Best of 2019: Linda Fahey’s Favorite Albums and Songs of the Year

Anna Tivel, The Question (Fluff & Gravy Records) – Song: “Fenceline”

Billy Strings, Home (Rounder Records) – Song: “Taking Water”

Humbird, Pharmakon (Green Thumb) – Song: “Pharmakon”

Joan Shelley, Like the River Loves the Sea (No Quarter Records) – Song: “Coming Down For You”

Mavis Staples, We Get By (Anti/Epitaph) – Song: “Change”

Molly Tuttle, When You’re Ready (Compass Records) – Song: “Take the Journey”

Rhiannon Giddens w/ Francesco Turrisi, There Is No Other (Nonesuch) – Song: “Little Margaret”

Rodrigo y Gabriela, Mettavolution (ATO) – Song: “Cumbé”

Our Native Daughters, Songs of Our Native Daughters (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings) – Song: Black Myself”

The Small Glories, Assiniboine and the Red, Red House Records/Compass – Song: “Oh My Love”

10 Favorite Songs that Didn’t Appear on a Favorite Album

Eilen Jewell, “Beat the Drum” (Gypsy, Signature Sounds)

Jade Bird, “Lottery” (Jade Bird, Glassnote)

Josh Ritter, “All Some Kind of Dream” (Fever Breaks, Pytheas Recordings)

Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert, “Stable” (When the Sun Goes Down, Dead Reckoning Records)

Lula Wiles, “Shaking As It Turns” (What Will We Do, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings)

Mandolin Orange, “The Wolves” (Tides of a Teardrop, Yep Roc)

Maya de Vitry, “Go Tell a Bird” (Adaptations, Mad Maker Studio)

Keb’ Mo’, “This Is My Home” (Oklahoma, Concord Music Group)

Rising Appalachia (feat. Ani DiFranco), “Speak Out” (Leylines, Rising Appalachia)

Todd Snider, “Talking Reality Television Blues” (Cash Cabin Sessions, Vol. 3, Aimless Records/Thirty Tigers)