1. Jennifer Castle
Pink City
A dash of humour and impeccable musicianship inform restless, expansive, solitary and reflective blues.
2. Doug Paisley
Strong Feelings
Toronto alt-country rocker goes eclectic on this gem of a third album.
3. Jenn Grant
Compostela
Grant’s fifth contains songs of unusual healing power, warmth and beauty.
4. The Barr Brothers
Sleeping Operator
Avant-rock, classical and blues-informed songs with nods to West African rhythms reimagine what folk means.
5. Bry Webb
Free Will
Constantine singer Webb is meditative and mellow but doesn’t eschew the odd dissonant guitar solo.
6. Sam Amidon
Lily-O
Weary vocals call out over unusual percussion, futuristic electronics and West African-inspired guitar.
7. Jess Reimer
The Nightjar and The Garden
Reimer transmutes years of experience singing bluegrass to a more Americana endeavour.
8. Lucinda Williams
Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone
Williams sounds happy (well, happier) and full of soul on this gritty, swampy blues rocker.
9. John Southworth
Niagara
Southworth’s dreamy paean to the metaphoric power of Niagara Falls is mythical and also quite romantic.
10. Indio Saravanja
Hotel Kiss Me
Yellowknife-based Saravanja travelled to Argentina to bring this collection of sad love ballads to life with a string chamber orchestra.
