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Album Details

• Artist: Various Artists
• Album: Putumayo Presents Americana
• Label: Putumayo
• Year of Release: 2007
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2007-07-11

While the term Americana has been around now in the music world for quite some time it still hasn't really caught on. If you told some stranger you liked Americana music he would think you were talking about some flag bearing rock done by Motley Crue or Kid Rock. Basically, Americana is a sub-genre of country and folk music, the type you'd listen to on NPR radio. Consider it a blend of the two, if you will. Anyway, this isn't really about the genre, it is about this wonderful Putumayo compilation. The beautiful thing about this set is that these are some of the more obscure names in the scene. Probably Robert Earl Keen, Old Crow Medicine Show, Tim O'Brien and Josh Ritter are the most familiar out of the set, and if you haven't heard of these artists then chances are you wouldn't be familiar with any of them.

The single named RobinElla opens the set with "Down The Mountain", presenting a wonderful voice and a fun song. Mulehead contributes a stripped down song called "Frankie Lee". The Little Willies have a nice swing feel to them with "It's Not You It's Me". Veteran Robert Earl Keen places his distinguished voice behind "Ride". Eliza Lynn rocks the piano with a jazzy number called "Sing A New Song". One of my newer favorites, Old Crow Medicine Show generously drop off "Wagon Wheel", probably the most folky track of the batch. Another veteran, Chip Taylor teams up with Carrie Rodriguez on "Sweet Tequila Blues". Tim O'Brien has been around for a while too. He opts for the classic "House Of the Risin' Sun" and does a great job with it. Alison Brown is known for her wonderful Banjo playing so it is strange that she should pick "Deep Gap" to contribute, which features her on guitar.

The lovely "Prayer For My Friends" by Terri Hendrix has a religious feel to it without getting Christian on us. Josh Ritter's contribution is "Harrisburg", a great story with some great acoustic guitar playing. I really enjoyed Ritter's voice on this one, a smoother Tom Petty with a little more twang. Ruthie Foster really showcases a soulful voice on "Hole In My Pocket".

Overall, Putumayo Presents Americana gives the outsider a lovely overview of the genre; the well versed a nice compendium of some of the newer artists out there.

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