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Reba McEntire
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Stronger Than the Truth
Country icon Reba McEntire finds comfort in the music of her cattle-ranching childhood on Stronger Than the Truth, bravely addressing her 2015 divorce through a series of broken-hearted standouts. Western swing, Tejano-inspired folk, and straight-up barroom balladry chart a path to recovery.
Shovels & Rope
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By Blood
Enigmatic rock duo Shovels & Rope match flawed characters with ambitious optimism on By Blood, the couple’s fifth album of originals. Bold as ever, they mix new wave punk with roots pop in “The Wire,” and experiment elsewhere with a singular blend of gritty, loose-fitting DIY sonics.
Josh Ritter
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Fever Breaks
Folk mainstay Josh Ritter teams with Americana icon Jason Isbell for Ritter’s Fever Breaks. With Isbell producing and his 400 Unit serving as studio band, Ritter’s songs range from the chugging stoner-rock authority of “Old Black Magic” to the hopeful meditation of “Blazing Highway Home.”