From AOL:
George Jones says he's been robbed. Not of his personal belongings, but of something perhaps even more valuable: his role as a country singer.
Referring to some of today's biggest stars, including Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift, the country legend tells the Associated Press, "they've stolen our identity." And, he maintains, they need to give it back and move on to another genre. "They had to use something that was established already, and that's traditional country music. So what they need to do really, I think, is find their own title, because they're definitely not traditional country music."
--Couldn't have said it better, it's just this 'rape' of traditional country has been going on for what, 20 years now? I think George is a lttle late, to say the least.
Or why can't contemporary country get it's own sub-genre, like count-pop, or something?
What do you think, sirs? (and maams?)
Full Version: "White Lightnin" Strikes!
well, my first thought was the same as yours - this is like 20 years too late. it is strange that (as far as i know) the names for sub-genres of country aren't well-known or often used. i looked on allmusic and this is what they had listed:
Alternative Country: * Alternative Country-Rock, * Alternative Country, * Americana, * Neo-Traditional Folk,
Contemporary Country: * Contemporary Country, * New Traditionalist, * Neo-Traditionalist Country, * Contemporary Bluegrass
Country-Pop: * Country-Pop, * Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan, * Urban Cowboy
Folk/Country Rock: * Country-Rock, * Folk-Pop, * Singer/Songwriter, * Folk-Rock, * British Folk-Rock
Honky Tonk: * Traditional Country, * Honky Tonk, * Bakersfield Sound, * Truck Driving Country
Progressive Country: * Progressive Bluegrass, * Progressive Country, * Country-Folk, * Outlaw Country, * Rodeo
Traditional Country: * Traditional Bluegrass, * Old-Timey, * Traditional Country, * Cowboy, * Yodeling, * Bluegrass, * String Bands, * Country Gospel, * Instrumental Country, * Country Boogie, * Close Harmony, * Square Dance, * Jug Band, * Bluegrass-Gospel
Western Swing: * Western Swing, * Western Swing Revival
....but save for folk or bluegrass, i don't hear these terms tossed around very often. at least i haven't heard any of them from my friends who listen to country. the pop crap that you hear on the radio is all referred to as country, and it seems that country fans don't search out much besides what they hear on the radio. i (and i'm sure many others here) enjoy the occasional folk/bluegrass/traditional country music, and i'd appreciate suggestions for some great music.
Alternative Country: * Alternative Country-Rock, * Alternative Country, * Americana, * Neo-Traditional Folk,
Contemporary Country: * Contemporary Country, * New Traditionalist, * Neo-Traditionalist Country, * Contemporary Bluegrass
Country-Pop: * Country-Pop, * Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan, * Urban Cowboy
Folk/Country Rock: * Country-Rock, * Folk-Pop, * Singer/Songwriter, * Folk-Rock, * British Folk-Rock
Honky Tonk: * Traditional Country, * Honky Tonk, * Bakersfield Sound, * Truck Driving Country
Progressive Country: * Progressive Bluegrass, * Progressive Country, * Country-Folk, * Outlaw Country, * Rodeo
Traditional Country: * Traditional Bluegrass, * Old-Timey, * Traditional Country, * Cowboy, * Yodeling, * Bluegrass, * String Bands, * Country Gospel, * Instrumental Country, * Country Boogie, * Close Harmony, * Square Dance, * Jug Band, * Bluegrass-Gospel
Western Swing: * Western Swing, * Western Swing Revival
....but save for folk or bluegrass, i don't hear these terms tossed around very often. at least i haven't heard any of them from my friends who listen to country. the pop crap that you hear on the radio is all referred to as country, and it seems that country fans don't search out much besides what they hear on the radio. i (and i'm sure many others here) enjoy the occasional folk/bluegrass/traditional country music, and i'd appreciate suggestions for some great music.
contcunt
--Couldn't have said it better, it's just this 'rape' of traditional country has been going on for what, 20 years now? I think George is a lttle late, to say the least.
Longer than that even.
Ol' George isn't exactly making a groundbreaking statement, but full credit to anyone important who calls Nashville country out for the dogshit it is.
Longer than that even.
Ol' George isn't exactly making a groundbreaking statement, but full credit to anyone important who calls Nashville country out for the dogshit it is.
"New Traditionalist"? ANd "Neo Traditionalist"? - Knives, thanks for finding this silliness, but I'll bet this what George is saying--- I mean how oxymoronic can you get?
New is an antonym of traditional, right?
I guess the problem is country fans just arent' as geeky about the sub-genre discussion as us rockists are.
Knives-- since you sorta asked, when I want to get my traditional country groove on, lately we've been listening to Marty Robbins, who wrote "El Paso", and many other great songs. Also check out Frankie Laine, who wrote a shitload of classic country songs, including "Rawhide". I've got their greatest hits.
Other great oldies are Loretta Lynn, Iris Dement, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, George Jones, Buck Owens, WIllie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash of course. As a mattor of fact, Time-Life just put together a classic country selection that sounds a lot like a big mp3 that Jess is always spinning in the car for our fishing trips.
New is an antonym of traditional, right?
I guess the problem is country fans just arent' as geeky about the sub-genre discussion as us rockists are.
Knives-- since you sorta asked, when I want to get my traditional country groove on, lately we've been listening to Marty Robbins, who wrote "El Paso", and many other great songs. Also check out Frankie Laine, who wrote a shitload of classic country songs, including "Rawhide". I've got their greatest hits.
Other great oldies are Loretta Lynn, Iris Dement, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, George Jones, Buck Owens, WIllie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash of course. As a mattor of fact, Time-Life just put together a classic country selection that sounds a lot like a big mp3 that Jess is always spinning in the car for our fishing trips.
QUOTE (By-Tor @ Nov 4 2009, 08:05 PM) 
"New Traditionalist"? ANd "Neo Traditionalist"? - Knives, thanks for finding this silliness, but I'll bet this what George is saying--- I mean how oxymoronic can you get?
New is an antonym of traditional, right?
I guess the problem is country fans just arent' as geeky about the sub-genre discussion as us rockists are.
Knives-- since you sorta asked, when I want to get my traditional country groove on, lately we've been listening to Marty Robbins, who wrote "El Paso", and many other great songs. Also check out Frankie Laine, who wrote a shitload of classic country songs, including "Rawhide". I've got their greatest hits.
Other great oldies are Loretta Lynn, Iris Dement, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, George Jones, Buck Owens, WIllie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash of course. As a mattor of fact, Time-Life just put together a classic country selection that sounds a lot like a big mp3 that Jess is always spinning in the car for our fishing trips.
New is an antonym of traditional, right?
I guess the problem is country fans just arent' as geeky about the sub-genre discussion as us rockists are.
Knives-- since you sorta asked, when I want to get my traditional country groove on, lately we've been listening to Marty Robbins, who wrote "El Paso", and many other great songs. Also check out Frankie Laine, who wrote a shitload of classic country songs, including "Rawhide". I've got their greatest hits.
Other great oldies are Loretta Lynn, Iris Dement, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, George Jones, Buck Owens, WIllie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash of course. As a mattor of fact, Time-Life just put together a classic country selection that sounds a lot like a big mp3 that Jess is always spinning in the car for our fishing trips.
Well, neo-traditionalist is no more absurd than, say, neo-classicism. It just means a new movement that tries to get back to traditional roots. As for country, those who actually listen to it as their life's blood (as opposed to music snobs like us) know what they like and what they don't. A lot of them will draw a line between Johnny Cash and Keith Urban, understanding that they're different, but they don't take it to mean they have to dislike one or the other. It's always been more about the themes and the twang for them than the other factors which differentiated country from mainstream pop. So yeah, definitely agree that they're less interested in classification and segregation than we are (IRONIC CAUSE THEY'RE SOUTHERN). At least Willie Nelson has always understood this.
QUOTE (6:00 @ Nov 4 2009, 10:18 PM)
definitely agree that they're less interested in classification and segregation than we are
but why?
is there not enough country music being made to necessitate it?
or because they're simple people with unrefined tastes? (i kid)
another question i have inre: country music...
do most places in the US have a disproportionately high amount of country radio stations? like way more than needed, for the relatively little amount of new country music coming out? because where i grew up, country easily dominated at least 60-70% of radio. and if so, why? is there that much demand for it? i sure wouldn't think so. it seems like most of the stations play music that is 5, 10, 15 years old, with a new song mixed in every once in a while. are the stations just that slow to change?
unrelated post below:
QUOTE
By Andy Whitman
Country Music in the Aughts
I don’t follow mainstream country, so I have no idea what’s happening in Nashville. That said, I think there are many artists in the aughts who have made stellar country music. “Country,” in this case, refers to any music that has a twang, and that roughly falls into the general categories of country, alt-country, and roots music. If it sounds like country to me, it is, regardless of marketing demographics.
Favorite/Best Artist of the Decade
Buddy Miller, without a doubt. He’s been consistently excellent, whether recording solo albums, recording duets with wife Julie, or contributing as a sideman to the work of countless other artists. If Buddy’s involved, chances are it’s good-to-great. He’s got the Richard Thompson (another country artist, although his country is England) triple threat going: great songwriter, great guitarist, great singer.
Close, but No Honorary Stetson: Gillian Welch, Neko Case
Kids to Watch
Okay, some of them aren’t kids. But they’ve all emerged in the past ten years. Here are some upstarts who have contributed to a fine musical decade: Kathleen Edwards, Justin Townes Earle, The Avett Brothers, Devon Sproule, Hayes Carll, Kasey Anderson, Lori McKenna, Mando Saenz, Mary Gauthier, Ryan Bingham, Scott Biram, Southeast Engine, Holopaw, Deadstring Brothers, Dexateens, The Felice Brothers, Heartless Bastards, Lucero, and Two Cow Garage.
The Old Farts Still Have It
Kudos to Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle (minus half the material recorded during the Bush administration; W was not kind to Steve’s creativity), Loretta Lynn, Paul Burch, The Bottle Rockets, Calexico, Old 97’s, Willard Grant Conspiracy, Son Volt, Dave Alvin, Chris Knight, Drive-By Truckers, James McMurtry, and Webb Wilder. Some are a little longer in the tooth than others. But they’ve all been around for multiple decades, with no real diminishment of quality.
Most Disappointing Artist of the Decade
This will be disputed, no doubt, but Lucinda Williams takes the black ribbon. She’s recorded one very good album (World Without Tears), one mediocre album (Essence) and three stinkers (West, Little Honey, Live at the Fillmore). She can still muster up a wondrously raw, plaintive sound. But she’s forgotten how to write songs.
Favorite Albums
Buddy Miller — Universal United House of Prayer
Gillian Welch — Time (The Revelator)
Neko Case — Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Thad Cockrell/Caitlin Cary — Begonias
Kathleen Edwards — Back to Me
Willard Grant Conspiracy — Regard the End
Jamey Johnson — That Lonesome Song
Chip Taylor/Carrie Rodriguez — The Trouble With Humans
Emmylou Harris — Stumble Into Grace
The Felice Brothers — The Felice Brothers
Southeast Engine — A Wheel Within a Wheel
Devon Sproule — Keep Your Silver Shined
Country Music in the Aughts
I don’t follow mainstream country, so I have no idea what’s happening in Nashville. That said, I think there are many artists in the aughts who have made stellar country music. “Country,” in this case, refers to any music that has a twang, and that roughly falls into the general categories of country, alt-country, and roots music. If it sounds like country to me, it is, regardless of marketing demographics.
Favorite/Best Artist of the Decade
Buddy Miller, without a doubt. He’s been consistently excellent, whether recording solo albums, recording duets with wife Julie, or contributing as a sideman to the work of countless other artists. If Buddy’s involved, chances are it’s good-to-great. He’s got the Richard Thompson (another country artist, although his country is England) triple threat going: great songwriter, great guitarist, great singer.
Close, but No Honorary Stetson: Gillian Welch, Neko Case
Kids to Watch
Okay, some of them aren’t kids. But they’ve all emerged in the past ten years. Here are some upstarts who have contributed to a fine musical decade: Kathleen Edwards, Justin Townes Earle, The Avett Brothers, Devon Sproule, Hayes Carll, Kasey Anderson, Lori McKenna, Mando Saenz, Mary Gauthier, Ryan Bingham, Scott Biram, Southeast Engine, Holopaw, Deadstring Brothers, Dexateens, The Felice Brothers, Heartless Bastards, Lucero, and Two Cow Garage.
The Old Farts Still Have It
Kudos to Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle (minus half the material recorded during the Bush administration; W was not kind to Steve’s creativity), Loretta Lynn, Paul Burch, The Bottle Rockets, Calexico, Old 97’s, Willard Grant Conspiracy, Son Volt, Dave Alvin, Chris Knight, Drive-By Truckers, James McMurtry, and Webb Wilder. Some are a little longer in the tooth than others. But they’ve all been around for multiple decades, with no real diminishment of quality.
Most Disappointing Artist of the Decade
This will be disputed, no doubt, but Lucinda Williams takes the black ribbon. She’s recorded one very good album (World Without Tears), one mediocre album (Essence) and three stinkers (West, Little Honey, Live at the Fillmore). She can still muster up a wondrously raw, plaintive sound. But she’s forgotten how to write songs.
Favorite Albums
Buddy Miller — Universal United House of Prayer
Gillian Welch — Time (The Revelator)
Neko Case — Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Thad Cockrell/Caitlin Cary — Begonias
Kathleen Edwards — Back to Me
Willard Grant Conspiracy — Regard the End
Jamey Johnson — That Lonesome Song
Chip Taylor/Carrie Rodriguez — The Trouble With Humans
Emmylou Harris — Stumble Into Grace
The Felice Brothers — The Felice Brothers
Southeast Engine — A Wheel Within a Wheel
Devon Sproule — Keep Your Silver Shined
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.