The band's style was also described as ' alternative country' and ' country rock.' The band's main influences include the Beatles, The Byrds, and Buffalo Springfield. The band's music contains elements from various musical genres, such as folk, country, dub, country soul, rhythm and blues, bluegrass, jazz, funk, swamp pop, gospel, blues, and rock. In 2021 the band was inter alia part of the Newport Folk Festival in July. Their 2019 album Terms of Surrender received a nomination for Best Americana Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. They have gone on to release four additional full-length records via Merge, as well as remastered versions of Bad Debt, Poor Moon, and Haw. Hiss Golden Messenger were signed to Merge in April 2014 and released their fifth album and Merge label debut, Lateness of Dancers on September 9, 2014. Hiss Golden Messenger performing live in December, 2018.

The band's fourth album, Haw, was released on April 2, 2013.

The band's third album, Poor Moon, was released in 2012 via North Carolina-based 'Paradise of Bachelors', and received positive reviews. This was followed by their international debut album, Bad Debt, in 2010, released via Black Maps. The band's debut album, Country Hai East Cotton, was released in 2009 via Taylor's label in a limited edition of 500. Hiss Golden Messenger's early recordings were released through Taylor's own label, 'Heaven & Earth Magic Recording Company.' The band was formed by Michael Carrington 'M.C.' Taylor and Scott Hirsch in 2007 following the dissolution of their previous band, the alternative country group The Court and Spark. Hiss Golden Messenger is an American folk music band, originating from Durham, North Carolina, led by MC Taylor (born September 9, 1975). MC Taylor, Live Band = Chris Boerner, Alex Bingham, Sam Fribush, and Nick Falk Paradise of Bachelors, Heaven & Earth Magic, Blackmaps, Merge, Three Lobed Recordings Indie folk, blues, alternative country, country rock

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