New Songs on the Road Map – Fall 2025
Here’s a seasonal roundup of only a small handful of the very beautiful and interesting new songs that crossed our path over the past weeks.
Leon Majcen “Don’t Leave the Light On.” From his superb new album Making A Living’ (Not A Killian’) the stripped down earnest song is honest quality. Gentle pedal steel helps this song float. Leon’s songwriting is top shelf: “Lonesome highways call, you deserve the world and more, sunny skies and open doors, breezy summers, easy winters and flowers in springtime. And I wish I could give you more.” https://leonmajcen.com/home
Ben de la Cour “Stuart Little Killed God (on 2nd Avenue).” Ben de la Cour is an under appreciated master, and this dark song will give you shivers as you hang on every word to follow the story’s images: “raining down fire from the astral plane, Stuart Little killed god on 2nd Avenue.” https://www.bendelacour.com
West Texas Exiles “Bright Yellow Sun.” This is a thoughtful electric song that explores the contradictory feelings of leaving: “I promised you I’d never say goodbye then I left you in the dust, up there high and dry.” https://www.westtexasexiles.com
Jack Dunker “Burning For You.” This song features Jack’s raw vocals and a hearty roots rock country sound: “it took me three long months just to get you to kiss me, honey I love you like a man on fire.” https://jackdunker.com
Garrett Hendricks “Son of the River.” Thoughtful lyrics and bright acoustic guitar, dashes of violin, and Garrett’s heartfelt country style vocals meld together in a great listen: “life was so much simpler then, ain’t that the truth my friend.” https://garretthendricksmusic.com
Jaclyn Bradley “Love Like 1983.” This song pays homage to “Jack and Diane” and the nostalgia for simpler times is palpable here: “I wanna fall in love like it’s 1983.” https://jaclynbradley.com
Jessica Breanne “Over the Bayou.” Jessica’s southern drawl singing style tugs on your heartstrings in a song of grief and loss: “click my heels together three times starlight’s on the water, she’s got the blues.” https://jessicabreanne.com
Gabriel John “Wasted Opportunity.” In the style of Steve Earle, Gabriel sets up a country song with pedal steel zig zagging in the mix and the regrets of a missed opportunity. “I wasted you, wasted me.”
Matt Moody “The Edge of It All.” This is an uptempo crowd pleaser with a country rock style, and electric guitar melodies. “you’ve been climbing that mountain since the morning light.” https://www.mattismoody.com
Third-Born “Down We Go.” This song taps into loyalties that require us to get into the rollercoaster car with life’s ups and downs. The banjo is wild and melodious: “I just want to delve into your soul, so here we go.” https://www.youtube.com/@Third-Born/shorts
Lucciana Costa “Your Love Makes Sense To Me.” With foreboding this song builds with Lucciana’s plaintive twangy vocals drawing you in. “I’ve been talking less and less, I’m sick and tired of hearing what I have to say, but I could listen to you all night.” https://www.luccianacosta.com
Alexa Rose “Where the Magic Lives.” Fiddle and acoustic guitars set the foundation for Alexa’s songbird vocals and complex songwriting. “Show me where the magic lives, do my heart some good, I’m not ready to forgive time but I think I’m in the neighborhood.” https://www.alexarosemusic.com
Cameron Nickerson “John Prine Can You Bring Me Down.” A man and his acoustic guitar and some earnest thoughtful songwriting, then later beautiful harmonies, fiddle and mandolin join in this pretty song. “I’ve been up for days now, John Prine, can you bring me down.” https://www.cameronnickerson.com
Cass Cwik “Rotten Jenny.” This is a lively song with melodious harmonica in a Dylan-esque style blended with kick-up-your-heels traditional folk music. An instant classic and a real treat. “Down where the trees are so pretty And the days flow into night just like a stream / Shes sittin down there by the water /Washing her knife / Run for your life.” https://casscwik.bandcamp.com/music
Danny Smart “Reason To Live.” The rich sound of acoustic instruments – banjo, guitar – and shaker percussion set up the highly relatable build up on this honest, confessional song: “I’m looking for a reason to live.” https://www.dannysmartmusic.com
Antony Hurley “Water Burns Away.” Gentle banjo playing and gentle vocals cradle you with this dreamy timeless song: “call your friend the wind to howl and we’ll let the ashes blow away.” Later the violin and other instruments join in to create a glorious feel. https://antonyhurley.bandcamp.com/album/howl-for-more
George Collins Band “By the Time.” Catchy and memorable, this song is a goodbye note to someone who kept you down and the author is already gone free:”by the time you’re feeling lost and lonely I’ll be gone, gone, gone.” https://georgecollinsband.bandcamp.com
Scott Tournet “Lonely Road.” Complex guitar melodies interplay here with shuffly rhythms in this little delight. “I listen to the ocean, let it take the sun, I walked down to the harbor, no one was around, as I sat in silence, I looked out from my island, I’m coming home.” https://scotttournet.net
House Above the Sun “One Foot Across the Border.” This song has an easy 70s-inspired folk style with rich harmonies “I got one foot across the border, but I’m learning much too slow that too much water won’t help the flowers grow.” https://houseabovethesun.bandcamp.com
Sam Bergquist “Envy Blues.” This is a traditional style folk song, an homage to his dog and more as it tackles the downside of envy in an upbeat manner: “envy, envy, let me go and set me free.” The layers of instrumentation are infections. https://bergquistmusic.com
Emily Popli “Alight.” Dreamy and honest, this song explores the feeling of feeling rejected: “I just want your attention, I just want your touch. Is the magic gone?” https://emilypoplimusic.com
Brown Barnes “Red Wine and Blues.” Bluesy with Southern rock organ, this is a reflective song about freedom and independence, and “the funny thing about freedom, you know it comes at a cost, been battling a war, you’re off gettin’ high drinking red wine while I’ve got the blues.” https://brownbarnes.com
