Fat Man & Little Boy’s new album The Atomic Duo has been in my CD stack for a while now; I enjoyed listening to it on a Thanksgiving trip, so that tells you. I wanted to share it with you in case you had not already read a review of it elsewhere. Although this is technically their first album together, I hesitate to call it a debut album because these two are not new to the music business….

In case you haven’t already seen it, there is a series in progress over at the Open Salon site about Bob Dylan and the musicians who influenced him. Three posts so far, all thought-provoking for anyone interested in early folk music and blues. The author plans to take this through ten posts in all over a period of several months. If you start with the introductory post it contains links to the others.

Todd B. loves his ukulele. Or make that ukuleles. He has gone so far as to write a song about his collection, which you can see in this video. Todd, an enterprising musical moonlighter nicknamed “Brother Sonny” who does not disclose his last name on his web site, has written several original contemporary folk songs and has performed the work of various folk artists including Burl Ives and Bascom Lamar Lunsford.

I’m always looking for new music and for time to write about it, and sometimes I have to be reminded to look in my own backyard. I became aware of a recent performance by a fairly new local group called Seryn, and once I listened to some of the concert online I wanted to share it with you.

The nominees for the 2010 Grammy Awards were announced Wednesday evening. One of the nominees for Best Traditional Folk Album is Cutting Loose, by David Holt and Josh Goforth. This compilation of comedy and music is a treat to listen to, with a surprise around every corner.

When you listen to Walt Cronin, don’t expect fancy language or complicated musical structure. Listen to the words, though, because simple words can carry a great impact. On his recent solo release, The Gousters, Walt sings of love, war and everyday things, and brings you into the experience. These are songs from the heart — the essence of true folk music. Of a war widow: “It’s the hurt that’s in us all, as we watch those young men fall….” (Flowers in Her Hand). Of a veteran’s life: “…I was a soldier, led to the places that left me bereaved….Came home a stranger….” (The Rift). Of a homeless girl: “How can this be, in the land of the free….no one is listening…” (She’s On Her Own).

I don’t know whether she will eventually choose to settle (or be channeled) into a particular style, but right now Thailand-born Burmese singer/songwriter Mary Win is exploring a wide range of sounds from folk to rock to pop. Her lyrics are often dark but her songs are definitely worth a listen. “Snowdrifts” is an example of a song that is more in the folk music pattern. “Suddenly”  is a song she presented last year in honor of human rights efforts in her parents’ native country of Burma.

Mary makes her home in the Seattle area. Her upcoming shows include a performance on Sunday, July 19th at the Strawberry Festival on Vashon Island.

Former Nickel Creek member Sara Watkins has a self-titled CD coming out April 7. The album is produced by John Paul Jones (of Led Zeppelin) and contains material written by Sara, songs written by some of her friends and  songs by other artists whose work she has long admired. The sound is an intriguing combination of folk and pop with a touch of folk blues, as when she covers John Hartford’s “Long Hot Summer Days.” Song samples are available on Sara’s MySpace page.