Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Record Labels Making Great Music

A good way to turn yourself on to new music is to find an artist you like and find how what record label they are with. Then, subscribe to the label’s sight on YouTube and you will be able to go down a rabbit hole of really great music. Here are the Rock is the New Roll and The Falcon’s Nest’s five favorite labels.

Just click on the links to check out videos for the artists mentioned.

1. Easy Eye Sound

Almost everything you have heard that is good over the last 12 months has been coming from Easy Eye Sound out of Nashville. Dan Auerbach and his crew are releasing, collaborating, or producing some really great artists. Recently producing the highly great new Marcus King solo record, break-out artist of-the-year Yola, Dee White, and soon to be household name Early James are just a few of the artists you should know.

2. New West Records

This record company, based out of Nashville as well as Athens, is especially diverse given they self-describe themselves as promoting music with integrity since ’98. The finest in Americana, Rock, Folk, Alternative, Indie, Country, and Blues. Stablemates include The Secret Sisters, newcomer Sam Doores, Rock is the New Roll favorite Aaron Lee Tasjdan, the fabulous North Mississippi All-Stars, and Nikki Lane. Need we say more.

3. Bloodshot Records

Having a professional relationship with the folks at Bloodshot records, it should come as no surprise that they are on our list of top record labels. Having been around for decades, this Chicago based band is probably as responsible for the advancement of Americana music this side of Francis Scott Key. Going back to Jon Langford and the Mekons, Roots Rockers The Bottle Rockets, Americana femme fatale Lydia Loveless, and newcomer of the year Jason Hawk Harris, every project they are involved in can be traced back to their core value of promoting music with honesty and integrity.

4. Third Man Records

Sure, Third Man Records out of Nashville and Detroit, can get pretty far out on that eclectic ledge, however, it can’t be denied that mostly everything Jack White touches can be pretty darn interesting. A shameless promoter of vinyl, the roots of the current resurgence of the format can be directly traced back to Third Man Records. Whether he is releasing records by his own band, The Raconteurs, reintroducing us to the Rockabilly verve of Wanda Jackson, or hipping us to The Black Lips, the label always provides an interesting ride. And, don’t sleep on former Balck Belles front-woman Olivia Jean. Her girl group, surf-guitar sound is a great throw-back listen.

5. Matador Records

Formed way back in 1989 out of New York City this record label has continued to remain relevant with a consistent funneling of top-notch artists into our collective ear-waves. The current crop includes Lucy Dachus, Steve Gunn, Stephen Malkmus, Kurt Vile, and many more really cool artists.