I need more free stolen music
June 22, 2007 6:20 PM Subscribe
Help me discover more country music.
I've always been a fan of alt-country stuff like Ryan Adams/Whiskeytown, Uncle Telupo, Neko Case, Gram Parsons, and Son Volt, but never ventured much into honest to god country.
Here's what I know I like: Dwight Yoakam, Loretta Lynn, Garth Brooks, Buck Owens, Gram Parsons (I felt like I had to include him in both), and Hank Williams. What other artists in this vein would ya'll recommend? Please no corporate Nashville pop country.
I've always been a fan of alt-country stuff like Ryan Adams/Whiskeytown, Uncle Telupo, Neko Case, Gram Parsons, and Son Volt, but never ventured much into honest to god country.
Here's what I know I like: Dwight Yoakam, Loretta Lynn, Garth Brooks, Buck Owens, Gram Parsons (I felt like I had to include him in both), and Hank Williams. What other artists in this vein would ya'll recommend? Please no corporate Nashville pop country.
I'm a huge fan of George Jones, Willie Nelson, and Charly Pride, not to mention some of the old close-harmony singers, like the Louvin Brothers.
This would be a good time for you to make use of some filesharing, to get your bearings and see what you like.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 6:30 PM on June 22, 2007
This would be a good time for you to make use of some filesharing, to get your bearings and see what you like.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 6:30 PM on June 22, 2007
Johnny Cash, the later American recordings brought his spark back, but grab Live at San Quentin.
posted by pupdog at 6:31 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by pupdog at 6:31 PM on June 22, 2007
Here's 7 years of archives from The Radio Thrift Shop with Laura Cantrell (via the incomparable WFMU): a rich vein of the finest quality country music from all periods for your consideration and enjoyment.
posted by The_Auditor at 6:37 PM on June 22, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by The_Auditor at 6:37 PM on June 22, 2007 [2 favorites]
Lefty Frizzell, The Star Room Boys, Lambchop, Paul Burch, The Handsome Family, Don Walser, Freakwater, The Guthries, Son Volt ...
I'll second George Jones as long as we're talking buzzcut George Jones.
posted by dobbs at 6:41 PM on June 22, 2007
I'll second George Jones as long as we're talking buzzcut George Jones.
posted by dobbs at 6:41 PM on June 22, 2007
Oh and Townes Van Zandt, though it's weird calling him country.
posted by dobbs at 6:45 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by dobbs at 6:45 PM on June 22, 2007
Wailin' Jennys, Gillian Welsh, Nickel Creek - more on the alt end of things, but good.
posted by rtha at 6:52 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by rtha at 6:52 PM on June 22, 2007
Kathy Mattea and Emmylou Harris (although I'm guessing you already know about her, since you're down with Gram).
posted by jbickers at 6:54 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by jbickers at 6:54 PM on June 22, 2007
One could do much worse than listening to Swinging Doors on KEXP.
Dale Watson is about the countriest motherfucker alive. By all means, see him perform live before you die. He's a consumate showman and he's got a seriously crackerjack band behind him.
posted by stet at 6:58 PM on June 22, 2007
Dale Watson is about the countriest motherfucker alive. By all means, see him perform live before you die. He's a consumate showman and he's got a seriously crackerjack band behind him.
posted by stet at 6:58 PM on June 22, 2007
Junior Brown, The Derailers, Bruce Robison, Buddy and Julie Miller (together or solo), and I've really been digging on Malcolm Holcombe lately.
Oh... and in the alt country rock category- Steve Earle, John Hyatt and John Prine.
posted by kimdog at 7:05 PM on June 22, 2007
Oh... and in the alt country rock category- Steve Earle, John Hyatt and John Prine.
posted by kimdog at 7:05 PM on June 22, 2007
Oooh, I've been waiting forever for someone to ask this question.
Alt-Country you may already know and/or love:
Gob Iron (Jay Farrar side project)
Centro-Matic
Blue Mountain
Drive-By Truckers (more rock than country, but great anyway)
Lucero (ditto, but I love this band -- if Social Distortion was from Tennessee, they'd sound like Lucero)
Hank Williams III (live he kicks ass, recordings are meh)
Alejandro Escovedo
Wayne "The Train" Hancock (particularly "Thunderstorms and Neon Signs")
Robbie Fulks ("Georgia Hard" and "Let's Kill Saturday Night")
Green On Red
Jason and the Scorchers (for 80s cowpunk roots, and for playing lead guitar with lit cigarettes crammed in one's nostrils)
The Mekons, and their myriad incarnations, have made some chillingly good faux (?) country
"Real" Country:
Guy Clarke ("Dublin Blues")
Townes Van Zandt (because "Pancho and Lefty" is the single greatest songwriting achievement in the history of popular music -- I have an iTunes playlist that is nothing but covers of this song)
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
The Flatlanders, for that matter
Willie Fucking Nelson
Merle Fucking Haggard
Patsy Cline
Other thoughts:
For background, get "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Not the second one, the first one, from the 70s. Also check out Doc Watson, an American treasure who is a walking encyclopedia of folk music and the best damn flatpicker alive. Also, hear the history of Texas swing with some Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys and their hippie imitators, Asleep At The Wheel.
And when you've digested all that, dig some Charlie Feathers and Hazel Adkins for some redneck rockabilly that makes modern punks blush.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 7:06 PM on June 22, 2007 [3 favorites]
Alt-Country you may already know and/or love:
Gob Iron (Jay Farrar side project)
Centro-Matic
Blue Mountain
Drive-By Truckers (more rock than country, but great anyway)
Lucero (ditto, but I love this band -- if Social Distortion was from Tennessee, they'd sound like Lucero)
Hank Williams III (live he kicks ass, recordings are meh)
Alejandro Escovedo
Wayne "The Train" Hancock (particularly "Thunderstorms and Neon Signs")
Robbie Fulks ("Georgia Hard" and "Let's Kill Saturday Night")
Green On Red
Jason and the Scorchers (for 80s cowpunk roots, and for playing lead guitar with lit cigarettes crammed in one's nostrils)
The Mekons, and their myriad incarnations, have made some chillingly good faux (?) country
"Real" Country:
Guy Clarke ("Dublin Blues")
Townes Van Zandt (because "Pancho and Lefty" is the single greatest songwriting achievement in the history of popular music -- I have an iTunes playlist that is nothing but covers of this song)
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
The Flatlanders, for that matter
Willie Fucking Nelson
Merle Fucking Haggard
Patsy Cline
Other thoughts:
For background, get "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Not the second one, the first one, from the 70s. Also check out Doc Watson, an American treasure who is a walking encyclopedia of folk music and the best damn flatpicker alive. Also, hear the history of Texas swing with some Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys and their hippie imitators, Asleep At The Wheel.
And when you've digested all that, dig some Charlie Feathers and Hazel Adkins for some redneck rockabilly that makes modern punks blush.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 7:06 PM on June 22, 2007 [3 favorites]
Alison Krauss, Earl Thomas Conley, Conway Twitty, and as mentioned Waylon Jennings.
posted by JayRwv at 7:06 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by JayRwv at 7:06 PM on June 22, 2007
I thought Garth Brooks was the very height of pop country. He really sticks out in that list.
The recommendations you've gotten are all pretty good but many of these artists have some very uneven catalogs. Go to Amazon or some other resource to get an idea of which albums to look at.
And I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that live at San Quentin/Folsom Prison is one of the most over rated live albums out, and I love Johnny Cash. Cocaine Blues is a great song and they do a stand out job on Wanted Man, but the rest of the album is unremarkable. The last albums he did are all very strong, and so is the boxed set with material that didn't get used. He does an incredible cover of Pocahontas by Neil Young.
A couple of other specific albums that come to mind: Wrecking Ball by EmmyLoy Harris and the Rhino collection of Willie Nelson [one disk with a blue cover].
posted by BigSky at 7:27 PM on June 22, 2007
The recommendations you've gotten are all pretty good but many of these artists have some very uneven catalogs. Go to Amazon or some other resource to get an idea of which albums to look at.
And I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that live at San Quentin/Folsom Prison is one of the most over rated live albums out, and I love Johnny Cash. Cocaine Blues is a great song and they do a stand out job on Wanted Man, but the rest of the album is unremarkable. The last albums he did are all very strong, and so is the boxed set with material that didn't get used. He does an incredible cover of Pocahontas by Neil Young.
A couple of other specific albums that come to mind: Wrecking Ball by EmmyLoy Harris and the Rhino collection of Willie Nelson [one disk with a blue cover].
posted by BigSky at 7:27 PM on June 22, 2007
Iris Dement, Nanci Griffith, Hazel Dickens -- and seconding the incomparable Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Townes Van Zandt, Wayne Hancock, Hank III, and Junior Brown.
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:37 PM on June 22, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:37 PM on June 22, 2007 [1 favorite]
Oh, for some great straight-up country thinkin-and-drinkin' music, the best thing I've heard lately is Bradley Walker's Highway of Dreams.
This guy has the best pure country voice since the (buzzcut) young George Jones.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 7:46 PM on June 22, 2007
This guy has the best pure country voice since the (buzzcut) young George Jones.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 7:46 PM on June 22, 2007
Dolly Parton has some awesome awesome music...her back catalog may be kind of intimidating so start out with The Essential Dolly Parton to see how good some of her older stuff is and then listen to some of her newer bluegrass stuff like Halos & Horns and Little Sparrow.
You may also like Patty Loveless (her bluegrass stuff and her last couple of mainstream country-ish albums are good.)
Check out the recent album by Bruce Hornsby and Ricky Skaggs - in particular there is a fantastic grassy version of Super Freak that is magnificent.
Vince Gill also has some tremendous music. He's got both new and old stuff that is excellent. (Maybe check out some samples on itunes or amazon.)
Jerry Douglas' solo stuff. (He is the dobro player in Union Station.)
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 7:49 PM on June 22, 2007
You may also like Patty Loveless (her bluegrass stuff and her last couple of mainstream country-ish albums are good.)
Check out the recent album by Bruce Hornsby and Ricky Skaggs - in particular there is a fantastic grassy version of Super Freak that is magnificent.
Vince Gill also has some tremendous music. He's got both new and old stuff that is excellent. (Maybe check out some samples on itunes or amazon.)
Jerry Douglas' solo stuff. (He is the dobro player in Union Station.)
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 7:49 PM on June 22, 2007
I'm a fan of Ryan Adams and a BIG fan of Uncle Tupelo. I enjoy a lot of the stuff already mentioned, but I'm not especially familiar with it- except for Steve Earle who is fantastic. And, even though she isn't really country, I think from the things you've listed that you'd like Lucinda Williams.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:59 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:59 PM on June 22, 2007
So many good suggestions. Don't forget Lucinda Williams. Maybe Mary-Chapin Carpenter (she was indie-folk country before her couple of big hits). Somebody already mentioned Nanci Griffith. All the guys I can think of for this have been mentioned, too.
posted by Robert Angelo at 8:03 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by Robert Angelo at 8:03 PM on June 22, 2007
Jinx, showbiz_liz. Now I'm humming "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road."
posted by Robert Angelo at 8:04 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by Robert Angelo at 8:04 PM on June 22, 2007
Kelly Willis, and she has a new album coming out finally!
posted by nicwolff at 8:17 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by nicwolff at 8:17 PM on June 22, 2007
If you can find issues of No Depression you'll get a lot of good suggestions from their review section and their reissues section. I think the mag isn't all that good, but those sections are a good read.
posted by OmieWise at 8:28 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by OmieWise at 8:28 PM on June 22, 2007
Response by poster: I thought Garth Brooks was the very height of pop country. He really sticks out in that list.
Yeah, I know. Maybe he's just the skeleton in my country closet but I have a funny love for "Papa Loves Mama".
Also you guys fucking rock. Keep 'em coming, especially any specific album recommendations.
posted by Roman Graves at 8:42 PM on June 22, 2007
Yeah, I know. Maybe he's just the skeleton in my country closet but I have a funny love for "Papa Loves Mama".
Also you guys fucking rock. Keep 'em coming, especially any specific album recommendations.
posted by Roman Graves at 8:42 PM on June 22, 2007
There's a fairly new artist that does some old school country...Elizabeth Jones.
posted by rcavett at 8:50 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by rcavett at 8:50 PM on June 22, 2007
Allison Moorer (Steve Earle's wife)
Shelby Lynne (Allison Moorer's big sister)
Jim Lauderdale (this vid was filmed at my favorite bar just down the road from my house)
Elizabeth Cook (possibly the best song title ever)
The Highwaymen
posted by buggzzee23 at 8:53 PM on June 22, 2007
Shelby Lynne (Allison Moorer's big sister)
Jim Lauderdale (this vid was filmed at my favorite bar just down the road from my house)
Elizabeth Cook (possibly the best song title ever)
The Highwaymen
posted by buggzzee23 at 8:53 PM on June 22, 2007
Here's who I have floating around on my iPod:
The Flatlanders (Where Jimmy Dale Gilmore and Joe Ely cut their teeth)
Guy Clark (Live, his music is a religious experience)
James McMurtry (Great songwriting)
Merle Travis, Joe Maphis (Old-School pickin' that still holds up today)
Redd Volkaert (Merle Haggard's former guitar player, all-around great playing).
Rosie Flores ("Crying Over You" is a masterpiece)
Tanya Tucker (Original country bad girl and the goods to back it up)
The Warren Brothers (Incredible songwriting team who are Nville outsiders)
Deadstring Brothers (Rolling Stones meets steel guitars)
Chris Knight (Just getting into him but so far every song is great)
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 9:05 PM on June 22, 2007
The Flatlanders (Where Jimmy Dale Gilmore and Joe Ely cut their teeth)
Guy Clark (Live, his music is a religious experience)
James McMurtry (Great songwriting)
Merle Travis, Joe Maphis (Old-School pickin' that still holds up today)
Redd Volkaert (Merle Haggard's former guitar player, all-around great playing).
Rosie Flores ("Crying Over You" is a masterpiece)
Tanya Tucker (Original country bad girl and the goods to back it up)
The Warren Brothers (Incredible songwriting team who are Nville outsiders)
Deadstring Brothers (Rolling Stones meets steel guitars)
Chris Knight (Just getting into him but so far every song is great)
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 9:05 PM on June 22, 2007
Cowboy Junkies (I don't think you could classify them as country, but you might want to give 'em a shot anyway)
posted by buggzzee23 at 9:08 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by buggzzee23 at 9:08 PM on June 22, 2007
Errr...I meant Elizabeth Cook
Don't feel bad, I always want to call her Elizabeth Banks for some reason.
posted by buggzzee23 at 9:11 PM on June 22, 2007
Don't feel bad, I always want to call her Elizabeth Banks for some reason.
posted by buggzzee23 at 9:11 PM on June 22, 2007
Willie Nelson's The Red Headed Stranger is my favorite country album ever. Strangely enough it just came up on shuffle on my Ipod as I began to type this. Weird.
posted by 4Lnqvv at 10:13 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by 4Lnqvv at 10:13 PM on June 22, 2007
There are a lot of good suggestions in this thread.
posted by Espy Gillespie at 10:23 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by Espy Gillespie at 10:23 PM on June 22, 2007
Great thread. I haven't heard of much of this stuff and I will be checking a lot of it out, for sure!
the title you chose for this thread reminds me of a great Gillian Welch song:
"Everything is free now
that's what they say
everything I ever done
gonna give it away
Someone hit the big score
They figured it out
That we're gonna do it anyway
Even if it doesn't pay..."
posted by PercussivePaul at 11:11 PM on June 22, 2007
the title you chose for this thread reminds me of a great Gillian Welch song:
"Everything is free now
that's what they say
everything I ever done
gonna give it away
Someone hit the big score
They figured it out
That we're gonna do it anyway
Even if it doesn't pay..."
posted by PercussivePaul at 11:11 PM on June 22, 2007
I almost forgot. My favorite local band ever. Check out the Railbenders from Denver.
http://www.myspace.com/RAILBENDERS
These guys are great. Put on a very fun concert. On Halloween this year performed as Motley Crue and probably played better than The Crue ever did live. Record Neil Diamond songs with Eddie Spaghetti of The Supersuckers.
I love these guys.
Also, the guy from the Two Dollar Pistols has a great country voice and the single greatest record album cover ever!
posted by 4Lnqvv at 11:14 PM on June 22, 2007
http://www.myspace.com/RAILBENDERS
These guys are great. Put on a very fun concert. On Halloween this year performed as Motley Crue and probably played better than The Crue ever did live. Record Neil Diamond songs with Eddie Spaghetti of The Supersuckers.
I love these guys.
Also, the guy from the Two Dollar Pistols has a great country voice and the single greatest record album cover ever!
posted by 4Lnqvv at 11:14 PM on June 22, 2007
I love most all of the artists already mentioned, but there's no group I love more than Riders in the Sky.
posted by Guy Smiley at 11:20 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by Guy Smiley at 11:20 PM on June 22, 2007
And if you like the Two Dollar Pistols and/or Emmylou Harris and Shelby Lynne, you might want to check out Tift Merritt.
posted by Guy Smiley at 11:24 PM on June 22, 2007
posted by Guy Smiley at 11:24 PM on June 22, 2007
Second Old Crow Medicine Show.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should point out that I know these guys, but there's a really damn good band that's really damn big in the Ozarks that goes by the name of Big Smith, and they're one of the better country/bluegrass/hillbilly/southern rock bands you've never heard of. Early stuff is more pure hillbilly/bluegrass tip, but their later albums branch out more into electric instruments and southern rock. They've even got a 2-cd kids album (one disc for playtime, one disc for naptime), and it rules.
They and their extended family are even the subject of a recent documentary.
posted by middleclasstool at 11:29 PM on June 22, 2007
In the interest of full disclosure, I should point out that I know these guys, but there's a really damn good band that's really damn big in the Ozarks that goes by the name of Big Smith, and they're one of the better country/bluegrass/hillbilly/southern rock bands you've never heard of. Early stuff is more pure hillbilly/bluegrass tip, but their later albums branch out more into electric instruments and southern rock. They've even got a 2-cd kids album (one disc for playtime, one disc for naptime), and it rules.
They and their extended family are even the subject of a recent documentary.
posted by middleclasstool at 11:29 PM on June 22, 2007
You prolly ought to get a good Bill Monroe compilation to find out where all the music mentioned in this thread came from.
posted by wsg at 12:42 AM on June 23, 2007
posted by wsg at 12:42 AM on June 23, 2007
A great source of all kinds of country/alt country/americana music is Boot Liquor Radio, which plays everything from the 1930s and 40s traditional bluegrass through 60s Nashville cheese (a little) to modern Americana and country. I've ended up buying a lot of music from artists I've discovered on Boot Liquor.
posted by essexjan at 1:43 AM on June 23, 2007
posted by essexjan at 1:43 AM on June 23, 2007
William Elliott Whitmore
This probably doesn't need mentioning, but Gram Parsons' bands are very good as well (Flying Burrito Brothers, The Byrds, International Submarine Band)
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 2:06 AM on June 23, 2007
This probably doesn't need mentioning, but Gram Parsons' bands are very good as well (Flying Burrito Brothers, The Byrds, International Submarine Band)
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 2:06 AM on June 23, 2007
I know from Texas/Oklahoma there is the Americana/Red Dirt/Texas Country, which is primarly what I listen to. Some of my favoriate artists are Roger Creager, Robert Earl Keen (my favoriate), Jason Boland, Wade Bowen, Jack Ingram, Jerry Jeff Walker (a classic), Cory Morrow, Lyle Lovett, Randy Rogers, Aaron Watson, Mark David Manders, and Chris Night.
For a more classic country selection there are the Gods of the Genre: Waylon, Willie, George Jones, Billy Joe Shaver. Dolly Parton, Kris Krissofferson, and Vern Gosden.
and Johnny Cash, the master of them all.
I've seen most of the Americana artists in concert multpile times when I lived in Texas, and I've only had the honor to see Willie, Waylong, and Billy Joe Shaver.
posted by aggienfo at 3:58 AM on June 23, 2007
For a more classic country selection there are the Gods of the Genre: Waylon, Willie, George Jones, Billy Joe Shaver. Dolly Parton, Kris Krissofferson, and Vern Gosden.
and Johnny Cash, the master of them all.
I've seen most of the Americana artists in concert multpile times when I lived in Texas, and I've only had the honor to see Willie, Waylong, and Billy Joe Shaver.
posted by aggienfo at 3:58 AM on June 23, 2007
Slim Cessna's Auto Club. Like a cross between Waylon and a tent revival. Smart lyrics, and exciting music.
posted by Gungho at 4:26 AM on June 23, 2007
posted by Gungho at 4:26 AM on June 23, 2007
Ricky Skaggs, Old Crow Medicine Show, Po' Girl, Alison Kraus
posted by Colloquial Collision at 5:50 AM on June 23, 2007
posted by Colloquial Collision at 5:50 AM on June 23, 2007
I'm coming to this too late to add anything, yinz have thought of every artist that I would have come up with, but I have to say that this is an awesome thread. It's favorited and I'll be consulting it for my record buying in the future.
posted by octothorpe at 6:09 AM on June 23, 2007
posted by octothorpe at 6:09 AM on June 23, 2007
Seconding, etc.:
Lambchop
Emmylou Harris
William Elliot Whitmore
Dolly Parton
Highwaymen
Gram Parsons I know this one's yours but...There's a tribute album out there called Return of the Grievous Angel that was curated by Dolly P. and features a gaggle of musicians worth hearing in their own right. Who knew Beck sang country so well??
heck, there's a ton of good suggestions above.
Here are some haent been mentioned quite yet:
Straight Country:
Hoyt Axton
Roscoe Holcomb
Trio (Emmylou, Dolly, and Linda Ronstadt)
Then Emmylou and Linda did one together called Western Wall, which is a couple of original tunes and a whole slew of songs penned by great country artists and great songwriters in general. One of my fave country rock albums, and not just because it was recorded in my hometown.
I heard Miranda Lambert on NPR this past week, and checked out her albums. She's an odd blend of country rock singing/songwriting and indie/alt production. I guess she'd be in your corporate pop country category, though.
Alt Country:
Holopaw
My Morning Jacket
The Broken Family Band Excellent swingin' music and raunchy lyrics to boot.
I really, really enjoyed Luther Wright & The Wrongs' Rebuilding the Wall. It's a song by song bluegrass cover of Pink Floyd's The Wall, of course.
Lambchop
Lambchop Yes, I know
posted by carsonb at 6:15 AM on June 23, 2007
Lambchop
Emmylou Harris
William Elliot Whitmore
Dolly Parton
Highwaymen
Gram Parsons I know this one's yours but...There's a tribute album out there called Return of the Grievous Angel that was curated by Dolly P. and features a gaggle of musicians worth hearing in their own right. Who knew Beck sang country so well??
heck, there's a ton of good suggestions above.
Here are some haent been mentioned quite yet:
Straight Country:
Hoyt Axton
Roscoe Holcomb
Trio (Emmylou, Dolly, and Linda Ronstadt)
Then Emmylou and Linda did one together called Western Wall, which is a couple of original tunes and a whole slew of songs penned by great country artists and great songwriters in general. One of my fave country rock albums, and not just because it was recorded in my hometown.
I heard Miranda Lambert on NPR this past week, and checked out her albums. She's an odd blend of country rock singing/songwriting and indie/alt production. I guess she'd be in your corporate pop country category, though.
Alt Country:
Holopaw
My Morning Jacket
The Broken Family Band Excellent swingin' music and raunchy lyrics to boot.
I really, really enjoyed Luther Wright & The Wrongs' Rebuilding the Wall. It's a song by song bluegrass cover of Pink Floyd's The Wall, of course.
Lambchop
Lambchop Yes, I know
posted by carsonb at 6:15 AM on June 23, 2007
You prolly ought to get a good Bill Monroe compilation to find out where all the music mentioned in this thread came from.
Bill Monroe's bluegrass music isn't a predecessor to country and the stuff mentioned in this thread, it's a parallel strand. Earlier stuff, from The Monroe Brothers, comes closer to being predecessor stuff.
Predecessors might include: Charlie Poole, Vernon Dalhart (as near as I can tell, the name that comes up the most often in Country Music Sources, Grayson and Whittier, Roy Acuff, Uncle Dave Macon.
posted by OmieWise at 7:13 AM on June 23, 2007
Bill Monroe's bluegrass music isn't a predecessor to country and the stuff mentioned in this thread, it's a parallel strand. Earlier stuff, from The Monroe Brothers, comes closer to being predecessor stuff.
Predecessors might include: Charlie Poole, Vernon Dalhart (as near as I can tell, the name that comes up the most often in Country Music Sources, Grayson and Whittier, Roy Acuff, Uncle Dave Macon.
posted by OmieWise at 7:13 AM on June 23, 2007
You could listen to Blue Yodel #9 (schedule), 9AM-Noon (EST) every saturday. It's country with a bias to bluegrass from the University of Kentucky's student radio station (in the heart of the bluegrass), and I listen having never been a fan of anything country before (disclaimer: I work at RFL).
posted by phrontist at 7:37 AM on June 23, 2007
posted by phrontist at 7:37 AM on June 23, 2007
Some of the suggestions above aren't country by any definition, let alone the poster's.
To begin with, try these albums:
Emmylou Harris (Pieces of the Sky)
Lyle Lovett (The Road to Ensenada)
Waylon Jennings (Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line)
Willie Nelson (Red Headed Stranger)
Guy Clark (Old No. 1)
Rodney Crowell (The Houston Kid)
Brad Paisley (Time Well Wasted).
posted by smorange at 8:04 AM on June 23, 2007 [1 favorite]
To begin with, try these albums:
Emmylou Harris (Pieces of the Sky)
Lyle Lovett (The Road to Ensenada)
Waylon Jennings (Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line)
Willie Nelson (Red Headed Stranger)
Guy Clark (Old No. 1)
Rodney Crowell (The Houston Kid)
Brad Paisley (Time Well Wasted).
posted by smorange at 8:04 AM on June 23, 2007 [1 favorite]
Don't need to go far: MetaFilter Music's country page.
posted by micayetoca at 8:10 AM on June 23, 2007
posted by micayetoca at 8:10 AM on June 23, 2007
Bunch of recent stuff -- Porter Hall Tennessee (I like that entire album, but try "Screwed Blue" and "Don't Bury Me"); in the bluegrassy vein, check out The Be Good Tanyas (song: "The Littlest Birds") and Alison Krauss; and in the "jugband" vein, I'll second Old Crow Medicine Show as amazing. Also, from the charts, check out David Allan Coe (song: "You Never Even Call Me By My Name"), John Michael Montgomery (song: "Sold, The Grundy County Auction Incident"). They may be Nashville pop but so was Johnny Cash at the time, correct me if I'm wrong here. While you're checking out David Allan Coe, don't miss the photos on his website, and his biography, which... how to describe it?... reads like a parody: "The term 'living legend' may be overused to the point of cliche, but in the case of David, it fits like a glove." "As well as being a singer, songwriter, guitarist, David is also a magician, deep sea treasure hunter and movie star."
Older -- no one's mentioned Roger Miller (song: "King of the Road"), and you can read up on the Bakersfield Sound to find others that influenced Merle Haggard and some he influenced, like Dwight Yoakam.
posted by salvia at 12:44 PM on June 23, 2007
Older -- no one's mentioned Roger Miller (song: "King of the Road"), and you can read up on the Bakersfield Sound to find others that influenced Merle Haggard and some he influenced, like Dwight Yoakam.
posted by salvia at 12:44 PM on June 23, 2007
Reckless Kelly, can't recommend them highly enough.
And, I'd guess anyone who took the time to post here might also benefit from a look at Scott Miller and the Commonwealth, still a bit under the radar but so talented.
and, everyone that kimdog and smorange suggested. In fact, lots of the suggestions in the thread are good -- the way to filter will be to sample enough in order to settle on your particular flavor of country.
For what it's worth, if I had to take a drive-by at classifying your preferences, you seem to like artists influenced by Bakersfield and "No Depression," and tending more toward Western and rockabilly than bluegrass (incidentally, you'll probably also like the Lubbock genre a lot: Flatlanders, Butch Hancock, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely, Buddy Holly). So, when you're checking out bands and reading about their influences, keep your eye out, and maybe familiarize yourself with those elements to see who will be your next favorite.
p.s. Return of the Grievous Angel was produced by Emmylou Harris, not Dolly Parton. Both women are amazing, to be sure, but very different artists and only one was Gram's muse and musical partner.
posted by pineapple at 12:50 PM on June 23, 2007
And, I'd guess anyone who took the time to post here might also benefit from a look at Scott Miller and the Commonwealth, still a bit under the radar but so talented.
and, everyone that kimdog and smorange suggested. In fact, lots of the suggestions in the thread are good -- the way to filter will be to sample enough in order to settle on your particular flavor of country.
For what it's worth, if I had to take a drive-by at classifying your preferences, you seem to like artists influenced by Bakersfield and "No Depression," and tending more toward Western and rockabilly than bluegrass (incidentally, you'll probably also like the Lubbock genre a lot: Flatlanders, Butch Hancock, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely, Buddy Holly). So, when you're checking out bands and reading about their influences, keep your eye out, and maybe familiarize yourself with those elements to see who will be your next favorite.
p.s. Return of the Grievous Angel was produced by Emmylou Harris, not Dolly Parton. Both women are amazing, to be sure, but very different artists and only one was Gram's muse and musical partner.
posted by pineapple at 12:50 PM on June 23, 2007
While you're checking out David Allan Coe, don't miss the photos on his website, and his biography, which... how to describe it?... reads like a parody: "The term 'living legend' may be overused to the point of cliche, but in the case of David, it fits like a glove." "As well as being a singer, songwriter, guitarist, David is also a magician, deep sea treasure hunter and movie star."
salvia: sounds like most of his lyrics! D. A. Coe always did seem to believe too much of his own hype.
posted by pineapple at 12:52 PM on June 23, 2007
salvia: sounds like most of his lyrics! D. A. Coe always did seem to believe too much of his own hype.
posted by pineapple at 12:52 PM on June 23, 2007
I'm not sure if any of these have already been mentioned:
Do you have The Flying Burrito Brothers? You love Gram Parsons (man oh man, as do I) but you don't mention them.
Porter Wagoner (totally awesome drinkin' oh-woe-is-me country music)
Freakwater (hard to classify; but they're really very good)
Kitty Wells! (the original honky tonk angel! So good.)
Tammy Wynette (she's a little tragic for me, but she's still really great).
Charline Arthur (Singer of the 50s, the original badass rockabilly chick)
Trio - this is an album with Dolly, Emmylou and Linda Rondstadt and it is so incredibly good.
John Hiatt (may be a little AAA singer/songwritery for your taste, but I like him)
Kasey Chambers (Again, a little AAA singer/songwritery, but she has an excellent voice, a modern country singer from New Zealand)
Patty Griffin (ok, now I'm in 100% singer/songwriter camp, but this woman is amazing).
I think people have already mentioned, but please let me heartily re-recommend:
Lucinda Williams (my actual idol)
Steve Earle (he's been married like 6 times, I would totally marry him as his 7th)
Bobby Bare & Bobby Bare Jr.
Lyle Lovett
Emmylou Harris
posted by pazazygeek at 1:00 PM on June 23, 2007
I think people have already mentioned, but please let me heartily re-recommend:
posted by pazazygeek at 1:00 PM on June 23, 2007
If what pineapple said above is true ("...you seem to like artists influenced by Bakersfield and "No Depression," and tending more toward Western and rockabilly than bluegrass"), then I have just one word -- actually a phone number -- for you: BR5-49!
posted by harkin banks at 1:21 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by harkin banks at 1:21 PM on June 23, 2007
My uncle was Bobby Bare.
posted by humannaire at 3:34 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by humannaire at 3:34 PM on June 23, 2007
Plug some of these artists into Pandora and see what comes up. If you spend some time giving things the thumbs up and thumbs down, it gets to be very accurate at playing things to like but might not have heard before.
posted by wheat at 3:40 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by wheat at 3:40 PM on June 23, 2007
BTW, just turn on a country music radio station. And play it all the time. Even if it sucks (and you'll understand how and why many/most do after a while), you'll get the idea that leads you to the Bigger Idea. Which is that country music is *awesome*!
Just so you know, contemporary country music is equally as IQ-diminishing as contemporary rap music.
But catchy! Woo-hoo!
posted by humannaire at 3:43 PM on June 23, 2007
Just so you know, contemporary country music is equally as IQ-diminishing as contemporary rap music.
But catchy! Woo-hoo!
posted by humannaire at 3:43 PM on June 23, 2007
Return of the Grievous Angel was produced by Emmylou Harris, not Dolly Parton. Both women are amazing, to be sure, but very different artists and only one was Gram's muse and musical partner.
That gaffe alone should be enough to convince anyone not to listen to me. =D
posted by carsonb at 3:57 PM on June 23, 2007
That gaffe alone should be enough to convince anyone not to listen to me. =D
posted by carsonb at 3:57 PM on June 23, 2007
hmmm. it would appear that no one has mentioned waylon jennings in this thread. or merle haggard. or willie nelson. i guess if those guys are a given, then i will suggest bobby bare and david allen coe. and lefty frizzell.
posted by snofoam at 5:33 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by snofoam at 5:33 PM on June 23, 2007
Bearing in mind that it used to be "country and western," don't overlook Marty Robbins' all-time great Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs.
posted by jfuller at 6:28 PM on June 23, 2007
posted by jfuller at 6:28 PM on June 23, 2007
Check out some of the bands on Bloodshot Records.
I love Alejandro Escovedo's "A Man Under The Influence". I'm also a huge fan of The Bottle Rockets, though my favorite album of theirs is a non-Bloodshot release called "The Brooklyn Side". I also love Rex Hobart and the Misery Boys "Your Favorite Fool", which was produced by Pete Anderson, who used to work with Dwight Yoakam.
Also check out Mike Ireland, Todd Snider, Tommy Womack, Will Kimbrough, Lonesome Bob and all the other people listed in this thread!
posted by whatideserve at 3:37 AM on June 24, 2007
I love Alejandro Escovedo's "A Man Under The Influence". I'm also a huge fan of The Bottle Rockets, though my favorite album of theirs is a non-Bloodshot release called "The Brooklyn Side". I also love Rex Hobart and the Misery Boys "Your Favorite Fool", which was produced by Pete Anderson, who used to work with Dwight Yoakam.
Also check out Mike Ireland, Todd Snider, Tommy Womack, Will Kimbrough, Lonesome Bob and all the other people listed in this thread!
posted by whatideserve at 3:37 AM on June 24, 2007
If you want something to read while listening to all that great music, may I recommend Country by Nick Tosches?
posted by gingerbeer at 8:53 PM on June 24, 2007
posted by gingerbeer at 8:53 PM on June 24, 2007
pineapple: but he is an outlaw. You saw the picture, right?
posted by salvia at 8:37 AM on June 25, 2007
posted by salvia at 8:37 AM on June 25, 2007
You saw the picture, right?
No, but it too gives me the funny feeling that one gets when faced with any person who's trying a smidge too hard to sell his/her authenticity (or intelligence, power, wealth, you name it). </David Allan Coe psychoanalysis derail>
also even if his overly self-important vibe didn't bother me, I've never gotten past the early songs in his catalogue, promoting incest, lynching, statutory rape, racism and general disgusting disregard for humanity... I know "You Never Even Call Me" is an irrefutable part of country music canon but Coe just grosses me out. </okay, for real this time>
posted by pineapple at 10:29 AM on June 25, 2007
No, but it too gives me the funny feeling that one gets when faced with any person who's trying a smidge too hard to sell his/her authenticity (or intelligence, power, wealth, you name it). </David Allan Coe psychoanalysis derail>
also even if his overly self-important vibe didn't bother me, I've never gotten past the early songs in his catalogue, promoting incest, lynching, statutory rape, racism and general disgusting disregard for humanity... I know "You Never Even Call Me" is an irrefutable part of country music canon but Coe just grosses me out. </okay, for real this time>
posted by pineapple at 10:29 AM on June 25, 2007
harkin banks, how could I forget BR5-49!?! I saw those guys many times when I lived in Nash Vegas. Great suggestion. Those boys need some love.
posted by kimdog at 11:40 AM on June 25, 2007
posted by kimdog at 11:40 AM on June 25, 2007
Response by poster: Wow, I still have so much music to wade through...but to the people who suggested Dale Watson, he is possibly the baddest motherfucker alive.
posted by Roman Graves at 7:38 PM on June 26, 2007
posted by Roman Graves at 7:38 PM on June 26, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by padraigin at 6:24 PM on June 22, 2007