Casting about the vast landscape of Arkansas music, we found some compelling new jams released over the past few months and more are planned for the summer, fall and beyond.
We thought it would be nice to gather a list of some recent releases by Natural State musicians along with forthcoming projects that look intriguing.
Let's get to it.
"Hi-Watter" — Rev. Greg Spradlin and The Band of Imperials: Singer-guitarist Spradlin shines on this remarkable album that was released July 17 on the Out of the Past label. He and a stellar band of all-stars, including David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, former Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas and the late keyboardist Rudy Copeland, generate a gloriously greasy convergence of rock, country, blues, soul and gospel that sounds perfect and timeless.
"Red Eye" — Randy Goodrum: A Hot Springs native and member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Goodrum, who lives in Fayetteville, has written hits for Steve Perry ("Oh, Sherrie"), Kenny Rogers and Dottie West ("What Are We Doin' in Love"), Anne Murray ("You Needed Me") and others. "Red Eye" is a 12-song collection of sweet, nimble, pop-inflected jazz that Goodrum says "is the record I've always wanted to make."
"Forgotten Days" — Pallbearer: It's the lead single and title track of the Little Rock metal outfit's forthcoming and highly anticipated album, which drops Oct. 23 on Nuclear Blast Records. The song, released July 10, maintains the band's artful doom-prog heaviness but incorporates more raw, metallic tones.
"2020 Love Song" — Brae Leni: This is the latest in a string of singles released this summer by the prolific Leni. The Little Rock neosoul singer-songwriter has a way with stuttery, warm, clever beats and sexy themes. His "Protest Song" video, released last month, is just 65 seconds long but is a jabbing social anthem. An EP, "Midnight Blip," is scheduled to drop Friday; another, "Fruitopia,'' will arrive Oct. 2, he says.
"Love & Pain" — Drexel Baker: Former Go Fast member Baker, who grew up in Little Rock and now lives in New York, released this album July 24 on Little Rock's Max Recordings label. The record is a soothing, stripped-down batch of folky, Americana tracks with haunting, wobbly electric-guitar accents. "Lucky Break" and "Daisy & Frank" are two highlights.
"All That Matters" — Tiffany Lee: The 23-year-old Little Rock singer-songwriter released her "Jailbird" EP of intimate indie-pop in 2016 and now has a new batch of songs. "All That Matters," which will be released Wednesday, is the first single and is a confident, summertime banger with Lee's powerful voice front and center.
"Hungover You" — Hayefield: Released in late July, this is a clever, thumping country rocker that relates hangovers with heartache. Hayefield is a duo made up of Taylor Hyatt and Trey Lamberth, who met while attending the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. This single follows "Heart to Steal" and the small-town earnestness of "Made From Nowhere."
"Lost Boy" — The Render Sisters: Teenagers Mary-Keaton and Stella Render have attracted the attention of country hit-maker Pam Tillis, who directed the video for "Lost Boy" at the sisters' family farm near Pine Bluff. The Renders harmonize gorgeously on the track, a sweet ode to connecting with a heartbroken crush.
"Tell Me You Want It" — Le'Dawn: Little Rock rapper Le'Dawn started performing when she was 4 and has been writing songs since she was 17. "Tell Me You Want It" is a fierce, self-assured jam with a red-cup-waving, singalong chorus custom-made for the club.
"The Gravel Yard Bluegrass Band" — The Gravel Yard Bluegrass Band: The debut from this Mountain View six-piece was released June 6 and features spirited, toe-tapping covers of bluegrass gems like "I Feel the Blues Movin' In," "The Lonesome River" and "Train 45" in classic style.
"The Infinite Calling" — The Infinite Calling: The latest from ambient guitarist Daniel Turner of Jonesboro is what he calls a "living album." He's releasing minimally edited, long-form "ambient guitar meditations" each new moon and full moon. The latest track is the wavelike soundscape "Honey Heart." Find it at The Infinite Calling Bandcamp page.
"Woah" — JVokal: The single released back in May from Little Rock hip-hop singer-songwriter Jvokal reveals a DIY, sleepy, indie-illbient sensibility. Expect an LP, "The Sound of Music," later this month, he says.
"Cry for You" — TheThread: The latest single from the forthcoming debut album by TheThread, the Nashville, Tenn., country duo of Arkansas native Tyler Boydstun and Caitlin Nicol-Thomas. It's a bruised, gentle waltz — with guitar, fiddle and Boydstun's and Nicol-Thomas' vocal harmonies — about mistakes, a bitter breakup and letting go. The album, "House on Fire," drops Aug. 28.
"Nature's Creatures" — Queen Anne's Revenge. This triple album from Little Rock's Queen Anne's Revenge is available on YouTube, though band member Justin Wayne Elkins says there are plans to release it on the major streaming platforms and vinyl records on Sept. 25. It's a genre-blending mix of rockers, hip-hop, punk and others that Elkins says was inspired by and recorded during the pandemic.
"Walk Right By" — Whoa Dakota: The latest from Arkansas native Whoa Dakota, who lives in Nashville, Tenn., is an exuberant, dancey, R&B-flavored single about independence and reaching one's full potential.
"Peregrination Vol. I" — Route 358: The second album from this Fayetteville Americana acoustic trio will be available digitally on Friday and is a follow-up to last year's "Fragile Hearts."
"Sins of Me" — Billy Jeter: The new single from Little Rock singer-songwriter Billy Jeter will be released Aug. 20. Jeter says he wrote the swampy, Southern rock-tinged track after a six-state tour last year. It's an ode to life on the road, complete with a Kerouac reference and tasteful slide guitar.
"Kiss of Death" — Isaac Alexander: Little Rock singer-songwriter Alexander has been releasing an impressive series of singles throughout the pandemic and continues his creative winning streak with "Kiss of Death," a wistful dose of organic pop.
"Grand Mal" — Arkopolis: The latest LP from the roots outfit led by "Arkansasongs" host Stephen Koch is set for a September release.
"Unsupervised" — Joe and the Feels: The debut album from the Little Rock five-piece should see a release late this year on the Out of the Past label. Drummer Dave Hoffpauir describes it as "literate pop songs. Some of it is kind of Squeeze-y sounding."
"Broken Rain" — Philip Martin: The homemade album of originals and a Joan Baez cover ("Diamonds and Rust") by the Democrat-Gazette editor and columnist was released last month.
"Americana" — Posey Hill: It's the forthcoming album from Posey Hill, the Central Arkansas four piece made up of Doug Burnett and his daughters, Megan Burnett, Erin Wisniewski and Kristian Miller. No release date yet for "Americana," but singles "Box of Pine" and "If We Could Just Give In" are streaming now and have gotten airplay on KSSN, KASU and KUAR's "Not Necessarily Nashville."
"Rita's Funkalicious" — Randal Berry: A funky little jam reminiscent of Lou Reed from Little Rock singer-songwriter Berry includes an appearance by San Antonio rapper Thuggizzle. Find "Rita" and Berry's other recent tracks at his Soundcloud page.
"Dandelion" — Carolina Story: Title track from the new album due Sept. 4 via Black River Americana. Carolina Story is Pine Bluff native Ben Roberts and his wife, Emily, described by Rolling Stone in 2018 as "Sonny & Cher meets Whiskeytown." "Dandelion," with its acoustic strumming, harmonica and the Robertses' vocals has a pleasing, autumnal, Jayhawks glow and follows an earlier single, "See You When I See You."
Dangerous Idiots, Kid City: Aaron Sarlo, mastermind behind alt-rock outfits Dangerous Idiots and Kid City, says the groups have a couple of new singles on the way from his Legitimate Businessman Entertainment label. Look for Kid City's "RVW" and Dangerous Idiots' "Thick" in the fall.
Recognizer: Guitarist-singer-songwriter Mike Mullins of Central Arkansas rock band Recognizer says the group has been working on a new album that they'd hoped to release in the fall but that now will likely see the light of day next spring.
"Live by the Die," Rocket Coma: The loosey-goosey Fayetteville six-piece indie rockers have recorded a follow-up to 2019's killer "Rock Icon" with uber-producer Steve Albini (Nirvana, The Pixies, et. al). There's no release date yet, but this should be interesting.