Put a Record On: Gen Z country and less terrifying developments

Allison Russell, Maren Morris, Rhiannon Giddens and more.

Welcome back to Don’t Rock the Inbox! Natalie here — I’ll be taking you through most of this week’s music recommendation post and playlist, which is now for paying subscribers only! Subscribe to get access to all our new (and old) music picks and pans, and so much more. Let us know what you think of these songs, and happy listening!

The Good

“Texas,” Jessie Murph & Maren Morris: I know Natalie’s leading you through most of this week’s post, but I had to jump in and talk about “Texas” immediately. Is this country? Is this pop? If you’re concerned with the answer to that question, this probably isn’t the newsletter for you. Anyway, anything called “Texas” with Maren Morris on it has my attention, as does this particular song that puts her alongside fellow Lone Star stater Jessie Murph (who apparently sang Maren songs as a young kid, I love a full circle moment). Their voices make for a perfect blend in some moments and more of a yin-yang in others, alongside an almost ominous undercurrent of twang. The influence of Maren on Jessie is clear, too, which is pretty thrilling to see, the way the webs are weaving to change what kids are hearing growing up in Texas, and the way that works into their music, even beyond country. I also love how Maren’s a shapeshifter who, in every unexpected move, still manages to sound fully and completely herself - and fully Texas, in her own specific definition of what they can be.

It also is important to mention that this week Maren is on the cover of Billboard’s Pride Issue alongside drag queens Eureka O’Hara, Landon Cider, Sasha Colby and Symone. Like The Chicks shouting “Texas!” before they took the CMA stage with Houstonian Beyonce at the CMA Awards), this song is a giant pull on the tug of rope to define what, and who, gets to live, own and thrive in these southern states. Because we all believe in a better south. — MM

“We Ain’t The Only Ones,” Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen: Sure, a song listing a bunch of TX country folks is probably about as easy a win as Randy or Wade have had in a minute — but they got me, at least a little. Sometimes you just want to listen to a twangy tune by some maestros of honky-tonk with a few barely insidery jokes that make you feel cool! — NW