Sarah Shook & the Disarmers

As the leader of North Carolina's Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, singer/songwriter River Shook offers up a full-bodied combination of the sound of vintage outlaw country -- with lyrics that waver between defiance and honest introspection -- and the fire of punk rock. Shook is unafraid of opening up about their passions and failings in song, and the tough but emotionally honest tone of the Disarmers' mix of outlaw country and lean roots rock is an ideal match for the songs. Shook and their bandmates sounded scrappy and fearlessly honest on the indie efforts Sidelong (2015) and Years (2018), and both songwriter and accompanists sounded more mature and equally forceful on 2022's Nightroamer, written and recorded after a period of personal re-evaluation. Shook's struggles with mental health and coming to terms with their past set the stage for 2024's Revelations.