I'm With Her's second album, Wild And Clear And Blue, produced by Josh Kaufman, draws inspiration from the trio's collective experience of music shared by their parents, and showcases their developed chamber choir instincts and acoustic taste.

Cultural impact

• I'm With Her embarked on a 51-date tour across North America and Europe to support the album.

• The trio performed at Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green at Shelburne Museum, opening for Iron & Wine.

Critical response

• Rolling Stone highlighted that the vocal trio "exude innate chemistry and summon magic" on the album. Read full review

• Acoustic Guitar's review described Wild And Clear And Blue as "a kind of chamber folk that is both otherworldly and muscular, as if Joni Mitchell collaborated with minimalist composer Terry Riley in a Catskills chapel." Read full review

• "'A meditative, spectral opus oscillating through moments of darkness and light' is how Seven Days characterized the album." Read full review

Patty Griffin's eleventh studio album, Crown Of Roses, marks her first full-length project in over six years, featuring a wedding portrait of her mother, Lorraine, on its cover.

Cultural impact

• After a creative drought during the pandemic, Griffin unveiled songs like "Way Up to the Sky" and "Back at the Start" that reflect on the hardships and resilience of women, particularly Griffin's mother.

• Griffin supported the release with a special record release show at New York City's Sony Hall and a co-headlining run with Rickie Lee Jones at major venues such as Nashville's Ryman Auditorium and Dallas' Longhorn Ballroom.

Critical response

• Uncut described the album as a "masterclass in the persuasive power of less is more," noting its "concentrated hush" that suggests an imminent storm. Read full review

• AllMusic's Mark Deming highlighted Griffin's "level of craft, empathy, and wisdom," calling Crown Of Roses a gift that "demands to be heard." Read full review

• NPR's Ailsa Chang characterized Patty Griffin's singing on the album as "strong and gentle and gritty, all at the same time." Read full review

Jason Isbell's tenth studio album, Foxes In The Snow, marks his first entirely solo acoustic project since 2015, recorded with no overdubs at Electric Lady Studios.

Cultural impact

• Foxes In The Snow has been recognized as a defining moment in Isbell's career, highlighting his transition to a more intimate, solo acoustic sound.

• The album's deeply personal songwriting, inspired by major life changes and Isbell's time living part-time in New York, has sparked conversations about vulnerability and authenticity in modern folk music.

Critical response

• Rolling Stone noted that "a few lyrics on the album are so unguarded, so vulnerable, and so candid that they reinforce Isbell’s songwriting bravery." Read full review

• Paste Magazine described the album as "roots music at its purest: nothing but the sound of his voice, memories, melodies and guitar, all captured over the course of a five-day wake at Electric Lady Studios in New York." Read full review

• Slant Magazine characterized the album as "Earnest and quietly distraught," calling it the musician’s "most starkly realized effort." Read full review

Jesse Welles's Under The Powerlines is an unconventional 63-song collection of raw audio from his viral social media videos, released to combat intellectual property theft and make the popular recordings available for on-demand streaming.

Cultural impact

• His performance schedule expanded internationally with dates at Dublin's 3Olympia Theatre and Glasgow's Old Fruitmarket.

• At the Newport Folk Festival, demand for Welles's set was so strong that he was moved from a side stage to the main stage, where he performed both solo and with a backup band, including a notable onstage collaboration with Lukas Nelson on a version of the Beatles’ "Revolution."

Critical response

• The New York Times highlighted Welles's "dexterous writing and the tough, bare-bones arrangements," noting that his music "can’t help but recall many of those classic rockers he grew up listening to — Dylan, Petty, Neil Young." Read full review

• Live Music Blog described the album as "a 63-song collection of recent field and live recordings that initially appeared on social media platforms," and commended Welles for bringing raw, unfiltered performances to a wider audience. Read full review

Rhiannon Giddens reunited with former Carolina Chocolate Drops bandmate Justin Robinson for What Did The Blackbird Say To The Crow, their first recorded collaboration since 2011. The album features North Carolina fiddle and banjo music, with many tunes learned from mentors Joe Thompson and Etta Baker, and was recorded outdoors at their homes using a simple setup to capture natural sounds.

Cultural impact

• The album was followed by Giddens’ sold-out inaugural Biscuits & Banjos festival in Durham, NC, which featured a highly anticipated reunion of the Carolina Chocolate Drops.

• Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson released a mini-documentary and performance videos to accompany each song for the album, offering an intimate look into its creation.

• The project has been recognized for spotlighting the roots of African American string band music and honoring the legacy of both Black folk traditions and mentors Joe Thompson and Etta Baker.

Critical response

• NPR Music featured the album in a segment highlighting its "love letter to the music of North Carolina," noting the duo's "deep reverence for tradition and innovative spirit." Read full review

• Billboard praised the album for cementing Giddens' status as "a foundational influence for a generation of younger Black roots musicians," and highlighted the project's role in reviving traditional Black string music. Read full review