Turn It Up - Newsletters Edition!
David and Charles with some of their favorite digital reads
We’re feeling thankful over at No Fences Review, so we wanted to shout out some of our favorite digital newsletters. All of these are must-reads for us, featuring some of our favorite writers, and we hope you dig them too. We’ve also included a link to a recent piece that we think is a particularly good example of what makes them so special. Please support and subscribe!
Don’t Rock The Inbox – the home of Marissa Moss and Natalie Weiner, two of the best country writers in the business, with criticism, news, analysis, artist interviews, and more. (“In Memory of Abe Stoklasa”)
So It Goes – reviews and essays from Stephen Thomas Erlewine, featuring both the quick hits and deep dives that make Erlewine such a consistent source of info and insight. (“Daryl Hall and John Oates: 70s Scenario”)
Humanizing the Vacuum – Alfred Soto offers comprehensive, insightful, and incisive discussions of music from around the dial, with generous side dishes of film, politics, and history. (“No Getting Over You: On Amy Grant’s ‘Heart In Motion’”)
64 Quartets – Chris O’Leary’s ongoing project, a fascinating exploration of the history and catalogs of some of pop music’s most important foursomes (“Four Tops, Part 1”)
Jukebox Graduate - Caryn Rose mixes profiles, criticism, memoir, and context with a consistently sharp and soulful approach (“Why Dave Marsh Matters”)
Craig’s Pop Life – Craig Seymour illuminates and celebrates histories of pop, dance, and R&B music in innovative and invigorating ways, bringing the party and the archive together (“11/24/23”)
And It Don’t Stop – Robert Christgau’s still listening, writing, and thinking about music, and his site mixes new Consumer Guide reviews with longer essays and treasures from his catalog (“The Big Lookback: The Class Origins of ‘50s Rock and Roll”)
Music Journalism Insider – Todd L. Burns talks with music writers about their work, the state of the field, what they’re listening to, what they’re reading, and why it all matters. (“Steacy Easton Interview”)
Annie Zaleski’s Newsletter - Annie Zaleski’s rich and thoughtful takes on records (and other things) both old and new, asking us to listen and think in new ways. (“She’s So Unusual”)
Rainbow Rodeo - Rachel Cholst has assembled a remarkable collection of writing, listening, and talking about queer country music, featuring some of the most crucial writers and artists working in this vital scene (“Tyler Childers’ ‘In Your Love’ Video is Flaccid” - Steacy Easton)
. . . . . .
Reading recommendations:
-Rodney Carmichael talks to Andre 3000, for NPR
-A.D. Carson on Andre 3000, for Bloomberg
-Zandria Robinson on Mary J. Blige, for Glamour
-Jewly Hight talks to Brittany Howard, for NPR
-Steven Hyden on Bob Dylan’s Live at Budokan, for Uproxx
-Jeff Gage on Vincent Neil Emerson, for Rolling Stone
-Richie Assaly on Jeremy Dutcher, for Toronto Star
-Nadine Smith on Nanci Griffith, for Texas Monthly
-Eric Hehr on American Movie, for Aquarium Drunkard
-Carl Wilson on the history of the flute in pop music, for Slate
-Nate Chinen on A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, for WRTI
-Scott B. Bomar on Willie Nelson, for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
-Annie Zaleski on Duran Duran, for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
-Nate Rodgers on a newly-discovered Gram Parsons recording, for Los Angeles Times
If you like what you’re reading here, please think of subscribing to No Fences Review! It’s free for now, although we will be adding a paid tier with exclusive content soon. Also, if you’d like to support our work now, you can hit the blue “Pledge” button on the top-right of your screen to pledge your support now, at either monthly, yearly, or founding-member rates. You’ll be billed when we add the paid option. Thanks!