Put A Record On: Music For Good (and Music For Evil)
We're playing catch-up with a glut of wonderful tunes (and a few that make us want to scream).
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.
The Good
Cardinals At The Window: A Benefit For Flood Relief in Western North Carolina: A no-brainer — $10 for over 100 (!) tracks from a slew of great artists, including Jason Isbell, Yasmin Williams, Terry Allen, Dawes & Hiss Golden Messenger, Feist, MJ Lenderman and on and on and on, with all proceeds going to Helene relief. A true win-win. — NW
Better Than Jail: Another benefit album for a worthy cause; this one, a collection of new takes on classic prison songs with all proceeds going to Free Hearts and Equal Justice USA, two organizations that work to mitigate the impact of the carceral state. Bonnie freakin' Raitt contributed to this one, what more do you need to know?!?! (Also Hayes Carll and Steve Earle on the same compilation….for the messy people like me who love drama.) (Strangely, it doesn't seem to be available to purchase? I guess streaming proceeds are going to the organizations?) — NW
Charley's Pride: A Tribute to Black Country Music, Danielia Cotton: This rockin' EP is wonderful; adding a harder edge (and a gender flip) to "Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'" in particular is a stroke of genius. — NW
"God Blessed Texas (Dios Bendijo Tejas)," Keith Nieto, Sunny Sauceda and Rico Gonzalez: How has this not been translated before?!? A great, long overdue fresh take on a song that is in its fourth decade of having my current home state in a stranglehold. — NW
JP Harris Is A Trash Fire, JP Harris: JP Harris is not a trash fire, in my humble opinion; in fact he's got a pretty great collection of old-school but not redundant country songs here. It's always a neat trick to write, as he puts it on the album, "old songs in new styles" — the artfully rough finish on these ones makes them feel that much brighter and livelier. — NW
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