New Country and Americana Albums for August 2, 2024: New Music from Kacey Musgraves, Norman Blake, & More

August 2, 2024 3:23 pm

We’ve reached the end of another long work week and the beginning of a new month. Summer rolls on, the temperatures continue to soar, and the new Americana and country albums keep stacking up. This week brought us a stack of new releases from country up-and-comers, bluegrass legends, and much more.

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This is another week that’s not stacked with “big names” however, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing worth spinning in the stack. Kacey Musgraves released the deluxe edition of Deeper Well today. Additionally, there’s a new John Carter Cash-produced Norman Blake record and new music from 49 Winchester and Joe Ely. In short, today is a good day to be a fan of roots music.

Standout Albums

Narrowing this stack of new country and Americana albums to two standout releases isn’t easy to do. There’s a metric ton of talent in the list below. However, Leavin This Holler and Pilgrimage to Rising Fawn are a cut above the rest.

49 Winchester has been doing their thing for a little over a decade at this point. Leavin’ This Holler is a look at how far they’ve come as a band. While they haven’t changed their sound drastically since releasing Fortune Favors the Bold, this new album shows just enough evolution to keep things interesting. At the same time, the album sounds enough like previous releases to make fans happy. In short, they ticked all of the boxes with this one.

Standout Tracks: “Leavin’ This Holler” “Tulsa” “Hillbilly Happy”

Norman Blake is a legendary guitarist. Whether he’s playing folk, bluegrass, old-time, or country music, Blake’s skill on a six-string is nearly unmatched. This collection of old-time and bluegrass tunes is no different. Recorded in Blake’s home with John Carter Cash at the helm, the legendary picker lays the backdrop for ten tracks featuring guest vocalists.

Jamey Johnson, John Carter Cash, Ana Cristina Cash, Carlene Carter, Joseph Cash, Jamie Hartford, and Jerry Douglas appear on the album alongside Blake. In short, this is a perfect album for fans of old-time, bluegrass, and folk music.

Standout Tracks: “Shady Grove” “Georgia on My Mind” “Hi-Eenktum Daddy-O”