•
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰
“What A Time To Be Alive“
★
@thelonebellow
Release; February 13, 2026
•
Listen up!
•
The Lone Bellow are set to release their sixth album, What a Time to Be Alive, this Friday, February 13. Recorded in Muscle Shoals and written and tracked collaboratively for the first time with the band’s full touring ensemble, the album marks a bold new chapter for the Nashville-by-way-of-Brooklyn trio.

When it came time to write What a Time to Be Alive, the band began in Henderson, Kentucky, where producer Peter Barbee had transformed an abandoned firehouse into a recording studio. There, they tapped into the playful energy of their on-the-road soundchecks, improvising instrumental beds that later became the foundation for new songs. From there, they traveled to Muscle Shoals to record, tracking each song live in the same room before breaking out into focused vocal and harmony sessions.

“We wanted to shake things up and try a new approach this time around,” says Brian Elmquist, who took the lead in producing the album. “Everyone just sat down at whatever instrument they were feeling, and we’d jam until something took shape. It felt like we were teenagers again playing in a garage – which is a magical thing for a band that’s 15 years into their career.”

That loose, joyful spirit carries through the album, fueling a sweeping celebration of life anchored by the band’s signature harmonies, heartfelt songwriting, and a sound that moves effortlessly between folk, rock, and gospel.

The Lone Bellow is Zach Williams, Kanene Pipkin, and Brian Elmquist. What a Time to Be Alive also features drummer Julian Dorio and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Geertsma.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#NewMusic #Music #LiveMusic #CountryMusic #Nashville …

•
𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬
“Across The Raccoon Straight“
Country
★
@meelsmusic
Release; January 30, 2026
Lost Highway Records
•
Listen up! Full album in BiO!
•
Mill Valley, CA native Amelia Einhorn sounds like she’s finally landed where she belongs. Recording as Meels, she leans into a version of herself that feels fully formed on Across the Raccoon Strait – a collection of songs that thread West Coast warmth with mountain top folk and Americana. After years spent in New York, the EP reads like both a creative reset and a quiet return to the landscapes, rhythms, and emotional truths that shaped her from the start.

There’s a natural confidence running through these songs. Nothing reaches for attention, yet Across the Raccoon Strait feels 100% intentional. Meels follows her instincts, letting melodies and stories unfold – grounded in tradition but never stuck there.. like they’ve been waiting just beyond the horizon, ready for the right time to bring them into focus.

“I wrote most of these songs in my New York apartment while attending NYU and itching to get back out west,” Meels says. “When I was making the EP, I was leaning into a more Americana, country sound and needed to define it, and decided ‘critter country’ has a nice ring to it.” That spirit comes through immediately on the opening track – Out West, which introduces her self-described Critter Country: a loose, thoughtful blend of folk, country, and bluegrass that feels worn-in and gently playful, equal parts campfire and open highway.

Across the EP, Meels moves effortlessly between reflection and forward motion, finding beauty in uncertainty and comfort in honesty. Across the Raccoon Strait lives in that in-between space – where memory meets possibility, and where fresh nostalgia can coexist with the fun-filled messiness we call life.
@meanwhile_in_music …

•
𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞’𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐃𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧: # 𝟏𝟐 – 𝟏
•
New albums come and go throughout the year – handed to me personally, delivered to my mailbox, or sent to my inbox and DMs.. and suggested via my algorithms across all the streaming platforms I subscribe to. How these albums strike me depends on my emotional and physical state at whatever given moment I decide to press play. It’s my surroundings, the company I’m sitting with, the weather and so much more. Maybe on a long walk or drive through the country, sitting on the front porch for another sunset, or at the river skipping rocks. Some grab me immediately and never let go. Others get set aside, only to be picked up later with the realization that it’s the best thing you’ve ever put your ears on. It’s all about timing – when the record feels right, or when I’m in the right space to truly connect and listen. Things unravel from there, and when it clicks – it sticks.

That said, my top dozen albums aren’t necessarily the “best” in any objective sense; they’re the ones that struck me at the right time, got the most continuous play, and became the soundtrack to a chapter of my year. These twelve albums are the soundtrack of my 2025, and I’d recommend finding your right moment to give each and every one a proper listen.

Swipe through to see how they stack up and comment below, let me know which one is your favorite! Here’s to another great year of music! Bring it on 2026!
•
•
•
•
•
#LiveMusic #NewMusic #Americana #Country #HonkyTonk #Folk #Pop #Records #Best #2025 #2026 …

•
𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫
“The Land On Most High“
Country
★
@jackforestblocker
Release; September 12, 2025
•
Listen up! Full album in BiO!
•
Is there a stigma that follows a swing of the bat, or even a win on a stage like American Idol or The Voice? ..on some level, certainly. Those platforms offer massive exposure, but they also invite skepticism: questions of authenticity, longevity, and whether the spotlight outweighs the songs. But it doesn’t take long on Jack Blocker’s debut to feel that noise fade. The Land On Most High settles in quickly and confidently and by the time you’re halfway through the first track, the doubts dissolve and don’t stand much of a chance.

With production from Colter Wall collaborator Patrick Lyons, the album leans into tradition without feeling trapped by it. Loaded with quality musicianship but it all leaves room for Blocker’s voice to do what it does best – carry the weight of his story. There’s grit & gravel here, but also tenderness with some soul.

“This is a collection of nostalgic daydreams,” Blocker says. “A picture painted with hundreds of little memories – the driveway basketball games, motel naps, homemade slip ‘n slides, & trailside snacks that seemed insignificant at the time but keep circling back.” That philosophy is the backbone of this record.

Across the record, Blocker moves from the mountain‑etched vistas of “If Heaven Looks Like Arkansas” to the barroom intimacy of “Waltz With Me,” shaping small, specific moments into something more universal. Even the lighter turns, like the loose sway of “100 Dollar Bill,” feel grounded in character rather than spectacle.

The closer, “Lonestar,” lifts its eyes back toward home, swelling with soul and long-held devotion. It’s not just a love letter to a place – it’s a statement of belonging.

The Land On Most High doesn’t sound like a debut chasing momentum. It sounds like an artist already rooted. Blocker isn’t trying to outrun his origin story – he’s rewriting it with honesty, one memory at a time. And in doing so, he is establishing himself as one of the more compelling new voices in country music right now – yet at 27, there’s still room to grow.
– @meanwhile_in_music …

•
𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐓𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧
“Blue Sky“ ep
Americana
★
@luketylershelton
Release; July 18, 2025
@concordrecords
•
Listen up! Full album in BiO!
•
Luke Tyler Shelton’s Blue Sky lands like a quiet revelation – the kind of debut that doesn’t shout for attention but earns it through honesty, intention, and an instinctive feel for melody. It’s the sound of a young songwriter from the San Fernando Valley stepping into his voice with uncommon ease, backed by a tight, understated band that knows exactly when to push and when to disappear into the frame.

Shelton writes like someone who has learned the value of paying attention – to people, to silence, to the hum of a late-night drive. There’s a wisdom to his music, something steady and unforced, surprising from an artist still in his twenties. His voice carries a calmness, shaped with west coast vibes and the kind of miles you can only rack up wandering with a guitar and a notebook.

The EP leans into the timeless backbone of Americana: warm acoustics, patient rhythms, and melodies that feel inherited rather than invented. But Shelton never sounds like he’s imitating anyone. His touch is subtle but distinct – small lyrical turns, quiet emotional pivots, and images that flicker long after the song fades.

Blue Sky unfolds like a series of Polaroids: back-porch conversations, low-light reflections, long stretches of road where a single thought can shift the shape of a whole day. Shelton doesn’t rush to fill space; he lets the music settle. His band supports that approach beautifully, giving the record a soft, golden-hour glow – drums brushing in like distant weather, guitars shimmering at the edges.

​Shelton isn’t performing at you; he’s offering a seat beside him, letting the stories rise at their own pace. It’s a debut built on humility and craftsmanship – a reminder that sometimes the most powerful moments come from letting a song simply be itself.
– @meanwhile_in_music
•
•
•
•
•
#NewMusic #California #Americana …