The Official Country Music Thread Genre • Page 20

My dream modern-day country Traveling Willbury's-style collaboration would be Isbell, Josh Ritter, Rhett Miller, and Taylor Goldsmith.

 

I think that's why I can't quite get into it as much as the others, hah. I think the first time I listened to it I was actually a bit thrown by how "mainstream"-esque it sounded compared to what came before it. Not that it was wholly unprecedented or anything but it still struck me a bit. I'd certainly never actually compare it to anything getting significant airtime right now though, so it almost feels disingenuous to call it "mainstream" oriented. Either way, it's a solid record, just stands as my least favorite at the moment.

Yeah, Pardi isn't anything amazing but there's some real promise there and barring "Dirt on My Boots" it's an enjoyable listen front-to-back, and there's an admirable desire to return to country roots there, even if there's still an air of radio-country lingering throughout. Instrumentation is pretty great though and I'd take this kind of thing being dominant on radio over Luke Bryan or Florida Georgia Line any day.

I'd love so much for Butch to produce a Ryan album. I have a feeling it'll probably happen one of these days, just hopefully on the next one ha. I think ultimately I just want Butch to produce a record for every singer-songwriter/country/roots/whatever musician I like haha. It's like how I am with Kurt Ballou and metal bands.

Don't bother with Steven Tyler, ha. There's some cuts I found enjoyable enough but not to the point where I can say I really cared. I feel like he could make a solid country/roots record if he wanted to, he'd just have to eschew the big production and pop-oriented songwriting...and, you know, actually embrace his age instead of pretending he's 16.

I'd die. Haha.

 

So I...uh, I kinda dig this??

 

One could argue that using autotune or pitch corrector isnt exactly country either. The song didnt do much for me, had the standard country riff, dropping Waylon and Bocephus to prove how old school he is, it just comes off as cookiecutter anti pop country music. Funny considering most of that is cookiecutter as well.

 

Yeah, the vocals and lyrics are nothing worthwhile but the instrumentation is at least decent, and there's potential for him to at least grow as a country musician. And at this point, I'm just happy anyone even sort of on mainstream radar is even trying to do something more authentic, regardless of the results. (See also: Frankie Ballard).

That said, I still like Eric Church and Dierks Bentley more than anything I've ever heard from Aaron Lewis, who could probably both be categorized as pop-country. (Bentley for sure, Church is debatable).

 

loving this new Miranda Lambert song

 

Man, I've tried several times to get into this Maren Morris album and I just can't do it at all. Still like her song with Dierks Bentley tho.

 

I don't think Ryan would have been the right choice for that album, to be honest. I think Dave Cobb was perfect. I would take a Ryan/Jason collaboration at some point.

I was listening through that Bentley record yesterday and I actually like most of it. It's got a cool downbeat vibe most of the way through, and he did a good job keeping a cohesive theme. There are a few dumbed down singles, but on the whole, I think it's one of the better mainstream country releases of the year.

Still dig that Morris record, though I'm pretty sick of "My Church" at this point.

 

New Wilco album "Schmilco" coming Sept 9! Always look forward to new wilco or anything Jeff Tweedy. I know it's not the popular opinion anymore but I still think they are one of the best bands out there right now.

Wilco Announce New Album Schmilco, Share New Track: Listen | Pitchfork

 

That Logan Brill album that @Meerkat and I have been raving about for months is available for free download a the link below:

Songspace

@cshadows2887, here's your chance!

 

there are people who don't love WIlco? I think that's still popular haha

 

I am very lukewarm on Wilco.

 

Most people seem to love the earlier stuff, but the opinion seems like it started to change around sky blue sky or wilco the album. Maybe I am wrong though...

 

Apart from "Somewhere on a Beach" there's really not a lot about it I don't like. And to be honest? I feel I'd LIKE that song if the lyrics weren't so dumb. And as it stands I still find it less embarrassing than "Drunk on a Plane". End of the day, I just wish Bentley would strike out on his own and make the kind of albums we all know he's capable of. Probably not gonna happen though haha.

I also picked up Ashley Monroe's The Blade today and enjoy it quite a bit. Thinking of checking out the Pistol Annies now too, even though Ive always been lukewarm on Miranda Lambert.

 

also: why are there no good country music news websites? same for metal, it's like my two favorite genres have terrible coverage ha. at least metal has Decibel magazine.

and please don't suggest Saving Country Music because that site is like the MetalSucks of country, total garbage. guess it doesn't really matter, this thread is quality, that's all I really need.

 

"Roses and a Time Machine" is kind of stupid too, though also kind of funny. The line about DeLoreans almost saves it for me. I think the thing with him is that he's always going to have a few calculated radio singles on his records, but he's usually going to scatter them amidst albums that are surprisingly nuanced. Not ideal, but better than what we'll ever get from most of his cohorts. You only need to listen to that Blake Shelton album to realize how good Bentley is. Haha

I need to check out the Pistol Annies too. I like some Lambert tracks but she's very hit or miss for me.

The two I follow the most are Rolling Stone Country and American Songwriter. The latter is more folk/Americana stuff, and neither are updated enough, but their lists are decent and I've discovered a fair few great new artists from both. Agreed on Saving Country Music though. Reading his reviews just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I like most of the artists he praises, but he's just kind of obnoxious.

 

Man, Saving Country Music is the worst. His holier than thou attitude, his terrible articles that are just aimed at getting reactions, his stupid one sided feud with Shooter Jennings, his belief that Taylor Swift's Mean is written about him. His hatred of anyone that gets popular in the scene. Yeah he occasionally will right about a good artist, but those artists get coverage elsewhere so it isnt worth the hassle of going to his site to find an artist.

 

The first Pistol Annies album is great and even drew some praise from Neil Young. As is the case with Miranda Lambert, you have to fight through a few gimmicky angry woman tracks (although here they're far more tolerable). But the good stuff is really really good.

 

Every single article includes some mention of how "country" or "not country" something is. Seriously, who gives a shit?

This is what bothers me about her. I have the same problem with Carrie Underwood, though I think she leans on them even more.

 

Yeah those tracks are the worst. But for every Gunpowder & Lead or Mama's Broken Heart there's a great song like Virginia Bluebell, Airstream Song, or Makin' Plans. That whole Revolution album is consistently good front to back with few, if any, gimmicky tracks. Her earlier stuff still had a Texas feel too which still sounds great (Kerosene, New Strings, etc).

 

I kind of like "Mama's Broken Heart." It's a more well-crafted example of that type of song. Figures, since it was written by Kacey Musgraves and Brandy Clark. I felt like Platinum had a lot of those kinds of songs though. And there was some really great stuff on their, too, but I can never listen front to back because of how inconsistent it is.

 

Agree about Platinum. That could probably be a really solid 10 song collection. Mama's Broken Heart is a little better as you mentioned, it was just the example I thought of. It's definitely better than Little Red Wagon and Something Bad haha.

 

The Pistol Annies backing Jewel is great

And I like Miranda and Carrie

 

What do y'all think of Vice? Thought it was ok at first but has grown a little on me.

 

I kinda hate to admit that of his "dumb radio songs", I kind of (reluctantly) enjoy 'Back Porch'. It's not great and is still pretty dumb, but it's an innocuous kind of dumb, whereas "Drunk on a Plane" just feels almost insultingly pandering and lazy. Especially from someone who knows better. I don't mind "Roses and a Time Machine" so much, but it's certainly among the weaker cuts. I guess it's just odd to me how he's buds with all those beige, boring Shelton/Swindell/Aldean/etc guys. Maybe if he spent more time hanging around people more on his level he'd really start to blossom as a songwriter.

I picked up the most recent Pistol Annies today and dig it. Naturally my favorite moments are the more Ashley Monroe-dominated tracks but I can't say there's anything on there I outright disliked.

Right? Speaking of Swift, his review of Ryan Adams' 1989 cover record is embarrassing. It's like this guy is fucking incapable of believing that anyone could've possibly enjoyed that record enough to sincerely reinterpret it. Like, when the news was first announced that site was all "ARG!!!! ANGRY!!! HIPSTER GIMMICK!!!". Like, christ. I appreciate the fight against all the mainstream bullshit but I feel like it'd be better if someone with a more nuanced approach were tackling it. Not to mention the staggering number of grammatical, spelling, and syntax errors haha.

The only decent one of these I've heard from her is the one she ripped off wholesale from Steve Earle haha. At least she ended up giving him a co-write credit.