Here are this week’s five songs worth listening to.

John Paul White–The Good Old Days

This is the lead track off John Paul’s second solo album since The Civil Wars (apropos name?) split. This album is very Marty Stuart-esque. And that works for me. I am just now getting to this album, released last year. This one and a duet with Lee Ann Womack are my favorites so far.

What's so good about the goold old days?

Maybe nostalgia isn’t undefeated after all.

Sideline–Return To Windy Mountain

Next up is some bluegrass from Sideline. This one paints the coal-miner vagabond lifestyle in a song. Or, a Weez Sweet Spot. Sideline has been kicking around for 20 years, a six-piece traditional machine.

As my old buddy Harely would say, that’s some mighty fine pickin’.

Sideline–Thunder Dan

Yeah, we are doubling up on some bluegrass from Sideline. The above led me next to Thunder Dan, which won the 2019 IBMA Song of the Year, even if it was released in 2018. Plus, murder ballad. Remember kids, Ralph Stanley killed more people in song than Ice T ever did.

The Cleverlys–No Diggity

This is a Youtube rabbit hole discovery from playing the above two. I didn’t know I needed a bluegrass cover of No Diggity, but now that I have heard it, I have no idea how I didn’t know I needed a bluegrass cover of No Diggity. I have no idea how this has been a thing since 2016 and just now entering my world.

In the same realm of The Gourds’ Gin & Juice. Parody covers are these guys’ specialty.

William Prince–Always Have What We Had

A Native American from Winnipeg with a voice just north of Colter Wall. Prince just put out his second solo album, working with my boy Dave Cobb. The full album comes out Feb. 7. Video has a short intro explaining the song.

We’ll be back with five more next week. Until then, remember the immortal words…
“Songs are really just interesting things to be doing with the air.” Tom Waits