“Nothing gold can stay,” it’s been said, and the final precious weeks of summer have arrived. The last few festivals of the season are coming up ahead of a stout slate of fall tours, and Nashville musicians keep right on releasing records you’ll want to know better. The Scene’s music writers have eight new recommendations for you, so add ’em to your streaming queue or pick them up from your favorite record store. Some of our picks are also available to buy directly from the artists on Bandcamp. The Bandcamp Friday promotion — in which the platform waives its cut of sales for a 24-hour period — is back from its summer break on Sept. 6.
$hrames and Chuck Indigo, WINNERS HABIT (Supasaiyan/Indigo Child/Power Entertainment)
Chuck Indigo and $hrames come out swinging on their collaborative album, a ruthless declaration of a tribute to true hustlers in all walks of life. Indigo steps back from his usual vocal style, sharpening his delivery into raw, heavyweight bars while $hrames’ smooth crooning cuts right through the mix. From the opening track “WINSTREAK,” it’s clear that music is just one part of the equation. “ERRBODYRAP” drags wannabes who want the glory without the effort, while “GUAPALOTIGET” chronicles the duo’s relentless drive to achieve. JAYME FOLTZ
Find Winners Habit on your favorite streaming service and follow $hrames and Indigo on Instagram for updates.
Sayryn, Cautionary Tales (self-released)
My favorite surprise of the summer was discovering Sayryn, whose quiet-loud-quiet take on folk-grunge offers a refreshing alternative to contemporary ’90s revivalists. Cautionary Tales is a sparse and haunting collection of vignettes anchored by the powerful twin vocals of Bryn Jahna and Saya, who weave their talents around bleak depictions of youth and young womanhood. Perfect vibes for your next seance or coven meeting. CLAIRE STEELE
Laura Reed and Megan Coleman, Chapters Vol. 1 (North Note)
Blues-schooled singer-songwriter Laura Reed and producer and first-call drummer Megan Coleman have done a ton of phenomenal work on their own, but they have outdone themselves with their debut collaboration. This five-track EP focuses on self-care and self-worth in ways that emphasize how those things are not selfish. Perfect for Reed’s lithe voice, the musical setting is rich and nimble R&B that draws on old-school stylistic cues but still sounds cutting-edge. It feels like the tip of the iceberg of what the pair can do — enhanced no doubt by the enticing fragments of a song called “Pain Into Pearls” sprinkled throughout. STEPHEN TRAGESER
Austin Stambaugh, Way Down Here on Earth (Anticorporate)
The expressionist alt-Americana of Austin Stambaugh’s 2023 record Midwest Supernatural revealed the methods of an experimental country artist with a storytelling bent. Stambaugh continues to work variations on country on Way Down Here on Earth, but the EP’s best tracks find him in rock ’n’ roll mode. The power-pop-style title track evokes Dwight Twilley and Gerry Rafferty, and it might be the most successful song Stambaugh has recorded since he released his first album Where She Will Go in 2019. Way Down also contains an excellent rock-soul song in 6/8, “The Having of It.” Stambaugh plays electric guitar throughout Way Down, which may be why the rockers hit harder than the modified country tunes he’s come up with this time around. EDD HURT
Jeff Coffin, Only the Horizon (Ear Up)
Multi-instrumentalist, bandleader and composer Jeff Coffin’s latest release offers listeners an exciting combination of original tunes played by a diverse and gifted corps of 40 musicians whose experiences and influences span the idiomatic gamut. Coffin & Co. make rhythmically dynamic, expressive and edgy songs that display both his and others’ solo skills, while the accompanying bassists, drummers and percussionists maintain frenetic, masterful grooves underneath. In explosive fashion, Only the Horizon also utilizes two groups of musicians who bring forward styles with roots in West Africa: Nashville’s Yeli Ensemble and an array of Gullah Geechee musicians based in South Carolina. From the powerhouse strains of “Here We Go” to the melodically delightful “Yesterday’s Dream” and memorable title track, Only the Horizon is Coffin’s finest release as a leader. RON WYNN
The Dreaded Laramie, Princess Feedback (Smartpunk)
If you’re in the mood for a breakup album that doesn’t wallow in sadness but instead offers a cathartic release, here’s your new go-to. This power-pop gem is a satisfying mix of emotional depth and unapologetic confidence. Working alongside Grammy-winning producer Dave Schiffman, the quartet led by guitarists M.C. Cunningham and Zach Anderson has elevated its sound, taking risks that pay off with every track. “I Should Go” invites listeners to focus on what’s left unsaid, while “Where’s My Crystal Ball?” captures the relatable feeling of wanting to avoid life’s problems altogether. Cunningham’s sugary vocals and the pair’s pop-infused guitars shine through the album, creating a sound that’s both familiar and refreshingly different from their earlier work. Despite its theme, Princess Feedback is an album that will make you smile, and that’s the point. JAYME FOLTZ
Maren Morris, Intermission (Columbia)
Country star Maren Morris’ venture into her own pop realm gives her an opportunity to be more vocally expressive and lyrically sincere than ever before. Her latest EP opens with the emotive one-two punch of Julia Michaels collaboration “Cut!” and “I Hope I Never Fall in Love,” on which Morris sings openly, unapologetically and with resonant grit about the challenges — internal and external — of existing on her own terms after the end of her marriage. Morris, known to explore a wide range of sonic territory, introduces infectious synth-pop elements and funky guitar riffs in “Push Me Over” and “Because, of Course.” Intermission closes with “This Is How a Woman Leaves” — a sincere acoustic ballad highlighting Morris’ confident vulnerability with her tender, raspy vocals. MADELEINE BRADFORD
Find Intermission on your favorite streaming service and follow Morris on Instagram for updates.
Terror Pigeon, Bat Out of Heaven (self-released)
The latest LP from musician and artist Neil Fridd’s project Terror Pigeon offers a strong dose of hyperpoppin’ posi vibes, but it’s not about pretending that everything is great all the time. Much of the dense lyrical content — which often feels like one side of a conversation, set to gentle ’90s R&B beats or swirling amid a manic rush of horn samples — orbits around just how hard it is to hold onto having a life in which you make art and stay connected to other people. It’s a potent reminder that it’s much easier to live through this mess when you can share the load, and that sometimes dancing it out is the best option. STEPHEN TRAGESER
