A Culturess New Year’s Playlist

Folk

I’m fairly new to folk, but have found a form of peace in the genre. It’s going to be weird hearing some folk music on a New Year’s Eve playlist, but when it comes to music, we can’t skip over a genre that has made a lasting impact over the last several years. American folk performers are more and more mainstream every day, and that makes my heart sing. The soaring melodies, simplistic instrumentals, and deep rooted, symbolic, sometimes borderline melodramatic lyrics are ultimately American and what, I think, we need most these days. And don’t worry, there aren’t very many of them on the list.

My hope is that we can enjoy a few of these songs as we reflect on a year that has basically been dubbed the worst of the last several years, and ring in a new year that doesn’t scare us too badly and that we can look forward to with smiles on our faces.

• “Aunt Peg’s New Old Man” by Robbie Fulks
• “The Love That We Need” by Hayes Carll
• “Settle Down” by Holly Williams
• “Dust” by Lucinda Williams
• “This Ride” by Shovels & Rope
• “Harmless” by Amanda Shires
• “Stoplight Kisses” by Cactus Blossoms
• “Surrender Under Protest” by Drive-By Truckers