Officially Declaring May 19th a Country Music Holiday

Attention all you card carrying members of the country music community, by the power vested in me, I am officially declaring May 19th, 2023 an official country music holiday due to the excessive amount of important and anticipated album releases, with all the rights and privileges thereof. This deceleration is considered legal tender, and can be presented to any authority public or private to play hooky from school, work, or other obligations.
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives – Altitude

There may not be any other artist in the last decade or more who has more actively participated in the effort to save country music than Marty Stuart. From his preservation efforts through his forthcoming Congress of Country Music, to his collaborative efforts with other artists, to his own original music, Marty Stuart embodies everything about preserving the true roots of country music as a self-described radical preservationist.
Picking up where Marty’s last album Way Out West released in 2017 left off, Altitude will explore the foray of The Byrd’s into country music through their album Sweetheart of the Rodeo. It was during Marty’s Stuart’s stint supporting surviving Byrds members and co-founders Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman on their 50th Anniversary tour of the album that Marty Stuart found his inspiration for Altitude. (read more)
Chapel Hart – Glory Days – May 19th

This classic country trio from Mississippi comprised of sisters Danica and Devynn Hart, and first cousin Trea Swindle have been lighting the world on fire, and riding a wave of momentum after receiving a “Golden Ticket” on America’s Got Talent, and competing in the finals. Luckily they didn’t win. That’s how you know they’re real. And now their readying their latest album that includes a track Loretta Lynn requested herself after seeing their AGT audition.
“‘Welcome to Fist City’ feels like 1968 revamped to right now,” shares Danica. “I really believe Ms. Loretta would’ve been so proud! I’d like to believe the generation who laid the foundation just wants to know that they are leaving country music in capable hands, and my prayer is that we are doing just that. I hope we are making them proud!”
Brandy Clark – Self-Titled

Brandy Clark is one of the most critically-acclaimed country songwriters of our generation, garnering nine Grammy nominations among other accolades, and is a stellar singer and performer to boot. Now she’ll be making another run for critical acclaim when she releases her new self-titled album produced by fellow Pacific Northwest native Brandi Carlisle.
“This album is a return home to me in many ways,” says Brandy Clark. “Musically it’s the rawest I’ve been since ’12 Stories’ and maybe even rawer. When Brandi and I sat down and talked about working together, one thing that really intrigued me was her saying ‘I see it as your return to the Northwest.’ (read more)
Whitney Rose – Rosie

Canada’s country music honky-tonk sweetheart became all of North America’s honky-tonk sweetheart when she moved down to Austin, TX and started a residency at the city’s famed Continental Club. But grave health concerns caused Rose to have to move back to Canada to convalesce at home. The last couple of years have been tough for Whitney, but she has persevered to produce Rosie.
“I am not excitedly checking my various tour schedules to see what cities are being added to support the record. Release day will find me at home resting, and this is where I’ll be indefinitely or until Doc gives me the okay to work again. After ignoring my body while in constant pain for a number of months, I was hospitalized in December 2022. I’m still in recovery but am focusing solely on getting better, and it seems to be paying off thus far. Right now, I know two things for certain: I am proud of these songs, and I have no idea what tomorrow will bring. Hell, who does?”
Ben Danaher – Resurrection

Texas native Ben Danaher has been kicking around as a singer and songwriter for some years now, moving from Austin to Nashville after his brother was murdered and his dad died of Cancer. But through the songs of his new album Resurrection that he’s been releasing intermittently for a while now and the live shows he’s been performing, Danaher has found a renewed level of praise and attention the precedes the release of Resurrection produced by Sean McConnell.
Along with co-writers such as Allen Shamblin, Bonnie Bishop, and Adam Wright, Ben Danaher is releasing an album that has his songwriting peers fawning over his writing and performance. This is one to not overlook.
Nicholas Jamerson – Peace Mountain

Not only is Nicholas Jamerson’s band Sundy Best releasing a new album Feel Good Country on February 3rd, Jamerson is also releasing a solo album, with the title track featuring Charles Wesley Godwin out now, along with two other tracks. It is the followup to Jamerson’s previous album The Wild Frontier.
“’The Wild Frontier’ was about finding faith; whereas ‘Peace Mountain’ is about practicing faith and making peace with life, trusting that the work has been done, and enjoying the process,” says Jamerson. Peace Mountain will be his 6th studio album overall.
Ward Davis – Sunday Morning EP

We learned with his four-song EP for 2018 called Asunder to not take an EP release from Ward David lightly. And when his last studio album Black Cats and Crows won Saving Country Music’s Album of the Year in 2020, to take anything Ward Davis touches seriously, even if he downplays it himself.
“It’s not much. 4 songs,” Davis says. “I wrote two with co-writers, one by myself, and the fourth is a James Taylor cover. The songs themselves mean more to me than the actual project, especially one called ‘Goodbye, World.’ Now, before you jump to any conclusions, let me tell you. It’s sad as fuck. I wrote it back during covid times, in the days after my friend Randy Byford took his life. Randy was a bolt of lightening in my world. Like, every minute was a huge laugh. Every minute was a huge adventure. And all along the way, he impressed upon me so much about life and love and what’s important, he was just one of those people who was there just long enough to weave himself into who you are, then gone forever. Like, The Gambler, but on a longer train to nowhere.”
Layng Martine Jr. – Music Man
For the first release from the revamped Bloodshot Records, Nashville Songwriter Hall of Famer Layng Martine Jr. is releasing Music Man in collaboration with his son, engineer/producer Tucker Martine. It’s being released in conjunction with the label Kill Rock Stars. Bill Frisell, k.d. lang, Peter Buck of R.E.M. and more contribute to the project. Now 81 years old, Layng Martine Jr. wrote songs for Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Reba McEntire, Pam Tillis, Kathy Mattea, and Ray Stevens among others.
Music Man is said to have a vintage vibe like you’re listening to recordings from the 70s lost in time and reissued by Bear Family Records. It was recorded at Portland, OR studio Flora Recording and Playback by Layng Martine Jr.’s son as a Christmas gift to his father.
Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton – Death Wish Blues
Don’t expect this one to be country. But definitely expect it to be wild, rambunctious, and loud. Recorded during an intense 10 day recording session in Woodstock, NY with the legendary Jon Spencer, this will be a blues explosion paring one blues’ premier badasses with a dude who played guitar behind Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash.
“It was always a big deal when Jesse came through town to a play a show—we first met when I was 20, and I kept up with him through the years,” says Samantha Fish. “I’d been wanting to do a collaborative project for a while and went to see Jesse perform in New Orleans, and right away I knew he was the guy. We got together and had this vision of making something of an alt-blues record, but it turned out to be so much more exciting and layered than I ever imagined.”
Other Releases:
Milk Carton Kids – I Only See The Moon
Robert Ellis – Yesterday’s News
Rodney Rice – Self-Titled
Leftover Salmon – Grass Roots (jamgrass, covers)
Jaye Madison – Mirror: Vision
Brian Beken – New Geography
Madelyn Read – Concrete Country
Raul Malo – Say Less (solo, instrumental)
May 18, 2023 @ 9:51 am
I cannot wait to hear all of the new album from Brandy Clark!!!!!
May 18, 2023 @ 9:55 am
“This deceleration is considered legal tender, and can be presented to any authority public or private to play hooky from school, work, or other obligations.”
Honestly Trigger, you are just too darn cute sometimes with your enthusiasm.
Think you meant to type, This declaration.
Autocorrect probably “corrected” this to, deceleration.
But, thanks for the laugh and smiles
May 18, 2023 @ 10:25 am
I’m deceleratin’ already and it’s only Thursday!
May 18, 2023 @ 10:46 am
Laughing …
May 18, 2023 @ 8:05 pm
“by the power invested in me”
Should be vested in me. Common mistake.
May 18, 2023 @ 10:23 am
I know how annoying these requests can be, but curious if the Parker McCollumn album is on the upcoming review list. I’ve liked your prior reviews of his albums, and am very interested in how you’d grade his latest effort (esp. compared to his early stuff and to his new peers in the mainstream).
May 18, 2023 @ 10:55 am
It’s in the listening rotation and being considered for review. Thanks for the interest.
May 18, 2023 @ 10:26 am
Ha ha my boss gave me the day off today. Looks like he celebrates it as well
May 18, 2023 @ 11:13 am
Come on dude, intrigued to read your review of the new McCollum album!
May 18, 2023 @ 11:45 am
Ward doesn’t get enough credit. Looking forward to new music from him.
May 18, 2023 @ 12:00 pm
Looking forward to finally getting another Ben Danaher album. Still Feel Lucky was supremely underrated
May 18, 2023 @ 12:02 pm
It’s ironic that Raul Malo, with his amazing voice, is releasing an instrumental album! I’m a long time fan of the Raul and the Mavericks, and will be adding this album to my gotta-buy list.
As an aside, I was able to meet Layng Martine Jr in 1999 on a Nashville Songwriters trek to WASHDC to lobby Congress about songwriter’s royalties. During our walk between buildings, I asked Layng how he was able to maintain all of his royalties for his Elvis Presley hit “Way Down.” Colonel Parker was notorious about getting a royalty percentage (and sometimes a writing credit for Elvis) from songs before allowing Elvis to record the submitted material. Layng allowed he was astonished that the song was cut by Elvis without a request for a piece of the writer or publishing share. Apparently the song went directly to Elvis’ producer and bypassed the Colonel. I told Layng that I thought the song offered a return to form for Elvis and I was happy it was hit for him. We both smiled at the serendipity.
I’ve already preordered the Marty Stuart “Altitude” album. It’s gonna be fantastic!
May 18, 2023 @ 12:12 pm
I was also wondering about one of the best voices alive doing an instrumental album. Should be interesting.
Let the world Go By is a great song, Layng also has an autobiography on Amazon that was a very good read. He lead quite the life.
May 19, 2023 @ 1:24 am
I didn’t know that Malo has any aspirations as a player. He does play an electric guitar when he performs with the Mavericks, but I’ve never seen him focus on that or play any guitar solos.
Dale Watson did a good all-instrumental album two years ago, but that was to showcase his band, the Memphians
May 18, 2023 @ 12:33 pm
Ward Davis!! not much else jumping out at me.
May 19, 2023 @ 7:19 am
Ward delivers as usual. A great little introspective EP to go with my Friday morning coffee. The quality of his songwriting never ceases to amaze me.
May 18, 2023 @ 3:19 pm
It’s also Harry and Meghan’s fifth anniversary. Rumor has it their anniversary song is “She got the Gold Mine (I got the shaft)” by Jerry Reed
May 18, 2023 @ 4:47 pm
I won’t be celebrating this holiday.
May 19, 2023 @ 7:23 am
It is the equivalent of Arbor Day or National Indigenous People Day as a holiday.
May 18, 2023 @ 7:44 pm
Marty is the king currently so it’s a valid holiday. The inbred jeds that ignore the holiday can have fun with family members.
May 18, 2023 @ 7:48 pm
Samantha Fish is just an incredible blues woman. Just a fabulous guitar player.
May 19, 2023 @ 7:03 am
And Samantha Fish is a MUCH BETTER, meaner guitar player than Jason Isbell.
In fact, Isbell wouldn’t want to share a stage with Samantha Fish.
Would be like watching Johnny Depp share a stage with his wonderful friend, Jeff Beck, last October.
Jeff Beck had us absolutely mesmerized.
Johnny came on & we were all delighted to see him, but there was no comparing the two in talent.
So much fun to have worked that show and been right at the stage, for an hour.
Beck had us all, from the first strike of his guitar.
And the female with his band that night, smoked the heck out of her guitar, as well. Think she used to play for Prince?
She was phenomenal.
Think Nancy Wilson, phenomenal …….
Ok, So Now we’re talking guitar players!
Tab Benoit is a monster guitar player, & the man also plays a mean pedal steel,
As in Real Cajun country.
Real By God, Country!
Saying that, reverently and with respect to The Lord.
Tab Benoit
Buddy Guy
Samantha Fish
Marty Stuart
Vince Gill
May 19, 2023 @ 12:22 am
And on my birthday, no less!
May 19, 2023 @ 7:46 am
Happy birthday! Have a wonderful day!
May 19, 2023 @ 2:56 am
I have only heard of a couple of these artists, and after trying to listen to Stuart and Clark’s albums and sampling the others that I have never heard of, it’s all just a huge NO for me.
May 19, 2023 @ 3:07 am
…sent the idea to the boss informing him that i’ll be back monday. have a guess what the answer was?
May 19, 2023 @ 5:37 am
Trigger I wish I had your enthusiasm but none of today’s new releases are hitting it for me. :/
More like a minor holiday where you still gotta go to work.
May 19, 2023 @ 6:23 am
Been looking forward to Whitney Roses’ new album. It doesn’t disappoint. After a bit of an Americana turn with her last album, Whitney is back to her roots with a more country/honky tonk sound that is right up there with her best.
Would have preferred a new album from Ward Davis, but this mini gospel EP is pretty good for now.
Haven’t given Brandy Clark’s new album a complete listen to yet, but what I’ve heard so far I like. Much prefer this “rawest” version of Brandy. Hope she stays in the raw lane in the future.
Been a fan of Samantha Fish for a long time, though I prefer her older stuff. The Fish/Dayton combo is a strange one. The only song I’ve heard so far sounds pretty much like Fish’s other output from the last couple years. I’ll have to check out the rest of this album and some of the others listed here.
Thanks for the release updates.
May 19, 2023 @ 7:49 am
I’m listening to the Marty Stuart now and it sounds really, really clean. I’m not a musician. I don’t know how to explain it. I’m making a note to listen to the Ben Danaher. I’m not familiar with his work but I’ve seen a lot of people I respect in the Texas scene post about him.
May 19, 2023 @ 7:49 am
Thanks as always for bringing new releases to the radar, Trig. Will continue to emphasize how many fantastic artists I’ve discovered over the years because of their highlights here.
Anxious to give these a listen. Started with Chapel Hart this morning – admittedly, I hadn’t heard of the group before – but not my thing after a full listen through. Didn’t care for it at all but wanted to give it a full listen to see if something clicked. Not for me but that’s the beauty of so much music coming out is people can find what’s in their wheelhouse. Keep up the good work, Trig!
May 19, 2023 @ 7:51 am
Oh great. A new Fabulous Superlatives album. Marty and Kenny making me realize I’m a complete hack on guitar. Back to the garage I suppose…????
Been really looking forward to “Altitude”. Those guys are such remarkable musicians.
May 19, 2023 @ 12:16 pm
Money is a bit tight at the moment but I already pre-ordered the Brandy Clark one — looking forward to that and Sparks’ ‘The Girl is Crying in Her Latte’ (due out next Friday). 🙂
May 20, 2023 @ 6:17 am
New Whitney Rose is superb. Best album I’ve heard in a while.