Put A Record On: Burn All the Bridges, I'll Bring the Matches

Especially because all men in country music do these days is write new lyrics over old classic songs?!

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.

Important note! This Monday, September 18 at 7 p.m. CT, is our Don’t Rock The Inbox Book Club on Why Tammy Wynette Matters by Steacy Easton! We’d love this to be a discussion between Steacy and our readers about Tammy, gender and domesticity in country music and whatever else you found interesting and enlightening in their book. You’ll have a chance to chime in during the call and talk to Steacy directly, but also feel free to submit questions here in the comments. And let us know if you plan on making the event - we’d love to know what friendly faces to expect!

Now, to the picks….

The Good

The Bridge, Maren Morris: By now I am pretty sure you all know how I feel about Maren Morris, and how important I think she is to this genre - for the music she makes, for the paths she paves, for the doors she swings open for others besides herself (here’s where I do my requisite “I wrote a book on that,” and you know what - I’m damn proud of it! Spending several years of my life documenting this side of Maren’s journey was well worth it). These two tracks function as a bridge (hence the name), to Maren’s next record and phase of her career, whatever that may be, and I know enough people are going to focus on the lyrics here and exactly what parts of (or what person in) the Nashville establishment she’s talking about at any moment. You don’t need me to do that, and don’t let it be the only thing you come out of these songs with - though, as a fellow country music bridge-burner, I do love it all. But I also urge you to give a listen to these songs with respect for the damn vocals. The choices! The runs! The softness where it needs to be soft and the explosions when shit needs to blow up: what an instrument she has. In rush to get a good headline, don’t forget to look at the artistry she brings forth here. Anyway, if Music Row wants to turn their backs on that because she speaks her mind, it never really was all about the music to begin with - but hell, we knew that all along. - MM

“Michelle,” Tish Melton: Holy shit, why wasn’t this around when I was 17? Produced by Brandi Carlile, to boot. I have a feeling this artist is going to be a special one. - MM

Valley of Hearts Delight, Margo Cilker: Already one of my favorite albums of the year, which is exactly how I felt about Margo’s last LP - two for two! It’s beautiful, funny, tender, classic but always moving forward. “Everyone I look up to,” she sings, “has gone crazy or died.” I feel that. Luckily Margo made an album that keeps the spirit of those good ones alive. - MM