Joseph M. Thompson

A fun re-run pod this week: @micahloewinger.bsky.social w/ @jmthompson.bsky.social on ‬how the Pentagon helped turn the country music industry into what it is today, and why some of country's most famous jingoistic songs are more complex than they seem: www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm...

No one following this morning's argument (or the President's posts,) should be misled into thinking that the 14th Amendment's birthright provision was solely intended to affirm the citizenship of formerly enslaved people, though it did that. 1/2

Issue #98: 'Sinners' and Country's Original Sin Sorry, plenty of spoilers ahead - but go see it!

wrote a bit about sinners for the newsletter - full of spoilers but if you haven't seen it wyd www.dontrocktheinbox.com/p/issue-98-s...

The Best Country Albums of 1985, Part 1 David with a big tent take on the year in country music, forty years ago

My 13 favorite (and big tent minded) country albums from 40 years ago. Check it out, please share. (And stay tuned: Next week is part 2, 40 more honorable mentions which is where the real fun happens. IYKYK) At No Fences Review w/ @charleshughes2.bsky.social

Happy birthday to Country Soul. Required reading in almost all of my classes.

MSU’s Thompson garners national acclaim with LA Times book prize selection

Thanks to Mississippi State for the shout-out. I'm looking forward to being in Los Angeles next month.

Heads Ain't Ready (Dead Single), by Oneida 2 track album

oneida's crucial 2008 7-inch, "heads ain't ready" (aka "cream puff war" b/w "cold rain & snow") is available for the 1st time digitally, benefiting the transgender law center. oneida.bandcamp.com/album/heads-... #deadfreaksunite

Black Gospel Archive fills gaps in gospel music history The Black Gospel Archive at Baylor University is the world's largest digital collection of gospel music. Now it wants to collect oral histories around its rare recordings.

The Black Gospel Archive at Baylor University is the world's largest digital collection of gospel music. Now it wants to collect oral histories around its rare recordings.

My new record Moving Through Light is out next week Friday the 28th. I've got a couple of the tracks up at my bandcamp page for the pre-order. TBH I couldnt be happier with how this one turned out. Hope you enjoy it!
danielbachman.bandcamp.com/album/moving...

Great news. @jmthompson.bsky.social contributed a terrific chapter to Jen Murray and my forthcoming collection on Civil War Memory in a Polarized America - late 2025/early 2026

Andrew Garfield, Percival Everett and Attica Locke among L.A. Times Book Prize finalists Andrew Garfield, Percival Everett and Attica Locke are among the finalists for the 45th Los Angeles Times Book Prizes.

The L.A. Times has named Cold War Country as one its five finalists for history book of the year. I'm so honored to be included here.

Big thanks to the readers and to @uncpress.bsky.social!

www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

Andrew Garfield, Percival Everett and Attica Locke among L.A. Times Book Prize finalists Andrew Garfield, Percival Everett and Attica Locke are among the finalists for the 45th Los Angeles Times Book Prizes.

Did you hear? COLD WAR COUNTRY: How Nashville's Music Row and the Pentagon Created the Sound of American Patriotism by @jmthompson.bsky.social is a finalist for the @latimes.com History Book Prize 🎉👏🤩

www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

ad for keith jarrett's koln concert, jan 24 1975

Happy Köln Day.

Crys Matthews - Reclamation Charles on a great new album from an essential contemporary voice

@charleshughes2.bsky.social reviews Crys Matthews' new album, Reclamation. At No Fences Review

Issue #82: Jazz and Country, swingin' and twangin' The Venn diagram is a circle, as these artists will tell you :)

new don't rock the inbox is live! talked to four artists who have worked at the intersection of jazz and country about what it means to live in the middle of seemingly disparate worlds open.substack.com/pub/dontrock...

Dolly Parton and "White Limozeen": a conversation with author Steacy Easton Charles talks to the author of a new book on artist and album

New at No Fences Review: what a pleasure and privilege to go deep with Steacy Easton on Dolly Parton, "White Limozeen," and much more. Easton's one of the best country critics/analysts working right now, and this conversation was a treasure. Please share & subscribe!

COLD WAR COUNTRY: How Nashville's Music Row and the Pentagon Created the Sound of American Patriotism by Joseph M. Thompson @jmthompson.bsky.social: one of @rollingstone.com.web.brid.gy's Best Music Books of 2024 (🙏🏽 RS!).

Another big thanks to @jonbern.bsky.social for including my work here. Proud to be listed with these authors.

@uncpress.bsky.social

And you can buy Cold War Country from @uncpress.bsky.social for 30% off with the code 01UNCP30

The Best Music Books of 2024 Our editors review the best music books of 2024, including books about R.E.M., Taylor Swift, De La Soul, and the Stone Pony.

I'm grateful that Rolling Stone included Cold War Country as one of the best music books of 2024. It's really an honor to be included with all these incredible titles.

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

In Tennessee, famed civil rights center Highlander to regain control of original land • Tennessee Lookout The Highlander Research and Education Center, famed civil rights training ground, will once again own land in Grundy County, Tennessee.

BREAKING NEWS: The Highlander Center, which trained generations of labor and civil rights activists, has regained its former property in Grundy County for the first time since the State of Tennessee shuttered the center in 1961. @carigervin.bsky.social reports.

Totally. "Heavy Metal" is on my best of 2024 list, but I love Geese, too.

Issue #80: The Waxahatchee x DRTI Interview! A chat with Katie Crutchfield about Tigers Blood, country music and that Miranda Lambert song with her name on it

surprise! @marissarmoss.bsky.social interviewed Waxahatchee for the newsletter!!! open.substack.com/pub/dontrock...

Don't Rock The Inbox year end lists are live!! Songs in the newsletter and albums over with our friends @stereogum.bsky.social www.dontrocktheinbox.com/p/issue-79-o... www.stereogum.com/2290357/the-...

To make it easier to find new and existing members of Bluesky, we're compiling a list of UNC Press authors for easy findability 🦋

Comment to let us know you're here ↙️📚

go.bsky.app/RKSF82c

Gotta connect with the youths!

Really enjoying this run by @cantkill.bsky.social at No Fences Review.

Love seeing Flatt & Scruggs “Live at Vanderbilt” on this list. Underrated record and worth a listen just for the introduction where WSM plants a “folk” flag in academia.

Thanks to @modamhist.bsky.social for that shout out! I recently published an essay on the banjo's Cold War for the Take 3 series alongside @popcultureamerica.bsky.social & @jakeblount.com

The banjo is always a timely topic, esp. in light of the great @washingtonpost.com article linked below.

Hello Bluesky - Many thanks to Amanda and Southern Cultures for including my essay here among works by such stellar scholars.

Happy to say that I'm working on a new book project about the Lost Cause and country music that expands on this essay.