Massachusetts-based indie Signature Sounds has spent its first two decades amassing a respectable catalog of Americana, singer/songwriter, and related modern folk music, providing a home to artists like
Josh Ritter,
Amy Rigby,
Chris Smither, and
Lake Street Dive. To celebrate the label's 20th anniversary, they're offering this collection of rarities, live cuts, and eclectic covers from their varied roster. Seattle's
Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers put their lonesome stamp on
Dock Boggs' early folk chestnut "Country Blues," while troubadour
Peter Mulvey takes on
Randy Newman's "Lonely at the Top." There's a nice mix of playful whimsy and dirt road darkness on this 19-song collection, which also features contributions from
Eilen Jewell,
Jeffrey Foucault,
Crooked Still, and
Winterpills, among others. Offering up two tracks is Boston's
Lake Street Dive, whose surprise 2014 breakout album cracked Billboard's Top 20, providing some welcome exposure for the band, the label, and folk music in general. ~ Timothy Monger