I think I’ve taken for granted what exactly can snap one out of a musical malaise. I suppose it’s different for every one of us, sure, but I guess I’ve been expecting since, oh, late 2020 to listen to a new record or single and be just blown away and…

“We gonna get down. We gonna do the do. I’m going to hit these motherfuckers.” -Dock Ellis before a start against the Reds in 1974 when he felt the Pirates had lost their edge. The circumstances are different, but the reasons remain the same; it’s a tale as old as…

To say I’ve felt withdrawn from new music releases this year is an understatement. Few albums have really knocked me on the ass and begged to be listened to. Maybe it’s a continuation of the music malaise I found myself in toward the end of 2020. Maybe it’s my failure…

There’s a weird, melancholy feeling that occurs when, while listening to an artist you’ve adored and soaked in for years, you find yourself not connecting with the music. Circumstances change. Artists move on. Fans find other budding stars to latch on to. …

Back before Let It Roll. Before the award nominations. Before “Drinkin’ Problem.” There was a song with a retro music video I discovered on YouTube that set my soul on fire. The title was simple- “Fourteen Gears.” The band? Midland. …

It’s a pleasure to begin another piece by telling the readers that I’ve once again teamed with my great friend and peer Zackary Kephart of The Musical Divide and Country Universe to compile a list of what we consider our favorite books in the story of country music. The selections…

I’m convinced I tweet about the brilliance of Turnpike Troubadours’ “The Bird Hunters” at least once a month. From a base analysis, the reason is simple- Evan Felker’s songwriting is the best of this generation, and the production (emphasized) by Kyle Nix’s fiddle lead is extraordinary. But lately I’ve wanted…

The great Steve Earle turned 66 today, and after such a wild year, he’s an artist we should all be turning to for inspiration, defiance, and reflection. I’ll keep the introduction short, but I do want to say I was fortunate enough to see Steve Earle live several years ago…

Well…December 2020 is here. You know the tonic for surviving until 2021? I’m not just talking cheap whiskey and hazy IPAs. I’m talking year-end lists! I know that’s what everyone wants. …