Folk music has been around for a long time. Since time immemorial, songs have been part of certain rituals and oral tradition. Come the 20th century, a revival, sometimes referred to as a roots revival, took place, with artists such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell popularizing the genre and taking it to new levels. This includes more socially and politically aware themes and modernization of old anthems.
In recent times, we’ve seen yet another revival, mostly in the indie scene, with acts such as Sufjan Stevens and the Milk Carton Kids bringing back the past and employing new ideas and crossovers in the process.
For this season’s Spindle Jam, we present to you a genre filled with experimentation and a wide range of influences. To better understand, check out our folk playlist here.
Here are some essential records to start your collection.
Joni Mitchell – Blue
An album with a lot of accolades, consistently featured in several writings and publications. It’s a wonder this was released close to five decades ago. Some of the songs on here were written during Mitchell’s vacation, following the success of her first three albums. Blue is often considered representative of a turning point in 20th-century music.
Neil Young – After the Gold Rush
An example of folk taking influences from other genres. This album is akin to finding beauty at the end of the world. Every single track on here is amazing and will have you hooked on the line, “Look at Mother Nature on the run in the 1970s.”
Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited
The 1960s started with this record. You might not get it as a whole at first, but give it several spins and you’ll definitely fall in love.
Leonard Cohen – Songs of Leonard Cohen
A gothic folk masterpiece driven by a haunting acoustic guitar and a deep, mesmerizing voice. This is the iconic 1967 debut from the musician who brought you “Hallelujah.”
Dan Fogelberg – Souvenirs
Something to take you to scenic roads and give you that courage to start anew. Compared to his prior country-heavy records, this one features a prominent pop sound, too.
Fleet Foxes – Crack-Up
Released in 2017 by the iconic Nonesuch label, this third album from indie folk frontrunners Fleet Foxes is a daring and at times experimental dream come true. Nostalgic and nature-influenced, this is a record that needs to be played from beginning to end.
Everything here is available in our stores and the website. For more of this, drop by one of the branches and check out our Vinyl Essentials wall.
Words by Kurvine Chua Visit the stores to see our Vinyl Essentials - Folk Wall Satchmi, 4F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall Satchmi, 2F Phase 2, UP Town Center