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Singer/songwriter singles

Someone told me that singer/songwriters are out of fashion right now. Independent Clauses is always here to support those who feel they’re out of fashion. Here’s 10 singer/songwriter (/folk/alt-country/-ish) tracks I’m loving right now.

1. “God’s Country” – Thomas Dollbaum. Damien Jurado has an outsized place in my personal musical history, and so anyone who’s on his wavelength is on my good list. Dollbaum’s deliciously mopey voice and loosely-held-together indie rock is on that wavelength. Highly recommended.

2. “Light of Dawn” – Riches. Beautiful pastoral folk with an expansive approach: the vistas seem to sweep out before the listener. The high-pitched vocals add a unique touch to the arrangement.

3. “Sit Shiva” – Gabriel Kahane. Grief, family, religion, history, technology, and more in a delicate folk framework that would make Paul Simon and Joshua Radin equally happy.

4. “Mrs. Dixon” – Keston Cobblers Club. Langhorne Slim fans will find the jaunty-despite-tragedy vibe here much to their liking. Bits of Beatles and even Mumford and Sons float in and out about the meticulous yet casual arrangement.

5 “Heaven and Light” – River Whyless. A charming folk-pop tune with tabla percussion and vibes for days.

6. “Vampira” – Grace Joyner. This song may be about the real Vampira, but I’m willing to bet there’s a friend Grace Joyner is singing to. This specific type of grief (watching a friend suffer) is given a fittingly gutwrenching indie-pop track, whether it’s a ’50s star or a friend. Grace Joyner’s voice, even multitracked and autotuned, is just wonderful.

7. “Soft Attraction” – Knuckle Pups. Did you like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah in 2007? Did you like The Yellow Dress in 2014? Are you sad that this specific type of dour indie rock is not really in favor? Welcome to the Knuckle Pups bandwagon, friends. There are plenty of us here.

8. “and you’ve got nobuddy” – Evan J Cartwright. This sort of hi-fi, intimate, feathery, spartan work calls to mind Florist. This is searing and endearing: immediately resonant and yet still with depth.

9. “Lost in the Fog” – Sonny Brazil. The wistfulness of Irish folk plus the western atmosphere of pedal steel create a lovely, lilting track that conjures up visions of lonely leavetakings.

10. “Holy Golden West” – John Calvin Abney. Thirteen years ago John Calvin Abney helped me record an album of songs for my family and friends. Since then, Abney has become a road warrior and a master of the songwriting craft. This piece melds indie-pop and alt-country via strong instrumental contributions and Abney’s excellent vocals.