When I moved to East Nashville in 2012, legend had it that if you wanted to find Todd Snider, all you had to do was go to Drifter’s BBQ in Five Points, and he’d be there at the bar. Nashville always had rumblings like this: that John Prine
As someone who listens to music all the time, and writes about music and musicians for a living, there is one curious time when I am extremely picky about what I listen to: when I am actually writing. And when I am in that deep work, ignore everything else and
country chart history
Back with more arcane country chart history, because as we all know it brings me great joy :) Hop in, let’s take a ride on the Billboard time machine… 75 Years Ago: November 11, 1950 In its 19th (!) week on the chart, we have the now-standard "I'm
put a record on
Welcome back to Don’t Rock the Inbox. Here’s this week’s music recommendation post and playlist, which are for paying subscribers only. Sorry if they are a little late in the day today - I got stuck in the airport mess thanks to Trumps Government Shutdown! - MM
The veteran singer-songwriter talks with DRTI about his timeless debut, and the half-century since.
I've been thinking about motherhood lately. Just kidding - I think about it and write about it all the time, because it's obviously very much a part of who I am, as a mom to two young kids who refuses to hide this part of myself
soul-folk
These days, the too-often ignored history of Black artists making country music looks like positively well-trodden territory compared to the story of Black artists and folk. Enter Ashawnta Jackson's Soul-Folk, a quick guide released last year to a whole subgenre that stretches far beyond even the brilliant artists
A country music newsletter.
Welcome back to Don’t Rock the Inbox. Here’s this week’s music recommendation post and playlist, which are for paying subscribers only. If you’re interested in paid content but not able to afford it, shoot us an email. The Good "Field Song," Mon Rovîa: I
Forgive me for the subject line of this newsletter, a tacky bait-and-switch. But in a world of fifteen-second TikTok clips, sometimes you must resort to the low road. Because no, I’m not talking about Taylor Swift here - though I am happy to talk about Taylor! I am talking
A fall playlist, for your #aesthetic and cozy autumn days.
'70s country is the source of plenty of current nostalgia despite being made (gulp) a half century ago. There are so many great albums that hit the 50 mark this year, though, and it only seemed right to give you all an excuse to listen to them — some will
Welcome back to Don’t Rock the Inbox. Here’s this week’s music recommendation post and playlist, which are for paying subscribers only. If you’re interested in paid content but not able to afford it, shoot us an email. The Good “Steppin’ Outside,” Cory Branan featuring Tyler Childers:
For as long as I have been living in Nashville, Kelsey Waldon has been making her own kind of country music. I remember the first time I heard that voice, the voice John Prine said he’d listen to sing the phone book: it felt like it carried the ghosts
Look, I know there is other music news in the world today, but nothing stops Don't Rock the Inbox from getting into the October spirit, especially when faux Halloween horror serves as a very good way to (temporarily, only for a moment) disassociate from actual real world horror.
Small rooms, acoustic guitars, and country tradition without pretension
Welcome back to Don’t Rock the Inbox. Here’s this week’s music recommendation post and playlist, which are for paying subscribers only. If you’re interested in paid content but not able to afford it, shoot us an email. The Good Nobody's Girl, Amanda Shires: I
In 2016, I took a ride with Jake Owen in his VW bus and listened to Mel Street records for Rolling Stone. I was almost nine months pregnant, so I am honestly shocked I could put words together – at the time, Owen was working hard to rehab his image of
It’s a terrifying day in America, once again. And though I could be talking about any number of horrifying things, today I’m interrupting our usual newsletter schedule to talk about censorship. Yesterday, Jimmy Kimmel was suspended indefinitely for comments he made about the murder of Charlie Kirk after
A look at the country side of 'Nashville'