Jeff Tweedy - Love Is the King (dBpm)

"At the beginning of the lockdown I started writing country songs to console myself. Folk and country forms being the shapes that come most easily to me in a comforting way. 'Guess Again' is a good example of the success I was having at pushing the world away, counting my blessings - taking stock in my good fortune to have love in my life," comments Tweedy. "A few weeks later things began to sound like 'Love Is The King' - a little more frayed around the edges with a lot more fear creeping in. Still hopeful but definitely discovering the limits of my own ability to self soothe." - Jeff Tweedy

Tyler Childers - Long Violent History (Hickman Holler)

LP Only. Since the release of Tyler's 2nd album, Purgatory, the Kentuckian's country music career has been on the rise. Nominated for a Grammy after the subsequent release of 2019's Country Squire, he has been noted for undercutting Appalachian stereotypes. His self-described "working man's country" embraces the blue-collar sensibility of Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings, but he eludes the "bro-country" and "Americana" labels. Long Violent History spends a lot of its time in the traditional, before it reaches its culmination, the powerful title track that supports Black Lives Matter. It is a sort of Appalachian murder ballad for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

Shame - Drunk Tank Pink (Dead Oceans)

There are moments on Drunk Tank Pink where you almost have to reach for the sleeve to check this is the same band who made 2018's Songs Of Praise. Such is the jump Shame have made from the riotous post-punk of their debut to the sprawling adventurism and twitching anxieties laid out here. The South Londoner's blood and guts spirit, that wink and grin of devious charm, is still present, it's just that it's grown into something bigger, deeper, more ambitious and unflinchingly honest. From the womb to the clouds (sort of), Shame are currently very much in the pink.

Kurt Vile - Speed, Sight, Lonely KV EP (Matador)

Speed, Sound, Lonely KV was recorded and mixed in sporadic sessions that spanned four years at The Butcher Shoppe studio in Nashville, TN. It includes five songs - covers of John Prine and "Cowboy" Jack Clement as well as two originals - and was recorded alongside a cast of local heavies like Bobby Wood, Dave Roe, Kenny Malone and Matt Sweeney (Chavez, Superwolf). Most importantly, it features what Kurt has called "probably the single most special musical moment in my life" – a duet with the late John Prine on the songwriter's well-loved tune, "How Lucky."

Barry Gibb - Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1 (Capitol)

A lifelong bluegrass and country music fan, legendary Bee Gees singer, songwriter and producer Barry Gibb has long dreamed of a project that would bring him together with some of the artists he admires the most. With the help of Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb, that dream has become a reality. Featured artists roster includes Jason Isbell, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Alison Krauss, Brandi Carlile, Dolly Parton, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Olivia Newton John and more.

Sleaford Mods - Spare Ribs (Rough Trade)

In 2021, Sleaford Mods will take stock of an astonishing rise with the release of their newest creation Spare Ribs. They will bring British political correctness, in the truest, purest sense of those words directly to the masses. Because Sleaford Mods are sincerity incarnate. Sleaford Mods are peerless. Green vinyl LP with free bonus 7inch with purchase while they last.

Matthew Sweet - Catspaw (Omnivore)

Written, produced, recorded, mixed, and entirely performed (save ferocious drumming from Ric Menck of Velvet Crush) by Matthew at his home studio. Mastered by Bob Ludwig, the Hofner bass and Novo guitars sing and howl, harkening back to classics like "Girlfriend" and "Altered Beast" – all while retaining the hooks that dig into the listener. Well, like a cat's paw.

Also New This Week

The Ar-Kaics - To Be Free 7" (Wick/Daptone)
Beach Bunny - Blame Game (Mom+Pop)
Pearl Charles - Magic Mirror (Kanine)
Dale Crover - Rat-a-Tat (Joyful Noise)
The Fall - Take It To the Wire (Live 1985) (Ozit)
Buck Meek - Two Saviors (Keeled Scales)
Midnight Sister - Painting the Roses (Jagjaguwar)
Tim Story - Threads LP (Dais)
Mary Timony - Threads [LP reissue] (Matador)
Trampled by Turtles - LP reissues (Banjodad)
Faye Webster - s/t LP (Secretly Canadian)