A Year In The Wilderness

John Doe. <i>Yep Roc</i>.

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Emotions run hot in the music of John Doe, who’s matured since his days as a shouter with the L.A. punk band X. Keeping the restless edge of old, he’s become a soulful singer able to make sullen rockers or dusty country ballads feel like pleas for help. Doe’s characters brood in hotel rooms and count highway miles, grasping at smoke rings of happiness. “I am the aching in your heart,” he wails in “The Golden State,” a sublime duet with Kathleen Edwards. Elsewhere, he mutters, “I feel bad, but not bad enough.” Nobody captures the lonely and desperate better.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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