And don't forget Fred Eaglesmith. Oh, and Two Tons of Steel, maybe some Jimmie Lafave, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, heck all of the Flatlanders. Rosie Flores too!
Main stream country is just pop music for the people who out grew the "teeny boper pop" and "pop rap" that they play on top 40 channels.... That is why mainstream country is what it is.... It is the same music just wrapped in a different package presented in a different way. How is Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts any different than top 40 pop???
Funny, most of these are ones I listen to who I consider mainstream. Brad Paisley is actually a musician (which is a fading quality in much of today's music)...one heck of a guitar player. I think Montgomery Gentry sort of swayed into the pop culture of country recently. Their old stuff was pretty good. George Strait is the man. Enough said. I listened to Blake Shelton's entire new album on Sirius the one night driving home from Wilkes-Barre, and he's definitely still putting out great music. Plus he's a hilarious on hunting shows. Good list. I don't listen much to the real underground country/bluegrass, but I've been listening a bit every now and then to Willie's Place and the Bluegrass channels on Sirius to test the waters.
Unless I'm listening to the Cards' game.. I never listen to the radio. All they do is burn songs out, and have 10 minute commercial breaks. I only listen to CDs now.
I agree, a good list. I was definitely drawing a blank this morning when trying to compile my list. Now on to Taylor Swift. Honestly, I think she is more pop than country, if she's any country at all. But like you said about Brad Paisley, Buckeye, Taylor Swift makes her own music which is really commendable. She writes her own songs, makes her own music and sings 'decently' well I would say. That is the ONLY reason I can stand her. I have a lot of respect for someone who writes their own songs and makes their own music. Is she country? No. But she is a musician (even though all her songs are about some moronic boyfriend that either broke up with her or cheated on her).
Can't leave Alan Jackson off the list. His new CD, which I haven't listened to yet is all self written songs. I heard a new cut off his album on the radio and it was pretty good. Also Brooks and Dunn has some good stuff. Anybody heard Brothers by Dean Brody, great troop tribute. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3GWKAsEP4A&feature=related
Ahh.. Alan Jackson is another great. Clearly we are leaving off and forgetting some great country music singers. Maybe we aren't starved for true musicians as we first thought?
I don't think we are starved, just don't have nice buffet to eat at, meaning we don't get proper access to the good stuff.
Speaking of which, I don't understand why I have to drive all the way to another city to eat at a Golden Coral, I think one of them would put my little city on the map... Mmmm... all you can eat steak... Medium Rare please.
Matt, I love that song. Hard to listen to tho. Makes me think of Riley. Oh and you can't leave Jason Aldean off the list. Probably my favorite singer right now.
