The Official Country Music Thread Genre

We had one of these at AP.net and it was one of the best places on the site to discover new music, imo. Someone in the Jason Isbell thread mentioned that we should start one here, so here it is. For those looking to get into country music, there's a ton of great stuff coming out right now. I recommend the following:

Jason Isbell
Chris Stapleton
Kacey Musgraves
Ashley Monroe
Sturgill Simpson
Logan Brill
Will Hoge
William Clark Green
Turnpike Troubadours
John Moreland
Aubrie Sellers
Austin Lucas
Striking Matches
Adam Hood
Brandy Clark
Ryan Culwell
Caitlin Rose
Mandolin Orange
Josh Abbott Band
American Aquarium
Ryan Bingham
Cactus Blossoms
Ryan Beaver

Lots and lots more that we can hopefully discuss in this thread. I'm sure @cshadows2887 will cover more of the classics that I can.

 

Glad we have one of these now.

I've been getting in some spins of this record this week:

 

Where do you guys go to discover these artists? A site? Local radio?

 

I'm so so so so so tempted to post my signature Jason Isbell video. But instead I'll request everyone check out Amanda Shires' work.

 

I've been listening to the same few artists and need to branch out. The guys in the AP country thread have been really helpful though.

 

This is gonna be the best thing for me next month

Old 97s have quickly become one of my favorite bands over the past 6 months or so, and of course Drive By Truckers is something to look forward to

 

WXPN out of Philly (member supported radio station) has been a really great resource for me. They're big supporters of Dawes, Isbell, Will Hoge, Rosanne Cash, etc. They have a widget/app that lets you listen live as well. Very cool radio station. They play what they want. They're the station that does World Cafe if that's something you're familiar with.

I remember people got really upset when Adele got really huge and they still played her and all the DJs were like "We play good music? Lol?"

 

@ChaseTx I've never listened to Old 97s. Any recommendations to start with?

 

Songs: "Timebomb", ""Doreen", "Stoned", "Question", "Big Brown Eyes", "Wasted", "Melt Show" ... Hard to narrow down, lol

Albums: I'd listen to Too Far To Care and then their most recent one, Most Messed Up, then fill in the space between. Or check out their live album Alive and Wired, because they're a killer live band and that covers a good stretch of their career.

 

Seems like a good time to bring up The Jayhawks.

 

Too Far to Care for sure

 

Have you listened to Most Messed Up? Really solid album as well

 

Yeah it's good. I like everything I've heard from them. But what do I know? I like the Grand Theater albums too, and everyone shit on them. Haha.

 

Speaking of Old 97s and "Doreen," that song is covered on the latest record from Turnpike Troubadours, which is unbelievably great. Going to post my favorite song from it here, in hopes that more people will check it out. This song hooked @cshadows2887, so you know it's good.

 

Yeah I enjoy those too, but I definitely favor their first few releases and Most Messed Up. Need to spend more time with everything that came in between.

 

Rolling Stone Country does these "10 Country Artists You Need to Know" every few months that are a great, great source for new, largely undiscovered artists. Those have been huge for me. Also made a bunch of discoveries through Saving Country Music and American Songwriter, and a few through Taste of Country, though they usually lean more mainstream.

Otherwise, it's watching what my favorite artists in the genre recommend, because there's a lot of camaraderie and collaboration going on. Will Hoge has this ongoing Spotify playlist of great country artists, for instance. AND there are some producers in the genre where I will listen to anything they touch. Those include Dave Cobb and Jay Joyce.

 

Like this a lot

 

Also good stuff

 

I definitely recommend that record. Very solid front to back, with four or five of the best songs I heard last year.

 

FUCK KU

#EMAW

 

What does EMAW stand for?

 

Every Man A Wildcat

The in-state rival of the Kansas jayhawks. Not sure if it was known. I don't hate the band. Just their name.

 

Oh I was really confused with why a simple country band recommendation was being met with such disdain haha. I don't follow basketball so I was completely lost

 

Enjoying this one a lot. Partially because it references a music venue I've been to that also has a really good barbecue restaurant, haha

 

That's awesome, glad you listened and liked it. They've got a strong catalog, but I think that album is their best yet.