Every once in a while, the releases on a given Friday get so hectic, it becomes imperative to offer an addendum to the regular Release Radar. Friday, April 24th is one of those days. Though there might not be many big, buzzy arena-level names in the mix here, take it from someone who gets to peek ahead: there are some really great country album that you don’t want to miss.
Dale Watson – Unwanted
It’s hard to to find a more real deal performer than Dale Watson. Catch him at the Continental Club or The Broken Spoke in Austin, or perhaps jumping up on the stage at Hernando’s Hide-A-Way in Memphis, or hundreds of places in-between and beyond, and you’ll see the true embodiment of country. In fact Dale’s so country and committed to the roots of the genre, he doesn’t feel comfortable calling himself “country” anymore. He prefers the name “Ameripolitan.”
Whatever you want to call it, you can be assured that Dale Watson’s new album called Unwanted will be twangy, hard-charging, and true to itself when it’s released via Forty Below Records. The twelve tracks all self-produced and written by Dale comes as his first new music since 2023’s Starvation Box. (read more)
Rachel Brooke – This One’s For You
Few women in country music have racked up as much street cred as Rachel Brooke. And few bring as much pain and real-world weariness behind their words and voices as Rachel. She won’t be selling out arenas coast to coast anytime soon. That’s because she’s always put her integrity and songcraft first. But to those that know her, Rachel Brooke’s music and legacy loom very large.
Rachel Brooke’s new album The One’s For You out April 24th promises to be her most bona fide country album yet. In fact, it’s super country, classic country, self-produced by Rachel herself, and engineered by the Grammy nominated/Emmy Award-winning Jake Shives. Though in the past she’s often tapped into dark side of life—including on her 2025 acoustic album Sings Sad Songs—she often turns to humor to get her point across on the new album, even if there’s darkness behind it. (read more)
Kevin Carducci – Easy Does It
You might’ve never heard of Kevin Carducci before, but you definitely will be wanting to have the music of his new album Easy Does It hitting your ears if you have any taste in traditional/classic country music. The former member and bass player for the West Coast country band The Easy Leaves is back with his debut solo album, and it cooks. It’s being released on the new Fossil Records, founded by Margo Cilker and Ismay.
Easy Does It is unabashedly a work inspired by the classic Bakersfield sound, hoping to build upon what he started with The Easy Leaves, who ended up opening for folks like Billy Joe Shaver, Dwight Yoakam, and Willie Nelson during their height in the California Country scene.
Ben Jarrell – Tennessee Turnaround
Ben Jarrell got the attention of the folks who like to dig for the best in country music with his wild country tune “Black Helicopter” from 2019, and his crazy diorama album covers on his early releases. He’s always been country, but Ben was also just a little bit off-center in a cool way that made him unique and grabbed your attention.
On his new album Tennessee Turnaround, Ben finds a really fetching, sweaty and grooving ’70s half-time Outlaw sound that is sure is sure to sit right with the crowd in black vests and beyond. Co-writers include Hal ODell, Zach Henard, Ryan Hartman, Preston McCabe, and others, while Anna Westcoat contributes harmony vocals.
Bobby Dove – Fortune Teller
Canadian songwriter Bobby Dove blew us away with the album Hopeless Romantic in 2021, and now is back with what promises to be another stellar selection of songs assembled under the name Fortune Teller. Produced by Aaron Goldstein, known for working with the Cowboy Junkies and Kathleen Edwards, the new album includes some of Canada’s best players such as guitarist Nichol Robertson, drummer Dani Nash and pedal steel guitarist Burke Carroll.
Fortune Teller also includes a co-write/duet with Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale, and a cover of Blaze Foley’s “If I Could Only Fly.” While the sound is reminiscent of Golden Era country, Bobby Dove always puts the song and the songwriting first.
Jim Lauderdale and the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys – The Birds Know (bluegrass)
What’s better than master songwriter Jim Lauderdale, or bluegrass revivalists the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys? The two of them together of course, which resulted in magic on 2023’s The Long and Lonesome Letting Go, and now that magic is looking to be rekindled on their new collaborative album The Birds Know.
“Since I first saw them at MerleFest several years ago, and after we did our first album together, I really wanted us to do a follow-up,” says Lauderdale. “These songs were all written just for this album. The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys keep the sound of traditional bluegrass alive, but they really bring it into the present day. I’m so happy with the way this record turned out, and I’m looking forward to performing with them in the coming years.”
Noah Kahan – The Great Divide (Contemporary folk)
Similar to Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan has taken singer/songwriter music loosely adjacent to country, but more the domain of contemporary folk all the way to the stadium level. Similar to Zach Bryan, Kahan has stipulated he doesn’t want to be considered country. But both his popularity and styling have greatly influenced the country and Americana realm, especially on the singer/songwriter side of things.
On a busy release week, The Great Divide will definitely be the biggest seller, and likely result in a Billboard 200 No. 1. It might not be for country fans. But it does illustrate the incredible resurgence roots music continues to enjoy, even four years after Kahan’s Stick Season became one of the biggest songs and albums in all of music.
Other Releases:
D Boone Pittman – Rust
Yarn – Saturday Night Sermon
Krislyn Arthurs – Honky Tonk PhD
Colebrook Road – Too Far To Let Go
Wilson Fairchild – American Songbook: Country Classics and Gospel Favorites
The Milk Carton Kids – Lost Cause Lover Fool (folk)
Thin Lear – Many Disappeared (folk, Americana)
Taylor Dallas Vidic – Cat & Mouse (Americana)
Elaine Palmer –Some Seek Silver, Some Seek Gold (Americana)
Jackson Dean – Magnolia Sage (Contemporary country)
(4-27) The Massacoustics — Water Keeps Rising
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