Country Music

Music/concert reviews and discussion

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Sylvus
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Country Music

Post by Sylvus »

Okay, for all of my life I've basically loathed Country Music. I like Johnny Cash well enough, and I kind of liked the bluegrass-y soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou, but other than that it's few and far between. Unfortunately, my new ladyfriend is a big country fan, and we're taking a road trip this weekend, so I wanted to get some country music on my iPod.

I was in a bowling league for a while, and I remember some of the songs that would play that I didn't hate. I never minded that "Friends in Low Places" song by (I think) Garth Brooks, "Family Tradition" by (I think) Hank Williams, Jr. I think I could also tolerate a song about "5 o'clock somewhere" and one about "beer for my horses" or something like that.

I'm not a huge fan of the really twangy voices, or slower/sad songs. But I'd like to be able to at least have some stuff to surprise her with. I know she's a huge Garth Brooks fan, but other than that I'm not really sure.

Could I get some suggestions on songs/artists that I might be able to tolerate? Standards, recent hits, etc?

Thanks in advance.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Canoe »

Few different ideas for you - I'm a big country lover - but not the slow / twangy crap so some of the stuff I like might be stuff you want to check out.

Garth Brooks in "general" is pretty good, I could list good songs, but it would go on forever lol.

Check out "Big and Rich" - Album - Horse of a Different Color..... some fun songs by then specially "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" - not what I would call "quality music" but definitely a lot of fun.

I also enjoy Carrie Underwood a lot - (I'll probably get sneered at here for it) - she has one or two of the Sappy songs (i.e. Jesus Take the Wheel), but generally her songs are a lot of fun, and her voice / music is fantastic imho.

Keith Urban is also excellent (Any Album) - a few more of the sappy ballads (but if you are trying to impress the girl you may want a few of these in your back pocket) - but they aren't the "My dog died, I got divorced, I lost my job" crap that I hate.

Rascal Flatts is also more of the up tempo you might be looking for - again a few sappy ones mixed in, but more romantic types, not shoot me types.

As far as modern day classics (assuming she's under the age of 35 or so), check out George Straight, Alabama, Alan Jackson. All have many many songs, with more than 20 top of the chart type songs.

Hope that helps a little. If I think of some better ideas I'll let you know.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Boogahz »

I haven't bought much new Country lately, unless by artists I already listened to before. Most of what I have on my iPod now is Willie Nelson and Tim McGraw (he seems to be a love/hate type artist). There are still some Brooks & Dunn songs that I will listen to as well.

I don't know you have, or can access, XM, but they have several different country channels. I find myself switching from Willie's Place (Mostly older recordings from multiple artists) to X Country (newer "pop" country...for lack of a better term).

The 'Beer For My Horses' song you're thinking of is with Toby Keith and Willie Nelson. The album name was Unleashed, and I think it was released in 2003.

I really can't stand hearing Friends in Low Places anymore, even though I still go to the Oasis he was referring to :P
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Re: Country Music

Post by Aslanna »

I don't really have any specific suggestions other than to say I don't really like much of anything that tries to pass as 'country music' these days. It's more pop than country. I really think they need to start calling it something else.

I'd probably suggest tuning into a country Shoutcast station or something like that and make note of anything that you don't mind listening to. As a genre it's not really as bad as some people try to make it out to be. Unless they are talking about the current generation.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Sylvus »

Thanks a lot for the input, guys, and feel free to keep them coming.

Canoe, I think you might have exactly the same taste as her, so I'll be sure to check all of that out. I think Garth is her favorite, as I know she has a picture of her at his star on the Hollywood walk of fame. I remember her saying that something I said reminded her of a George Strait song (Yeah, I'm probably kind of corny!) and I think she told me she used to not like country but her parents listened to a lot of Alabama which eventually grew on her.

I've totally heard that "save a horse, ride a cowboy" song, but don't know if I know any Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban or Rascal Flatts. I'll check them out.

My roommate is probably going to bust my balls since I've given him a lot of grief for listening to country over the years, but I can't really think of a better reason for me to give country a chance. :p
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Re: Country Music

Post by Winnow »

Chris Isaak - Wicked Game

That's the only song country type song I recall women liking. (if it even is country!)

If you take the old school Aslanna route, there are lots of 50's and 60's collections of country music on the newsgroups.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Truant »

The Five O'Clock somewhere song you were referring to is by Jimmy Buffet.

For me, I stick mostly to 'outlaw' country.
Willie, Waylon, Hank, Cash, etc.

If you're interested in that sort of thing, lemme know and I'll tailor some reccomendations.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Sylvus »

Truant wrote:The Five O'Clock somewhere song you were referring to is by Jimmy Buffet.
Are you serious? lol, I thought that was a country song. I fucking hate Jimmy Buffet! :p
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Re: Country Music

Post by Boogahz »

There have been several remakes of that one, so you might be thinking of one of those.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Spang »

Alan Jackson does a version of "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere" with Jimmy Buffet. I always thought it was an Alan Jackson song.

Alan Jackson does have another song called "Chattahoochee", which is basically about pussy. You might give that a try.

That "Beer For My Horses" song is by Toby Keith.

You might also give these a try, they're not depressing:

Trace Adkins - "Swing" and "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk".

Kenny Chesney - "Living in Fast Forward", "When the Sun Goes Down"

Brad Paisly - "Ticks", "Ode De Toilet (The Toilet Song)"

Aaron Pritchett - "Hold My Beer"

Ty Herndon - "Steam"

Big & Rich - "Rollin'"
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Re: Country Music

Post by Syenye »

Loretta Lynn/Jack White - "Portland Oregon" (from the album Van Lear Rose, produced by Jack White)
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Re: Country Music

Post by Truant »

Sylvus wrote:
Truant wrote:The Five O'Clock somewhere song you were referring to is by Jimmy Buffet.
Are you serious? lol, I thought that was a country song. I fucking hate Jimmy Buffet! :p
Jimmy Buffet has several songs that are pretty much country. He's hard to classify into any one genre.
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Re: Country Music

Post by rhyae »

For something a little different try
The Stone Coyotes
The Drive By Truckers
James McMurtry
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Lucinda Williams

Standard tolerable stuff
The Judds
Clint Black
The Highwaymen

One of my all time favorite cowboy albums is Marty Robbins- Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Ashur »

Fact: I was born in Chattahoochee County GA.
Fact: My ex-wife liked country music.
Fact: I despise country music.

Enjoy!
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Re: Country Music

Post by Xatrei »

I shared a room with a guy in the barracks in Schweinfurt for about 8 months before he went to Ft. Hood. He was a huge country music fan, and I got exposed to tons of that stuff in '93 or so. I still know far too many words to songs like "Chattahoochee," "Beer and Bones" and "Ain't Goin' Down 'til the Sun Comes Up." I will hate him forever for that because it built up my tolerance for that crap, which allowed me to tolerate my ex-wife that liked a lot of country music.

With the exception of a tiny handful of songs by modern country artists, the music may as well be fingernails scraping on a chalk board. I do like some old country music and a bit of the outlaw stuff. I tend to like Steve Earle's stuff because I like his song writing. I can also tolerate some of the more southern rock style stuff (like Drive-By Truckers, mentioned by Rhyae).
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Re: Country Music

Post by Sylvus »

Thanks a lot everyone! I downloaded a lot of the stuff you guys recommended, I think I have like 3 or 4 gigs of Country now.

Now I just have to get through listening to it. :p
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Re: Country Music

Post by Drinsic Darkwood »

Pedal steel guitars in country music generally send me into a furious rage. I'm not really sure why.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Boogahz »

Drinsic Darkwood wrote:Pedal steel guitars in country music generally send me into a furious rage. I'm not really sure why.
I really like them at times. It really depends on the person's skill and the song they are being used in.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Xatrei »

On the Grateful Dead album "Workingman's Dead," Jerry made extensive use of the pedal steel guitar. I like it in that context, but generally speaking, it can cause me to go into convulsions, too.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Ashur »

Drinsic Darkwood wrote:Pedal steel guitars in country music generally send me into a furious rage. I'm not really sure why.
Are you talking about that slide guitar twangy crap? That makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up in rage.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Truant »

cliché pedal steel makes me feel that way too, but there are amazing players who add tasteful things to a song...and I enjoy that.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Drinsic Darkwood »

Ashur wrote:
Drinsic Darkwood wrote:Pedal steel guitars in country music generally send me into a furious rage. I'm not really sure why.
Are you talking about that slide guitar twangy crap? That makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up in rage.
Yes. It's just that same progression and sound most modern country abuses so much. It all has some strange subliminal message that tells me to murder the nearest living thing. But like Xagyg, I don't hate the instrument, just the majority of its players.

For example, Red Sparowes (post-rock) makes some fairly extensive use of said guitar, and I love it in that context.
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Re: Country Music

Post by laneela »

Here, Sylvus. Some country you're guaranteed to love:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=c9zOq0oQGlg
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Re: Country Music

Post by Canelek »

I see 2 instances of country + ex-wife. This cannot be good (then again, I do not know your ex-wives).

Stick with Johnny Cash, if you can get away with it. Also, find some instrumental bluegrass. Steve Howe (Yes) has some excellent solo work that incorporates some bluegrass/country.

Straight country, I have heard Dolly Parton has some cool shit from years ago. I remember a song called Jolene that I liked a lot, even though it really wasn't about lesbians. I got over it, but am still disappointed.

(need more songs about lesbians, imo)

Oh! Check out Stan Ridgeway, if you can find. He was the singer for Wall of Voodoo and has some cool shit! 'Camouflage' is a fantastic song!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFYxCIr-Byo
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Re: Country Music

Post by Boogahz »

laneela wrote:Here, Sylvus. Some country you're guaranteed to love:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=c9zOq0oQGlg
Willie Nelson - Superman That one too! (video starts at 28 second mark)
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Re: Country Music

Post by Sylvus »

Thanks a bunch, everyone! Particularly Canoe and Spang, your suggestions helped score some major points. :D

Most of the stuff I listened to this weekend wasn't half bad. Some of it is even starting to grow on me.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Ashur »

Like a mold?
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Re: Country Music

Post by miir »

Sylvus wrote:Some of it is even starting to grow on me.
:(
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Re: Country Music

Post by Siji »

Why is this even a question? Snoop D oh double G is doing country now, there's your answer right there.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Boogahz »

Siji wrote:Why is this even a question? Snoop D oh double G is doing country now, there's your answer right there.
No shit?
laneela wrote:Here, Sylvus. Some country you're guaranteed to love:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=c9zOq0oQGlg
Boogahz wrote:
laneela wrote:Here, Sylvus. Some country you're guaranteed to love:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=c9zOq0oQGlg
Willie Nelson - Superman That one too! (video starts at 28 second mark)
What do you know...there are the videos! :D
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Re: Country Music

Post by Siji »

Boogahz wrote:
Siji wrote:Why is this even a question? Snoop D oh double G is doing country now, there's your answer right there.
No shit?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=c9zOq0oQGlg
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Re: Country Music

Post by Boogahz »

Siji wrote:
Boogahz wrote:
Siji wrote:Why is this even a question? Snoop D oh double G is doing country now, there's your answer right there.
No shit?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=c9zOq0oQGlg
laneela wrote:Here, Sylvus. Some country you're guaranteed to love:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=c9zOq0oQGlg
Hay look! Same linkz!
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Re: Country Music

Post by Siji »

:drinking:
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Re: Country Music

Post by Xouqoa »

One word.

Dwight Yokham.

.... two words?
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Re: Country Music

Post by Truant »

It's Dwight Yoakam, just for clarification.

Guitars, Cadillacs, and Hillbilly Music!
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Re: Country Music

Post by Spang »

And a fine actor!
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Re: Country Music

Post by Zamtuk »

Tim McGraw - Don't Take the Girl

You're welcome.

(that is one of like 9 country songs I like, with a few you mentioned on that list, so you should like this one)
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Re: Country Music

Post by Aslanna »

So how's the CM going? Just adding another recommendation as I've been listening to it a lot lately. It's new country that's not really 'twangy pop' although some of the songs are a bit on the pop side (especially the later albums). Either way I'm liking it!

Ilse de Lange - World of Hurt
Ilse de Lange - The Great Escape
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Re: Country Music

Post by Midnyte_Ragebringer »

James Otto - Sunset Man
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Re: Country Music

Post by Sylvus »

I think I've found a happy medium where I no longer hate country music (many of the suggestions in this thread are actually quite listenable) and will happily listen to it when my girl wants to, but I don't really ever listen to it when she's not around.

The twangy stuff is my least favorite, and I've heard a few artists that are actually pretty decent. I think Brad Paisley comes to mind as one. I ended up downloading a bunch of albums by most of the people mentioned in this thread, and probably haven't even heard 10% of what I got.

I'll check out your latest suggestions, Aslanna.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Midnyte_Ragebringer »

Sylvus wrote:I think I've found a happy medium where I no longer hate country music (many of the suggestions in this thread are actually quite listenable) and will happily listen to it when my girl wants to, but I don't really ever listen to it when she's not around.

The twangy stuff is my least favorite, and I've heard a few artists that are actually pretty decent. I think Brad Paisley comes to mind as one. I ended up downloading a bunch of albums by most of the people mentioned in this thread, and probably haven't even heard 10% of what I got.

I'll check out your latest suggestions, Aslanna.

Check out mine. Trust me.
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Re: Country Music

Post by Aslanna »

Brandi Carlile! She's not really country per-se but has some country stylings so might be pleasing to those who are not country fans. I guess one of the genres she is considered is "alternative country". Whatever that means! Her live stuff pretty much sounds like what's on the album.

Johnny Cash just put out a new album and he's been dead over 10 years! It's not his greatest stuff (was recorded in the 80s but not released) but any Johnny Cash > any new 'country music' these days.

Other than that I've been listening to a lot of 80s country via internet radio stations. I think overall I like that more than 70s.
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