Miranda Lambert
Willie Nelson, George Strait, Miranda Lambert Salute Billy Joe Shaver on New Album
Some of the top names in country and roots music have joined forces for Live Forever: A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver, due Nov. 11 from New West Records and Pedernales Records. The album was produced by Charlie Sexton and Freddy Fletcher and is led by Willie Nelson and Lucinda Williams’ cover of Shaver’s “Live Forever.” Shaver, who died at 81 in October 2020, was a figurehead of the “outlaw country” scene and was known as much for his own artistry as for popular versions of his songs covered by Waylon Jennings, Elvis Presley, Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash. [embedded content][embedded content] “His influence on the greatest of artists is what inspired this project,” Fletcher writes in the album liner notes. “The album is a testament to his words and their deep impact on wonderful songwri...
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
Sometimes you’re the windshield; sometimes you’re the bug. This bit of philosophical wisdom was imparted to me long ago by a guy whose name I don’t remember, nor can I recall the breakup. I suspect that in this case, I was the windshield. Indeed, sometimes a romantic breakup feels like ballast thrown overboard so your ship can sail, baby, sail. And sometimes, breakups pierce the heart and wound the spirit forevermore. This is the stuff of poets and songwriters — the “see ya” and “ciao” and “so long” to lost amours. or maybe the ones you didn’t appreciate until they walked out that door. Now you’re sorry. So classic. Breakup songs have always been about the important things like love won, then love gone. Sometimes breakups are wistful and sometimes they’re full-on insane, and on some occasi...
The 101 Best Albums of the 2010s
Why now? Because — and there’s no reason to ignore the elephant in the room: SPIN stewardship has changed hands many, many times since we made the online jump — we got our chance. Because plenty of our favorite albums of the last 10 years could still use a boost. Because some of the already unanimously beloved music on this list still merits further praise. Because we relish excuses to sound off on the music that’s affected us the most and to enlist some of our favorite writers to do so. Because the works of art below serve as a reminder that the 2010s weren’t all bad. Because lord knows we need the distraction. Because it’s fun. There’s a lot of music that isn’t on this list. Which, duh, but plenty of artists whose work defined the decade for many, many people, including many of us, ...
