Best Roots

Wrecking Ball is the eighteenth studio album by American country music artist Emmylou Harris, released on Elektra Records in 1995. Produced by Daniel Lanois, who is known for his atmospheric work with U2 and Bob Dylan, the album represents a significant sonic departure from Harris's earlier acoustic...

Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, released on Mercury Records in 1998. The record was subject to a famously prolonged production period, spanning three years, multiple recording studios, and various producers, including Steve Earle...

American Recordings is the 81st album by Johnny Cash, released in 1994 through producer Rick Rubin's American Recordings label. The album marked a significant comeback for Cash, featuring stripped-down acoustic recordings that highlighted his distinctive voice and guitar playing. It won the Grammy A...

Guitar Town is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Steve Earle, released in 1986 on MCA Records. The album blends country and rock instrumentation, establishing Earle as a prominent figure in the new traditionalist country movement of the 1980s. Featuring the chart-topping title tra...

Apple's 1997 'Think Different' campaign poster, created by agency TBWA\Chiat\Day, featured black-and-white portraits of historical innovators and marked Apple's brand resurgence after Steve Jobs's return.

This collection, originally released in 1952 as a Folkways anthology, compiles eighty-four vintage 78 rpm recordings of American folk music from before World War II. Harry Smith curated this influential set, preserving and popularizing traditional songs and artists rooted in the country’s musical he...

Drive-By Truckers' 2004 album 'The Dirty South' continues the band's exploration of Southern working-class life through narrative-driven songs. The album features tracks about bootleggers, corrupt sheriffs, and economic hardship in rural Alabama, exemplifying the band's blend of alternative country...

'Raising Sand' is a collaborative album released in 2007 by bluegrass singer Alison Krauss and Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant, produced by T Bone Burnett. The album features cover songs and original compositions that blend elements of folk, country, blues, and rock, showcasing a different side o...

Hollywood Town Hall is the third studio album by the American alternative country band The Jayhawks, released in 1992. Produced by George Drakoulias, the album established the Minneapolis group's characteristic sound, which blends melodic rock with country and folk influences. It features the core s...

Released in 1988 on Rough Trade Records, "Lucinda Williams" is the self-titled third studio album by the Louisiana-born singer-songwriter. Recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Gurf Morlix, the record blends raw country, folk, and blues elements, anchored by Williams' emotionally direct vocals. It...

"Strangers Almanac" is the second studio album by the American alternative country band Whiskeytown, released in 1997 on Outpost Records. Produced by Jim Scott, the album is anchored by the songwriting of frontman Ryan Adams, alongside contributions from fiddler Caitlin Cary and guitarist Phil Wands...

Black Thought is a celebrated Philadelphia-based hip-hop artist known for intricate lyricism and profound storytelling. His work, often performed with live instrumentation, explores social issues and demonstrates exceptional technical skill. He is primarily appreciated by fans of intelligent rap mus...

Pieces of the Sky is Emmylou Harris's 1975 major-label studio album, released by Reprise Records. Its repertoire combines contemporary country material with interpretations of songs by writers and performers including the Beatles, Dolly Parton, and Merle Haggard; Harris's version of "If I Could Only...

"Honky Tonk Masquerade" is the third studio album by Texas singer-songwriter Joe Ely, released in 1978 on MCA Records. The record blends traditional honky-tonk country with rock and roll, featuring instrumental contributions from musicians such as Lloyd Maines and Jesse Taylor. Rooted in the Lubbock...

"The River & the Thread" is a 2014 album by singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash, co-written and produced with her husband, John Leventhal. The songs were inspired by her travels through the American South, specifically exploring the history, geography, and cultural legacy of the Mississippi Delta region....

"Elite Hotel" is the second major-label studio album by country and rock singer Emmylou Harris, released in 1975 on Reprise Records. The record introduced her acclaimed backing band, the Hot Band, which featured musicians who previously played with Elvis Presley and Gram Parsons. Drawing heavily on...

"Copperhead Road" is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Steve Earle, released in 1988. The album marks a significant stylistic shift from his earlier country recordings toward a harder rock sound, integrating heavy electric guitars. The title track combines country storytelling wit...

The Houston Kid is the ninth studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell, released in 2001 on Sugar Hill Records. The record is a semi-autobiographical concept album that explores Crowell's working-class upbringing in Houston, Texas, addressing themes of family history, a...

The Missing Years is a studio album by American folk singer-songwriter John Prine, released in 1991 on his independent Oh Boy Records label. Produced by Howie Epstein, the record features backing vocals and instrumentation from notable guest musicians including Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and Bonn...

El Corazón is a studio album by American musician Steve Earle, released in 1997 via Warner Bros. Records. The record merges hard country, acoustic folk, and electric rock, continuing Earle's exploration of political themes, social justice, and working-class struggles. It features notable guest vocal...

Cassandra Wilson is a prominent modern jazz vocalist known for her distinctive interpretations of blues and roots music. She draws heavily on American traditions, particularly Mississippi’s rich musical heritage. Her work has garnered critical acclaim and awards including a Grammy in 1996. She appea...

Ry Cooder’s 1974 album Paradise and Lunch showcases a masterful fusion of blues, country-blues, and gospel traditions. Featuring prominent session musicians, it delivers a deeply resonant acoustic experience rooted in the sounds of the 1930s. The album's extended “Reprise” track offers a particularl...

Children Running Through is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Patty Griffin, released in 2007 on ATO Records. The album includes songs such as 'Heaven' and features instrumentation ranging from spare acoustic guitar to gospel-tinged backing vocals. It won the Grammy Award for Best...

Burning Spear’s 1976 album offers a significant exploration of Marcus Garvey's philosophies and Rastafarian beliefs. The record is notable for its deep roots reggae sound and its unwavering dedication to Garvey’s ideas about Black empowerment and self-determination. It remains a crucial listening ex...

The SteelDrivers is the 2008 Rounder Records debut album by the Nashville bluegrass band of the same name. It features Chris Stapleton as lead vocalist and guitarist, alongside Mike Henderson, Tammy Rogers, Mike Fleming, and Richard Bailey, combining acoustic bluegrass instrumentation with blues, co...

American III: Solitary Man is the third album in Johnny Cash's American Recordings series with producer Rick Rubin, released in 2000. The album consists primarily of cover songs, including Tom Petty's 'I Won't Back Down' (with Petty on backing vocals), Neil Diamond's 'Solitary Man,' U2's 'One,' and...

Red Dirt Girl is Emmylou Harris's 2000 album, released on Nonesuch Records and produced by Malcolm Burn. It marked a departure for Harris, being her first album to consist entirely of self-penned or co-written compositions rather than her customary interpretations of others' songs. The album won the...

World Without Tears is Lucinda Williams's 2003 studio album, released on Lost Highway Records. Recorded with her band in a live-in-studio approach, the album blends blues, rock, and country influences and is noted for its raw vocal delivery and candid lyrics. It includes the tracks 'Righteously' and...

The Muscle Shoals Recordings is the fourth studio album by the American bluegrass band The SteelDrivers, released in 2015 on Rounder Records. The album features the band's signature sound, which blends traditional bluegrass instrumentation with elements of country, soul, and blues. It was recorded a...