Put a Record On: Never Good to See Your Name on a Hashtag...

...unless it's in a song by Gillian Welch & David Rawlings. Then it's great news.

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.

PHOTO CREDIT: ALYSSE GAFKJEN

The Good

“Hashtag,” Gillian Welch & David Rawlings: A sweet spot of mine is using traditional tools with modern language - nothing gets me going more than a dude who lives in a condo in East Nashville singing like what he thinks an old timey train conductor might speak like (trust me, you will know this when you hear it). News of a new Gillian Welch/David Rawlings album is always extremely welcome, this tune, sung with Rawlings at lead, is an ode to Guy Clark packed with tears and humor and truth. “You laughed and said the news would be bad if I ever saw your name with a hashtag,” Rawlings sings. “Singers like you and I are only news when we die.” Fuck if it’s not true, but doesn’t mean we can spend a lifetime trying to force good music to be newsworthy just for existing. Hence the existence of this newsletter, I suppose. - MM

"Gettin' Over," Denitia: An upbeat song about how work sucks? You will literally have my vote. — NW

“Lightning in July (Prairie Fire),” Noeline Hoffmann: This one hooked me from the first few honkytonk notes, and stuck when her soft but weathered vocals hit. Fun and potent, excited for what’s next from this one. - MM