Put a Record On: Early Holiday Week Edition

Did you know the Ting Tings pivoted to Americana?

It’s Thanksgiving week here in the US, and we’ll be checking out for a few days to rest, eat things and spend time with family. Which means the weekly Put a Record on Picks are coming your way early! Our running playlist makes great fuel for a long drive - though you have to subscribe to get access to that and all our new (and old) music picks and pans, and so much more — including new playlists weekly, which are always at the bottom of this email (paying subscribers — make sure you don’t miss them!). If you’re interested in paid content but not able to afford it, shoot us an email. Anyway, on to the picks…

Ramona and the Holy Smokes

The Good

Til It's Over, Ramona and the Holy Smokes: We've been Ramona heads for a minute here over at DRTI — "I Honky Tonked Too Hard Last Night," one of the best country tunes of the decade so far, gets in my head almost weekly. Incredible band name, great new-old sound, fun smart songs; it's a wonderful combo. Now, they're crowdfunding their debut album (!). I want to hear it and I bet you will too, so get over there and pledge so we can get some more classic two-stepping tracks! — NW

“Freight Train of Trouble,” Frankie Ballard: I’ve long been a fan of Frankie Ballard – or, rather, I saw a lot of promise in an artist who was, with fair reason, often thrown in the pile amongst other bro contemporaries, because his personality (retro Detroit rock & roll vibe) and ace guitar skills just weren’t coming across as they should in his studio albums. On his new three-song EP, Dirty Church Clothes, it feels like he’s finally hitting that stride – “Freight Train of Trouble” is probably my favorite of the collection, a bluesy country-rock romp that finally gets where it feels like he’s been trying to travel all along. - MM

“Blue Mind,” Tess Liautaud: Love the rootsy Liz Phair/Sheryl Crow vibes on this song! A favorite new find. - MM

Butcher Holler, Eilen Jewell: Pretty sure not much more needs to be said than "Eilen Jewell Loretta tribute album." Loose, skillful renditions of these country classics, all rendered totally modern by Jewell's emotive, understated but still remarkable singing. — NW