VA - Putumayo Presents: Americana (2007)

The fourth installment in Putumayo's line of American traditional music, Americana collects a surprising series of roots music -- alternative country, if you will. There are hints of regional styles embedded here and there, bluegrass throughout, and a healthy dose of the folk aesthetic for good measure. The album opens with a fairly representative piece from the genre, using bluegrass as a base, with religious music woven into the sound. Mulehead provides an exceptional use of space in their lyrical delivery on "Frankie Lee," and Norah Jones' latest venture, the Little Willies, puts out a nice little bluesy groove. As the album rolls on, Eliza Lynn plays some piano blues that almost sound like a lost piece of the Doors' catalog, the Old Crow Medicine Show mixes traditional fiddling and strumming with something of a modern innuendo, and Tim O'Brien remakes the Animals' "House of the Rising Sun" in a deep bluegrass mode and a thumping delivery almost reminiscent of Leadbelly. The sound becomes a little more folk-based in the closing pieces, with Terri Hendrix and Josh Ritter providing some nice examples of the thicker acoustic guitar and softer vocal delivery. The album closes on a more soulful piece from Ruthie Foster, ending on an uplifting number with a little more staying power. Alternative country is still something of a fringe genre, not quite streamlined enough for the mainstream fans, but just eclectic enough for the NPR crowd. The pieces on this album are good enough to enter the public consciousness if they can be heard, but the genre is likely to stay on the fringe nonetheless. Pick it up as a fan of American roots music, or as someone who doesn't quite have the stomach for mainstream country, but still wants to hear the acoustic guitars and fiddles.