I am just curious as to whether anyone likes country music? I do like some country songs (especially those that lean more towards pop). A BIG hell NO to the country pop that starting in the late 70's with "Rhinestone Cowboy." A BIG hell YEAH to Outlaw Country A HUGE hell YEAH to Insurgent Country a.k.a Alternative Country or Americana |
No question that there was a community of Blues players in the 1950s who popularized the idea, BB King probably being the most influential. Interestingly, you can hear even earlier examples here and there. One of the really great, relatively obscure players who pioneered that style was Carl Hogan of the Louis Jordan Big Band. Check out the intro lick to "Ain't That Just Like a Woman" from IIRC the late 1940's. If it sounds familiar, it's probably because Chuck Berry "borrowed" it for (arguably) the most famous bit of rock n roll guitar ever, the intro to "Johnny B Good" |
Martykl, I think you nailed that. In a bluesier realm, a list of guys who use a good dose of major pent/major blues along with a lot of minor pent/minor blues would include T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. It sets them apart from the guys who seem to use the minor counterpart almost exclusively. |
Tostado correctly points out that the pentatonic MAJOR scale is often associated with country music while pentatonic minor (sometimes the hexatonic minor with the added flattened fifth) is a blues scale. I also agree that a lot of the well known Southern rock leads visit the pentatonic major scale at some point. To be fair, rock n roll music was originally characterized by many as "the bastard child of country and blues" because the highest profile players (see Chuck Berry) moved fluidly from the pentatonic minor scale to the pentatonic major and back. So, what some may hear as country influences, others may hear as '50s rock n roll. TO MY EAR (tho I'm not about to argue with anyone who disagrees) one of the characteristics that makes Southern rock a distinctive genre is that it seemed to re-introduce the pentatonic major BACK into hard rock, which - over the course of the '60's had seemed to generally migrate further and further towards blues style leads at the expense of country influences. So, I personally hear a lot of country in the Southern rock genre as a whole. YMMV. |
This week's top ten country hits: 10 "I hate every bone in her body but mine" 9 "I ain't never gone to bed with an ugly women but I woke up with a few" 8 "If the phone don't ring you'll know it's me" 7 "I've missed you but my aims improvin" 6 "You broke my heart so I broke your arm" 5 "I'm so miserable without you It's like you're still here" 4 "My wife ran off with my best friend and I miss him" 3 "She took my fing and gave me the finger" 2 "She's lookin' better with every beer" 1 "It's hard to miss the lips at night that chewed me out all day" |
"And "Sweet Home Alabama," Skynyrd's signature tune--you don't hear country in that?" I lived in Alabama for four years. Folks down there hear country in that song. Guarandamnteed! "Southern Rock" in general tends to have a lot of country influences scattered around. Its country flavored pop/rock in a sense. Of course country and rock both have extensive similar roots in blues and the like as well. |
Tubegroover, I'm well aware of the use of the pentatonic scale worldwide. I was talking about rock music more or less. I find the Allmans to have some country in their sound, esp. on "Lord I was Born a Rambling Man" and "Little Martha." And "Sweet Home Alabama," Skynyrd's signature tune--you don't hear country in that? I sure do. I'm from East Texas originally and played some country music growing up (and since). |
Tostadosunidos the 5 note pentatonic scale is quite prevalent in music and not limited to country, blues and folk. Surely these groups being from the South were influenced directly or not from country music but what I find remarkable is that they seem so removed from the genre to the extent they are considering the fact they were likely surrounded by it in their youth. Their influences to my ears seem primarily blues based with a Southern rock twist which is unique. I suppose one could get some Country elements out of the music but I have never picked up on it personally. But having lived in the South as long as I have I just don't equate, particularly Skynard or the Allman Bros. to a country variation of rock but more a rock variation of blues, at least the Allman Bros, less so Skynard maybe. |
Not a huge fan of the genre, but for whatever reason, I REALLY like Dwight Yoakam. Except for a couple of minor releases, I've got every cd or lp he's issued. When George Jones died I was listening to NPR's coverage of his life and it piqued my curiosity. I bought a couple of his mid-career classics and I have to admit, he was a really, really good singer. The three or four Chet Atkins releases I own are also good. IMO, the Americana/country school of Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, etc. is a hybrid too far removed to be called "country" in the classic sense of the term. |
I've always dug the country/bluegrass side of the genre by artists like Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Allison Krause & Union Station. A few years ago I heard Vince Gill on Eric Clapton's 1st(?) Crossroads Festival DVD. Always thought he was just another country rocker but when I saw the DVD I shook my head sayin' "DAYUM, this boy can PLAY!". Since than he's made a few records but one absolutely stands out; 'These Days'. Released in 2006, it's a reasonably priced 4-disc set, each disc embracing a different TYPE of country music. Acoustic Bluegrass, Rockin' Country, Traditional Country & Western, and a kind-of ballads disc. Tellyawhat, this is a great record for someone that doesn't own much country music, it's an excellent dissertation on the genre. Amazing musicianship, impeccably recorded, great tunes, and guest musicians of the highest caliber. This should be considered one of the great country recordings, it is in my book! |
"I also like a lot of country rock oriented acts like, ALlman Brothers, Skynyrd, New Riders, Little River Band, NItty Gritty DIrt Band, Outlaws, Diamond Rio, and many others." Country Rock? Really Mapman, you've got to be kidding. It is obvious you are not from the South, there is nothing "country" about the Allman Bros., Skynyrd, The Outlaws, Southern Rock and Blues all the way, or at least to their fans that generally abhor country, or so they say, or for that matter Little River Band. As a fan of all those groups less the Outlaws who I saw in concert in the mid 70's and had some country elements. Nitty Gritty's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" IS country with a list of serious country artists including Bill Monroe and the Carter Family, can't get more grass roots that that. New Ryders have country elements as well but Little River Band? They're Australian how can they be country? I'm thinking but can't recall a tune that would give me a clue but they were an eclectic mix of musicians so it must be there somewhere:) How about Marshall Tucker, Flying Burrito Brothers, Charlie Daniels, Buffalo Springfield, Poco and early Eagles in the Country Rock genre? |
Not sure if that was a brain cramp or typo. The List is the name of the album. I know several folks that agree with Drubin, but I think it's a GREAT collection of songs and I love the way Roseannne sings 'em. Can't comment on SQ off the top of my head as its been mostly in rotation in my car over the last several years, but I don't get the "soulless" criticism at all. I love pretty much every interpretation on the album and several, including "500 Miles" and "Bury Me", strike me as very possibly definitive versions of (often covered) classics. She's certainly understated in her delivery, but I think that's a very good thing. I guess that one man's meat..... |
I am also a fan of Rosanne Cash. Anyone else think that she and her father are one or the more prolific and talented father/daughter tandems in recent times? Definitely ahead of Billy Ray and Miley, at least so far... :) I also like a lot of country rock oriented acts like, ALlman Brothers, Skynyrd, New Riders, Little River Band, NItty Gritty DIrt Band, Outlaws, Diamond Rio, and many others. |
For some texture which builds upon country super stars fame, check out The Flatlanders and the 3 guys who spun off from that group. Joe Ely in particular. The Derailers buck Owens Rockabilly sounds. Previous to those, The Texas Tornadoes TexMex traditional & alternatives to the Nashville sound. New age artists that carry on a more traditional country flavor are Jolie Holiday on her A real Good Day album; Monty & the Pythons with their The Real Thing CD; heather Myles with her CD, Sweet Talk & Good Lies; Melonie Cannon's self titled inaugural disc is super, her follow up album "The Wheels Turn" has some critical social statement soungs namely, Cactus In a Coffee Can, which is just outstanding. If you look past the bigger and brighter spotlit stars of todays country music artists, you will find real substance still but it's mixed into the flotsom and jetsom that country pop is currently so vested into. Singer songwirters like Singletary, Worley, Adkins, Wariner, and Chris LeDoux come to mind momentarily. country is still country, it's just getting a bit harder to find it. |
The best country songwriters are great - most have been listed already but I'd add the short lived Delevantes to that list. Harder core country old time writers like the Louvin Brothers have some great moments, even though I'd have a hard time listening at length. Alt Country rockers like Uncle Tupelo and the "nephew" bands - Wilco, Sun Volt, Bottle Rockets - have their charms (I love a lot of this stuff), but they don't really feel particularly "country" to me. They feel more like rockers who add a fidddle or banjo to add some country flavor. 16 Horsepower adds an interesting "hillbilly" vibe to this genre. I also like some of the country rock women like Kim Richey (great live show), even though they're usually a bit lightweight compared to the Emmy Lou Harris, Patsy Cline, etc class and also edge closer to pop/rock. The Faith Hill, Crystal Gayle, Matraca Berg school includes some really good voices singing music of really variable quality - usually more "pop" than "country". Country music has also produced some great guitarists, Flatt and Scruggs and Chet Atkins come to my mind first. Danny Gatton is mostly country and the 3 main players in Bob Wills' Playboys band were all wonderful. Pete Anderson, Greg Leisz (lap steel) and so many others, too. Marty |
Commercial break...... The new Roseanne Cash album, "The List" is terrific. The duet, Sea of Heartbreak, with Springsteen is alone worth the price of admission. Other guests include Elvis Costello, Larry Campbell, Rufus Wainwright, and of course John Leventhal. The vinyl version sounds great and is very quiet. Back to our regular scheduled programming...... |
Seconding Geodos on the Bottle Rockets. "Brand New Year" is good fun. Factoid: Brian H., the frontman for the Bottle Rockets, was road manager for Uncle Tupelo. Used to get up on stage and jam with them. On the topic of country-sh St. Louis bands, Nadine's "Downtown Saturday" is not to be missed. For a completely different direction, try Robinella, "Solace for the Lonely." Very interesting voice -- maybe like a countryfied Billie Holiday. John |
I don't care for most "top 40" country, but I like what many now term "Americana", Folk, folk rock,, etc. and I like bluegrass, though not on a daily basis. There are some good "channels" that offer these genres at RadioIO, Rhaphsody, etc. To me, Americana and Folk are now the real country music. Top 40 country is packaged/commercial/video based music with little appeal to me these days. There are some great voices in country music, such as Martina McBride, but he music itself offers little substance. |
American/Alt.country is my most listened-to genre, although as has been said, genre lines get tricky. A few of my favorites, not yet mentioned on this thread: Two Cow Garage Be Good Tonyas Hayes Carll Crooked Still (better than average recordings for genre) Shannon McNally Julie Miller Supersuckers Vic Chesnutt and of course, Uncle Tupelo John |
The Eagles began as a country band. BB King does W Nelson's Nightlife' and made a hit of it for himself. Ray Charles made a hit out of Harlon Howards "busted". And everybody made Dolly's retirement fund by recording, I'll always love you... a big Xover hit. Hoyt Axton who clearly made his fame singing and writting Country songs also Xovered into POp/Rock with the tunes he wrote for 3 Dog Night... and his mom? mae Axton made Elvis' day when he recorded Heartbreak Hotel. When there's more truth in the song than rhyme, and sizzle or sparkle, you usually find a good song writter behind it... American music or Country music now, used to get a lot of these sorts and the music world at large benefitted from them by rearranging their songs to suit another genre.. |
No one has mentioned Junior Brown. Not that well known, and he does rip off into rock during his classically country songs, but he is a great guitarist and he writes some really good old country stuff. Check out his CD "Guit With It", containing such tear jerkers as "Highway Patrol" and my personal favorite, "My Wife Thinks Your Dead". |
To all, Some of the George Strait, "The Chair", Seashores of Old Mexico--Vicky Van Shelton--"I Meant Every Word He Said", Tracy Byrds, "Keeper of the Stars", (written by Dicky Lee of '60s "Patches", "Strange things Heppen in this World" fame, wrote it.) Finally, "Mud on the Tires" Album, with "He Put a Bottle to His Head And Pulled the Trigger", a duet with Allison Kraus--these are all wonderful, classic Country Tunes. You have to be prepared to blanche at first, if you're a non believer. I was one for 30 years. Then, instead of dismissing, I listened with an open mind. Get out the Hankeys, lots of tears in the beers music here. Plus the obvious classic Patsy Cline's "Crazy" written by Willie Nelson, (maybe the most often used music in movies ever, in bar scenes). Give 'em a shot. BTW, I gave a seminar in Connecticut, and the group of about 40 or 50, can't remember was shy about recommending music, so I played a couple of these tunes. At the end of the seminar, the guys were lining up to get the names of both the performers AND the albums, the country one's not the others. Interesting. BTW, right now, "Kind of Blue" with Miles Davis, is on the CD player--it doesn't have to be one or the other. Good Listening, Larry |
