North Carolina Release Radar: Our Favorite New Music Releases of 2023

David Childers is one of those “your favorite songwriter’s favorite songwriter” kind of musicians. His decades of sardonic, existential songwriting have made him a favorite of roots rock staples like The Avett Brothers, and his most recent effort has proven one of his most subdued to date. Childers has dampened his fiery energy from previous releases for an understated mixture of country and folk aesthetics. The bulk of his record features powerful original tracks like “Kiss Me Like Judas” and “All Our Good Times Are Through,” but Childers brings some exciting new takes on beloved old tracks like Prince’s “I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man.” Melancholy Angel shows a sense of restraint to Childers’ renown sound, but still posits the musician as one of the state’s finest songwriters.

James Abbott