Lyle Lovett, Bonnie Raitt, who else?
October 31, 2020 8:09 AM
I was raised on Lyle Lovett and Bonnie Raitt. I love that they tell emotionally real stories about individual characters that aren't just battle-of-the-sexes caricatures (on either the macho side or the down-with-men side). And I love that their musical style mixes in blues, soul, maybe a tiny bit of Laurel Canyon, etc. Who else should I be listening to?
Feminism is a plus. But a lot of country-radio girl-power stuff doesn't do it for me because it still feels one-dimensional: "badass bitch who shot her husband with no regrets" feels to me like just as much of an unrealistic caricature as anything on the macho side of things. I get that that stuff is historically and culturally important, but it's not what I'm looking for.
I like Dolly Parton, but I don't know her back catalog at all and it's enormous. Other than Jolene, most of what I've heard leans towards bluegrass/old time. If you can recommend stuff of hers that goes especially far in the Lovett/Raitt direction, I'd appreciate it.
Similarly, help navigating Willie Nelson and Linda Ronstadt's catalog would be lovely.
Otherwise, assume I'm totally ignorant about country, Nashville and Alt- and any other variety you care to mention, and that no suggestion is too obvious.
Feminism is a plus. But a lot of country-radio girl-power stuff doesn't do it for me because it still feels one-dimensional: "badass bitch who shot her husband with no regrets" feels to me like just as much of an unrealistic caricature as anything on the macho side of things. I get that that stuff is historically and culturally important, but it's not what I'm looking for.
I like Dolly Parton, but I don't know her back catalog at all and it's enormous. Other than Jolene, most of what I've heard leans towards bluegrass/old time. If you can recommend stuff of hers that goes especially far in the Lovett/Raitt direction, I'd appreciate it.
Similarly, help navigating Willie Nelson and Linda Ronstadt's catalog would be lovely.
Otherwise, assume I'm totally ignorant about country, Nashville and Alt- and any other variety you care to mention, and that no suggestion is too obvious.
Emmylou Harris!
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 8:24 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 8:24 AM on October 31, 2020
Gillian Welch
Alison Krauss
Emmylou Harris
Townes Van Zandt
Steve Earle
Sturgill Simpson
Neko Case
posted by greta simone at 8:27 AM on October 31, 2020
Alison Krauss
Emmylou Harris
Townes Van Zandt
Steve Earle
Sturgill Simpson
Neko Case
posted by greta simone at 8:27 AM on October 31, 2020
Mary Chapin Carpenter
posted by pangolin party at 8:36 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by pangolin party at 8:36 AM on October 31, 2020
Apparently almost all the country or country-adjacent storytellers in my collection are women.
I was blown away by Rosanne Cash at the Library of Congress (a top three concert for me, attended on a lark). She was performing songs from The River & The Thread, so maybe start there (but again, the back catalog could be overwhelming).
Shawn Colvin came to my attention (and everybody else's) around the time of Sunny Came Home but my favorite song on the Grammy winning A Few Small Repairs (produced by Rosanne Cash's husband John Leventhal) is Wichita Skyline.
And yeah, definitely seek out Neko Case. The first time I listened to my copy of Middle Cyclone I listened to This Tornado Loves You, about being in an intense, destructive affair, three times before I could move onto the next song.
posted by fedward at 8:37 AM on October 31, 2020
I was blown away by Rosanne Cash at the Library of Congress (a top three concert for me, attended on a lark). She was performing songs from The River & The Thread, so maybe start there (but again, the back catalog could be overwhelming).
Shawn Colvin came to my attention (and everybody else's) around the time of Sunny Came Home but my favorite song on the Grammy winning A Few Small Repairs (produced by Rosanne Cash's husband John Leventhal) is Wichita Skyline.
And yeah, definitely seek out Neko Case. The first time I listened to my copy of Middle Cyclone I listened to This Tornado Loves You, about being in an intense, destructive affair, three times before I could move onto the next song.
posted by fedward at 8:37 AM on October 31, 2020
Brandi Carlisle is considered Americana, but you should give her a try.
Matthew and the Atlas is a folk band you'd like
posted by FirstMateKate at 8:41 AM on October 31, 2020
Matthew and the Atlas is a folk band you'd like
posted by FirstMateKate at 8:41 AM on October 31, 2020
Sounds like you may already be familiar with John Prine, who wrote Angel from Montgomery but just in case, here's his original version.
posted by bonobothegreat at 8:42 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by bonobothegreat at 8:42 AM on October 31, 2020
Brandy Clarke
posted by night_train at 8:45 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by night_train at 8:45 AM on October 31, 2020
You might enjoy Nathaniel Rateliff ... either alone or with his band The Night Sweats.
posted by lpsguy at 8:49 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by lpsguy at 8:49 AM on October 31, 2020
Patty Griffin
posted by littleredwagon at 8:51 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by littleredwagon at 8:51 AM on October 31, 2020
There's a lot of great recommendations in here already. I don't see Jason Isbell, so I'll throw him in there. You may also like The Avett Brothers. You may also start going through shows on Austin City Limits - it's a great showcase for country-ish musicians.
posted by patternocker at 8:51 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by patternocker at 8:51 AM on October 31, 2020
Spider John Koerner. Bonnie Raitt covered several of his songs and is a big fan.
posted by shadygrove at 8:54 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by shadygrove at 8:54 AM on October 31, 2020
Your annual reminder, not that you needed it, that Lyle Lovett was heroically trampled while saving his uncle, Calvin Klein, from a charging bull.
Not that Calvin Klein.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 8:57 AM on October 31, 2020
Not that Calvin Klein.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 8:57 AM on October 31, 2020
I'd put him more in the "Folk" or "Folk Rock" bucket than the "Country" bucket, but I'm also a big fan of Peter Mulvey. He's got a few studio albums with a backing band (my first was The Trouble With Poets; Kitchen Radio is in the same vein) but the album of his I probably listen to most is Notes from Elsewhere, with the description: Scores of times a year at one of his solo shows, a fan approaches Peter to ask “Do you have a record that's like what I just heard? Just you and a guitar, doing what you do?” This is that record. The recording of Charlie, for example, is a neat trick where he accompanies himself on lead, rhythm, and ostinato guitar all at once. He's got a video where he talks about learning to play it live.
posted by fedward at 9:04 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by fedward at 9:04 AM on October 31, 2020
+1 for John Hiatt, especially his 1-2 punch of “Bring the Family” and “Slow Turning.”
posted by baseballpajamas at 9:24 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by baseballpajamas at 9:24 AM on October 31, 2020
First Aid Kit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9WDtzb9oys
posted by jonathanhughes at 9:32 AM on October 31, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9WDtzb9oys
posted by jonathanhughes at 9:32 AM on October 31, 2020
Bonnie Raitt covered several songs by sisters Kate and Anna McGarrigle. Their lyrics are wonderful and their music is somewhere between blues, old time, gospel-ish plus Acadian folk songs. Their most rocking disc is from 1990, Heartbeats Accelerating.
Another contemporary is Chris Smither -- a loose yet full blues guitar picker, his songs sound like they've always been written 100 years ago (but never in nasty ways). Many samples at his site.
posted by Jesse the K at 9:48 AM on October 31, 2020
Another contemporary is Chris Smither -- a loose yet full blues guitar picker, his songs sound like they've always been written 100 years ago (but never in nasty ways). Many samples at his site.
posted by Jesse the K at 9:48 AM on October 31, 2020
The YouTube channel Western AF might be worth checking out. That's how I learned about Kassi Valazza, who's become one of my new favorites. This is her song Johnny Dear.
posted by Lexica at 9:49 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by Lexica at 9:49 AM on October 31, 2020
Robert Earl Keen
Jason Isbell
Both write beautifully-performed song-stories.
posted by essexjan at 9:55 AM on October 31, 2020
Jason Isbell
Both write beautifully-performed song-stories.
posted by essexjan at 9:55 AM on October 31, 2020
... "emotionally real stories about individual characters" describes practically everything Springsteen has written and recorded. Of course you're probably familiar with his music but, if you need a place to start, listen to The River and Nebraska.
posted by MinPin at 10:25 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by MinPin at 10:25 AM on October 31, 2020
Parker Milsap, Lindi Ortega
In answer to the where to start in Dolly Parton or Linda Rondstadt's catalogs question, the Trio albums that they did with Emmylou Harris might be helpful?
posted by eviemath at 11:10 AM on October 31, 2020
In answer to the where to start in Dolly Parton or Linda Rondstadt's catalogs question, the Trio albums that they did with Emmylou Harris might be helpful?
posted by eviemath at 11:10 AM on October 31, 2020
Also Frazey Ford (her first solo album had more of a Memphis sound, her previous band The Be Good Tanya's was more on the folk/bluegrass end, but both have some gospel/blues influences).
And I misspelled Parker Millsap's name - it should have two "l"s.
posted by eviemath at 11:16 AM on October 31, 2020
And I misspelled Parker Millsap's name - it should have two "l"s.
posted by eviemath at 11:16 AM on October 31, 2020
Dave Alvin
posted by Grok Lobster at 11:23 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by Grok Lobster at 11:23 AM on October 31, 2020
Thanks for all the tips! I'll be working my way through them.
posted by nebulawindphone at 11:25 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by nebulawindphone at 11:25 AM on October 31, 2020
I will say, ok, I love Gillian Welch, Neko Case, and the Be Good Tanyas, but they're not so much what I'm looking for — I know distinguishing "country" from "Americana" is fraught, and they're mostly marketing terms anyway, but I feel like as a lifelong big-city northerner I'm overeducated on stuff that's marketed on the Americana end of the scale and undereducated on stuff that's marketed on the country end, so that's the gap I'm trying to fill.
posted by nebulawindphone at 11:26 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by nebulawindphone at 11:26 AM on October 31, 2020
Kathleen Edwards may be more folk than country, but she can write a pretty great tune.
posted by backwards guitar at 11:34 AM on October 31, 2020
posted by backwards guitar at 11:34 AM on October 31, 2020
Not sure this fits the bill, but I'm on a Tylor Childers tear these days.
Long Violent History
(this particular song is more political than personal. It's his newest.)
also a fan Willi Carlisle, though he does a lot of covers of old (very old) old-timey music.
This is one of the personal relations one, though. If you hate harmonicas like I do, you'll have to pick and chose through his songs. This one is harmonica-free.
Worth looking through the Western AF (link to a "The Local Honeys" song) and the GemsonVHS (link to a Sierra Ferrell song) youtube channels.
posted by small_ruminant at 12:23 PM on October 31, 2020
Long Violent History
(this particular song is more political than personal. It's his newest.)
also a fan Willi Carlisle, though he does a lot of covers of old (very old) old-timey music.
This is one of the personal relations one, though. If you hate harmonicas like I do, you'll have to pick and chose through his songs. This one is harmonica-free.
Worth looking through the Western AF (link to a "The Local Honeys" song) and the GemsonVHS (link to a Sierra Ferrell song) youtube channels.
posted by small_ruminant at 12:23 PM on October 31, 2020
Maia Sharp blows me away with her songwriting, and has directly collaborated with Bonnie Raitt.
Also, the late great John Prine.
posted by 2N2222 at 12:29 PM on October 31, 2020
Also, the late great John Prine.
posted by 2N2222 at 12:29 PM on October 31, 2020
Aimee Mann isn't technically country but all her songs are about losers, hope, weariness, fear and regret, usually sung in a really catchy way. That scratches the same itch for me. Also her lyrics are some of the best ever.
posted by emjaybee at 12:39 PM on October 31, 2020
posted by emjaybee at 12:39 PM on October 31, 2020
Otis Taylor is an amazing artist you might like. While he's probably more blues than some of the artists you mention, he has some amazing, thought-provoking music, and he's been instrumental in recapturing the banjo as a Black instrument, with an album titled just that: Recapturing the Banjo, which features a number of amazing blues artists. (I mean, the blues definitely has some of that "my woman who done me wrong/drives me crazy" stuff, but overall I don't find it drives me away with him, and usually that sort of stuff makes me nuts. YMMV of course.)
posted by kitten kaboodle at 12:42 PM on October 31, 2020
posted by kitten kaboodle at 12:42 PM on October 31, 2020
i like Justin Townes Earle quite a lot (and tragically he is gone way too soon..). his recent
album Saint of Lost Causes is on continuous play for me.
posted by The_Auditor at 1:41 PM on October 31, 2020
album Saint of Lost Causes is on continuous play for me.
posted by The_Auditor at 1:41 PM on October 31, 2020
Darden Smith.
posted by LaBellaStella at 1:41 PM on October 31, 2020
posted by LaBellaStella at 1:41 PM on October 31, 2020
James McMurtry. Ruthie Foster. Carolyn Wonderland. Sarah Jarosz.
posted by ch3ch2oh at 3:04 PM on October 31, 2020
posted by ch3ch2oh at 3:04 PM on October 31, 2020
Kinda surprised no one's mentioned Kris Kristofferson yet. He's one of the all-time legends when it comes to storytelling in country music. His second album, The Silver Tongued Devil and I, is where I'd start.
For a less-known recommendation, Gene Clark was also pretty great at telling a complex story, though he shifted around between genres and not all of it might be to your taste. To pick two albums, White Light was mostly stripped-down country-folk, while No Other is a mash of blues and country and folk. Both are pretty awesome.
posted by ZaphodB at 3:49 PM on October 31, 2020
For a less-known recommendation, Gene Clark was also pretty great at telling a complex story, though he shifted around between genres and not all of it might be to your taste. To pick two albums, White Light was mostly stripped-down country-folk, while No Other is a mash of blues and country and folk. Both are pretty awesome.
posted by ZaphodB at 3:49 PM on October 31, 2020
i like Justin Townes Earle quite a lot (and tragically he is gone way too soon..).
Oh no. I had somehow missed this over the summer. I'm so sad to hear this now. Harlem River Blues is often in my rotation.
posted by patternocker at 6:23 PM on October 31, 2020
Oh no. I had somehow missed this over the summer. I'm so sad to hear this now. Harlem River Blues is often in my rotation.
posted by patternocker at 6:23 PM on October 31, 2020
The Highwomen, "Redesigning Women" (though I prefer their cover of "The Chain").
Mary Gauthier, "Mercy Now"
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:29 PM on October 31, 2020
Mary Gauthier, "Mercy Now"
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:29 PM on October 31, 2020
Cowboy Junkies!
posted by gingerjules at 8:43 PM on October 31, 2020
posted by gingerjules at 8:43 PM on October 31, 2020
John Prine, heck yes. You may have heard Bonnie Raitt sing "Angel from Montgomery"--he wrote the song, and the best-known version is their duet.
Prine's music tells stories, sometimes literal, sometimes fantastical, always emotionally real. There's some gender stereotyping in some of his songs (he was of his era), but it's always loving/positive rather than battle-of-the-sexes BS.
Also +1 to Brandy Clark--my favorite of hers is a stunning cover of "Pray to Jesus".
Kacey Musgraves may be of interest, too. She sings personal, and sometimes funny, songs about being an outsider and being yourself. Her first hit was "Follow Your Arrow", and "Biscuits" is great. "Good Ol' Boys Club" isn't badass-lady-what-shot-her-cheatin'-husband or down-with-all-men, but it is about how messed up the male-dominated country music industry can be.
posted by rhiannonstone at 9:13 PM on October 31, 2020
Prine's music tells stories, sometimes literal, sometimes fantastical, always emotionally real. There's some gender stereotyping in some of his songs (he was of his era), but it's always loving/positive rather than battle-of-the-sexes BS.
Also +1 to Brandy Clark--my favorite of hers is a stunning cover of "Pray to Jesus".
Kacey Musgraves may be of interest, too. She sings personal, and sometimes funny, songs about being an outsider and being yourself. Her first hit was "Follow Your Arrow", and "Biscuits" is great. "Good Ol' Boys Club" isn't badass-lady-what-shot-her-cheatin'-husband or down-with-all-men, but it is about how messed up the male-dominated country music industry can be.
posted by rhiannonstone at 9:13 PM on October 31, 2020
Two greats who’ve taken their show to the next realm: Guy Clark and Mickey Newbury.
posted by lometogo at 10:40 PM on October 31, 2020
posted by lometogo at 10:40 PM on October 31, 2020
Nanci Griffith! (Here on Austin City Limits)
Some favorites of mine are:
Ford Econoline (a woman leaving a no-good man behind)
Guld Coast Highway (this story of long lasting love makes me tear up every time.)
There’s a Light Beyond These Woods (a wonderful song about friendship over time.)
posted by vespabelle at 9:04 AM on November 1, 2020
Some favorites of mine are:
Ford Econoline (a woman leaving a no-good man behind)
Guld Coast Highway (this story of long lasting love makes me tear up every time.)
There’s a Light Beyond These Woods (a wonderful song about friendship over time.)
posted by vespabelle at 9:04 AM on November 1, 2020
Ashley McBryde. A couple of examples that seem to fit your criteria are "Girl Goin' Nowhere" and "A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega".
posted by HillbillyInBC at 10:33 AM on November 1, 2020
posted by HillbillyInBC at 10:33 AM on November 1, 2020
Patty Griffin: one of my all-time favorite songwriters. She can tell beautiful, heartbreaking stories. Impossible Dream is my desert island album. Rowing Song is the thing I sing to myself in my most vulnerable moments to give myself the courage to keep going. That's a true secret I just gave you for free. Now you are *obligated* to check her out.
Some others that you'd probably enjoy: Deb Talan, Brandi Carlisle, Brooke Annibale, Ill Lit, Daniel Ahearn, Bright Eyes, Joseph Arthur. Echoing all the Steve Earle, John Prine, Lucinda Williams, Emmylous Harris, etc. also. This is a great thread.
posted by Lonnrot at 3:29 PM on November 1, 2020
Some others that you'd probably enjoy: Deb Talan, Brandi Carlisle, Brooke Annibale, Ill Lit, Daniel Ahearn, Bright Eyes, Joseph Arthur. Echoing all the Steve Earle, John Prine, Lucinda Williams, Emmylous Harris, etc. also. This is a great thread.
posted by Lonnrot at 3:29 PM on November 1, 2020
OH FFFFF
AND PHOEBE BRIDGERS DUH
Punisher is my favorite album from this year. It starts out poppy-but-sad, but it will turn into something that will give you what you're looking for.
A few more because I am a nerd and I just thought of a few more:
Vashti Bunyan: A wonderful songwriter who largely left music for many decades before starting to record again. I was introduced to her work through complicated and difficult circumstances, but found in her work the comfort I needed then.
Kath Bloom: I was introduced to her work through this scene in Before Sunrise, which hurts my heart to watch now in context, especially the way it leaves off - but I think Bloom's work has a lot of beauty and tired wisdom in it.
Seriously, these are close to my heart, you better check them out.
posted by Lonnrot at 3:41 PM on November 1, 2020
AND PHOEBE BRIDGERS DUH
Punisher is my favorite album from this year. It starts out poppy-but-sad, but it will turn into something that will give you what you're looking for.
A few more because I am a nerd and I just thought of a few more:
Vashti Bunyan: A wonderful songwriter who largely left music for many decades before starting to record again. I was introduced to her work through complicated and difficult circumstances, but found in her work the comfort I needed then.
Kath Bloom: I was introduced to her work through this scene in Before Sunrise, which hurts my heart to watch now in context, especially the way it leaves off - but I think Bloom's work has a lot of beauty and tired wisdom in it.
Seriously, these are close to my heart, you better check them out.
posted by Lonnrot at 3:41 PM on November 1, 2020
Is this the place to recommend Lilly Hiatt's "Trinity Lane"? And her dad's fantastic tale of lovers on the run, "Tennessee Plates"? (Those lyrics, damn!)
I am a Steve Earle partisan, and will happily recommend "Goodbye" for the purposes of this question. (He is a fabulous storyteller: "Home to Houston," "Fastest Man Alive," and "Mercenary Song" are three of my favorites. Not about relationships, but they have story in spades and tap into country sounds.)
Maybe Mary Chapin Carpenter? But especially "Almost Home."
OH MY, storytellers!
Robert Earle Keen, "The Road Goes on Forever"
James McMurtry, "Hurricane Party" and "Copper Canteen" and so much else
Guy Clark, "My Favorite Picture of You" and so. much. else.
Ray Wylie Hubbard, "Mother Blues" (bear with this one, the kicker is great)
and and and
Darrell Scott, "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" and "It All Comes Down To Love" (with the excellent Tim O'Brien)
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:39 PM on November 1, 2020
I am a Steve Earle partisan, and will happily recommend "Goodbye" for the purposes of this question. (He is a fabulous storyteller: "Home to Houston," "Fastest Man Alive," and "Mercenary Song" are three of my favorites. Not about relationships, but they have story in spades and tap into country sounds.)
Maybe Mary Chapin Carpenter? But especially "Almost Home."
OH MY, storytellers!
Robert Earle Keen, "The Road Goes on Forever"
James McMurtry, "Hurricane Party" and "Copper Canteen" and so much else
Guy Clark, "My Favorite Picture of You" and so. much. else.
Ray Wylie Hubbard, "Mother Blues" (bear with this one, the kicker is great)
and and and
Darrell Scott, "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" and "It All Comes Down To Love" (with the excellent Tim O'Brien)
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:39 PM on November 1, 2020
These are great! Let me say again that I'm specifically looking for country music, even though there are great songwriters in lots of other genres.
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:41 PM on November 1, 2020
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:41 PM on November 1, 2020
I second McMurty for story telling. I listen to Choctaw Bingo about once a month just because of how with just a couple words description, you can see the whole scene.
I just earlier this week looked up his bio and he's Larry McMurty's son. Larry wrote Lonesome Dove, which has great descriptions of people, too. Describing people must have been a family priority.
posted by small_ruminant at 10:56 PM on November 1, 2020
I just earlier this week looked up his bio and he's Larry McMurty's son. Larry wrote Lonesome Dove, which has great descriptions of people, too. Describing people must have been a family priority.
posted by small_ruminant at 10:56 PM on November 1, 2020
You will find a lot of good musicians on the Transatlantic Sessions recordings. I am partial to anything with Nanci Griffith or Emmylou Harris, but there are a lot of good songs here. Here are a few.
Blue Train, Maura O'Connell, James Grant, Nanci Griffith
Lay My Burden Down, Alison Krauss
Bothan Airigh am Braigh Raithneach, Julie Fowlis
Transcendental Reunion, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Aoife O'Donovan
Boots of Spanish Leather, Nanci Griffith
Saint Teresa, Joan Osborne
Secret Life of Roses, Roseanne Cash
Wheels of Love, Emmylou Harris, Iris DeMent, Mary Black
Not Transatlantic Sessions, but lovely.
Sonny, Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, Dolores Keane
posted by TrishaU at 12:34 AM on November 2, 2020
Blue Train, Maura O'Connell, James Grant, Nanci Griffith
Lay My Burden Down, Alison Krauss
Bothan Airigh am Braigh Raithneach, Julie Fowlis
Transcendental Reunion, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Aoife O'Donovan
Boots of Spanish Leather, Nanci Griffith
Saint Teresa, Joan Osborne
Secret Life of Roses, Roseanne Cash
Wheels of Love, Emmylou Harris, Iris DeMent, Mary Black
Not Transatlantic Sessions, but lovely.
Sonny, Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, Dolores Keane
posted by TrishaU at 12:34 AM on November 2, 2020
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
Lydia Loveless
and I mean . . . not exactly a secret, but
Kacey Musgraves
And this is may be too much on the folk/bluegrass tip, but Our Native Daughters
posted by thivaia at 6:09 AM on November 3, 2020
Lydia Loveless
and I mean . . . not exactly a secret, but
Kacey Musgraves
And this is may be too much on the folk/bluegrass tip, but Our Native Daughters
posted by thivaia at 6:09 AM on November 3, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
Martina McBride: Independence Day
posted by Sassyfras at 8:19 AM on October 31, 2020