The Musical Divide

Hey, it sure has been a minute, hasn’t it?

I’d been meaning to write something like this for so long now, but the days just kept flying by. I started a draft for this in February; now it’s May and we’re already almost halfway through the year. Yikes.

First of all, I’ve really missed writing about country music. The reason I’ve been so quiet this year is honestly quite simple: I just haven’t been able to commit the time needed to write about music, and likely won’t for the foreseeable future. Heck, I haven’t even had time to really even hear that many new releases this year in the first place – which is weird for me, given that I averaged around 100 or so reviews a year during my time here. That’s not a bragging point; it’s actually (probably) a reflection of how unhealthy my relationship with music became over time – at least as far as actually sitting with and appreciating it was concerned.

That hasn’t been all bad. In truth, I came to a realization this year that I had to slip into a specific state of mind over the past several years of operating this blog in order to “properly” review a piece of music – of art. Letting go of mindset has allowed me to approach music from a much more casual perspective, enough to where I’ve gravitated more toward individual songs than full-length projects. It’s allowed me to listen to things with a different set of ears now, so to say. Again, this is weird for someone who’s become so used to approaching albums as the complete package they are, and has tried to unpack them within that context.

Surprisingly enough, it’s mainstream country that’s caught my ear the most in that regard this year. Songs I might or might not have liked before are just hitting my ears differently. It’s made me wonder if I wasn’t just trying to be someone I wasn’t all these years in approaching music the “right” or “professional” way.

Suffice it to say, too, that even if I were to ever return to this endeavor – and man, I really wish I could – I’m so far behind on new releases at this point, and I kind of doubt I’d be able to catch up for some sort of mid-year roundup post. It also doesn’t help that most projects are just so stupidly long nowadays and barely even function as actual cohesive albums; they’re more like random bags of songs stuffed together to game streaming numbers.

I get it. It’s just the way the music industry operates nowadays. I guess I’d be lying if I said that didn’t also somewhat factor into my decision to step away from this endeavor. I mean, do we really need outlets like this anymore? Do we really actually discuss or talk about new releases anymore, or do they just come and go week after week through the assembly line process in order to make way for the next never-ending deluge of releases? It’s hard to find some breathing room!

I’ve learned not to really think that deeply about that any longer. I keep up with what I want to keep up with and just accept that I can’t hear it all. In truth, behind as I am on everything out there nowadays, it’s been so much healthier for me to approach new music at my own pace and listen to what I want, when I want – including making time for older, familiar releases that make me happy, as well as time for older releases new to me. I guess I’d rather love a little bit of what’s out there than only like or respect everything out there, if that makes sense.

Still, regardless of the “worth” of an outlet like this – and I know I’ve already said this countless times – I’ve missed having a place to share my thoughts on music, regardless of whether or not said thoughts are current or just the result of me catching up with things … or regardless of whether or not anyone beyond me actually cares. I miss communicating with fellow country music fans like you. I guess I’d just have to reconcile with the fact that my old method of operation wouldn’t work anymore. But until I find a new way that does work, I just don’t know what the future of this outlet looks like, if it even has one at all. And I’m sorry about that, given that I know my behavior with this blog has been sporadic over the past year or so (and I guess that’s putting it nicely for my own sake).

There are still features out there – like my “Favorite Hit Songs” series and “World Records” – that I want to finish but just don’t know if I ever will. I love compiling longform content that really digs into the heart of a topic, but if I’m being honest with myself, I don’t know if I’ll ever really have the chance to write posts like that henceforth, which makes me sad. I guess my stubbornness and refusal to adapt and change my style is another reason why this outlet has stayed so silent as of late.

So yeah, this is more of an apology post and an update over anything substantial, but it’s at least something for now – for whoever out there actually reads this. I’d be curious to know what your favorite songs and albums of the year are so far, if you’re still out there. For me, again, I haven’t heard many new releases, but the ones I’ve returned quite frequently this year and would call my favorites are Scotty McCreery’s Rise and Fall, Wade Bowen’s Flyin’, and Sierra Ferrell’s Trail of Flowers. Shane Smith and the Saint’s recently released live album is my favorite thing I’ve heard all year, though. I didn’t care much for Norther, but Live at Red Rocks just captures this band in their best form and in their best element, what with it being a live album and all. It’s excellent. Conner Smith’s Smoky Mountains and Sarah Jarosz’s Polaroid Lovers are both also really solid, as is Drake Milligan’s short little four-song EP from earlier this year. Ditto for Zach Top’s Cold Beer and Country Music. In terms of individual songs, my favorites so far are as follows, in no particular order:

• Sarah Jarosz, “Jealous Moon”
• Zach Top, “I Never Lie”
• Sierra Ferrell, “Dollar Bill Bar”
• Kacey Musgraves, “Cardinal”
• Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, “Give You All My Love”
• Conner Smith/Hailey Whitters, “Roulette on the Heart”
• William Micheal Morgan, “The Sun Don’t Shine Anymore in Acapulco”
• Megan Moroney, “No Caller ID”
• Wade Bowen, “Flyin’”
• Scotty McCreery, “Fall of Summer”

I am loosely updating a Spotify playlist of stuff I like from this year, too.

I hope you all are doing well out there and enjoying some great country music.

Until the next time,

Zack