How Did You Find Your Favorite Albums This Year?

If you live in an area that still has a locally owned record store, you are truly fortunate.  I hope you buy music from them.  Record stores like Fantasyland, Wuxtry, and Wax N Facts in Atlanta introduced me to underground rock and local music, and in turn opened my ears to college radio.  Along with indie comics, that was how I learned about “new” music.  Indie, underground, emerging – no matter what we called the music, those were the homes for discovery.

Podcasts and online magazines, like No Depression, are primary sources for tastemakers to introduce music to new listeners now.  Streaming services use various algorithms and listening history to determine what you might like, but the experience differs from a trusted source who innately knows great music.  Podcasts allow anybody to become the curator, and listeners either come to value their choices or move on to other programs.

This week’s Podcast Corner collection reflects several different hosts with diverse approaches to roots music.  The International Americana Music Show covers their Best of 2015 music that is not from the USA.  Heart Beat True covers the twangy end of the spectrum, sharing their Best of 2015.  The Americana Music Show highlights short conversations with songwriter Chad Elliot and plays several from him and other new releases.  Freight Train Boogie typically focuses on several songs from a focus artist with a new album, and several other currents in Americana.  If you have not listened to a podcast in a while, try a new one this holiday and see if you find some new music that you love.