K. Pomeroy, Tonight's News (EP)(****): Collection of covers highlights how intuitive and purposeful her vocal phrasing is; if none of these are revelatory new interpretations, Pomeroy wrangles them into her own lane such that they're to a one of a piece with her small but vital catalog.

Country Universe@countryuniverse.net · yesterday

B. Flowers, Thrasher (***1/2): When he doesn't affect a just godawful drawl or lapse into his usual, "Take Me Seriously, Please?" desperation in his lyrics, he actually pulls this off really well. And that's most of the record, even, which is an absolute marvel of production throughout. Good on him.

This is the kind of thing that should 100% justify an Entertainer Of The Year nomination at the CMAs.

Alan Ranta (ꜱᴏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ?)@alanranta.bsky.social · 6h ago

Did you see she is selling her own personal lubricant? Makes a good father's day gift, I'm sure. exclaim.ca/music/articl...

A great anthropology professor once taught me about how groups of people who had bullied a minority person or group - sometimes to death - would TO A ONE express real relief that their victims had escaped/finally died. This isn't surprising, it's symptomatic of the kind of monstrous bully Joanne is.

Transgender World@transgenderreport.com · yesterday

JK Rowling issues surprising message of support for trans adults www.lgbtqnation.com/... #transgender #trans #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA

My friend: “Did you see that video of Kacey Musgraves performing while seated on disco truck nuts?” Me: “…what?” [looks up video] Me: “You know, I honestly I don’t know what I was expecting.”

@natalieweiner.bsky.social and @marissarmoss.bsky.social to thread.

Charlotte Clymer@charlotteclymer.bsky.social · 9h ago

My friend: “Did you see that video of Kacey Musgraves performing while seated on disco truck nuts?” Me: “…what?” [looks up video] Me: “You know, I honestly I don’t know what I was expecting.”

For the morning crowd

Bill Chambers@flmfrkcentral.bsky.social · yesterday

FFC review: COYOTE VS. ACME, by Walter Chaw (@mangiotto.bsky.social). filmfreakcentral.net/2026/08/coyo...

post a perfect album from the 2000s (2000-2009).

Noah Berlatsky@nberlat.bsky.social · yesterday

post a perfect album from the 2000s (2000-2009).

B. Flowers, Thrasher (***1/2): When he doesn't affect a just godawful drawl or lapse into his usual, "Take Me Seriously, Please?" desperation in his lyrics, he actually pulls this off really well. And that's most of the record, even, which is an absolute marvel of production throughout. Good on him.

Country Universe@countryuniverse.net · yesterday

K. Bitter, Bittersweet (****): What's great about Bitter-- beyond her phenomenal vocal control-- is her understanding that if you're going to lean the whole way into this kind of schtick, you'd damn well better have the songs to back it up. She avoids cosplay trappings on talent and force of will.

K. Bitter, Bittersweet (****): What's great about Bitter-- beyond her phenomenal vocal control-- is her understanding that if you're going to lean the whole way into this kind of schtick, you'd damn well better have the songs to back it up. She avoids cosplay trappings on talent and force of will.

Country Universe@countryuniverse.net · yesterday

E. Cook, Great Television (****): As tremendous as her albums always are, this set has a fascinating throughline about different forms of trauma voyeurism, and who else but this singular iconoclast would make that the arc for a killer country record? The Felker collab absolutely rips, of course.

E. Cook, Great Television (****): As tremendous as her albums always are, this set has a fascinating throughline about different forms of trauma voyeurism, and who else but this singular iconoclast would make that the arc for a killer country record? The Felker collab absolutely rips, of course.

Country Universe@countryuniverse.net · yesterday

M. Rose, Half Moon (***1/2): Without any lingering country flourishes to be found, the aesthetic here is less distinctive than on her last couple of albums as she continues a early aughts Hot AC move. But her singing just keeps getting better and better; it's her performances that elevate this set.

M. Rose, Half Moon (***1/2): Without any lingering country flourishes to be found, the aesthetic here is less distinctive than on her last couple of albums as she continues a early aughts Hot AC move. But her singing just keeps getting better and better; it's her performances that elevate this set.

Country Universe@countryuniverse.net · yesterday

Cimarron 615, Same Sky (**): As with their last outing, this gives Perfectly Fine House Band without ever once rising above that. There's a technical proficiency-- but for a couple of badly off-pitch lead vocal tracks, that is-- but very little in the way of a distinctive sound or POV here.

Cimarron 615, Same Sky (**): As with their last outing, this gives Perfectly Fine House Band without ever once rising above that. There's a technical proficiency-- but for a couple of badly off-pitch lead vocal tracks, that is-- but very little in the way of a distinctive sound or POV here.

Country Universe@countryuniverse.net · yesterday

S. Platts, ... Belong (***1/2): He continues in a comfortable vein that imagines Dale Watson without the same stuffy genre gatekeeping vibe, which isn't such bad territory to stake out. Songwriting's a bit hit-or-miss, but he's a strong singer and natural bandleader.

S. Platts, ... Belong (***1/2): He continues in a comfortable vein that imagines Dale Watson without the same stuffy genre gatekeeping vibe, which isn't such bad territory to stake out. Songwriting's a bit hit-or-miss, but he's a strong singer and natural bandleader.

Country Universe@countryuniverse.net · 5d ago

Ghost Hounds, Justified (****): Among full-on bands operating in the greater country universe, Ghost Hounds may very well have the highest ceiling. At their best, the caliber of frontman SAVNT's singing and the band's diverse range of genre influences create a powerful vision of true Americana.

We were lucky to have @rachelcholst.bsky.social on the J-Card Podcast. Rachel is the founder/editor of @rainbowrodeo.bsky.social, a website, podcast and physical zine with a focus on on Queer Country. 🌈🤠 Watch: tapeclub.substack.com/p/rachel-cho... youtu.be/bVM7lMnLZmo?...

Rue Defense Tape Club@tapeclub.substack.com · last wk.

This week on The J-Card Podcast, we talk to @rachelcholst.bsky.social, the founder and editor of queer country publication @rainbowrodeo.bsky.social 🏳️‍🌈 She also brings queer country pride to @nodepression.bsky.social and SiriusXM 🌈🤠 tapeclub.substack.com/p/rachel-cho... / youtu.be/bVM7lMnLZmo?...

perusing old music reviews etc. really emphasizes how much time and cultural context are constantly evolving. back in 1997, the scope of genre definitions were so restrictive that Love Gets Me Every Time was described as "a country-pop-metal mix Jon Bon Jovi could admire"

Shania Twain - Love Gets Me Every Time (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by ShaniaTwainVEVO

youtube.com

Making this the cover photo for an album titled "YOUNG" sure is a goddamn choice.

Happily, Spotify's algorithm has stopped trying to shoehorn Moroney (I see you, Music Row $$$) into my "Favorite Artists" and "For You" scrolls. This is far more legit.

PROTECT SUZY H AT ALL COSTS.

Tessa Duvall@tessaduvall.bsky.social · 2d ago

🚨 Kentucky has announced the finalists in its "I Voted" sticker contest. 🚨 Per the Secretary of State: Kentuckians can vote for their favorite sticker at the SOS's booth at the State Fair from August 20-30.

Key passage here. Of note and what isn't said is that the DCCC is investing in a candidate who already won the local primary, demonstrating electability, instead of throwing piles of money at Amy McGrath, who had no actual track record of electability and would prove a repeated failure in KY.

Lexington Herald-Leader@kentucky.com · 3d ago

Democrat Dembo to get large investment from DCCC’s “Red to Blue” program in his campaign against Republican House nominee Ralph Alvarado.

There is a Linda Ronstadt—> The Jayhawks segue in tonight’s Americana Pulse that I think sounds especially cool. On the air tonight around 9:00 after a live Tennessee Shines.

k.d. lang + The Reclines - Absolute Torch and Twang by/par Donald Teplyske ON THE RECORD Public voting for this album open until Aug. 21 (link in bio and at Polaris website) SUR LE RECORD Le vote du public pour cet album est ouvert jusqu’au 21 août (lien dans la bio et sur le site web du Polaris)

Ian Noe has a new record on the way next month and it is probably my favorite album of the year. Working on a review that I’ll publish over on Substack and Patreon. If you like his work up until this point, you’ll love this. If you aren’t yet hip to Ian, dive in.

Country VMA nominees: Artist of the Year: M. Wallen (...) Song of the Year: "Choosin' Texas" New Artist: S. Lefty "Best Country": E. Langley, "Choosin' Texas" K. Musgraves, "Dry Spell" L. Wilson, "Somewhere Over Laredo" L. Combs, "Back in the Saddle" Shaboozey, "Cowgirl" S. Lefty, "Boston"

i spoke to the incomparable brittany howard re the alabama shakes hiatus, reunion, and new album 'i must be dreaming,' which did the job that was required (a day after tennessee primaries so we also got into the failures of viewing the south as political monolith) www.vulture.com/article/brit...

‘Things Got a Little Complicated’

Brittany Howard on Alabama Shakes’s near-decade hiatus and embracing imperfection on their new album.

vulture.com

more Ryman magic 💕✨

Today in AI slop, we have some sort of visual sorting game... "Friters" totally works if you imagine you're saying "Fritos" down in the holler, but I am *concerned* about that jar of "Nut"...

Ghost Hounds, Justified (****): Among full-on bands operating in the greater country universe, Ghost Hounds may very well have the highest ceiling. At their best, the caliber of frontman SAVNT's singing and the band's diverse range of genre influences create a powerful vision of true Americana.

Country Universe@countryuniverse.net · 5d ago

Ashley Cooke, s/t (***): Fully three years removed from her sole hit, Cooke returns with an album that splits the difference between trying too hard to repeat that success w imitations of the worst of today's trends and tracks that show a pretty respectable growth curve.

Ashley Cooke, s/t (***): Fully three years removed from her sole hit, Cooke returns with an album that splits the difference between trying too hard to repeat that success w imitations of the worst of today's trends and tracks that show a pretty respectable growth curve.

Country Universe@countryuniverse.net · 6d ago

H. Juanita, Magnolia Sessions (EP) (***1/2): Acoustic set recorded live-- the birdsong is a nice flourish to have left in the mix-- captures her warm singing and exceptional taste in influences. Picking "Wild and Blue" as the one song she wishes she'd written? Iconic. Bring on a new full album.

wanted to pay tribute to the impactful work Hayden Panettiere did on 'Nashville' when it came to bringing the town's worst kept secrets to the surface. my thoughts are with her family and friends.

Hayden Panettiere's 'Nashville' Character Helped Expose Country Music's Dark Side

As Juliette Barnes on 'Nashville,' Hayden Panettiere helped reveal a dark side of country music, radio, and female artists.

rollingstone.com

My favorite Hayden song on Nashville open.spotify.com/track/6pG9e0...

Undermine - Acoustic Version

Nashville Cast, Hayden Panettiere, Charles Esten · Hayden Panettiere As Juliette Barnes, Season 1 · Song · 2014

open.spotify.com