What's with country these days?

[stratovani]

For the past few weeks I've had to work in the shop at my place of employment. And next to some of the machines I'm working on is a big boom box that's on the local country channel. They play what I'm assuming are the usual suspects - Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Martina McBride, et al. Now I don't know diddly about country (I'm strictly a rock dude) but it seems to me that today's country sounds a lot like rock - and some of it sounds like the stuff I grew up on, only difference is the singers sing a certain way, and the pedal steel and/or fiddles are in there to give it the country sound. I do like the basslines on most of the songs I hear, sounds like easy stuff to play. And most of the country ladies are real easy on the eyes! But when did country morph into rock? And what happened to the country they used to play - Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, that sort of thing?

[lunarpollen]

Most modern country lost its soul a long time ago, and it's become slick, sterile, and overcliched. A lot of the present day stuff is just like any other mass-produced garbage intended for mindless consumption, except decorated with southern vocal accents, fiddle, steel guitar, etc. and labelled "country." And a lot of the so-called "alternative country" comes across as insincere and purposefully ironically retro.

For some good pure stuff, check out Dale Watson.

Personally, I think that once all the swing and jazz was removed from the genre in order to produce a safe, vanilla product (I believe this started to occur in the early 1960's), the resultant swill was not even 1% as worthy as its roots. Which is not to say there haven't been talented instrumentalists and singers involved in it. But there are millions of talented musicians out there in any genre who produce nothing worthwhile.

[baalroo]

For a good laugh, next time you have to listen to that stuff imagine it as a Whitney Houston tune from the 90s... if that doesn't work imagine Nickleback with cowboy hats on. The Whitney Houston one works about 90% of the time, and the Nickleback/cowboy hat combo works the rest of the time.

Everytime I see a bunch of beer drinking, gay-bashing, redneck types listening to something that could have been a song by Mrs. Bobby Brown my day improves.

[StyleOverShow]

I just had this conversation last night at a local pub over Boddingtons and darts. Country is the new pop, complete with a distinct departure from coffee, cheating spouses, and lost dogs named Blue.

The "Music Industry" is behind it all. They have some tights bands and catchy tunes.
Still...no C/W or Surf.

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by baalroo

For a good laugh, next time you have to listen to that stuff imagine it as a Whitney Houston tune from the 90s... if that doesn't work imagine Nickleback with cowboy hats on. The Whitney Houston one works about 90% of the time, and the Nickleback/cowboy hat combo works the rest of the time.

Everytime I see a bunch of beer drinking, gay-bashing, redneck types listening to something that could have been a song by Mrs. Bobby Brown my day improves.

I LOVE IT!! I think I'll try it tomorrow when I get to work!

I assume you mean the early-90s Whitney, when she didn't look so strung out!

[derelicte]

RECKLESS KELLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Spector_Ray]

Originally Posted by derelicte

RECKLESS KELLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and Pat Green and Aaron Watson

[professor_bills]

I've been saying this for years now... "New" Country is just 60s rock with a twang.
I'm not much of abig country fan but I'll take Willy and Waylon over Kenny and Garth any day of the week. If you want to hear anything like old country try some Americana. I guess it's where all the true simple country folk went to play music. I just wish we had a radio station here that played the stuff more often. The closest we have is WMNF a local public radio station that plays all kinds of non-commercial non-top 40 stuff.

[uethanian]

u know its funny, at the top of this thread the ad banner is for tim mgraw's new cologne. music industry indeed.

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by uethanian

u know its funny, at the top of this thread the ad banner is for tim mgraw's new cologne. music industry indeed.

And what's with all the stupid-looking oversized cowboy hats the guys all wear? Kenny Chesney's hat looks so big it almost covers his eyes!

[scrove]

Haha, I was just talking about this with some friends last night.
One of the girls that was there wanted to show us this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWq_nWZzlpY

Halfway through it, I said that the song was just rap with a twang:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L1qsIwoTRI

[The Owl]

Originally Posted by stratovani

And what's with all the stupid-looking oversized cowboy hats the guys all wear? Kenny Chesney's hat looks so big it almost covers his eyes!

And you know, ANY so called "country" album that has "Hair and Makeup By--" in the credits is a HUGE red flag and indicator that it will pin the suck meter!

[mimaz]

Originally Posted by stratovani

And what's with all the stupid-looking oversized cowboy hats the guys all wear? Kenny Chesney's hat looks so big it almost covers his eyes!

The hat is normal size.........Chesney is about the size of an average elf.

[thumpbass1]

Originally Posted by professor_bills

I've been saying this for years now... "New" Country is just 60s rock with a twang.
I'm not much of abig country fan but I'll take Willy and Waylon over Kenny and Garth any day of the week. If you want to hear anything like old country try some Americana. I guess it's where all the true simple country folk went to play music. I just wish we had a radio station here that played the stuff more often. The closest we have is WMNF a local public radio station that plays all kinds of non-commercial non-top 40 stuff.

My old man is an old school country picker, and he thinks of modern country music as nothing but mediocre pop and rock crap that got some steel guitar and fiddle slapped on the tracks, and is sold as country music to a buying public that doesn't know any better. You know, I don't think he's too far off the mark on some points of contention.

[Steve]

*sigh*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK1Vrur_ewM

[Stinsok]

I saw a documentary on Dale Watson. He explained that even though his sound is old school, he is considered "alternative." He is a true Road Warrior. He was touring in a old Suburban, and doing all the PA setup/roadie stuff (just like regular folks.) I dig him!

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by thumpbass1

My old man is an old school country picker, and he thinks of modern country music as nothing but mediocre pop and rock crap that got some steel guitar and fiddle slapped on the tracks, and is sold as country music to a buying public that doesn't know any better. You know, I don't think he's too far off the mark on some points of contention.

Plenty of current tunes fit that description. He sounds like a smart old dog. You get a steel and a fiddle, and a Les Paul/Marshall stack and bombastic rock drums. Just like any other type of music, there are those that will try anything to sell product, and those who stay true to one particular sound, and everything in between. The more rock sounds draw in rock listeners, who might then discover something more on the old-school side that they like. And the reverse happens as well. And so evolution occurs.
I like artists who cover a variety of styles and feels. That's what keeps it interesting for me. Some people prefer one particular sound, and scoff at the rest. Different strokes...

And for your dad, George Strait is still around...

[thesteve]

Man...

I grew up on country in the late 80s/early 90s with guys like George Strait and Garth Brooks at the helm. Now, I know that Garth did plenty to merge pop and country, but compared to the stuff that's going on now, Garth's stuff probably wouldn't make the cut.