Country Music (!?!)

[Oldskool138]

I don't like country music at all.  I respect it mainly because a lot of performers can actually play a musical instrument...I also respect the fact that it appeals to a large number of people in this country.

That being said...I'm from New England.  There wasn't a FM Country Music station where I lived until the mid-90's or so.  The first time I remember hearing country music (or that new "hot" pop-country music) was during the half-time show at one of the Superbowls of the early 90's (Probably Bills/Cowboys).  I watched in horror at Billy Ray Cyrus and some other group (playing the song "Boot Scootin' Boogie" or something like that) whipped the crowd into a frenzy with this junk (well, to my ears anyways).  I was shocked at the reaction that the music was getting.  People were screaming and dancing around as if the Beatles had gotten back together or something.

I think the turn-off for me is the subject matter and the singing.  I listen to punk and metal (and rock, too).  I guess I can identify with what those bands are trying to say as opposed to the: my-wife-left-me-and-is-sleeping-with-my-best-friend-in-the-back-of-my-pick-up-truck type stuff.

Now, I've matured a little.  I do like rockabilly, blues-rock, and country influenced rock.  I just don't like the "hot" country and some of the older stuff.  Heck, I love the bluegrass music in "O Brother Where Art Thou".  And, I will say this, Johnny Cash kicked large amounts of ass.   

[Derf]

Oldskool138's post reminded me of the Travis Tritt concert I went to several (a dozen or so) years ago. I was near the back of the crowd with some friends, so I was enjoying watching the crowd as much as the show. There was a woman a little way off from us who was dressed in full punk regalia (colored hair, leather boots, punk t-shirt, etc.--all of which was pretty uncommon in South Texas). She was ignoring everything going on on the stage, and I would glance at her every so often, wondering why she would have bothered coming to a country concert. All through the opening acts (some band whose name I can't remember and Marty Robbins), she and her two friends just stood in a small circle and talked as though nothing were happening around them. And then Travis Tritt took the stage. Once he started playing, she went nuts. She was dancing punk-style (or as near as she could) to Tritt's music. It was hilarious to watch, so I watched her off and on through Tritt's set. Great show, both on and off the stage.

[RCMerchant]

I don't like country music at all.  I respect it mainly because a lot of performers can actually play a musical instrument...I also respect the fact that it appeals to a large number of people in this country.

That being said...I'm from New England.  There wasn't a FM Country Music station where I lived until the mid-90's or so.  The first time I remember hearing country music (or that new "hot" pop-country music) was during the half-time show at one of the Superbowls of the early 90's (Probably Bills/Cowboys).  I watched in horror at Billy Ray Cyrus and some other group (playing the song "Boot Scootin' Boogie" or something like that) whipped the crowd into a frenzy with this junk (well, to my ears anyways).  I was shocked at the reaction that the music was getting.  People were screaming and dancing around as if the Beatles had gotten back together or something.

I think the turn-off for me is the subject matter and the singing.  I listen to punk and metal (and rock, too).  I guess I can identify with what those bands are trying to say as opposed to the: my-wife-left-me-and-is-sleeping-with-my-best-friend-in-the-back-of-my-pick-up-truck type stuff.

Now, I've matured a little.  I do like rockabilly, blues-rock, and country influenced rock.  I just don't like the "hot" country and some of the older stuff.  Heck, I love the bluegrass music in "O Brother Where Art Thou".  And, I will say this, Johnny Cash kicked large amounts of ass.  

I can't STAND Billy Ray Cyruss,Garth Brooks, and all that  crap your talking about either.  More into anything hard,fast and loud. But I do LOVE  bluegrass!!! For one...It's FAST!!! No sitting on your hands bulls**t. It doesn't comprimise or water itself down to fit into a "radio freindly" format.It also comes from the heart.
  As for the lyrics to country music...the bummed out- my old lady is a tramp -so let's get drunk...hmmm...think early BLACK FLAG-"Wound Up","Six Pack",Thirsty and Miserable" "I Love You."..etc....
  A lotta early R+R owes a debt to hillbilly music...Elvis,Jerry Lee Lewis,Roy Orbinson,Gene Vincent...all theyr'e influnce can be seen and felt in the Misfits,the Cramps (who do a killer version of Mule Train!),the Sex Pistols...and  a s**t load more! Listen to Danzigs voice,and you can hear Roy Orbinson,or Hank Snow's auctioneer rattling on is just as fast as any speed metal vocalist! The gutiar and Banjo speed of Flatt and Scruggs  is easily as fast and deft as Slayer. Hank William's Sr.'s drunken warble is just as unique as Jello Biafra's.

     

[Allhallowsday]

I can't STAND Billy Ray Cyruss,Garth Brooks, and all that  crap your talking about either.  More into anything hard,fast and loud. But I do LOVE  bluegrass!!! For one...It's FAST!!! No sitting on your hands bulls**t. It doesn't comprimise or water itself down to fit into a "radio freindly" format.It also comes from the heart.
  ...A lotta early R+R owes a debt to hillbilly music...Elvis,Jerry Lee Lewis,Roy Orbinson,Gene Vincent...all theyr'e influnce can be seen and felt in the Misfits,the Cramps (who do a killer version of Mule Train!),the Sex Pistols...and  a s**t load more! Listen to Danzigs voice,and you can hear Roy Orbinson,or Hank Snow's auctioneer rattling on is just as fast as any speed metal vocalist! The gutiar and Banjo speed of Flatt and Scruggs  is easily as fast and deft as Slayer. Hank William's Sr.'s drunken warble is just as unique as Jello Biafra's.

Don't skip the STONES, Bela, they are key, like 'em or not.  Lads we like like THE STOOGES (my own all time favorite) owe a certain debt to the STONES in relation to bands like THE MISFITS and THE CRAMPS (not to mention 10 million others).  HANK WILLIAMS exceeds JELLO BIAFRA by a long lonely mile and one of those rare few artists that bands of the stature of the ROLLING STONES owe a debt to!  Hmm...don't care for some of them artists neither, but not sure I agree on ever-ee-yee-thang, BUT, Do you listen to THE ROLLING STONES Exile On Main Street ? 

[Torgo]

Old country is awesome stuff.

Probably my favorite old school country artist is David Allen Coe.

[RCMerchant]

I can't STAND Billy Ray Cyruss,Garth Brooks, and all that  crap your talking about either.  More into anything hard,fast and loud. But I do LOVE  bluegrass!!! For one...It's FAST!!! No sitting on your hands bulls**t. It doesn't comprimise or water itself down to fit into a "radio freindly" format.It also comes from the heart.
  ...A lotta early R+R owes a debt to hillbilly music...Elvis,Jerry Lee Lewis,Roy Orbinson,Gene Vincent...all theyr'e influnce can be seen and felt in the Misfits,the Cramps (who do a killer version of Mule Train!),the Sex Pistols...and  a s**t load more! Listen to Danzigs voice,and you can hear Roy Orbinson,or Hank Snow's auctioneer rattling on is just as fast as any speed metal vocalist! The gutiar and Banjo speed of Flatt and Scruggs  is easily as fast and deft as Slayer. Hank William's Sr.'s drunken warble is just as unique as Jello Biafra's.

Don't skip the STONES, Bela, they are key, like 'em or not.  Lads we like like THE STOOGES (my own all time favorite) owe a certain debt to the STONES in relation to bands like THE MISFITS and THE CRAMPS (not to mention 10 million others).  HANK WILLIAMS exceeds JELLO BIAFRA by a long lonely mile and one of those rare few artists that bands of the stature of the ROLLING STONES owe a debt to!  Hmm...don't care for some of them artists neither, but not sure I agree on ever-ee-yee-thang, BUT, Do you listen to THE ROLLING STONES Exile On Main Street ? 

The Rolling Stones are one of my favorite bands of all time! The Stones were punk before punk, and their roots go back to the old bluesmen ,and I believe they got their name from an old Muddy Waters song. And yeah,Exile on Main St is a killer! My personal favorite Stones album is Let it Bleed (come to think of it,that tune has a country twang to it!) 

[Allhallowsday]

The Rolling Stones are one of my favorite bands of all time! The Stones were punk before punk, and their roots go back to the old bluesmen ,and I believe they got their name from an old Muddy Waters song. And yeah,Exile on Main St is a killer! My personal favorite Stones album is Let it Bleed (come to think of it,that tune has a country twang to it!) 

That was my point, there is a lot of Country in THE STONES music, particularly those late 60s early 70s records like Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile.

[JaseSF]

A lot of my favourite bands have a bit of country sound:

The Skydiggers
Blue Rodeo
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Even arguably bands like R.E.M., The Grapes of Wrath and 54-40.

[Allhallowsday]

I'm listening to this now... I came across this old thread as I'm wont to do because I was looking for an easy link etc. to copy for my last What Have You Been Listening To? post... THE CARTER FAMILY Can The Circle Be Unbroken   
 

I listen to a lot of COUNTRY music.  I like any good music. 

[Pilgermann]

I'm listening to this now... I came across this old thread as I'm wont to do because I was looking for an easy link etc. to copy for my last What Have You Been Listening To? post... THE CARTER FAMILY Can The Circle Be Unbroken   
 

I listen to a lot of COUNTRY music.  I like any good music. 

I'd like to check out some Carter Family stuff.  I'm not big on country I guess, but I like Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash.  I've downloaded a lot of really old stuff from archive.org.  His output is limited but I really like Ernest Thompson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhpyaQvKr9s

I can listen to that song over and over!

Older and traditional bluegrass stuff interests me, I just haven't explored it enough.

[tracy]

I love the older country...50s thru the 80s. So much of this modern stuff sounds more like pop to me. Gimme the First Lady of Country Music any day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMzSYyjNb74

[ChaosTheory]

Old Crow Medicine Show is pretty good, they're more bluegrass/folk:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Novxqmhtwec&feature=fvst

I also kind of liked that album Allison Krauss and Robert Plant did together, but I think I'm in the minority on that one.  As far as "modern" country artists go, I'm ok with Randy Travis, Clint Black, Brad Paisley, but that's about it.  I like Johnny Cash & Hank Sr. (of course!), Tom T. Hall, Loretta Lynn, Charlie Pride, Patsy Cline, Don Williams, Merle Haggard....yeah, pretty much the 50s to 80s stuff. 

[Allhallowsday]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s8nRL2bPCU  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGCrjeXCuTg  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiz-ycwCkGI

[ulthar]

Haunting memories from my childhood...hear this one, and you never forget it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50k18gL76AU

And there's always Chet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NgVdbIdD8w

[HappyGilmore]

I originally heard this, but as a cover version by the rock group Cake.  Liked it and dug this up.  Good song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9yDlCC6SG0

Always liked Johnny Cash...even in his later years:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJlN9jdQFSc&ob=av2e
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0MIFHLIzZY