🎶 Crucial Track for today: "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton →

The Dolly Parton song that means the most to you.

I haven’t listened to much Dolly in my life, but this was a guest prompt submission and the timing was important so here we go…

My in-laws lived in Tennessee for a time so that meant time spent in Nashville, Pigeon Forge, and Dollywood… and besides that peripheral exposure and appreciation, I knew she was a heck of a human being - doing right by her community, state, country and the world. The world needs more people like her. RIP Dolly.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Echos" by Erykah Badu & The Alchemist →

'Cause they didn't believe that we'd break the chains That we could be programmed and we all the same And we know the truth that you tried to separate us But we are not no robots, so go and create your own soul

Such a good album.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "All My Days" by Alexi Murdoch →

Share a song that feels like it's giving you permission to feel everything.

Haven't heard this song in a while and it came on shuffle today. Perfect for this prompt.

Yes, even breathing feels all right.

🎬 Watched: Obsession (2026)

Holy moly.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "I Know That Man (feat. Earl Sweatshirt)" by Erykah Badu & The Alchemist →

New music Friday! Really digging the new album from these two.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Here's The Thing" by Fontaines D.C. →

So here's the thing, I need commotion

Today was college drop-off #3 for the kids. The "baby" well, the second born of the twins so technically the youngest. She's in the right program and the right school for her, close enough to home with friends from high school -- but far enough that it's going to be a great experience for her...

And with that, we're empty nesters. Eighteen plus years of chaos, with three kids a total of 13 months apart... so busy, but the closeness in age helped keep our family close. So this is going to be a big change...

On top of that, in the short term, I will be taking care of my dad for the next 30 or so days... he received a stem cell transplant to treat MDS about 30 days ago and has been under hospital care as his body adjusts and grows his own cells. SO yeah, it's been a stressful summer... but we keep moving and taking one thing at a time.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Like Water" by Wild Pink →

From here out, I just wanna make it count Cause I've been so stressed out, I'm dumber now

Feel this...

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Taking Chances" by Sharon Van Etten →

What song makes you want to forgive someone?

You've touched on me deep That's why I'm still here

Been a while since I've listened to SVE, so gotta add a song for this year's playlist.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "The Golden Ass" by Jacob King →

New CT interview with Jake King dropped!

If you like quirky folk like The Microphones, Saintseneca, Nico, etc... you will really like Jake's music.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Force of Love" by Cleo Sol →

Share a song that perfectly captures longing.

Tackled more new releases on the drive home today and this one fit the prompt. Her new album is so good. More coming from me!

Busy day! Bronx Zoo, Arthur Ave for pizza, and The Lost Boys. 17,400 steps later. NYC is a marvel.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Paperchains" by Westside Cowboy →

On the road so more new music.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Kick Stones (The Boys)" by Westside Cowboy →

New music Friday! Enjoying this album. More soon 😄

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Cleveland" by Squirrel Flower →

Caught the Squirrel Flower interview on the Kreative Kontrol podcast during the current road trip. Super good and has me excited for her upcoming album. Out tomorrow!

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Moonshine Freeze" by This Is the Kit →

What's a song you'd want to hear while watching the sunrise?

As the change sets in We are separate As the game begins We are separate

Some strings slackening Others giving in Change sets in

This is the natural order of things

One of my absolute favorite alt folk artists. Her and Adrianne Lenker are the masters of words and quirky folk.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "A Scream In Silence" by Small Brown Bike →

What's a song you associate with your favorite photograph?

My absolute favorite picture is one we took on vacation in South Carolina when all three kids were under 5. We tried to get a nice picture of my wife and the kids sitting on the big exposed root of the Angel Oak Tree in Charleston... the wife held the twins in her arms and the oldest was sitting on the root right in front of her.

Just as I was about to snap the picture, the twins started wiggling and screaming... and my oldest just had an absolute look of disgust and rolling their eyes at the twins. My wife smiling and trying to rein it all in... all caught on film. Just a perfect example of the chaos of having 3 kids a total of 13 months apart... and what a hero she is!

Now they are all going off to college this year and with that, the quiet. Going to be so weird.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "You’re Gonna Go Far" by Noah Kahan →

Obligatory “start of college drop off season” song. 😭