Well known for their excellent compilation albums, Bongo Boy Records is back with another release. The Homestead series has become one of our favorites here at The Ark, showcasing the label’s best Americana, country, and folk artists all in one place. This fifteen-track album titled Homestead, Vol. 6 is no exception, giving us a collection of music that ranges from uptempo and driving to soft and vulnerable and everything in between.
The album opens with the southern-rock-tinged Good Luck by Todd Barrow. Excellent guitar work with a satisfying twang and a driving beat make for a foot-stomping introduction to this collection. This is followed by the complementary pop-country She Got Me Runnin’ by Clark Ford, Joe Rucker, & Underground Treehouse. In typical Clark Ford style, this is an extremely well-crafted, storytelling song featuring an outstanding array of musicians bringing his work to life.
I Can Tell By The Way You Dance (You’re Gonna Love Me Tonight) is a sweet and summery number with an especially warm and welcoming country vocal from artist Rodney Collins. Things slow down even further with Kate Magdalena‘s angelic This is My Rebel Song – a soaring, chill-inducing show of vocal talent that pays clear homage to the musical legacy she has left behind.
Gar Francis brings his own flavor of uptempo, gritty, rock-flavored Americana to this project with Too Far Gone, a track with a definitive throwback, retro feel that is a welcome inclusion on this collection. After this, we’re treated to the intricate acoustic guitar that serves as the foundation for Charles Brown’s Emerald Wind. It’s a soulful and incredibly technical instrumental that is a clear high point on this album.
The swinging, raw feel of Dumpster Paradise brings a soulful, bluesy element to this project. The vocals from Durango McMurphy are particularly memorable, bringing a unique blend of smokiness and musicality together in this track. Moving us in a more modern direction is The Whiskey and Gin Song by Maddy Reign, with a recognizable pop vocal sound blended with indie-folk elements that adds yet another layer of depth to this compilation.
Towards its conclusion, we find the standout piece on this album – the gospel-inpsired When I Say by Monique Sherrell Brown. This song is a carefully curated mix of bluesy, swampy, haunting, and soulful elements all rolled into one and driven by a dynamite lead vocal. The slow build to an explosion of power and intensity makes this track particularly noteworthy.
We also love Smiles Real Soft by Brian Green for its gentle classic folk cadence, and I Thank God For This Moment by Annemarie Picerno and Matt Barfield for its showstopping dual vocal harmonies.
It should come as no surprise that this album is full of high notes and brilliant musicianship. Bongo Boy Records‘ ability to bring together musicians and their work in a way that feels cohesive and illustrative is unprecedented. Homestead Vol. 6 is an exquisite example of the best of the best where indie Americana music is concerned, and a must-listen for any country/folk fan.
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BELOW: Listen to Homestead, Vol. 6 and connect with their website and social media platforms. Please support Bongo Boy Records by visiting them online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
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