"new country" music recomendations please


I must admit to previously not being a fan of traditional country music. However, having recently heard, bought and become adddicted to Mary Gauthier's Mercy Now, and very specifically track one, "Falling out of love"(affectionately known as the piss song in our house), I am having a closer look.

I seek a similar style of parred back, raw, "story of lifes experience", with an edge, a poetic attack which I guess the piss song is in spades. I hope someone understands my drift. I would absolutely recommend one hears Mary Gauthier's track. There must be other similar artists out there with that special creative, edgy, poetic story to tell.

Thanks for your help in advance.
aer
Todd Snider
Rodney Crowell
Kelly Willis
Jim Lauderdale
Robinella
Lucinda Williams
Neko Case
Jummy Dale Gilmore
Ryan Adams
Hacienda Brothers
If you like new country, then stay away from Hank Williams III lastest - he rips new country to shreds. I don't blame him!
Mary Gauthier's album is indeed addictive. I keep the cd in my car and the vinyl gets played about once a week. I often tell people that it is country/blues. She really is in a league of her own. You might also like Greg Brown's "Slant 6 Mind". With lines like, "A picture of a picture of whore holding a picture of a John", or " A two bourbon twilight falls from God's Cigar" only available on cd or "The Poets Game" which can be found on vinyl. Also, try some of Tom Russell's stuff.
Both Delevantes cds "Postcards From Along the Way" and "Round About That Time" may now be out of print, but are definitely worth seeking out.

In a more traditional vein, you might enjoy Alison Krauss & Union Station which features AK's great voice and Jerry Douglas great guitar and dobro. I'd start off with "Now That I've Found You" (greatest hits) or "So Long So Wrong" and note that the live album features more of Douglas' playing- if virtuoso guitar is more your thing.

Robert Earl Keen's "#2 live Diner" and "Picnic" are crossover rock/country with clever, often very funny lyrics.

The Reivers (all cds, especially "End of The Day") and Uncle Tupelo (all cds, especially No Depression) are even more towards the rock end of the spectrum, but both bands were really influential and worth hearing if you don't know them. Reivers are more harmony driven pop country, while Uncle Tupelo is a mash up of banjo and garage that mixes genres in a clever, expansive way. Uncle Tupelo also spawned Jay Ferrar (Son Volt), Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and less directly Jay Bennet (especially Jay Bennet and Edward Burch "The Palace at 4 AM") and Brian Henneman (Bottle Rockets). All worth hearing in either a broad "new country" or "y'alternative" kind of way.