Do you love folk rock or the folkier side of alternative music? Do you yearn for the golden era of folk rock bands like Fleetwood Mac and introspective artists like Neil Young? There’s no one out there that sounds exactly like Fleetwood Mac (or Neil Young, for that matter), but there are a couple of bands from back in the day and the modern age that have gotten pretty close. Or at least, these folk rock bands have the same kind of vibe. Let’s take a look!
1. Curved Air
Folk rock bands were in abundance in the 1970s. There were so many, if fact, that quite a few of the greats have faded from modern memory. Curved Air is one such progressive folk rock outfit that a lot of listeners might have forgotten about.
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Though, it’s difficult to call Curved Air underrated. They had a few hits that made it high up on the charts in the early 1970s, namely “Back Street Luv” and “It Happened Today”. “Vivaldi” is a fan favorite track, and we’d recommend checking out the band’s debut 1970 record Air Conditioning.
2. Wilco
What would a list of folk rock bands be without at least mentioning Wilco? This Chicago-based outfit has been around since the 1990s and isn’t just known for their folk rock stylings. They’re also very experimental and have played around with alternative country and art rock as well.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a bad album by Wilco, but if we had to pick one to listen to if you’re a fan of classic folk rock, we’d recommend the 2016 record Schmilco or the band’s self-titled 2009 album for a more alternative country vibe.
3. Midlake
Midlake is one of the best modern folk rock bands out there today. And if you’re a fan of the classics, you might really enjoy the 2006 album The Trials Of Van Occupanther. It’s a fine piece of work with soft rock and country rock elements, but folk is definitely at the heart of it. “Roscoe” is the biggest hit from that record, but we think the whole of the album is essential listening.
Photo by Andy Willsher/Redferns/Getty Images
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