OS Country Music Thread

[Fresh Tendrils]

Where are all the country music fans at on OS? Country music doesn't make up a huge portion of my total music library, but its grown quite a bit in the past couple of months. I consider myself a traditionally rooted alt. country fan since I'm not real happy with the majority of mainstream country today.

Anyway, whats everybody's favorite artists and new albums this year?

I love Neko Case and Drive-By Truckers - they're by far my favorite country artists, though I guess DBT crowds the along the country, country/southern-rock line. I saw Neko last year and she was amazing - heavenly vocals. I can't wait to see DBT in September. I'm also a fan of Ryan Adams' country work, particulary Heartbreaker. Uncle Tupelo is another band I enjoy. Hank Williams III reminds me a bit of his grandfather with a bit of pyschobilly thrown in - I can't wait for his new album to drop as I've really enjoyed his last two. Of course Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Waylon, etc get plays from me as well.

As for new albums, so far Brighter Than Creation's Dark is my favorite of the year, with my favorite songs being Bob, Lisa's Birthday, Daddy Needs A Drink, 3 Dimes Down to name a few, ha.

I picked up a handful of country albums today:

Hayes Carll - Trouble in Mind
Ashton Shepherd - Sounds So Good
Old 97's - Blame It On Gravity

I've only had a chance to listen to Hayes so far (my first album of his) and am loving what I'm hearing. Great music right there.

[Beantown]

Re: OS Country Music Thread

I'm honestly more of a "pop-country" fan, because the music is catchy to me and is fun.

I'm going to see Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and...well, whoever else is on tour with them at the end of this month.

[Flyboy]

Re: OS Country Music Thread

I'm honestly more of a "pop-country" fan, because the music is catchy to me and is fun.

Yeah, me too. Definitely. Carrie Underwood totally kills it. I enjoy Kellie Pickler too. The Dixie Chicks (their last album was extremely good). Jessica Andrews is great too.

[Scottdau]

Re: OS Country Music Thread

I like Miranda Lambert. I do like the song call "love don't live here." Keith Urban is one of my favorites. I like Tim too. Jason Michael Carrol has a great voice. I like him too.

[Tomahawk]

Re: OS Country Music Thread

Big fan of Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, Kenny Chesney, Little Big Town, Big & Rich, Bocephus, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, and Dierks Bentley.

[jct32]

Re: OS Country Music Thread

Big fan of country music here, most have all ready been mentioned, but I'll add a couple more, Gary Allan, and Taylor Swift

If I recall correctly Taylor Swift has been dominating the country charts, its seems like she releases a single and it goes straight up into the Top 10 or even Number 1.

[R3BeL]

Re: OS Country Music Thread

I have listened to country music since I was a kid. Born and raised on it.

The stations here tend to play WAY too much from certain artists like Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw among others. If they play them too much I get sick of them real quick.

There is one artist that gets NO RADIO PLAY whatsoever in my area and thats a guy by the name of Jeff Bates. He's had a few hits such as "The Love Song", "Long, Slow Kisses" and "I Wanna Make You Cry" and he defines country music imo. So, I recommend you guys check him out if you haven't heard of him.

Some of my favorites right now are Gary Allan (although, he has always been a favorite of mine), Ashton Shepherd, Keith Anderson, Travis Tritt (same with Gary Allan), Josh Turner and Lady Antebellum.

Fresh Tendrils, I think you'll love the Ashton Shepherd album. There is a song titled, "How Big Are Angel Wings", it will most certainly touch you. I found myself tearing up when I first listened to it and I almost do it everytime I listen to it now.

[youvalss]

Re: OS Country Music Thread

Give me that 50's-60's country music all day long!!! When I was in Jackson in 1998, I went to a place where they played country music and people danced like they used to in the wild west. It was great!

[minister]

Re: OS Country Music Thread

I'm with you on that, I like to listen to Hank Williams,Sr., Johnny Horton, Lefty Frizzell, George Jones, Waylon. I don't like new country at all, of course I don't listen to country anymore either so. But I will every now and then pop in my Hank, Sr or Horton cd.

[ZB9]

Re: OS Country Music Thread

im a huge country music fan, but I dont like most of the "mainstream" country that most of the big syndicated radio stations play nowadays. Most of the stuff they play is corny as hell (for example, Brad Paisley singing "ticks" at the Grammys). It's seems that the Nashville music scene is going to crap imo. Most of it is manufactured **** created in some cubicle in Nashville or New York. I cant listen to country radio nowadays, unless it's a small station that isnt beholden to record companies and can play whatever they want (like 92.1 out of New Braunfels)

The country scene I follow mostly involves singer/songwriters playing their own stuff or their friends stuff, with real country or folk lyrics that dont need some corny hook. I guess you could call the stuff I like "alternative country". Whatever you call it, it's true honkytonk, dancehall music. That is one of the good things about living here, you can find some really good country bands playing all over the place...especially during the summer.

some of my favorites:
-Robert Earl Keen
-Jerry Jeff Walker
-Waylon
-Willie
-Kris Kristofferson
-Merle Haggard
-Joe Ely
-Cross Canadian Ragweed
-Reckless Kelly
-Cory Morrow
-Pat Green (his old stuff before he became part of the nashville machine)
-Chris Knight
-Mike McClure
-The Weary Boys
-Ryan Bingham
-Jason Boland and the Stragglers
-Ray Wylie Hubbard
-Stoney Larue
-Steve Earle
-Charlie Robison
-Jason Eady
-Blue Edmonson
-Randy Rogers Band
-Roger Creager
-Brandon Rhyder
-Wade Bowen

[ZB9]

Re: OS Country Music Thread

btw, I went to Willie's 4th of July picnic yesterday in San Antonio and it was awesome

Willie, Merle Haggard, Ray Price, David Allen Coe, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Asleep at the Weal, Pat Green, and a freaking awesome blues band called Los Lonely Boys.

Man it was very cool, although I wish Willie and Merle would have played Pancho and Lefty.

I dont know how much longer Willie, Merle, Ray Price, and David Allen are going to be touring, it was great being able to see those legends in one show.

[Laettner32]

Re: OS Country Music Thread

Pretty much stopped listening to country around '96-'78. That is when IMO it lost its soul. I was in college and my 20's when the big boom hit, w/ George, Garth, Clint, Alan, etc...But some of my best memories are hanging at Dallas nightclub in the ATX...what a frickin' meat market! And country is still the best to dance with women!!

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: OS Country Music Thread

Has anybody checked out The Steeldrivers? They're a contemporary bluegrass band comprised of veteran Nashville session players. I'm not a big bluegrass fan by any means, but what I've heard from the album has me wanting to hear more. I've got it coming in the mail this week, I'll let ya'll know how it is.

Is does anybody have any impressions on Justin Townes Earle new album, The Good Life?

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: OS Country Music Thread

Heads up for all the Hank Williams III fans - he's got a new album coming out October 21st titled Damn Straight, Rebel Proud.

I cannot recommend this Hayes Carll album enough - Trouble in Mind has been getting a ton of plays, I love it. Great album with a nice bit of variety and a lot of wit and cleverness. Everybody needs to listen to She Left Me For Jesus.

Also, I got The Steeldrivers in the mail yesterday. While I enjoy bluegrass instrumentation, traditional bluegrass vocals have never really gelled me with. The Steeldrivers are different - they're very much a bluegrass band, but their vocals are country-soul/blues through and through and I'm loving it. I definitely recommend it the album and specificially the songs Drinkin' Dark Whiskey, Sticks That Made Thunder, and Midnight Train to Memphis.

[BoomerSooner11]

Re: OS Country Music Thread

I like the mainstream country now, I listen to Hank Williams and I like some David Allen Coe every now and then.

Come to think of it country is about all I listen to on the radio these days.