Folk+World+Country Music Thread

[Lisnaholic]

this is a sort of folk music I suppose, recommended mostly because of the insane powerhouse French singing

^ Impossible not to click on the music after a description like that, Marie ! I've played, and enjoyed, about half the album and particularly liked the organ which, for me, gave the music an agreeably dated sound. Nothing as precise as your association, though, Saulaac, and no excuse for me as I actually saw Matching Mole live many years ago.
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Here's some more powerful singing, from Hungaraian band Makám, on their 2003 album, Anzix :-

 

[grindy]

Somewhat folkish low key russian ArtPop with some really cool fretless bass

[Trollheart]

I have no doubt that tumbleweed is blowing through my "Trollheart Listens to Every Album on Wiki's List for 2023" thread, but I'm enjoying it (mostly) and I've come across quite a few good artists. Don't know if you know this woman but in a country style, she rocks! Well worth checking out. I only listened to her 2023 album (obvs) which is titled Come Get Your Wife but it was more than enough to make me a fan. Not a single bad track, and this is one of my favourites.

"Try Jesus" - Elle King

[Lisnaholic]

^ Yes, that's a great track Trollheart. I like a girl-with-guts song, and this one has it all: the band, the lyrics and a distinctive twang to Elle King's voice. Thanks for the rec.
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I'm afraid this track may be too jazzy for you, TH, but it's something I'm enjoying today. The 2011 album from Australian band Shaolin Afronauts; their music is usually labelled "Afrobeat", so I guess they belong in the "world music" category:-

[Trollheart]

Well they're certainly a weird looking bunch! 
Hell with it: here's an exclusive sneak review of that album; I imagine it'd be right up your country lane, Lisna!


Album title:  Come Get Your Wife
Artist: Elle King
Genre: Country
Nationality: American
Release date: January 27
Position in Discography: Third
Tracks: 12
Familiar with this artist? No
Heard of this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? A little
Average RYM Score: 2.95
Highest chart position: Unknown

And back to country we go, hopefully with a better result this time. I'm sure it's intended, but man does she epitomise the idea of trailer trash on that cover! Like we say here in Ireland, "fur coat no knickers." Not that I can see, but, you know. I'm half-hoping this is going to be a sort of Pistol Annies deal, where the lady lets loose on all the men in her life, growlin' and spittin' and cussin' them all to hell in whatever mode of transport they prefer. Raunchy, in your face, don't fuck with me country is what I hope for. What I may get could be something entirely else, but on the basis of the cover I think that might not be too vain a hope. For those who care, Elle King is the daughter of actor Rob Schneider, but whether that has anything to do with her rise to fame (her last single topped the country charts, so I'm told) I have no idea. She has an impressive stage career though, having supported, among others, Heart, Joan Jett, Miranda Lambert and, um, Train.

Okay, she refused to ride on the coat-tails of her father's fame, changing her name - or at least, using the maiden one of her mother, model London King - so that she could be her own person. That's good to hear. Nominated for four Grammys, playing guitar since she was thirteen and influenced by a wide range of musicians, from Earl Scruggs and the Man in Black to the other man in black, or men in black, AC/DC, Blondie, Hank Williams and Otis Redding. Sounding good so far. But what's the music like?

Okay well right away this is more like it! Love the banjo, the sort of stripped-down style, and with song titles like "Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home)", "Blacked Out" and "Crawlin' Mood", this sounds more like country music sung from the heart and taken from experience. Don't think there'll be too many soppy love songs here. Yeah already I like this so much I've kicked up the volume and I'm, um, grooving along. This is going to be class. What's also great about her is (and here I suppose I'll get into trouble for being sexist but what else is new?) she doesn't look like a pretty country chick. I'm not saying she's not good looking but she has that kind of real, earthy look to her, not a Shania or a Faith or any of a myriad of "pretty girls" who sing, or purport to sing country. She looks, well, genuine. You can believe the stuff she sings about has happened to her, or to people she knows. It's honest, it's from the heart, it's, well, it's country. Proper country.

Her love of rock music is evident in the harder-hitting punch of tracks like "Before You Met Me" and what may be the ultimate dumping song,  "Tulsa",  while there's a certain sense of divas like Taylor Swift or Charli XCX or whoever in the gloriously irreverent and defiant "Drunk", which features my favourite Pistol Annie, Miranda Lambert. "Lucky" kind of skirts the edges of bro/sis(?) country but manages to avoid falling over the side into mediocrity, and what country album worth its salt don't feature the J-man? "Try Jesus" may sound like a dinner suggestion, but serves to leaven out the hard-drinkin', leave me alone songs, allowing Elle to mellow out a little in the arms of her Saviour. Hey, there's nothing wrong with that if you believe. Don't knock it etc.

Sure I could go on. The fiddle and banjo work in perfect harmony on "Crawlin' Mood", songs like "Jersey Giant" only come around once in a while, and it's been a long time since I heard such an honest, take-me-as-I-am unapologetic autobiographical song as "Bonafide." Testify, sister! Yeah, if you want real country music, warts and all, as Waits once growled, "shit on the boots", real cowgirl stuff, stick this album on. Probably best you have a bottle of Jack, too. Just, you know, for atmosphere.

Any good tracks? Every damn one!
Agree with RYM? Nah, should be a lot higher.
Would I listen to this album again? Hell yeah!
Of choice, would I check out more from this artist? Definitely
Of choice, would I be interested in checking out more from this genre or subgenre? Always
Score: 10/10

[Lisnaholic]

Thank you very much for posting that album review out of sequence for my benefit, Trollheart 

I'm sorry I haven't replied until now, but I using your review as a guide, I listened to Elle's album, and I largely agree with you, even down to the tracks that you singled out for special mention. A great album!
"Fur coat, no knickers"  Good one, Trolls; never heard that before !
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One good rec deserves another, but this one falls short of Elle King, I fear; Hurray For The Riff Raff have too many slow songs for my liking, but here's a great track where the tempo lifts up a bit.-

[Psy-Fi]

Not sure how well this one fits into the thread but it's still got a country/folk vibe despite the lyrics...

John Denver sings "War Pigs" (Black Sabbath

[Lisnaholic]

Here's a short and sweet gospel song :

Unlike most of the songs I found by the Maverick Saints duo, it's not a traditional song according to the YouTube notes:

The Maverick Saints: Featuring Sandra Stephens and Chris Falson. "On the Other Side"
An original song by Chris Falson, written for a friend's memorial service.

[Lisnaholic]

This song fits the "world" bit of the thread, but don't expect any folk or country on this one. To quote Pitchfork:

"This 1973 album by a group of Lagos high-school students shines a spotlight on a Nigerian psych-rock scene..."