New Music Friday! This week, it's the debut LP from Omaha's Lightning Stills, which tells us that drinking is fun, right up until it ain't. Check out "Closed Down the Bar" below, and read my review on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2026/02/18/r...

To those planning on turning over to watch that "other" event during halftime - country music was not invented so that you could kowtow to the government, you ignorant fucking MAGA dolts.

New Music Friday! One of America's best rock bands, Ratboys, is back with a collection of tight pop songs and extended, guitar-y jammers. Check out "Anywhere" below and read my review on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2026/02/04/r...

Before tonight's GRAMMYs (note - no apostrophe) telecast, check out Americana Highways for my predictions on who will (and who SHOULD) win in the country, Americana and roots categories. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2026/02/01/2...

New Music Friday! The latest from Nashville's Bre Kennedy is out today - check out the enlightening sadness of "Good Grief" below, and read my review on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2026/01/28/r...

New Music Friday! First one of '26, and it's a good one. The debut album from Mon Rovîa is a beautiful, tragic travelogue from his childhood in war-ravaged Liberia to an America equally full of promise and failings. Listen to "Heavyfoot" below, and read my review on Americana Highways. #listenbetter

Music Friday! My last(?) piece of the year ended up being one of my favorite concerts of 2025. Read my Americana Highways review of Greg Freeman's show at Globe Hall below. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/12/17/s...

Using taxes (tariffs) levied on businesses to pay for a bonus for one group of people. Wouldn't that be... redistribution of wealth?

New Music Friday! It's time for my annual Americana Highways 45 RPM (Reasons to Purchase Music) List, celebrating the best music of 2025. Give it a read to see if your favorites are on it (or to find some new ones), and check out the playlist at the end. #listenbetter

New Music Friday! December always yields at least one must-listen album, and Dove Ellis' debut record is an absolute gem. Listen to one of my favorite songs of 2025, "Love Is," below, and read more on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/12/04/r...

Today marked 30 years in television news for me, and I've never felt a greater gap between what it needs to be and what it's becoming.

New Music Friday! Kick off your Christmas season with my favorite holiday album in quite a while from Melissa Carper. Start with (what else) "Plug in the Tree" below, and read my review on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/11/25/r...

New Music Thursday! It's the debut LP from Nashville's Laney Jones and the Spirits, and it might be my favorite rock record of 2025. Check out "Bitch Year" below, and read my review on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/11/19/r...

New Music Friday! The latest from Colorado's own Courtney Hartman (now living in Wisconsin) has the singer exploring first-time motherhood. Listen to "Bright Eye" below, and read more on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/11/12/r...

New Music Fri., Pt. 2! This set of mostly unreleased songs from the late Luke Bell is great country music - more importantly, all royalties go to mental health treatment in Luke's home state of Wyo. Listen to "The King is Back" below, & read more on @AmericanaHiways #listenbetter

New Music Friday, Part 1! The legendary Mavis Staples has a gorgeous new album out. It's filled with the best Americana & indie artists around, but the voice (& the message) are all Mavis. Listen to "Beautiful Strangers" (penned by KEVIN MORBY) below, & read more on Americana Highways. #listenbetter

Bonus New Music Friday - Snocaps is a new project from the Crutchfield sisters backed by MJ Lenderman and Brad Cook. It's jangly indie rock with a bit of the the alt-country we've heard on the last two Waxahatchee records, and it's fantastic. Americana Highways #listenbetter

New Music Friday! 25 years ago tonight, Greensky Bluegrass played their first show together. They're celebrating by releasing a guest-filled collection of reworks of some of their best songs. Check out "Windshield" feat. Holly Bowling below, & read more on Americana Highways. #listenbetter

"New" Music Friday, Part 2! @brucespringsteen.net's "Nebraska '82" is out, including the long-awaited "Electric Nebraska." I'm partial to the outtakes - check out "Losin' Kind" below, and read my review on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/10/21/r...

New Music Friday, Part 1! The latest album fron the always busy Brandi Carlile has her pulling back from the spotlight a bit to consider her place in her own life. Check out the fiery "Church & State" (recorded live at Red Rocks) below, and read more on Americana Highways. #listenbetter

New Music Friday! The latest from Joshua Ray Walker is out - it's all about the "Stuff" in our lives and how our own worth comes from the connections we form with other people. Read my review on Americana Highways, and check out "Telephone" below. #listenbetter

In celebration of 30-plus years of one of the greatest albums ever made, check out my song-by-song ranking of Tom Petty's "Wildflowers" for Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/10/10/w...

New Music Friday, Part 2! Read my Americana Highways review of the latest album from John Baumann, and check out "What She Used to Love About Me" below. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/10/09/r...

New Music Friday, Part 1! Read my Americana Highways review of Alaska's Josh Fortenbery's latest album, and check out "Poppy's Waltz" below. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/10/07/r...

New Music Friday! If you need some TRUE heartbreak to listen to today, check out the new album from Brennen Leigh. Soak in "A Reason to Drink" below, and read my review on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/10/03/r...

Something different this week - a conversation w/ Tamara Saviano, 1st female president of the Americana Music Association & keeper of Guy Clark's legacy. And, because it's THAT New Music Friday, you can also read about her interactions w/ Taylor Swift. Americana Highways #listenbetter

New Musci Friday! The latest album from one of my all-time favorite voices, Neko Case, is out today, and you can read my review on Americana Highways. Check out "Rusty Mountain" below. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/09/24/r...

On a rainy first full day of fall in Colorado, what better time to look back at a late summer evening at Red Rocks with Greensky Bluegrass and @missmargoprice.bsky.social? Americana Highways #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/09/19/s...

One last look back at AmericanaFest - Day 4, complete with crowd surfing! Americana Highways #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/09/16/s...

New Music Friday Part 2! Briscoe Band's second album is out today - if you like cinematic folk-ish country, this one's for you. Check out "Saving Grace" below, and read my review on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/09/18/r...

New Music Friday! Wednesday has a new album out today, and it's one of this year's best! Check out the new video for "Townies" below, and read more on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/09/17/r...

Looking back a week to Day 3 of AmericanaFest! Americana Highways #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/09/15/s...

Day 2 highlights from AmericanaFest, including the Honors and Awards at the Ryman! Americana Highways #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/09/12/s...

New Music Friday doesn't take a break for AmericanaFest! Read my Americana Highways review of the new album from Matt Moran & the Palominos, and check out "Every Drink You Take" below. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/09/10/r...

In case y'all have been wondering what I've been up to this week - it's AmericanaFest! Americana Highways #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/09/11/s...

Got to see and write about the great Brandi Carlile's show at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre for Americana Highways - check it out! #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/09/09/s...

If you're like me - in Nashville for AmericanaFest - check out my list of must-sees, and get a peak at my ballot for Wednesday's Awards. Americana Highways #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/09/08/a...

Check out my Americana Highways review of the new film, "Finding Lucinda." You can order it on-demand starting today! #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/09/08/r...

New Music Friday! One of my favorite bands, Big Thief, is back with their first album in over three years. Check out "Los Angeles" below, and read more on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/09/03/r...

New Music Friday! Just in time for Labor Day roadtrips, @zachtop.bsky.social has a great new album out - it's what popular country music SHOULD sound like. Check out "Between the Ditches" below, and read more on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/08/27/r...

My favorite album, @brucespringsteen.net's "Born to Run," came out 50 (!) years ago today, so I wrote a little something for Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/08/25/5...

Less than three months into 2025, we may already have our Album of the Year. Read my Americana Highways review of the latest record from Fust, and check out "Jody" below. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/03/03/r...

Jason Isbell's first solo acoustic record, a collection of songs about loves lost and found, comes out on Friday, but you can read my review right now on Americana Highways! #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/03/03/r...

New Music Friday! Charles Wesley Godwin has a new EP out, and it includes a gorgeous Jason Molina cover. Check out "Hammer Down," featuring Scott Avett, below, and read my review on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/02/26/r...

New Music Friday! Sunny War's latest record defiantly captures the late-stage capitalism mess we're in...but with some excellent guitar riffs! Check out "Cry Baby" (feat. Valerie Jume) below, and read more on Americana Highways. #listenbetter americanahighways.org/2025/02/19/r...

New Music Friday! After this week, I feel like some soul-soothing string band music hits the spot. Read more about Up Around the Sun's latest release on Americana Highways, and check out "Prettiest Girl in the County" below. @dialbacksound.bsky.social #listenbetter

Following up on my Facebook post following yesterday's ICE raids in the Denver area.

For an in-depth look at the Americana, roots, bluegrass and folk music GRAMMY categories, including who will (and who SHOULD) win, check out my preview on Americana Highways, including a link where you can stream Sunday's Premiere Ceremony. #listenbetter

New Music Friday! This week, it's something altogether different - a lyrically intense, sonically gorgeous record from American musician Jim White and British artist Trey Blake. Check out "The Long Road Home" below, and read more on Americana Highways. #listenbetter

New Music Friday! One of my favorite bands, Lucero, has released a gorgeous new acoustic record - just Ben Nichols, Rick Steff, an acoustic guitar, a grand piano and a whole bunch of good goddamn songs. Listen to "That Much Further West" below, and read more on Americana Highways. #listenbetter