Anyone Listen to any Country Music?

[Bigfish8]

Anyone listen to any of the new country music?  I would not classify myself as a regular listener of country but I really like Brad Paisley and Montgomery Gentry!  If any of you guys ever listen to country music who are your favorite artists?

Ken

[mdconnelly]

Ken,  well, I've always been a bit confused between country, bluegrass, etc....  But I do really like Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, Johnny Cash, Kathy Mattea, etc... and I love a lot of the recent collaborative work such as from Alison Krauss & Robert Plant or how about Willie and Wynton Marsalis?!   I don't listen much to the radio which unfortunately means I don't hear a lot of newer country artists.   Any particular strong recommendations?

[Black Sand Cable]

Anyone listen to any of the new country music? 

Ken

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo! 

I don't get country at all. Some of the newer, younger artists are decent but are they country? It seems more Rock to me with a country twist.

[spudco]

Occasionally, a country artist is a true gem.

Give Mickey Newberry a listen.  "Frisco Mabel Joy" is one of the all time great records.  All of his records have some great songs...  Just look at this list of folks who have done covers: http://www.mickeynewbury.com/pdf/MicklistPrint.pdf

In general, I'm not a country fan and after living in Nashville in the 1970s for a few months I learned to despise most modern country music. 

[bpape]

I'm kinda with Mike on this one.  There are a few varieties.  Most of it I don't care for.  However, like everything else, if it's done well, I'll listen to it.  I enjoy Lyle Lovett, some Dan Fogelberg, Allison Kraus, etc. on the right occasion.

Bryan

[Carlman]

I like folk, which is what I think Lyle Lovett does, and a little bluegrass (Kraus) but definitely not traditional 'country western' (Hee-Haw) or 'modern/contemporary country' (Nascar/Ford/Chevy). 

It seems to me Modern country is a formulaic money machine.. Add Hot chick or cool dude with lots of emotion, playing similar-sounding songs = nice sweaty cash.  It's funny seeing these people shoe-horned into a career like a boy-band or girl-band.  Just check out the top 10 country hits.. all glamboys and girls singing the same sappy stuff.  By the way, I consider Jewel a country star.

So, no I don't listen to it too much... I think country's audience fits the traditional music business model.. And since music labels are stuck in their old ways, they've made country what it is... a profitable business.

[richidoo]

My wife turned me onto Rascal Flatts.
BOB THAT HEAD!

Her girlfriend from WV turned her to the dark side, it is contagious. I don't mind the pop or commercialism,  that is the excitement of the moment that makes normal people buy records instead of just listening to the radio. What I don't like is the demasculinization of men as a central theme of most pop-country songs. That is pathetic, but it's what makes young women who don't know what a real man is think their superstars are sensitive and vulnerable. Real country values are the opposite.

heehaw!

[Black Sand Cable]

I would like to see Ted Nugent do a country album! There would be no demasculinization of men taking place on that cd! 

[Bill O'Connell]

Carl,

 I just saw Lyle Lovett Saturday night. He certainly does more then country, as there was a lot of Gospel( which was terrific by the way) bluegrass, some blues. A very talented musician.His band was terrific also, they had a local gospel sixtet along with 3 bluesmen who sang. They could have turned up the volume some as the man running the soundboard must have thought he was the only one there.I'm not asking for ear damage levels but TURN IT UP!!!!!

[bpape]

Have you heard either of his 2 big band albums?  Some good stuff on there.

Bryan

[Carlman]

I agree it's tough to pin Lyle with any 1 musical style.. And he definitely does a good bit of blues and gospel.  From what I've heard from him, I wouldn't classify it as 'country'... Hank Williams Jr. is country.  Lyle is not.

I wish I could've seen him live, that sounds like a tremendous show.  I don't think I've EVER been to a concert where I wanted it louder... that would be amazing in and of itself!

I burned out a bit on big band in the 90's... I knew it would be a phase so I gobbled up everything I could... thinking I'd never tire of it... but lo, I tired....

If anyone can do it, Lyle can.

[richidoo]

Anybody that can lure Julia Roberts must have something goin on...   hehe   
His talent is obvious from a few performances I have seen on live TV, but those didn't really light my fire, same with all grammy/oscar type performances. I have never been to a show or listened to his records. Gotta check him out!

[Bill O'Connell]

We took a couple of friends out and this was her surprise birthday gift. 2 weeks before we wanted to take her but she had to take a trip up to Minnesota to visit her sister.The concert we missed was Ramsey Lewis with Dave Brubeck

 Sorry about getting off track of the country music.

Favorite country for me is  Blue Rodeo   5 days in July

[allenzachary]

There are few who can deliver a song like Patsy Cline.  Check out "Walkin' After Midnight" or "Crazy."  Old time classic country....

Few can craft a song better than Willie Nelson, whose music sounds great when performed in any genre.

Johnny Cash produced some of his best work just prior to his death, reaching across genres...countrifying non-country songs and uncountrifying traditional country stuff.

[Ecramer]

New country i avoid like the  plague as most of it is just pop music in a cowboy hat. I like a lot of older country Give me Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Billy Joe Shavers, Older Dolly Parton, Of course Patsy Cline is as good as it gets. I grew up with the outlaw country just starting and followed it a lot, but i can still not put up with Willie Nelson.  Oh o forgot Tom T Hall if you like storytelling songs. Please don't hate me for my music 

ED