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Country Music Fans?

post #1 of 42
9/13/06 at 4:23pm
Thread Starter 
how many of you guys in here listen to country music? I just started getting back into it recently (I grew up with it then kind of drifted away but now I am back, haha.)

One of my favorites right now is Brooks and Dunn. I love their stuff! and I just read they are nominated for a bunch of CMA awards this year (like seven of them! impressed!). Hillbilly Deluxe is actually a good CD. Along with one of my childhood favorites George Strait, whom I still like - I played that "Check Yes or No" song nonstop when I was a teenager.

I am also not ashamed to admit that I actually kind of really like Carrie Underwood's CD.
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post #2 of 42
9/13/06 at 10:50pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

I have been listening to country music my whole life. Brooks & Dunn are in my top three artists, along with Brad Paisley and Keith Urban. My favorites tend to be those who not only put out great albums but can perform well in concert.

This fall is a great one for country concerts in Arizona. Over the next four months, Martina McBride, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Gretchen Wilson, Vince Gill, and Dierks Bentley are coming to town.
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post #3 of 42
9/20/06 at 6:20pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

Quote:
My favorites tend to be those who not only put out great albums but can perform well in concert

Check out Pat Green - got a new release out: Cannonball. Writes all his own music and is phenomenal in concert. Quite the crowd pleaser.
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post #4 of 42
9/20/06 at 6:28pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

I'm a country music fan. Been listening to it for a long time, it seems. Garth was one of my favorites, but there are quite a few I like. Phi Vassar is a great singer/songwriter.
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post #5 of 42
9/20/06 at 7:20pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

I'm a fan of Country Music...and Western.
So, I hope you won't take this as a thread ....fart.
Would someone start a thread called "Rock Music Fans"? You'd get all sorts of opinions on "What is Rock?" or "Rock & Roll" and on and on.
I usually define my country preference as Honky Tonk or Hard Country. But there's a lot more to it than that and it's easier to say there are two kinds of music...and I like the good kind.

Sadly, OK...I'm not that sad about it, I could not identify one artist already mentioned in this thread if you held a gun to my head. Maybe Gretchen, possibly, perhaps.
I've heard them, they just don't move me.
So, my post is for all the other country fans.
Bluegrass, Western Swing...etc.
Fans of Merle Haggard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lefty Frizzell, Tammy Wynette, Waylon Jennings, Bob Wills (who NEVER thought of his band as "country"), Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, George Jones, Bill Monroe, and a few hundred others.

BTW Abby....I used to go see George Strait, alot, when he was playing little clubs in Central Texas. He was playing great Honky Tonk and Swing in those days, it never seemed to get on the albums though. I saw 3 of his Austin City Limits tapings.
And now I can't recognize him on the radio, sounds like most of the other clones trying to do Lefty via Merle.
I'll just listen to Lefty & Merle.
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post #6 of 42
9/21/06 at 7:29am

Re: Country Music Fans?

I would recommend:

Rodney Crowell (his last three albums are amazing).
Lucinda Williams
Steve Earle
Dwight Yoakam
Pat Green
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post #7 of 42
9/21/06 at 9:30am

Re: Country Music Fans?

I recently picked up and am enjoying Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison. Does that count?
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post #8 of 42
9/21/06 at 9:44am

Re: Country Music Fans?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirk Gunn
Check out Pat Green - got a new release out: Cannonball. Writes all his own music and is phenomenal in concert. Quite the crowd pleaser.

I saw him once at a festival. I like his energy and the song "Feels Just Like It Should," but he just doesn't enunciate enough for me. It's hard to love an artist when you can't understand what they're saying.
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post #9 of 42
9/21/06 at 3:31pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Paquette
I recently picked up and am enjoying Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison. Does that count?
I think Mr.Cash considered himself part of the rapidly expanding 'Rock&Roll' scene when he did LAFP.
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post #10 of 42
9/21/06 at 6:30pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ElevSkyMovie
I would recommend:

Rodney Crowell (his last three albums are amazing).
Lucinda Williams
Steve Earle
Dwight Yoakam

Yes!
I have several albums of each of these artists.
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post #11 of 42
9/21/06 at 7:01pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

I just picked up the new Kenny Chesney and haven't had time to listen to it.

Otherwise, while everybody else is hanging around CMT style country, I'm trying to discover older stuff like Merle Haggard and Charlie Daniels.

Having said that, I just heard my first Hank Williams III album. Boy he sounds pissed.
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post #12 of 42
9/22/06 at 6:21am

Re: Country Music Fans?

I consider myself a pretty big fan of country, but unlike most people I can't stand what they call country these days. Personally, I think country was buried around 1980 and some other evil offspring took it's place. The likes of Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers, Toby Keith, & Shania Twain make me want to wretch. They are no more country than Coldplay is heavy metal.

I love listening to the old country rebels and a few underground country artists that are getting around today, but Country radio is shameful. I love listening to "Willie's Place" on XM which focuses on pre-1980 country including most of the artists that Henry already listed. Good Stuff.

As far as modern country, the artists that I listen to are questionable as to whether they're country or not but they certainly have stronger country connections than the stuff that is played on the radio. Hank III, Wayne Hancock, Allison Krauss, & Dale Watson all come to mind. Also for a great country parody artist, check out Unknown Hinson. He'll make you wet your pants with his authentic country music and hillarious lyrics.

Having said that, I just heard my first Hank Williams III album. Boy he sounds pissed.


I'm guessing that you are talking about his most recent album, but on his last two he has had some pretty scathing attacks on Nashville and modern country music. He pretty much sums up my thoughts with his lyrics from "Dick in Dixie"

They say that I'm ill mannered
That I'm gonna self destruct
But if you know what I'm thinkin'
You'll know that pop country really sucks!!
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post #13 of 42
9/22/06 at 10:58am

Re: Country Music Fans?

Pop country has replaced rock for what a lot of 20 and 30 year olds listen to now. It is basically rock with a fiddle thrown in once and while. I don't have that much against it, I'm just not that interested in it. It's funny, because I like slick production in rock music. I think Mutt Lange is an amazing producer. My complaint is that country shouldn't be slick. It should be raw and organic. I love Alison Krauss. AKUS is very slick, but they still have an organic sound to me. I think americana conveys the spirit of what country used to be, at least the outlaw version (Cash-Nelson-Jennings-Kristofferson). Anyway, I don't begrudge someone liking Kenny Chesney, although it doesn't interest me. Big 'n Rich? That's another story. Are they country? hmm...
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post #14 of 42
9/23/06 at 7:07am

Re: Country Music Fans?

Buddy & Julie Miller!
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post #15 of 42
9/23/06 at 9:32am

Re: Country Music Fans?

I agree with other's sentiments who feel that popular Country music nowadays is not really Country. I think the last big hurrah of decent popular Country was in the early 90's. Back when there was still some twang, honky tonkin', and swing to the music. Now it's just a slightly Nashvilled version of soft rock and pop.

Nevertheless, here are my favorite contemporary "Country" artists these days:

Dwight Yoakam - His earlier work is his best, IMO, but his current stuff is still pretty conistently great.
Neko Case - What a fantastic voice she has.
Allison Krauss & Union Station - Unbelievable voice... The Union Station boys have incredible musicianship as well.
Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins - More like Alt Country for this solo outing of Rilo Kiley singer, it harkens back to female Country singers of the 70's.
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post #16 of 42
9/23/06 at 12:58pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

I was a pretty big country fan about 10 years ago, until all my favorite artists (Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, John Berry, Patty Loveless, Clay Walker, Kathy Mattea, Ty Herndon) all got dropped off the radio. Since then, I've gravitated back to rock/pop since I absolutely can't stand most of the artists who now get airplay.
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post #17 of 42
9/23/06 at 4:23pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

I don't consider Lucinda Williams country but just recently started listening to her and I am now a big fan. She seems to me to be a folk singer/songwriter in the tradition of Nanci Griffith, only better.

Chris
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post #18 of 42
9/24/06 at 6:06pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

I have:
Johnny Cash Dressed in Black Tribute Album featuring Hank III, Kelly Willis, Robbie Fulks & more-- great album!
Caught in the Webb - Tribute to Webb Pierce featuring Willie Nelson, George Jones, Charley Pride, Pam Tillis, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Allison Moorer, Mandy Barnett and more-- another great album!
Johnny Cash Unearthed CDs
Hank III --his 1st two are the best, his last one uses studio effects I don't care for
1 Loretta Lynn CD
Willie Nelson
Mike Nesmith -- country-rock, but hey, still more country than what the radio plays! ha!
Randy Travis
George Strait
Jimmie Rodgers
Lucinda Williams -- country-rock again, but it works.
Mandy Barnett
Kelly Willis
Sons of the Pioneers
Carter Family
soundtrack to Traveller
a couple Robbie Fulks CDs
the entire Time-Life Country USA series from 1950-1972 (great series!)
Time-Life's Contemporary Country collection 1970's-early 90's country
The History of Country & Western box set -- great 20-CD set covers from 1920s through 1952
Down in the Basement CD from Old Hat --collection of old, old rare songs

and of course...

the complete Hank Williams!

That's what I see at 1st glance in my collection.
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post #19 of 42
10/5/06 at 1:53pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Country Music Fans?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Henry Gale
BTW Abby....I used to go see George Strait, alot, when he was playing little clubs in Central Texas. He was playing great Honky Tonk and Swing in those days, it never seemed to get on the albums though. I saw 3 of his Austin City Limits tapings. And now I can't recognize him on the radio, sounds like most of the other clones trying to do Lefty via Merle.I'll just listen to Lefty & Merle.

Have you listened to his new album yet? I haven't but I want to check it out, since I don't remember when his last album came out (I wasn't really listening to country back then.) He's being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year at the CMAs, I just read the other day. I feel like out of most artists performing today, he deserves it. (My hope is that Reba will get it next year. I still karoake to Reba!)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Black
I agree with other's sentiments who feel that popular Country music nowadays is not really Country. I think the last big hurrah of decent popular Country was in the early 90's. Back when there was still some twang, honky tonkin', and swing to the music. Now it's just a slightly Nashvilled version of soft rock and pop.

A lot of the times it's pretty good Nasvilled soft rock though. I mean, I don't expect everybody to be Johnny Cash, and to some extent it does feel a little bit more accessible, if that makes sense?

Oh, would you really say Neko Case is a country artist? i just got Fox Confessor, and I freaking love that album. But I think I'd call it folk, maybe? I dunno.
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post #20 of 42
10/17/06 at 11:47pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

The new albums from George Strait and Dierks Bentley are both excellent, and I urge people to check them out.
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post #21 of 42
10/18/06 at 6:40am

Re: Country Music Fans?

Two words: Alison Krauss.

You'll never find a more beautiful sounding voice, imo. Not to mention her backing band, Union Station, is good and pretty famous in their own right. With Dan Tyminski (Man of Constant Sorrow) and Jerry Douglas, Ron Block and more. They have a good mix between bluegrass and country.

Nickel Creek, they're more of the "newgrass" style, which I suppose is more of a harder edged bluegrass, but they're good, musically and pretty good vocally. Chris Thile is an amazing mandolin player.

As for straight ahead country, I like the old stuff, Waylon, Merle, George Jones, Hank Sr. and so forth. Even though I'm 23, it was what I was raised on. I do like Vince Gill, The Mavericks, Marty Stuart, Travis Tritt, Diamond Rio, Alabama. I can't stand the "new outlaw" movement, Big and Rich, Gretchen Wilson, they're not outlaws, Ryan Adams is more of a country outlaw then they are (I would suggest anything by Ryan, he does Alt. Country, swears and everything, a good mix of some punk, rock, and classic country).

As for the new stuff, I like Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts and Brad Paisley, and even then I think Brad is the only one that's true to country. All others just add a banjo and voila they're country. That's what it seems to me.
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post #22 of 42
10/18/06 at 3:28pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

Alison Krause is a great artist.
However, when listening to her, it's important to remember to never think of Alvin, Theodore, and Simon, you know, the Chipmunks.
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post #23 of 42
10/18/06 at 3:34pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Country Music Fans?

Oh, I keep hearing that George Strait's new one is good. I really did love his old stuff, so I think it'd be worth checking out. Does it sound like old school Strait?

My coworker was telling me the other day about Rascal Flatts and how they are going to be performing on the CMAs this year, and how great they were live. So I'm excited to check them out. I like their current album.

I haven't listened to Alison Krauss too much - but is she more country or folk? I know her version of "When You Say Nothing at All" was beautiful.

I wonder who will win all these CMA awards this year? Too many artists I like (or have liked in the past) are in the same categories together!
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post #24 of 42
10/18/06 at 4:23pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

Ever since I went to the Tim McGraw/Faith Hill concert this summer I have become such the country fan! I think country music is awesome because when they perform it's really about the song, and not lip-synching while doing crazy dance moves all over the place. It seems like it comes from the heart! That's a special kind of talent!
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post #25 of 42
10/20/06 at 7:09pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Country Music Fans?

Ha, there's a nice bit of kismet - I just read got an email telling me the other day that Faith Hill is going to be performing on the CMAs this year. I saw her on Oprah a couple of weeks ago singing with Tim McGraw and they were really good together (and adorable, I have to admit). I had her first album years ago (the one with the Piece of My Heart cover on it) and really liked it, maybe I'll have to give her another try.
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post #26 of 42
10/22/06 at 12:25am

Re: Country Music Fans?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Abby_B
Oh, I keep hearing that George Strait's new one is good. I really did love his old stuff, so I think it'd be worth checking out. Does it sound like old school Strait?

It Just Comes Natural is a showcase for George Strait's versatility. There are quite a few different styles on the CD, but it's all unmistakably Strait. If you have any doubt, go to one of the websites that has the album available for streaming download. CMT and KNIX both had it, but I'm not sure if they still do.

I also want to heap praise on Vince Gill's new project, These Days. This is 4 discs with 43 new songs, and each disc has a different sound (rock, ballads, country & western, and bluegrass). Vince Gill has never sounded better, and the first two discs really show off his guitar playing. He wrote or co-wrote every one of the songs.
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post #27 of 42
10/25/06 at 2:55pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Country Music Fans?

Wow - Vince Gill just released a four disc album? I am super impressed. That's cool that each one is a different sound, sometimes I think that people think Gill can't do anything but love ballads (though, hey, those are some good love songs so I don't know what they are talking about.) He's got a single out now with Brooks & Dunn, right? (I saw they were all performing together at the CMAs, so I figure that must be the song they are going to do?) I wonder when Vince Gill will get into the Hall of Fame? I'm sure he's going to go in it eventually. He's had so many hits.

I think I am going to have to iTunes some of the new Strait CD. I keep hearing how good it is.
As for the moment - My latest favorite thing? The Wreckers CD. Who knew that Michelle Branch actually had a good country album in her?
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post #28 of 42
10/28/06 at 3:21pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Abby_B
He's got a single out now with Brooks & Dunn, right?

Yes. It's called "Building Bridges," and it also features Sheryl Crow. The song is nominated for Musical Event of the Year for the CMA Awards.

Quote:
I wonder when Vince Gill will get into the Hall of Fame?

The new rules say that an artist's career must have started at least 25 years ago to be eligible for the Hall of Fame. Vince made When I Call Your Name around 1989, didn't he? I'm sure he will get inducted eventually, but he still has some years to go.
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post #29 of 42
10/28/06 at 4:07pm

Re: Country Music Fans?

The Hall of Fame has lost all significance for me since Brenda Lee is in it and Jerry Lee Lewis is not.
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post #30 of 42
11/4/06 at 5:24pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Country Music Fans?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarkin The Ewok
Yes. It's called "Building Bridges," and it also features Sheryl Crow. The song is nominated for Musical Event of the Year for the CMA Awards.

The new rules say that an artist's career must have started at least 25 years ago to be eligible for the Hall of Fame. Vince made When I Call Your Name around 1989, didn't he? I'm sure he will get inducted eventually, but he still has some years to go.

Is "Musical Event" supposed to be a collaborative type thing? (I love that country music does that - seems like it has a lot more of the top artists working and recording together than other genres. I wonder why that is.)

Is anyone planning on watching the awards show on Monday night? I've been seeing commercials for it for days, and am definitely planning to tune in!
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