‘Rainbow of Blues’ by The Highest Order

Slow-steering alt country from Toronto that sonically isn’t too far off from Fiona Apple channelling her city blues through the pastoral strum of guitar instead of the violent hammering of piano, such is the leathery husk of singer Simone Schmidt’s voice, which exhibits wear and experience like a well-travelled boot. You can hear another track from their upcoming 7” —a bone-chilling cover of Dave Berry’s “The Crying Game”— over on Idée Fixe Records’ Soundcloud.

‘When It Pleases You’ by Sara Watkins

Nashville singer/songwriter Sara Watkins builds on country music’s foundation of broken hearts with her own defeated tale of emotional disconnect, delivered with a timbre and honesty reminiscent of Kathleen Edwards at her most sullen. From her sophomore album Sun Midnight Sun, which also features an appearance from Fiona Apple.

(via TwentyFourBit)

‘Shining Light’ by Kate Tucker

Lovelorn alt-country tinged with the irrepressibly melancholic tone of Tucker’s Cowboy Junkies-esque, sing/sigh vocals. From the Ohio singer-songwriter’s new EP Ghost of Something New, which is currently free for download at Noisetrade.

‘Learn to Say No’ by Lydia Loveless

The pipes on this lady. She’s like a 21 year-old Neko Case. Her debut album Indestructible Machine is out on reliable alt-country staple Bloodshot Records. (Say NO to SOPA, everyone.)

‘More Like Them (Sleepover Shows)’ by Lydia Loveless

Who better to sing a song about social awkwardness than a person with a name as inherently tragic as ‘Loveless’. COME HITHER, LYDIA. I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER.

‘The Valley Wind’ by Tyler Ramsey

Tyler from Band of Horses is releasing his sophomore solo album and this is the mellow title-track; a soothing Americana soft-step, laced with care.

(via Consequence of Sound)

‘Come To Mary’ by Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter

How did I miss this! A new Jesse Sykes record is cause for celebration. She’s one of the few true boundary-pushing country artists. Here her near-androgynous timbre is fitted with a honeyed family-band aesthetic. Marble Son comes August 2nd.

‘All Those Girls’ by Jolie Holland

This lady’s voice has mellowed finely since 2006.

(via From Go To Whoa)

‘I Like The Way You Walk’ by The Donkeys

Good Wilco guitar moments. A+

(via Dead Oceans)