The recent outpouring of emotion for Merle Haggard from the rock community is both heartwarming and strange. Not so long ago no self-respecting cool kid would admit to liking Hag.

That’s changed, thank goodness. With the rise of alt-country, we’re free to admit to liking whatever the heck we like, but that’s not a new phenomenon. Our pals in R.E.M. planted those seeds over three decades ago on Reckoning. Read all about it on Diffuser.