Editor’s Note: Here at No Depression there’s too much great roots music in a year for us to cover it all. So in December, when new releases slow down, we ask writers to review some of the best albums we missed throughout the year in an on-going series called What We Missed.
Who’s the best band in Austin, Texas, right now? Plenty of folks might say Black Pumas, Grammy nominees who play arenas. Certainly Spoon would get a lot of mentions, especially among indie rock fans. I wouldn’t fault anyone who says Fastball, late-90s two-hit wonders who’ve proven with recent albums to be in it for the long haul. If Western Swing is your thing, Asleep at the Wheel has been rolling for 50-plus years. And beyond the marquee names, dozens of other praiseworthy bands work the city’s clubs, constantly extending its reputation as the live music capital of the world.
One of those bands is Ulla. They just released Ulla II, which is their second record but first full-length album, following a six-song EP issued in 2019. They play every Sunday night at the Saxon Pub, but they rarely play anywhere else. It might seem a reach to suggest they could be considered Austin’s best current band — especially since they’re interpreting traditional songs rather than presenting original material. But if you listen to Ulla II, I think you’ll hear why I’m placing them in that conversation.
