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

“Steppin’ Outside,” Cory Branan featuring Tyler Childers: Personally I love when a jaunty little country song (about taking a break from your own funeral) makes me cry – but then again, everything that Cory Branan does is like that, jaunty, punky country songs that first make you tap your foot and then have you rethinking all your life choices. Branan deserves far more credit than he gets as a songwriter but hey, ain’t that the world we live in. - MM

“Why’d You Have to Bring Me Flowers,” Madi Diaz: Selfish plug for my NY Times article on Diaz, but only because I was really happy to have her get that kind of platform and even more excited to be able to be the one to write it. Her new album, Fatal Optimist, is stunning and super sparse. Not easy listening, but listening will probably make your life easier. – MM

"Helluvit," Rodney Atkins: There's something very 2015 about this in the best possible way — or just Walker Hayes Applebee's-core with enough there there to satisfy my cornier urges. "We're never broke cuz you're a dime"...I think that is literally a Walker Hayes line? (I was close…Distressing that I know that). — NW