Opinion: Modern country is the worst musical genre of all time

@larsman 

I hear you about reggae. Love me some Uprising, but ran out of ganja long ago lol.

I spent three months in Europe in the fall of '82, traveling around via a Eurail pass. I used my sister's apartment as my "base camp" (she was in the Navy, stationed in Stuttgart, but lived off-base), and in December she and I went to a nearly mall to shop for Christmas. The mall was 2-leveled, with an open area in the middle. I was upstairs and heard music emanating from the open area, so walked over to the rail and looked down. The music was being played by an American Country outfit, and all the Germans stopped what they were doing and watched and listened attentively, applauding appreciatively at the end of each song. A better audience than many American ones, I wager. 

The OP got me thinking. Seems over the years I have heard (and myself said) similar remarks about "current" music of this sort or that. I believe that what happens is that over time, the true artist shake out from all the fluff and go on to become big, often evolving tremendously.  Guess the music scene has always been this way. 

Americana is great. Bluegrass can be great if you understand it. Modern country is what it is. I don't like it, preferring to get my country "fix" on classic country radio stations when I'm in the mood for it.  But by the same token, even though I dislike rap, I've forced myself to listen to some Eminem just to hear his rhymes and fast delivery to see if I can keep up.  But yeah, if something isn't your cup of tea, just leave it be.  I grew up on Zeppelin, YES, Rush, ELP, classical, and rock. In my old age I've discovered more electronica and ambient music that I love and pop groups like The Lone Bellow and Lake Street Dive.  

Modern country music wouldn't exist if there wasn't a paying audience for it. So there is that. Just like opera which I've NEVER understood. Why a bunch of people want to listen to someone sing in a language they don't understand is beyond me. But if that makes them happy, who am I to judge. 

Couldn't agree more regarding the new 'Bro-country' genre or whatever they call it now. There's no story telling like classic country (60s - 80s). Like many on here, I also grew up with classic country as well as pop and rock. 70s and 80s soul/R & B was good too. I try and listen to new music on my local Top 40 but most of it is crap. There's an occasional song that's pretty good but not good enough to add to my Spotify.New country has gone the way of current Pop---there's no imagination or story telling---it's all very egotistical. Lyric writing is a fading art.