Bloodline

First of the jump back to the new additions for me. Not sure there was much interesting here. Let see how this ages. Right now I see it as a possible example of why not to add current titles to the list without a waiting period.

I can appreciate some of the more salient moments in the streamlined folk artistry of this African-born, Appalachian-raised artist whose music shares some surface characteristics with the one of Patrick Watson or Kevin Morby -- with even less "abrasive" results, believe it or not. I can also appreciate how the delicate first three tracks of this record are drawing on harrowing family events and/or memories in a war-torn Liberia. Janjay Lowe, a.k.a. Mon Rovîa, has had a very interesting life, even if he is still a young man... Check it out online. Finally, I can appreciate the pointedly political lyrics of "Somewhere Down In Georgia" and "Heavy Foot" -- the later being also a rousing anthem in its own gentle way -- which is fitting given what it has to say. What I can't totally appreciate is how twee and blandly produced otherwise very derivative cuts such as "Old Fort Steel Trail" or "Field Song" sound. Apparently, Mumford & Sons was also an early inspiration for Janjay's artistry, and frankly, I could never bear the Starbucks Coffee overtones of that sort of so-called modern folk shtick. Those overtones hover everywhere on the proceedings, and they're making it difficult for me to fully connect with the music. You can play "modern" folk in a manner that goes beyond the expected streamlined and YouTube video-ready tropes. For me those songs still betray the Tiktok-propelled origins of the project, which often fail to leave a significant imprint in the long run. It's a damn shame because Mon Rovîa's stories are authentic-sounding. Yet I don't buy the "package", if you see what I mean. And I wish Janjay could work with different producers to see where he could go from there. This is the first "extra album" from the 2026 edition of the book I have to review (I'm way into the users list now, normally), and it makes me smirk that after (unwittingly) shoving so many eighties post-punk and new wave albums down the throats of this generator's users -- who were not necessarily inclined to dig that style in the first place -- an older (and not necessarily wiser) Dimery ends up selecting this one twee record out of all the releases of the couple of last years or so. Like, when he was younger, the genre was OK as some sort of mandatory listen, but now that the eighties are long gone, he doesn't give a rat's ass about the bearers of the post-punk torch today. And so one of his picks today is something that's diametrically different from the sounds of his youth... All I have written in the last paragraph is kind of in jest, of course. I know that Dimery isn't the only writer in the book (he's just the chief editor), but it's fun to pretend he's solely responsible for *all* the past and present picks, as someone on the Discord server for this generator stated today. Too bad that today's pick isn't exactly stellar, no matter what its genre is. This is really what makes the post-punk, indie-rock and *folk* fan that I am want to smirk. Whether as a writer or as an editor, Dimery seems to have lost the thread broadly speaking. But this is nothing new, it's been going on for two decades now. There's a saying my native French language for that sort of situation (don't know if there's a similar one in English): "Old age is like a shipwreck". 2.5/5 for the purposes of this list dedicated to essential albums, rounded up to 3 7.5/10 for more general purposes (5 for the musicianship and production values + 2.5 for the artistry) ---- Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 + 1 (addition to the 2026 edition of the book) ---- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 125 Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 143 Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 320

gentle, mild, light, inoffensive, insubstantial - if Babybel Cheese made an album, it would sound like this. a breathy, fey, waste of time, and a senseless addition to a list which still excludes Eric Dolphy, Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey (and many other great musicians)

I missed the chance to see this guy at the Winnipeg Folk Festival this year, partly because two polka-dotted aliens happened to be headlining, hence most of the days were sold out. However, having *only* seen Black Country New Road, Father John Misty and Real Estate was a pretty nice concession. Aside from some positive word-of-mouth about his performance, I haven't listened to more than a couple minutes of Mon Rovîa's music. That changes today!! Because I have to listen to it! Or I'll die, or something :0 There’s a word that’s probably used too much in music criticism, or at least in my own thoughts, and that is P O T E N T I A L. Because there is a lot to like about Bloodline, from the endearing melodies, to the thoughtful, stark lyrics, to the rustic treatment that isn’t over-tuned to the TikTok crowd like Noah Kahan or Ella Langley are to my ears. For the most part. “Field Song” and “Heavy Foot” are especially middle-of-the-road in an album that doesn’t stray too far from the indie folk formula. The samples early on in the album, like the church choir and bagpipes in the title track, are perhaps the most adventurous this album gets, though take them out and you’re still left with a good song. Despite the lightness of the overall album, some songs like “Somewhere down in Georgia” veer into a darker, almost Southern Gothic flair that I would like to hear more of from this artist. It’s also the first album I’ve heard that directly addresses the inextricably connected histories of Liberia and the United States (besides Bad by Michael Jackson /s), so kudos to Mon Rovîa 3.5/5, for now HL: title track, “Black Cauldron”, “Pray the Devil”, “Running Boy”, “Somewhere down in Georgia” October 17, 2026

Just a bit boring. Good dinner party background stuff if that's your bag, I guess.

Like everything else made today, this sucks maximum suckage. Zero need for this to be here. 1.0

In a nutshell: the afro-Appalachia autobiography. The arrangements are gentle. The lyrics are self-reflective and kinda hymnal. Mon states in interviews he grew up listening to his brothers Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes albums, which pairs nicely with the stories he tells. I'm assuming the inclusion of Mon's debut LP in the 2026 edition of the book (which I don't have yet) is founded on his media presence as well as his music. Liberian born and American raised, Mon is one of a handful of artists with a strong following on TikTok. He appeared at the Grand Ole Opry in July 2025 and on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series in September 2026. Impressive! It's nice to hear a new take on Appalachian folk. I just hope this won't be the beginning of a stomp-clap-minus-the-hey indie folk revival. Overall: 5/10

QUI OSE ME RÉVEILLER DE MON ÉTERNELLE DORMANCE? Ah, c’est encore Robert, avec un album qui me donne envie de me rendormir 🥱

Wow this is a really pleasant surprise and just a fantastic listen. Soothing and gentle voice that compliments the melodic turns in the music perfectly. Doesn't really fit my definition of a missed book entry since this was *just released* :P but as for a new discovery, yeah, I'm not sure what else to say other than I will definitely listen to this again. Peaceful and a little emotional. 8/10 4 stars IMO: Belonged in the book? No.

This was a nice addition to the main list. The idea of a Liberian-Appalachian musician is either going to be gimmicky or amazing. Fortunately Mon Rovia has the talent to back the idea up. Truthfully, there's more Americana here than Africa, but with a slight undercurrent of his background. The result is sweet, understated folk rock, not unlike something by Bon Iver. I really like this one.

This just sounds like Ed Sheeran with extra steps. For real though, how late in the game were the edits to this new 1001 edition made if an album released 9 months ago made it in? Feels like the contributors had an "oh shit my homework is due tomorrow" moment and threw this in at random with no consideration to how its going to age.

Very comforting album, I really like how his voice sounds over the instruments. It does drop in quality about halfway through the album but not too much. I'm probably going to get this one on vinyl someday. :3

Continuing with the 2026 book additions I’ve become more jaded. If ai had been going through the original 1001 albums run or if this had been a user selection I would have probably given it a 3, but the context of this specifically being added to the book in place of precious entries leaves me wanting more. More relevance, more interest, more of something new.

This must be a new one to the list. Kinda sounds like Keller Williams mixed with Noah Kahan. Not sure it is classic status but pleasant enough

tonally and sound-wise is reminiscent of something like a sigur ros. very atmospheric, soft. liked it, didn't love it. interesting pick though.

The lyrics were somewhat interesting but otherwise this album was just fine? The music just sounded like every other indie-folk artist ever.

Couldn’t really remember it but at least that means I didn’t hate it

Didn't know what to expect from this brand new album (both to the book and being only 9 months old), but certainly was not this! From the first track to the last, this really fit my tastes perfectly.. My biggest complaint of more modern songs is there is no room to breathe — that is, wall-to-wall lyrics and such layered and compressed music that it feels stifling. ‘Heavy Foot’ somewhat approaches this, but Mon Rovîa leaves plenty of time to absorb his lyrics, and keeping a more stripped arrangement doesn’t feel so oppressive. I will certainly be looking into his wider catalog, this was an absolute joy! Folk/singer-songwriter genres generally get lower ratings from me but this really suited me. 4.5/5

8.5/10

Fed! Glad for jeg har hørt den!

Stor 2er, lød rigtig lækkert, bare lidt kedeligt. Ret obskurt 2026 valg?

Sounded like a Bon Iver cover band.

A nice way to return to the project. Nice.

Whoa this was an excellent album! It made an excellent soundtrack for my day.