Put A Record On: We Believe in a Better South (and RVSHVD)

A lot of songs to listen to, because it's too hot to go outside, i.e. I've got the climate change blues again

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.

And thanks to NPR and Anastasia Tsioulcas for interviewing us for this piece on Oliver Anthony, and to the Ringer for shouting out our conversation on the matter!

Lastly, a reminder that we are officially launching the Don’t Rock The Inbox Book Club!! Our first book will be Why Tammy Wynette Matters by Steacy Easton — we’re telling you this now so that you have time to read it before we get Steacy on Zoom to discuss it on Monday, September 18th with us and our paying subscribers. If you don’t have it yet, we have our first discount code (!! I’m so excited about this!) for Don’t Rock The Inbox readers only (!): enter UTXTAMMY for 25% off + free shipping if you purchase the book directly from UT Press.

Now, on to the music….

The Good

“Shoebox Money,” RVSHVD: How many times do I have to say it? Put this man on the gd radio!!! — NW

“First Day It’s Warm,” Nathan Mongol Wells: The conceit of this song just makes you feel good immediately — who doesn’t love thinking about the first warm day of spring? The funny part about it is that Nathan (lead singer of the Ottoman Turks and friend of the newsletter) is singing specifically about the “first day it’s warm after winter in Texas,” despite the fact that, of course, winters in most of Texas are pretty mild. But it’s all relative! We still have seasons! And the ease of that first day when you can sit outside without a coat on is more than worth capturing in song. — NW

“A Better South,” American Aquarium: I am putting this song here inspired by Natalie’s fiancé (and number one newsletter supporter) Jonny, who once commented that it might be fun for us to once in a while throw an old(ish) song into the mix while we’re scouring the world for new country and roots tunes. I put this one here, because I have been thinking a lot about my state this week, watching Covenant mothers, my neighbors and elected officials like Reps Justin Jones, Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson (as well as soon to be ones, if you vote, my Nashville friends, like Freddie O’Connell and Aftyn Behn) fight for tougher gun laws and basic human rights during a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly. Make no mistake, the actions taken by republican lawmakers is nothing short of fascist, and it’s very hard living here sometimes (and I do it from a white, cischet experience, a position of true privilege). But I am also so grateful, and truly in awe, of the people fighting here for a better future for the south, for freedom from the tyrants, for a south that reflects us all and keeps our kids safe and not only reckons with but makes amends for its history. I played this song for my son when we were driving home from protesting at the capitol back when the Tennessee Three were expelled. I play it now. I stay here, because those of us who can safely exist here need to join together and fight - because I, too, believe in a better south. And I smell the wind changing. I really do. - MM (P.S., early voting starts tomorrow in Nashville).