What passes for country music on the radio is somewhat catchy but thematically shallow; I can listen to only a few songs before I feel I've heard them all.

But play some Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, Emmy Lou Harris, or (from my town) Amanda Anne Platt and the Honeycutters, and I can listen all day. (Yeah, I know, those artists don't fit neatly inside the "country" label.)

Music can be simple without being simplistic.

Great piece, Ryan.