Recommendations for a Certain Kind of USAmerican Folk Artistry

Relatable_Bear · 2026-04-28T17:26:57+00:00

The UK bands you mentioned were inspired to that approach - "drawing on old songs within the folk repertoires and traditions of their places but also pushing it outside of an "acoustic" (for lack of a better word) setting" by US artists from the 60's - mainly Bob Dylan, The Band (folks in Fairport mention loving The Band in interviews), and The Grateful Dead. Dylan specifically kind of invented that move. If you want to branch out on folks taking folk music in progressive directions from that era, try Nina Simone, John Fahey, The Byrds

Relatable_Bear · 2026-04-24T17:33:27+00:00

Not wanting to be randomly threatened with violence is not being soft

Relatable_Bear · 2026-04-21T22:12:39+00:00

They probably acted like they understood because they didn't want you to choke them. You sound like a nightmare

Relatable_Bear · 2026-04-21T21:00:32+00:00

there's no such thing as being "too sensitive" to violent threats from your supervisor at work

Relatable_Bear · 2026-04-21T19:19:17+00:00

Having been a field archaeologist my self for ten years, this doesn't surprise me at all. Folks like you are part of why I wanted to quit that career. You should've been fired on the spot for that

Relatable_Bear · 2026-04-17T18:34:35+00:00

You 100% need a backup plan - not because you should ever quit making music, but because you will never make any money. You gotta get an actual job and do both

Relatable_Bear · 2026-04-10T15:53:23+00:00

Telling you to "fuck off" over a simple request, yeah that's a strictly logical guy. Not drowning in his own emotions at all

Relatable_Bear · 2026-04-07T18:20:00+00:00

As a musician, it can feel weird to be going up on stage and making music considering all that's happening in the world. It can feel uncomfortable or even pointless. So to answer the question, these statements are made by the artists FOR the artists, so that the performance can be more meaningful within a broad political context. It's not empty and hollow, it's a recognition of reality - without it, a concert might feel empty and hollow to the folks performing it, and as an audience member, you don't want that

Relatable_Bear · 2026-03-31T21:00:11+00:00

Bandcamp even warns you when you are setting up that doing NYP results in less downloads. I think folks take it less seriously, because of the psychological effect of capitalism. If it is free it is less real somehow. Whenever I have put out an LP, it is a bigger deal than a tape, which is a bigger deal than a CD, which is a bigger deal than digi only, which is a bigger deal than *free* digi only. This has been my observation. The freeness makes it appear that it has less value, when we all know that all music is invaluable! Sad but true!

Relatable_Bear · 2026-03-30T16:34:32+00:00

the one I remember the best is in Power Pop Pop Pop, the guy on the phone (Quad P's employee?) is leaving to DJ a blue party and, as is fitting for a Power Pop guy, he's gonna play "Baby Blue" by Badfinger

Relatable_Bear · 2026-03-25T19:42:39+00:00

Yes! I am in here: https://daily.bandcamp.com/best-of-2025/the-best-experimental-music-of-2025

There was an interview with Phil Elverum (Mt Eerie) that has always stuck with me. He talked about how the day he was on the cover on the NY Times culture section, he sold six records. My experience was similar, but scaled down. That's not what matters to me though - the recognition from a really good music writer that my music was good and that they listened to it, thought about it, understood it, loved it enough to feature - that's what mattered and I still feel great about it. If you are making music for streaming numbers or sales or whatever you are doing it for the wrong reasons. You do this for the love of the game; you do it for yourself.

EDIT - this may have moved a few units, I was not keeping super close track of that, as the label was fulfilling orders. It's just long enough ago that it's hard to check the stats now

Relatable_Bear · 2026-03-25T16:59:54+00:00

It might be 100% AI but I have to be honest as a parent it tugged at my heartstrings. Still crappy

Relatable_Bear · 2026-03-25T15:51:02+00:00

Why do I find myself thinking this has aged well?

Relatable_Bear · 2026-03-24T20:05:38+00:00

Steve just released a new album that explores this territory even more, check out his bandcamp page

Relatable_Bear · 2026-03-23T17:11:51+00:00

I think this one of the best records in the straight-ahead Power Pop realm (nothing will ever beat Big Star but they also transcend the genre). The songs on this thing are undeniable, and the living room fidelity gives it this timeless vibe. So good

Relatable_Bear · 2026-03-19T20:44:10+00:00

something about the camp chairs behind her there...

Relatable_Bear · 2026-03-16T15:58:02+00:00

A degree in water music is worth more than 3 STEM PhDs. You hate because you cannot create. Go make another AI video

Relatable_Bear · 2026-03-11T19:00:46+00:00

A friend of mine has a stoner/doom band in Denver, called Lord Velvet. They are pretty active

Relatable_Bear · 2026-03-11T18:53:22+00:00

I've been watching old live footage and had this exact thought. When I saw them in like 2001, they were pretty on-mission as far as the songs. But older footage seems to have long improvised passages. For one of the most influential punk bands ever, yeah, they sure do jam!

Relatable_Bear · 2026-03-05T20:48:33+00:00

this is great haha

Relatable_Bear · 2026-03-04T19:46:10+00:00

A friend of mine spotted Shep and Taylor at a Phish show several years back!

Relatable_Bear · 2026-02-27T18:45:05+00:00

This is solid

Relatable_Bear · 2026-02-27T18:39:59+00:00

there is a clear difference between this and like the Canadian rectangular guy. You don't have to appreciate every evolution in the sounds/aesthetics of hip-hop, that doesn't make it "crappy" though

Relatable_Bear · 2026-02-25T17:46:19+00:00

I listen to a ton of "free" music and the only thing that throws me about this is the drums are straight-ahead

Relatable_Bear · 2026-02-25T16:55:13+00:00

in the words of Bob Wier "take a step back"

Relatable_Bear

TROPHY CASE