3 Americana Songs From the 2000s You Forgot Were Essential
This piece from American Songwriter revisits three Americana tracks from the 2000s that it argues remain underappreciated highlights of the genre, celebrating the decade's blend of folk-rooted songwriting with broad international appeal. It underlines the point that Americana, despite its name, is not confined to American artists and has evolved from folk traditions into a wide-ranging, hard-to-define style embraced by musicians worldwide.
The selections include The Avett Brothers, praised for the acoustic harmonies of songs such as "I And Love And You" (2009); Brandi Carlile, whose breakthrough came via "The Story" in the mid-2000s before her later Grammy-winning success; and the British band Mumford & Sons, whose 2009 single "Little Lion Man" helped launch them to global fame despite not being American.
– Three 2000s Americana tracks are spotlighted as underrated classics.
– The Avett Brothers' "I And Love And You" (2009) is highlighted for its acoustic harmonies.
– Brandi Carlile and Britain's Mumford & Sons are also featured, showing Americana's global reach.