Crucial Releases: middle of June edition

I was just about to throw in the towel and put out a "no featured release" post, as I was struggling to find something exciting in the last couple new music release weeks. I had a lot of high hopes, particularly with the new HAIM album and Hotline TNT (which I had really high hopes for... given their last album Cartwheel was #6 on my 2023 favorites list.) Both of those had some really high moments, but neither reached my lofty expectations.

That was until I listened to S.G. Goodman's Planting by the Signs (Listen), which quickly won me over with the kind of alt-country I like.. great story telling, maybe a touch more indie rock and singer-songwriter than you'd usually get from a standard country record... and just a whole bunch of authenticity and realness.

I was familiar with S.G. Goodman through her last record, Teeth Marks (Listen), released in 2022... which made my honorable mentions list when I put together my best of 2022 list. This new album is on another level in my opinion...

For this album Goodman set the theme of the songs on Planting by the Signs around a southern/rural tradition - "how planting a garden, or weaning a baby, or getting a haircut are best timed in accordance with the cycle of the moon." Which she thought was interesting, as a counterbalance to the technology obsessed society we live in today.

She hits all the right notes in my opinion: her storytelling is top notch, her voice is just pitch perfect for the genre, and as I said above, the music combines the best of alt-country/Americana with indie rock and singer-songwriter. Such a talented musical force that I only hope more people take a chance on... she should be huge, for sure. Opening tours for Tyler Childers and Jason Isbell will certainly help too. I can't imagine a better pairing, audience-wise.

Favorite tracks: "Satellite", "I'm in Love", "Snapping Turtle", "Heaven Song", and "Planting by the Signs"

Planting by the Signs by S.G. Goodman

-> Shop | Bandcamp

Stream

Honorable Mentions

Raspberry Moon by Hotline TNT (Listen)

I quit by Haim (Listen)

VICTORY by Slick Rick (Listen)

Anything glass by Common Holly (Listen)

Test of the Iron Mind by Iron Mind (Listen)

Very Human Features by The Bug Club (Listen)

SOGOLO by WITCH (Listen)

do it afraid by Yaya Bey (Listen)

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