In case you didn't notice, it's the holiday season. While normal beings have fun decorating the tree, spinning dreidels, shopping for presents or partaking in whatever kind of festive pursuits you enjoy, those of us who write about music for a living are making lists: best
First off, thanks for all of you who joined me last week in the CMA chat post. Some of you gave the excellent feedback that you think we should consider a DRTI Discord - curious to hear what more of you think (Discord? Right here on the newsletter? Reddit? Whatever?) works
put a record on
Welcome back to Don’t Rock the Inbox. Here’s this week’s music recommendation post and playlist, which are for paying subscribers only. If you’re interested in paid content but not able to afford it, shoot us an email. The Good "In Her Eyes (Act I, Scene
It's Country's Biggest Night! And like many of you, I'll be watching tonight's CMA Awards from the comfort of my couch. But it wouldn't be a CMA Awards if we didn't offer you up a safe comment section
When I moved to East Nashville in 2012, legend had it that if you wanted to find Todd Snider, all you had to do was go to Drifter’s BBQ in Five Points, and he’d be there at the bar. Nashville always had rumblings like this: that John Prine
As someone who listens to music all the time, and writes about music and musicians for a living, there is one curious time when I am extremely picky about what I listen to: when I am actually writing. And when I am in that deep work, ignore everything else and
country chart history
Back with more arcane country chart history, because as we all know it brings me great joy :) Hop in, let’s take a ride on the Billboard time machine… 75 Years Ago: November 11, 1950 In its 19th (!) week on the chart, we have the now-standard "I'
put a record on
Welcome back to Don’t Rock the Inbox. Here’s this week’s music recommendation post and playlist, which are for paying subscribers only. Sorry if they are a little late in the day today - I got stuck in the airport mess thanks to Trumps Government Shutdown! - MM The Good
The veteran singer-songwriter talks with DRTI about his timeless debut, and the half-century since.
I've been thinking about motherhood lately. Just kidding - I think about it and write about it all the time, because it's obviously very much a part of who I am, as a mom to two young kids who refuses to hide this part of myself in
soul-folk
These days, the too-often ignored history of Black artists making country music looks like positively well-trodden territory compared to the story of Black artists and folk. Enter Ashawnta Jackson's Soul-Folk, a quick guide released last year to a whole subgenre that stretches far beyond even
put a record on
Welcome back to Don’t Rock the Inbox. Here’s this week’s music recommendation post and playlist, which are for paying subscribers only. If you’re interested in paid content but not able to afford it, shoot us an email. The Good "Field Song," Mon Rovîa: I