Sounds Like: Outlaw swagger meets blue-eyed soul, with evocative, heartfelt songwriting thrown in for good measure.
For Fans of: Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Ray LaMontagne
Why You Should Pay Attention: Cris Jacobs' 2016 album Dust to Gold snuck up on everyone, quietly announcing itself as one of the best roots-soul records in a year that also produced a new album from Sturgill Simpson. Its a grooving slice of soul-country that should have show-goers dancing in the aisles. He earned an opening slot with Simpson himself on the strength of his 2012 debut, and, though similarities between the two artists are hard to ignore, he has a singular voice all his own, one that has him headlining his own gigs.