Issue #112: Hayes Carll — The DRTI Interview

Hayes Carll on his new album, We're Only Human, songwriting, working under the long shadows of the Texas troubadours who came before him — and much more.

Put A Record On: Honky-Tonk Tunes That Work Beyond The Neon Lights

Some of our favorite new country tunes.

Issue #111: The underrated folk genius of Dan Bern

The first time I saw Dan Bern, or even had heard of Dan Bern, it was 1997 and my friend and I had gone to see Ani DiFranco at Central Park Summerstage in New York. I’d gotten us free tickets after working at the venue over the summer (I

Put a Record On: Mind Your Fresh Hot Biscuits & Life Will Be Asleep at the Wheel

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

Issue #110: "I Hope You Dance": On 25 Years Of Misunderstanding Lee Ann Womack

"I Hope You Dance" was inspired by a divorce. “For ‘I Hope You Dance,’ I had written the opening line, ‘I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,'” Tia Sillers told Songwriter Universe in 2001, the year after the song had become a megahit. “I had

Put A Record On: Six Country Songs That Changed My Life

What are yours?

Issue #109: On Abbie Callahan, Up & Coming Artists and Being a Dinosaur, I Guess

Here at Don’t Rock the Inbox, we spend hours and hours listening to new music – because we enjoy it, of course, and because we want to curate the best of what’s out there for our lovely readers (and we listen to a lot of terrible stuff too, so

Put a Record On: Saddle up, we're going Snipe Hunting

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

Issue #108: Meet The Best Country Band You're Not Listening To: The Deslondes

At first listen, what the Deslondes do sounds simple. There are layers of familiar-ish hooks, riffs, grooves and harmonies heard through a swampy, analog haze. The vibe — easy, often danceable and unforced but full of dozens of little earworms — hits you before the lyrics, which tend towards a particularly Millennial

Put a Record On: Summer Road Trip Playlist (& some other things for the road)

I've spent a good bulk of my summer on the road this year - driving to the east coast and back, to various spots in the south, to camp (which doesn't count as a road trip but parents know this is still time). Hell, over the

Issue #107: Cowboy Carter Tour Report

Apologies for the slightly tardy newsletter delivery this week – but I have a good excuse. Yesterday, my daughter and I made the trip to Atlanta to see Beyoncé and the Cowboy Carter tour, and we just rolled back into town tired and invigorated and filled up with that good kind

Put A Record On: Sale Day Because We've Got A New Home!

Plus, a glut of energizing, fight the power-ready tunes.