Put A Record On: Quirky Little Country Songs & Legends Actually...Delivering

"At least there's music," she tells herself, breathing into a paper bag

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.

Michaela Anne (Instagram)

The Good

“Just More Love,” Michaela Anne: What a gorgeous, necessary balm, this new one from Michaela Anne. “How did we come to tell the story like there’s just one way it goes,” Michaela asks, alongside harmonies from Josh Oliver. It’s not a song about empty platitudes, rather how to refocus on what (and who) matters when things get tough, without ever denying the pain. - MM

"Spud Infinity," The Last Revel: Wow, I got got — saved this song and realized it was a Big Thief cover. Being chronically hype-averse, I've resisted them for a while (and I know I've even included Adrienne Lenker songs…it doesn't have to make sense! Or maybe it makes so much sense, my being a basic-ass Millennial and all); I like this song though, and I like The Last Revel leaning into the string band-ness of it; harmonies never made anything worse. — NW [Popping in to vouch for the original “Spud Infinity” here too, because it’s such a weird little countryish Big Thief song! I love it: “everybody steps on ants.” - MM]

Woodland, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings: As you’ll see later in the newsletter, a little theme of today is legends and titans of country and roots (and beyond) coming back to make new albums and actually….really fucking delivering? What a relief, in this sad little world right now. I don’t think these two are capable of making a bad album, but this is such a perfectly balanced collection of ten songs, building on tradition but living in the now in the way only the two of them can - the originators of a certain kind of modern unease (from Everything is Free” to “Hashtag”). Both of them come through as equal partners on this record, ending in the absolute stunner, “Howdy Howdy.” If you need a go-to listen for the winter months ahead, let this be it. - MM