List making is a proven way to reduce anxiety, exert some control over the uncontrollable and to create manufactured chaos among music fans (“You think that’s the best album of the 90s?!?”). It’s also just a good way to organize information, especially when it gets unruly. That’s what happened when we started looking ahead at albums and EP’s dropping this fall by amazing Nashville artists. The list was insane and it kept growing. Probably by the time we publish this, five more will be added but here’s what we know right now.
We’re sidestepping any compulsion to rank these a la John Cusack in High Fidelity and have simply gathered releases we’re most looking forward to with album info, shows and even some speculation. Consider this your handy listening, shopping and show going guide for the busy musical months ahead.
Hovvdy “Big World” (Arts and Crafts)
Aug. 14
Upcoming Shows: Nov. 20 & 21, The Blue Room
This marks the first release since the Austin duo officially relocated to Nashville. Their sixth studio album was recorded between Music City and Asheville, NC and comes out on the influential Canadian indie Arts and Crafts.
Melaina Kol “Okay that’s a great idea because if I do that then” (Julia’s War)
Aug. 14
Originally from North Carolina, Logan Hornyak (who releases music under the name Melaina Kol, which means “Black Bile”) has made Music City home for several years and has been part of its indie/shoegaze/experimental scene. He’s also connected to the blazing hot indie scene in Philadelphia leading to his signing to They Are Gutting a Body of Water associated label Julia’s War.
lambchop “Punching the Clown” (Merge)
Aug. 21
The elder statesman of Nashville indie musicians, Kurt Wagner has been steadily releasing gorgeous and intriguing recordings as lambchop with a rotating group of musicians since the 90’s and his latest may be one of the best of his career. Recorded at April Base, the studio of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and produced by Ryan Olson (Poliça, Dua Saleh) it features Vernon on banjo alongside a six piece choir on songs born from Wagner’s fascination with an old call and response church music called “lined out singing.”
Brennan Wedl “Brennan Wedl” (Anti)
Aug. 21
Upcoming Shows: Sept. 18, Americana Fest
WNXP first began playing Wedl as an unsigned artist almost three years ago and continued as she was briefly signed to Kill Rock Stars. After Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield shouted out her song “Two Dollar Pistol,” Katie’s sister Allison signed Wedl to the legendary Anti- records and set her up to record with famed producer Brad Cook (Big Red Machine, Kevin Morby).
Alabama Shakes “I Must Be Dreaming” (Island)
Aug. 28
Yes, we know most of the band do not live in Nashville, but we’ll take pride in having part-time resident Brittany Howard until we’re told otherwise. A tremendous return for the band who had been dormant since 2015.
Josh Rouse “Museums and Women” (New West)
Aug. 28
Longtime “Americana” crooner Josh Rouse is back with his first album on the Nashville-based New West. Americana is in quotes because Rouse has always balked at the label, and rightfully so, but it seems the once-narrowly defined sound is opening up to artists who cite Spanish pop and 80’s jangle as influences.
Hannah Cole “Switchbacks” (Tight Knit)
Aug. 28
Upcoming Shows: Aug. 21, The Blue Room
Louisiana Native Cole made “Switchbacks” with her longtime collaborator and partner Josef Kuhn (aka Nickname Jos) and was “aided by” Sonny Diperri (Wisp, Julie). Cole’s effortlessly cool and catchy melodies fit perfectly with Kuhn’s production and the shoegaze blast that seems to have been brought by Diperri.
Medium Build “King of Having Fun” (Island)
Sept. 4
Upcoming Shows: Nov. 20, Brooklyn Bowl
We don’t want to unreasonably mantle Medium Build with a heavy crown, but he’s emerged as one of the finest storytellers — both in song and onstage between them — of his generation. His ability to be heartfelt without being corny and insightful without getting preachy puts him in line with masters like John Prine and Todd Snider.
Joy Oladokun “Hope is a Heavy Thing” (Concord)
Sept. 25
Upcoming Shows: Nov. 19, Ryman
After a publicly difficult breakup with her last label and nearly stepping away from being an artist, Oladokun is thankfully back and hasn’t missed a beat. Recent standalone tracks had primarily been more stripped down and acoustic but an early listen to “Hope is a Heavy Thing” reveals beats and samples alongside her mellifluous melodies.
Josh Gilligan “Sideways” (Congrats)
Oct. 23
Upcoming Shows: Sept. 25, The Blue Room
A favorite of fellow artists Medium Build and Paramore’s Zac Farro (not to mention WNXP), Gilligan has made the kind of records that deserve a much wider audience, and if the first two singles for his Congrats records debut are any indication, this might be the release that makes it happen.
Dori Valentine (Concord)
TBD
Signed to Pulse records, most famous for “Million Dollar Baby” singer Tommy Richman and alt-pop artist Grace VanderWaal, Valentine doesn’t really fit either profile. A starting point might be Phoebe Bridgers. An easy connection thanks to Valentine’s work with Bridgers’ former producer Tony Berg. The Texas native also fits neatly with the growing scene of indie-pop crossover artists who call Nashville home. She released an EP earlier this year and continues to drop singles which we can only assume means a debut of some sort is coming soon.
Also coming soon (we hope)
Cage the Elephant
Kings of Leon
Emma Ogier (Lost Highway)
Mercury (Big Loud Rock)
Tre Burt (Oh Boy)
