should’ve Learned By Now by Lucero
The Memphis rockers mine their archives – and demonstrate how deep those archives are – with this collection of gritty rock and roll. Meant to be played loud.
Loser on the Ropes by Brian Dunne
Dunne’s character-driven songs are both earnest and weathered, delivered with an organic production quality that calls to mind vintage Big Star – never a bad thing.
End of the World by Wild Child
Lyrically sharp and musically soulful, Austin’s Wild Child explore complicated – and often fractured – relationships on this intoxicating pop album.
Somebody’s Child by Somebody’s Child
Cian Godfrey – aka Somebody’s Child – introduces himself with a glorious blast of electric guitars and soaring melodies. Although it was released in February, these songs make for a mighty summer soundtrack.
Further On: The Songs of Billy Conway by Various Artists
The late percussionist Billy Conway wasn’t known as a songwriter but nonetheless quietly amassed a magical collection of songs. Upon his passing, a group of friends and former musical collaborators gathered to celebrate his life by recording a number of them.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.