Artist: JustFolk: Steven Gores, Keyboard, producer; Todd Kolod: Acoustic guitar; and Manolo Díaz: electric guitar

Album: ‘The Best of JustFolk 2012-2025;’ Release: December 10, 2025

The most impassioned, soulful bands revel in their rich, universal lyrical themes about human love, hope, existence and mortality. Folk rock trio JustFolk have done just that with all of their projects since their inception in 2012. The band, which has long been devoted to sharing its emotional honesty in its songs, has released their latest, and final, album. The release is a 13-track compilation LP titled ‘The Best of JustFolk 2012-2025.’

The group revisit their essential works in chronological order throughout their last record. The band’s signature sound on the album is defined by their love for their classic musical lineage, including The Beatles, Neil Young, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty. Coupled with a commitment to sharing their emotional vulnerability and expressions of hard-won wisdom, the musicians of JustFolk conjure a creative energy that’s nothing short of profound.

Recorded between Ibiza, Spain and Helena, Montana, the band’s final statement is a stunning retrospective on their hard-won wisdom. The Saint Paul, Minnesota-based group, which was led by acoustic guitarist-vocalist Todd Kolod also built their sound on their deep reverence for the songes. of The Beatles, Neil Young and Tom Petty. Like their inspirations, JustFolk favor strong melodic hooks, as well as compelling lyricism and arrangements that thrive organically.

Kolod’s self-described “unpolished” vocals are central to the band’s appeal. There’s an earnest fragility in his delivery that turns songs about love, mortality and existential doubt into lived experiences. His humble appeal infuse the tunes with an untethered warmth.

The compilation opens with the standout entry, ‘Look What You’ve Done.’ The song features a soothing blend of calming piano and soft acoustic strumming that gradually builds in emotional intensity. Around its midpoint, a glistening swell of strings enters the recording, which elevates the track into an introspective soundscape.

Lyrically, it’s a meditation on self-sacrifice as Kolod croons: “You’ve done it again, you can never win.” The lyrics are a poignant reflection on giving everything and expecting nothing in return. Nostalgic and sentimental, the tune lingers long after its final chord.

The album’s second song, ‘So Much,’ follows as another standout entry, as it blends playful piano figures with serene strings and balmy acoustic textures. Beneath its enveloping production is a darker, heavier meditation on fate, as the singer also croons: “Never has so much depended upon the one-in-a-million chance.”

Dual-vocal passages intensify the emotional pull, transforming the track into both a lament and a celebratory exploration into human resilience. The production is intimately reflective on the lyrics’ existential stakes.

Midway through ‘The Best of JustFolk’ is ‘Rivertown,’ which injects grit into the project’s overarching message. A pronounced, muscular bass line drives the tune with near-cinematic force. The gritty vocal and instrumental blend creates imagery of a lone antihero riding into a fading Western town to its soundtrack.

The LP begins to wind down with its memorable penultimate entry, ‘Dirty Sky.’ The song drifts into psychedelic spaciousness, expanding the band’s palette into atmospheric terrain without sacrificing melodic clarity.

The track is followed by the record’s final entry, ‘What Was I Thinking?’ The closer serves as a contemplative send-off, as it’s anchored by acoustic guitar and reflective lyrics, including: “some of my dreams rarely come true.” The final tune questions expectations, partnership and self-awareness. As the last entry, it feels both vulnerable and fitting.

Across four full-length albums and 13 years, JustFolk crafted songs that never chased trends. Instead, they pursued such universal themes as love, hope, existence and mortality with sincerity and a studious respect for classic rock traditions.

While ‘Best of JustFolk 2012–2025’ marks the band’s retirement, it also offers a second chance for discovery. In an era obsessed with polish and perfection, JustFolk’s raw, soulful spirit feels refreshingly human.

For more information on JustFolk, visit the band’s Bandcamp, Spotify and YouTube pages.