The songwriting vehicle of North Carolina musician M.C. Taylor, Hiss Golden Messenger puts a loose, vaguely psychedelic spin on dirty-boot Americana, as heard on his most recent full-length, 2017’s soulful Hallelujah Anyhow, an urging of empathy in the Trump era. Last year, Merge released a box set, Devotion: Songs About Rivers and Spirits and Children, featuring remastered versions of three existing Hiss LPs, plus a collection of rarities. In February, Taylor dropped two new tracks, the twangy “Watching the Wires” and gospel-tinged “Everybody Needs Somebody,” both featuring vocals from Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso. L.A. folkie Anna St. Louis opens Thursday’s Rooftop show.
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