Appaloosa Bones

Atmospheric, Americana-tinged indie folk

I’ve loved all of Gregory Alan Isakov’s albums; this might be my favorite. Appaloosa Bones is sprinkled with melancholy yet ultimately blooming with warmth, like the ambient glow of a fireplace in autumn, or new growth pushing through last year’s dead leaves as the spring sun melts the snow. Isakov’s easy voice brings to life the poetry of the lyrics, and the musical arrangements range from unassuming strums to sweeping, atmospheric instrumentation. The songs are gentle overall, but the performances are vibrantly alive—the deep vibrations of the string bass in “Mistakes” will cut straight to your soul. A comfort album, if a comfort album is what you listen to on a pensive road trip through American vistas.