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Juli Thanki

Juli Thanki is a graduate student studying trauma and memory in the postbellum South. She tries to live her life by the adage "What Would Dolly Parton Do?" but has yet to build an eponymous theme park, undergo obscene amounts of plastic surgery, or duet with Porter Wagoner (that last one might prove a little difficult, but nevertheless she perseveres). When not writing for PopMatters, Juli can generally be found playing the banjo incompetently, consuming copious amounts of coffee, and tanning in the blue glow of her laptop.

Recent

Music

The Carolina Chocolate Drops Shine a Light on Country Music's Neglected Roots

"We listen to a lot of traditional music but we can only use it as it's relevant to us," Robinson says. Instead, the goal is to keep the "bare bones" of the original song and then incorporate their own varied influences.

Juli Thanki

Music

Adam Steffey: One More for the Road

If this isn't the best bluegrass record of the year, it's because Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, and Chubby Wise have returned and formed the Undead Mountain Boys.

Music

The Music That Matters: Ralph Rinzler and Bill Monroe, Part Two

During the height of his career, Bill Monroe fielded a baseball team that would organize pickup games in each town in order to drum up publicity for that evening's concert.

Music

The Music That Matters Part One: Bill Monroe and Ralph Rinzler

In the late 1930s and 1940s, Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys were the biggest stars in country music, but when he appeared onstage at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival, he did so after a number of years spent toiling in relative obscurity.

Music

Rosanne Cash on Johnny Cash's List

Johnny Cash was a serious scholar of music, and this knowledge was reflected in his own work, which included covers of everyone and everything from Jimmie Rodgers to Nine Inch Nails, oldtime hymns to reggae.

Performing Arts

Louisiana Woman, Texas Troubadour

Need more duets in your life? Loretta Lynn and Ernest Tubb are among country music's best partnerships.

Books

Hockey Skatin’ Singing Cowgirls

Country music ain’t the sole purview of the southern part of the northern hemisphere: Canada has its share of fireside soul(ful) singers, too.

Music

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver: Lonely Street

Doyle Lawson is no spring chicken, but he delivers traditional bluegrass music with the energy of a man half his age.

Music

King Wilkie: King Wilkie Presents: The Wilkie Family Singers

Imagine the Royal Tenenbaums as portrayed in a concept Americana album, only without Ben Stiller and Gwyneth Paltrow (trust us, it's better this way).

Music

Tift Merritt: Buckingham Solo

Alt-country songbird flies solo on an excellent live album.

Music

You Can Call Her 'Dr.' Dolly Parton

With her honorary doctorate in hand, here's hoping she'll next broker peace in the Middle East, repair the economy, and explain the twisted plotlines of 'Lost' -- Lord knows, the woman is capable.

Music

Slaid Cleaves: Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away

This is the album of Slaid Cleaves's career. It's also the best alt-country album of 2009 thus far.

Music

Chuck Mead: Journeyman's Wager

BR549 frontman and hillbilly heartthrob goes solo with great success.

Music

Thank the Lord for Marty Stuart and his Mullet

What better way to soothe modern worries than by taking in classic country music with a side of hillbilly humor?

Music

Casey Driessen: Oog

Is progressive five-string fiddle rock even a genre? It is now.

Music

Bela Fleck: Throw Down Your Heart/Tales From the Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3: Africa Sessions

Like a prodigal son, the banjo returns to Africa. Celebration -- in the form of kickass music -- ensues.

Music

Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press: Bluegrass & Beyond

One half of the Osborne Brothers delivers solid bluegrass and traditional high lonesome singing with the energy of a man half his age.

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