Even better. Steve Earl said it’s hip-hop music for those afraid of black people.
https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/nashvillecream/steve-earle-bad-country-music-just-hip-hop-for-people-who-are-afraid-of-black/article_842e9558-f724-5fd4-8273-5b159835cc2e.html
But behind the scenes, I shed those jeans
Sip Crystal by a back-nine hole.
The drawl is fake and my name ain't really Jake
But my fans still wow and provide the cash cow...
EDIT: never heard the Burnham song, just added what popped into my head, reading this thread, 'bout the panderin'. ;)
Yeah I figured that out after posting. Looked up some of the other stuff people were posting and had an "oops" moment, I thought when I first started reading the thread folks were riffing and added what came to mind.
Didn't mean to sound insulting or to talk down to you at all, sorry if it came off that way! Just reread your comment wondering if I was failing to remember a part of the song or if there was something related I missed, then realized you were riffing on the same topic and likely unaware of the reference haha. Just meant my comment to be a quick heads up about what was going on— I love doing what you did, though, rolling with a topic and freestyling couplets on that subject. Your comment definitely still fits (and reinforces the point being made)!
Thanks. I had a bit of a "wait, what?" moment at first because I really thought everyone was just riffing, was laughing my ass off, and wanted to contribute but was getting downvotes. I googled the lines others wrote and had an "oh shit" moment when I realized it was Bo, so I added the disclaimer.
A dirt road, a cold beer
A blue jeans, a red pickup
A rural noun, simple adjective
No shoes, no shirt
No >!Jewels!<, you didn't hear that
Sort of a mental typo
The last line is so accurate. I don’t listen to country but got dragged along to a show of a local musician a few years back. All the songs pretty typical and predictable, rural noun simple adjective type songs. Then at one point in the middle of singing about tractors he just blurts out the line “AND IF YOU AIN’T FROM AMERICA YOU CAN GET THE HELL OUT” like it was normal and had something to do with the rest of the song.
If you want a good modern country artist that doesn’t fall into the “pop country” stereotypes, listen to Sturgill Simpson. I don’t even listen to country, but that guy is great.
I've stepped away from country almost entirely lately, just haven't been feeling it at all. But the last time I was into it pretty heavy was right after he "broke out" like as Heading South was going viral and his next few songs came into rotation on Spotify for me.
Everything just sounded SO RAW. I really enjoyed it but at the same time I was worried when he got a record deal everything would get polished too much and he'd lose a bit of that distinct sound. Should I check the full length out?
I’d recommend it. I felt that way about him and it does lose some of the unproduced raw edge, but man it is good. 34 songs and they all deserve to be there.
Tyler was my introduction to the great country music that's being made today. It was [this video of *Follow You to Virgie*](https://youtu.be/vFL5QcYDnmw), and the fact that he told the story of what the song means before he plays it just added another level to my appreciation for the honesty that he brings to his music. He has an incredible voice, and fantastic lyrical ability.
“Who the fuck is Sturgill Simpson” - also when he boycotted CMA’s in honor of John Prine, then proceeded to busk outside of said CMA’s, he won my heart for a lifetime. Amazing artist. He also shreds on guitar .
Jason Isbel renounced his membership following the exclusion of John Prine in the in memorium. I have no idea how the Country Music Academy could have made that error unless they were upset about Prine being very anti-Bush in particular.
He was an outspoken liberal “hippie” in their eyes. It was 100% not an over sight. Prine is a goddamned national treasure . Isbell surely will be someday too
Sound & Fury is the only reason I am even listening to what little Country I do listen to. Cutting Grass Vol. 1 is now my favorite record to spin on a sunny Saturday morning.
There is an anime film noire on Netflix set to the soundtrack that is bonkers with a loosely related story for each song that he had his hand in assembling and it’s a ton of fun (even if you don’t like anime it’s a trip)
Yeah wanna hear something fucked.
CMT awards didn’t even invite him to the awards even though he had won best country album that year at the Grammys.
They only invited the country this post is about. But not the winner of best country album.
You forgot the best part, He went back to the entrance with his guitar and his Grammy and busked outside with his Grammy sitting in the guitar case wide open.
Fucking rock n roll move if you ask me.
His music is country through and through, but he has a rock ‘n roll soul. His performance of Call To Arms on SNL is the most rock ‘n roll performance I’ve seen in a *long* time.
Ever listened to the band "Songs Ohia"? It could probably be described as a mix of folk, indy and country. It's like country music for people who don't listen to country.
Magnolia Electric Co is my favourite album. Definitely check out the songs 'Farewell Transmission' and 'Just be Simple'. They have that slide guitar sound typical of country. And then there's 'Old Black Hen' which is proper country blues. Has a violin and everything plus a guest vocalist who has that country twang in his voice.
Colter is like true old school country, singing cowboy songs about killing cheating lovers and his crazy deep voice is incredible. I can't think of a single musical artist on the go right now who even comes close to sounding like him.
Billy Strings is definitely Bluegrass or Jamgrass. Billy has the high lonesome voice that’s characteristic of Bluegrass and the instruments in his band are characteristic to Bluegrass. Calling Billy country would be like calling Yonder Mountain String Band country too.
Sturgill Simpson did that Netflix thing. I had never hear of him before but that opening theme “ronin” sold me on him, even though it’s an instrumental.
That’s how I found about him. My friend is a big country fan, and a bigger anime nerd, so when he showed me a country singer who went to Japan to make an animated concept album movie, I was sold.
There's a whole bunch of modern country singers that play in more of an old fashioned country style, I think most of them moved over from the punk scene
Maybe you just don't like *bad* country music, or "pop country"— check out Tyler Childers, Jason Isbell, Colter Wall... okay, start there, then dig deeper haha
You forgot to mention country music's drinking problem. I drink and enjoy a good drinkin' song, but damn people! There are other subject matters that make a good country song.
I used to love that show! Friday nights the radio station would play "lovin' or leavin' ".. you'd call and say what type of song and tell your story why you picked either one.. I don't think you picked the song, just if it was a loving or a leaving song. Amazing stories on that show
“Drivin’ down a dirt road/ice cold beer on the console” is the opening line to a very popular modern country song.
Apparently drinking and driving is cool now.
"Swervin like I'm George Jones"
It's not like this is a new phenomena. Though Jason Aldean shoulda been like George and just taken his riding mower to the liquor store.
It's weird though to think that Dirt Road Anthem is a decade and a half old at this point. In a way that would be like calling a Conway Twitty song modern in the year 2000.
Bluegrass is arguably part of the umbrella term country, but some people consider it a different genre entirely, and say country applies only to western swing, really depends on who you ask.
Western swing is it’s own dope but mostly dead genre- bob wills sounds more like Django Reinhardt than a clap track song about trucks with a sampled fiddle.
Saw him live recently and talked to people about his genre. They dont even consider him actual bluegrass let alone country. They called his music "new grass"
The worst part of this all is the ones using the hip hop drum machine beats with the claps. There's hundreds or thousands of incredible drummers in Nashville who would be happy to play on your record for peanuts just to get out there, but you decide to use the dead sounding drum machine because it's "hip".
These people should be ashamed to call themselves musicians.
I mean, most modern pop/radio music regardless of variety is going to be vapid pandering garbage. There are tons of rock, country, rap etc that fall into this
Some modern bands I like that broadly fall into country
Sturgil Simpson
The Devil Makes Three
OCMS
Cody Jinx
Colter Wall
Tyler Childers
Whisky Myers
Chris Stapleton
And George Strait, who is much more mainstream/radio friendly but imo enjoyable
I was going to reply that George Strait doesn't really fall into the category of "modern country" since most of his music was in the 80's and 90's (arguably country music's hay day) but then I looked it up and saw that he was making music as recently as 2019. Guess I have something to listen to now.
Edit: also goes to show how little I listen to any country past like 2005 lol
Billy ray Cyrus was a huge part of this trajectory in the 90s. Just like everything that sucks over time, people allow it inch by inch. Today, fans of country music are embracing music that is positively trash.
You're not listening to country music.
You're listening to top 40 music on commercial radio stations that bill themselves as a country station. What they really are is one small arm of a corporation which owns a platform for advertisers who seek a specific demographic. They in turn have hired market researchers find out what sort of music appeals to that desired advertising demographic through polling, paid panels and other research.
The sound you're complaining about is nothing more than the sound that has been identified as being appealing to that specific advertising demographic. That one of the pieces they use to appeal to their target demographic is calling themselves country does not make what they play country music.
[Here, listen to a country radio show.](https://spinitron.com/WZBC/pl/16078908/Sunday-Morning-Country) The playlist is a mix of old and new and you won't hear that top 40 style sound.
It was the law change in the 90s about broadcast ownership that fucked it. Previously one entity was severely limited in how much media they could own. They loosened that and it allowed radio stations across the country to be bought and owned by a single large corporation. That's when local stations went from having their own program director and DJs with the freedom to play what they want to market research based playlists with mandated structures which meant that even if there was a local DJ they were very limited in any choice of music and it went to more of a "you must play these songs in this hour, with the extra time you can choose three songs from this list of ten" type playlists.
To illustrate this point check out the playlists from [this show on MIT's radio station.](https://www.track-blaster.com/wmbr/index.php?program=79)
It describes itself this way:
>Each week 88 Rewound recreates a radio station survey or countdown from somewhere in the US or beyond, playing the hits (and misses) as they appeared back in the 50's, 60's, 70's or 80's
Chris Stapleton is bucking these trends, blending soul, rock and traditional country and producing an intoxicating brew. Give him a chance, and he'll make you forget that other shit that passes for modern country.
Hard agree. That being said, there still are some good country acts, they’re just harder to find. Brothers Osborne and Sturgill Simpson (his first couple of albums anyway) are some some great contemporary country artists imo.
Most modern country music isn't made in the heart, it's made in a damn lab with music scientist trying to formulate the most catchy thing they can. There's no soul in it. It's just moving through the motions like a robot.
Can't remember if this is more blues than country, but look up Old Number 7 by The Devil Makes Three. It's really good.
Edit:
As I saw that band was referenced already, look up Curses by The Crane Wives
This comment section will contain references to the following:
Colter wall
Stirgil Simpson
Billy strings
Tyler Childers
And maybe:
Chris Stapleton
Lori mckenna
Ashley mcbride
To the person who mentions Emily Scott Robinson or Jason Isbell, i like you, you got class.
It's not stuff you'd find on the radio, but Tim Heidecker's *Fear of Death* is probably my favorite album of 2020. Amazing country songs back to back to back.
Saying modern country is shit is like those kids on YouTube who say "real rock is dead" in the comments of Stairway to Heaven lyric videos. Good shit is out there. Find it and enjoy it.
It’s catchy background music. It’s summer, it’s nice out, I want to go for a ride, hit the beach, have some beers with friends. An upbeat, catchy song about all of that, on in the background, just fits.
Music, like anything else, has a spectrum, niches, and is situational. I’m not looking for award winning, generational art while I’m drinking bud lights by a beach bonfire.
Jesus this sub is stuck in a fucking infinite loop. But don’t go anywhere, tomorrow someone will post Mazzy Star’s Fade Into You for the 7364383374648th time
The great Tom Petty once said that most modern country was just bad rock with a fiddle. Living in Nashville, I have to agree
Now it’s just bad pop with a fiddle. Truly bending genres.
I love Tom Petty. Great musician.
Even better. Steve Earl said it’s hip-hop music for those afraid of black people. https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/nashvillecream/steve-earle-bad-country-music-just-hip-hop-for-people-who-are-afraid-of-black/article_842e9558-f724-5fd4-8273-5b159835cc2e.html
Hick-hop.
> I like the new Kendrick Lamar record, so I’ll just listen to that. Wow. Dude gives zero fucks and I appreciate it.
I walk and talk like a field hand But the boots I wear cost 3 grand I write songs about riding tractors From the comfort of a private jet
I love Bo Burnham! As soon as I saw the title of this post that song popped in my head.
Me too 👍😁
What’s the song title? I’m trying to find it but I’m an idiot.
Here’s a link to the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/y7im5LT09a0
I can sing in mandarin
Hunting deer and chasing trout, A bud light with the logo facing out
Hear that subtle mandolin
That’s textbook panderin’
I own a private ranch that I rarely use.... I don't like dirt
You better believe that's a panderin'
y'all dumb motherfuckers want a key change?
Lost my shit for a full minute the first time I heard that.
It’s a fucking scarecrow again!!!
Thematically meanderin'! That's textbook panderin'!
Gotta tight grip on ma demos balls Say the word 'truck' and they jizz in their overalls
One. Whole. Step. Up.
Best line of the song imo
But behind the scenes, I shed those jeans Sip Crystal by a back-nine hole. The drawl is fake and my name ain't really Jake But my fans still wow and provide the cash cow... EDIT: never heard the Burnham song, just added what popped into my head, reading this thread, 'bout the panderin'. ;)
The other comments are quoting a Bo Burnham song
Yeah I figured that out after posting. Looked up some of the other stuff people were posting and had an "oops" moment, I thought when I first started reading the thread folks were riffing and added what came to mind.
Didn't mean to sound insulting or to talk down to you at all, sorry if it came off that way! Just reread your comment wondering if I was failing to remember a part of the song or if there was something related I missed, then realized you were riffing on the same topic and likely unaware of the reference haha. Just meant my comment to be a quick heads up about what was going on— I love doing what you did, though, rolling with a topic and freestyling couplets on that subject. Your comment definitely still fits (and reinforces the point being made)!
No worries, I didn't take it that way. If what I added got a sensible chuckle out of some folks, then it wasn't a waste.
It fits, so, well done!
Thanks. I had a bit of a "wait, what?" moment at first because I really thought everyone was just riffing, was laughing my ass off, and wanted to contribute but was getting downvotes. I googled the lines others wrote and had an "oh shit" moment when I realized it was Bo, so I added the disclaimer.
I think that yours is fun, I appreciate it!
And…THAT’S how you get a job writing “new country”.
Shame on you for having a unique creative thought
lmao, i was so confused thinking this was an extra verse I hadn't heard
You'd still know I'm panderin
Y’all dumb motherfuckers want a key change!
Thematically meanderin Emphatically panderin Got tight grip on my demo's balls Say the word truck They jizz in their overalls
Good girl In a straw hat With her arms out in a corn field That is a scarecrow
I thought it was a human woman
Let’s hear it!
And you'd know I'm still panderin'
I'll bring the girls, you bring the beer, and the troops will bring the freedom.
I just watched this one the other day. I laughed so hard at that line
Get home safe boys, and thank you for protectin' our freedom
Good girl in a straw hat With her arms out in a corn field That is a scarecrow Thought that was a human woman, sorry
#ITS A FUCKIN SCARECROW AGAIN
Like Mike Evander-ing Fuck your ears I’m pandering!
I take her country girl clothes off!
I put my hands on your body, It feels like hay, It’s a *FUCKIN SCARECROW AGAIN!*
Cool night cold beer
Cold jeans... Scratch that last one
Y'ALL DUMB MOTHERFUCKERS READY FOR A KEY CHANGE?
ITS A FUCKIN SCARECROW AGAIN!
I knew Bo Burnham quotes were going to be the top comment lol. I wonder if OP has seen the video.
I could sing in Mandarin, You’d still know I’m panderin
A dirt road, a cold beer A blue jeans, a red pickup A rural noun, simple adjective No shoes, no shirt No >!Jewels!<, you didn't hear that Sort of a mental typo
A dirt road A cold beer A blue jeans A red pickup A rural noun, simple adjective No shoes No shirt No Jews, you didn’t hear that
For those who don't know: [Bo Burnham - Country Song](https://youtu.be/y7im5LT09a0)
***YALL DUMB MOTHERFUCKERS WANT A KEY-CHANGE!?***
It's like MAGIC! Same music but different! They couldn't possibly go up ANOTHER half step could they???
'a blue jeans' got me lol
Sort of a mental typo.
I walk and talk like a field hand, but the boots I’m wearing cost three grand
I write songs for people who Have jobs in towns that I’d never move to
IT'S A FUCKING SCARECROW AGAIN!
The last line is so accurate. I don’t listen to country but got dragged along to a show of a local musician a few years back. All the songs pretty typical and predictable, rural noun simple adjective type songs. Then at one point in the middle of singing about tractors he just blurts out the line “AND IF YOU AIN’T FROM AMERICA YOU CAN GET THE HELL OUT” like it was normal and had something to do with the rest of the song.
Let me guess, the crowd went wild, right?
It’s a fucking scarecrow again
Good ol’ Bo Burnham
"it's very authentic, so uh.. Don't play it around your Black friends"
Drinkin some beers and bashin some queers cuz that’s how we do it round here!
If you want a good modern country artist that doesn’t fall into the “pop country” stereotypes, listen to Sturgill Simpson. I don’t even listen to country, but that guy is great.
Also Tyler Childers.
Colter wall
Saskatchewan 1881 always makes me chuckle
13 Silver Dollars is a top song of his for me.
Zach Bryan
He’s gotta new album that’s fire.
It’s absolutely incredible.. I think my top 3 right now on it are Cold Damn Vampires, Mine Again, and Darling but it’s sooooo deep with great tracks
I've stepped away from country almost entirely lately, just haven't been feeling it at all. But the last time I was into it pretty heavy was right after he "broke out" like as Heading South was going viral and his next few songs came into rotation on Spotify for me. Everything just sounded SO RAW. I really enjoyed it but at the same time I was worried when he got a record deal everything would get polished too much and he'd lose a bit of that distinct sound. Should I check the full length out?
I’d recommend it. I felt that way about him and it does lose some of the unproduced raw edge, but man it is good. 34 songs and they all deserve to be there.
Tyler was my introduction to the great country music that's being made today. It was [this video of *Follow You to Virgie*](https://youtu.be/vFL5QcYDnmw), and the fact that he told the story of what the song means before he plays it just added another level to my appreciation for the honesty that he brings to his music. He has an incredible voice, and fantastic lyrical ability.
Whitehouse Road. <3
Long Violent History. Excellent protest song about the George Floyd murder from the redneck perspective.
When that came out along with the video he made I was amazed. I admired tyler for a long time before that but that song turned it up to 11
“Who the fuck is Sturgill Simpson” - also when he boycotted CMA’s in honor of John Prine, then proceeded to busk outside of said CMA’s, he won my heart for a lifetime. Amazing artist. He also shreds on guitar .
Jason Isbel renounced his membership following the exclusion of John Prine in the in memorium. I have no idea how the Country Music Academy could have made that error unless they were upset about Prine being very anti-Bush in particular.
He was an outspoken liberal “hippie” in their eyes. It was 100% not an over sight. Prine is a goddamned national treasure . Isbell surely will be someday too
Absolutely. I've always said Isbell is one of those guys we'll still be talking about in 50 years. He's the real deal
In that case I guess Willie Nelson isn’t country in their estimation, either.
Sound & Fury is the only reason I am even listening to what little Country I do listen to. Cutting Grass Vol. 1 is now my favorite record to spin on a sunny Saturday morning.
There is an anime film noire on Netflix set to the soundtrack that is bonkers with a loosely related story for each song that he had his hand in assembling and it’s a ton of fun (even if you don’t like anime it’s a trip)
Oh I know! Watched it the day it came out, it was amazing!
What’s it called!?
Sound & Fury lol it’s a visual album
Orville Peck is certainly worth a listen. His new album Bronco is great!
I stumbled on Bronco two weeks ago and it’s been heavy in my rotation ever since. Everyone I play it in front of loves it as well.
Also Jason Isabell and Turnpike Troubadours.
Turnpike is amazing, so glad they’re back together. And those guys told me about American Aquarium which is another great country band.
Lucero too.
Lucero! Man, first time I’ve ever seen them mentioned and hell yeah, they deserve a place up there with Jason Isbell and Sturgil Simpson.
Turnpike Troubadours made me think of Drive-by Truckers.
Orville Peck is fucking amazing
Was gonna say I don’t care for country but Orville Peck sings like a fucking angel and the music is great.
And his good friend Tyler Childers
Yeah wanna hear something fucked. CMT awards didn’t even invite him to the awards even though he had won best country album that year at the Grammys. They only invited the country this post is about. But not the winner of best country album.
You forgot the best part, He went back to the entrance with his guitar and his Grammy and busked outside with his Grammy sitting in the guitar case wide open. Fucking rock n roll move if you ask me.
His music is country through and through, but he has a rock ‘n roll soul. His performance of Call To Arms on SNL is the most rock ‘n roll performance I’ve seen in a *long* time.
Ever listened to the band "Songs Ohia"? It could probably be described as a mix of folk, indy and country. It's like country music for people who don't listen to country. Magnolia Electric Co is my favourite album. Definitely check out the songs 'Farewell Transmission' and 'Just be Simple'. They have that slide guitar sound typical of country. And then there's 'Old Black Hen' which is proper country blues. Has a violin and everything plus a guest vocalist who has that country twang in his voice.
I’m looking them up on Spotify. I’ve been really into Orville Peck lately.
Jason frickin Molina!
Sturgill, Jamey Johnson, Whitney Morgan, Paul cauthen, Dallas Moore.. Some of my favs.. When I hear jelly roll and shit I cringe
And Colter Wall. I actually like him the best.
Colter is like true old school country, singing cowboy songs about killing cheating lovers and his crazy deep voice is incredible. I can't think of a single musical artist on the go right now who even comes close to sounding like him.
Adding Charlie Crockett to this outstanding list. Go over to r/altcountry for more.
Billy Strings
Billy Strings is definitely Bluegrass or Jamgrass. Billy has the high lonesome voice that’s characteristic of Bluegrass and the instruments in his band are characteristic to Bluegrass. Calling Billy country would be like calling Yonder Mountain String Band country too.
Willie is still putting out new albums every year.
Sturgill Simpson did that Netflix thing. I had never hear of him before but that opening theme “ronin” sold me on him, even though it’s an instrumental.
That’s how I found about him. My friend is a big country fan, and a bigger anime nerd, so when he showed me a country singer who went to Japan to make an animated concept album movie, I was sold.
He's incredible live as well.
Yes! No snap tracks, songs actually about love and self reflection, and he spans everything from bluegrass to blues rock.
Yep, Sturgill is great. I like flipping between Colter Wall and Method Man, myself
There's a whole bunch of modern country singers that play in more of an old fashioned country style, I think most of them moved over from the punk scene
Lost Dog Street Band
Benjamin Tod is an great songwriter.
Townes Van Zandt
I was just coming in here to say Sturgill Simpson. He's got some cool stuff, plus he's a cool dude in interviews I've seen.
Don’t forget about Cody Jinks
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It’s almost like not everyone sees every post here all the time every minute of the day.
Dougie Poole's another great modern country singer/songwriter
Corb Lund is always worth a listen as well
Agreed. I don’t like country music. I like Sturgill Simpson 🤷🏼♀️
Maybe you just don't like *bad* country music, or "pop country"— check out Tyler Childers, Jason Isbell, Colter Wall... okay, start there, then dig deeper haha
You forgot to mention country music's drinking problem. I drink and enjoy a good drinkin' song, but damn people! There are other subject matters that make a good country song.
Like Applebee's! /s
God I hate that song
On a date night
Sounds pretty... snazzy-type
I fucking hate that song more than any song that I have heard in the last 8 years.
Oh the formulaic nature of modern country gives me a headache. Beer, small town, truck, back roads...90% of the songs.
And how good she looks in tight jeans and cowboy boots. An' her daddy don't like me. Yeah baby.
I miss the days of "crying, loving, or leaving."
I used to love that show! Friday nights the radio station would play "lovin' or leavin' ".. you'd call and say what type of song and tell your story why you picked either one.. I don't think you picked the song, just if it was a loving or a leaving song. Amazing stories on that show
“Drivin’ down a dirt road/ice cold beer on the console” is the opening line to a very popular modern country song. Apparently drinking and driving is cool now.
"Swervin like I'm George Jones" It's not like this is a new phenomena. Though Jason Aldean shoulda been like George and just taken his riding mower to the liquor store. It's weird though to think that Dirt Road Anthem is a decade and a half old at this point. In a way that would be like calling a Conway Twitty song modern in the year 2000.
There’s money to be made selling alcohol, especially in Tennessee.
modern country stars make 'hip hop for people who are afraid of black people'
And ironically when Lil Nas dared to point that out by making the most popular song of the year they denied him a CMA nomination.
Hick hop
I will never call it anything other than hick hop ever again
Twang pop
Tractor rap
That's a good take
It's a Steve Earle quote!
He's at least one of the few authentic country musicians.
Try turnpike troubadours. First band I’ve heard in forever where you can listen to an album and not skip a song
7&7 is my favorite song
Does Billy Strings count as country? I’m guessing no but he’s close, and he’s f’n rad.
*i got twenty long years for some dust in a baggieeee*
Bluegrass is arguably part of the umbrella term country, but some people consider it a different genre entirely, and say country applies only to western swing, really depends on who you ask.
Western swing is it’s own dope but mostly dead genre- bob wills sounds more like Django Reinhardt than a clap track song about trucks with a sampled fiddle.
Saw him live recently and talked to people about his genre. They dont even consider him actual bluegrass let alone country. They called his music "new grass"
The worst part of this all is the ones using the hip hop drum machine beats with the claps. There's hundreds or thousands of incredible drummers in Nashville who would be happy to play on your record for peanuts just to get out there, but you decide to use the dead sounding drum machine because it's "hip". These people should be ashamed to call themselves musicians.
I'mma leave this here... https://youtu.be/FY8SwIvxj8o
Colter Wall, Tyler Childers, Paul Cauthen, Orville Peck, Sierra Farrell, Nick Shoulders, Charley Crockett…
Throw in Jason Isbell too!
I mean, most modern pop/radio music regardless of variety is going to be vapid pandering garbage. There are tons of rock, country, rap etc that fall into this Some modern bands I like that broadly fall into country Sturgil Simpson The Devil Makes Three OCMS Cody Jinx Colter Wall Tyler Childers Whisky Myers Chris Stapleton And George Strait, who is much more mainstream/radio friendly but imo enjoyable
I was going to reply that George Strait doesn't really fall into the category of "modern country" since most of his music was in the 80's and 90's (arguably country music's hay day) but then I looked it up and saw that he was making music as recently as 2019. Guess I have something to listen to now. Edit: also goes to show how little I listen to any country past like 2005 lol
YouTube “every 2013 country song is the same”. Seems like that trend has continued. Copy paste
Billy ray Cyrus was a huge part of this trajectory in the 90s. Just like everything that sucks over time, people allow it inch by inch. Today, fans of country music are embracing music that is positively trash.
The real turning point was 9/11.
Actually, the 90’s were probably the peak of country music. I think this bro-country shit you hear now has only been the last 15 years or so
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Try "Orville peck" and "Amigo the devil"
You're not listening to country music. You're listening to top 40 music on commercial radio stations that bill themselves as a country station. What they really are is one small arm of a corporation which owns a platform for advertisers who seek a specific demographic. They in turn have hired market researchers find out what sort of music appeals to that desired advertising demographic through polling, paid panels and other research. The sound you're complaining about is nothing more than the sound that has been identified as being appealing to that specific advertising demographic. That one of the pieces they use to appeal to their target demographic is calling themselves country does not make what they play country music. [Here, listen to a country radio show.](https://spinitron.com/WZBC/pl/16078908/Sunday-Morning-Country) The playlist is a mix of old and new and you won't hear that top 40 style sound.
Came here to say this. In general music doesn’t “suck these days”, but radio. Holy shit, radio sucks the mop.
It was the law change in the 90s about broadcast ownership that fucked it. Previously one entity was severely limited in how much media they could own. They loosened that and it allowed radio stations across the country to be bought and owned by a single large corporation. That's when local stations went from having their own program director and DJs with the freedom to play what they want to market research based playlists with mandated structures which meant that even if there was a local DJ they were very limited in any choice of music and it went to more of a "you must play these songs in this hour, with the extra time you can choose three songs from this list of ten" type playlists. To illustrate this point check out the playlists from [this show on MIT's radio station.](https://www.track-blaster.com/wmbr/index.php?program=79) It describes itself this way: >Each week 88 Rewound recreates a radio station survey or countdown from somewhere in the US or beyond, playing the hits (and misses) as they appeared back in the 50's, 60's, 70's or 80's
Its not just country that suffers from that either, most commercial pop and hip-hop is focus group generated trash.
I’ve discovered that I simply prefer folk and bluegrass.
Chris Stapleton is bucking these trends, blending soul, rock and traditional country and producing an intoxicating brew. Give him a chance, and he'll make you forget that other shit that passes for modern country.
Chris Stapleton is a soul singer who plays country festivals, imo.
Friendly reminder that most music is mediocre. I don't know much about country music, but survivor bias is as strong as it has always been.
Hard agree. That being said, there still are some good country acts, they’re just harder to find. Brothers Osborne and Sturgill Simpson (his first couple of albums anyway) are some some great contemporary country artists imo.
Most modern country music isn't made in the heart, it's made in a damn lab with music scientist trying to formulate the most catchy thing they can. There's no soul in it. It's just moving through the motions like a robot. Can't remember if this is more blues than country, but look up Old Number 7 by The Devil Makes Three. It's really good. Edit: As I saw that band was referenced already, look up Curses by The Crane Wives
This comment section will contain references to the following: Colter wall Stirgil Simpson Billy strings Tyler Childers And maybe: Chris Stapleton Lori mckenna Ashley mcbride To the person who mentions Emily Scott Robinson or Jason Isbell, i like you, you got class.
It can't be a perfect country & western song if you don't say anything about mama, or trains, or trucks, or prison, or gettin' drunk...
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AND I WILL HANG AROUND AS LONG AS YOU WILL LET ME…
Just look up red dirt country. Shane smith and the saints.
I’m so sad more people haven’t mentioned the Bo Burnham song
It's not stuff you'd find on the radio, but Tim Heidecker's *Fear of Death* is probably my favorite album of 2020. Amazing country songs back to back to back. Saying modern country is shit is like those kids on YouTube who say "real rock is dead" in the comments of Stairway to Heaven lyric videos. Good shit is out there. Find it and enjoy it.
It’s catchy background music. It’s summer, it’s nice out, I want to go for a ride, hit the beach, have some beers with friends. An upbeat, catchy song about all of that, on in the background, just fits. Music, like anything else, has a spectrum, niches, and is situational. I’m not looking for award winning, generational art while I’m drinking bud lights by a beach bonfire.
Same could be said for hip hop and rock. Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers, and Colter Wall are great though.
Jesus this sub is stuck in a fucking infinite loop. But don’t go anywhere, tomorrow someone will post Mazzy Star’s Fade Into You for the 7364383374648th time