Put A Record On: A Country Song That Doesn't Weep for Mitch McConnell (Cuz Nobody Should)

And Adeem the Artist asks the question on so many of our minds: what if we stayed?

Welcome back to Don’t Rock the Inbox! Here’s this week’s music recommendation post and playlist, which are for paying subscribers only. Subscribe to get access to all our new (and old) music picks and pans, and so much more — including new playlists weekly, which are always at the bottom of this email (paying subscribers — make sure you don’t miss them!). If you’re interested in paid content but not able to afford it, shoot us an email.

Next Thursday: JOSHUA RAY WALKER will be joining the Don’t Rock The Inbox Live official Zoom room on September 14th at 7 p.m. CT — become a paying subscriber today so you don’t miss it! Here’s one of my favorites of his, simple and brilliant.

Another reminder: We are officially launching the Don’t Rock The Inbox Book Club!! Our first book will be Why Tammy Wynette Matters by Steacy Easton — read it before we get Steacy on Zoom to discuss it on Monday, September 18th with our paying subscribers. If you don’t have it yet, we have our first discount code (!! I’m so excited about this!) for Don’t Rock The Inbox readers only (!): enter UTXTAMMY for 25% off + free shipping if you purchase the book directly from UT Press.

And follow our very new Instagram!! We’ll be posting up a storm from our various country adventures. Now, on to the music…

Photo: Shawn Poynter

The Good

“What If We Stayed?”, Adeem the Artist: A heartbreaking expression of the kind of sentiment that’s all too familiar to red-state residents like Marissa and I (albeit ones who are certainly safer within them than trans people like Adeem). Telling it like it is, song by song. — NW [This song truly moved me, and really hit home. I spend my days half disgusted by my state, and half so energized and in awe of people like Justin Jones, Justin Pearson and (hopefully) future Senator Gloria Johnson, and by people like Holly G. and Tanner launching a Black Opry Records which will transform opportunities for artists of color in country music. It’s not safe for everyone to stay here, but if they can fight, so can my cishet white ass. - MM]

“Highballin’ Everywhere I Go,” Nick Hans: Another find via DJ Salty Cracker and his fabulous Both Kinds of Music playlist — Hans has the kind of ramshackle, New Orleans country sound (think Deslondes) that I can’t get enough of right now. It’s loose, smart and fun, more or less the three descriptors most likely to convince me to listen to anything. — NW

“Do You Recall,” Dori Freeman: A little bit of Motown swing seeps into this new one from Dori, which is perfect match to her traditionalist inclinations and pristine voice. - MM