In the intolerance in music thread, several people have said that they have nothing against country music, but they haven't heard anything that's good. So I'm here to point the way to country music that doesn't suck.
Of course, "suck" is subjective, so it's really country music that I like. I'm also including folk, because I don't know enough about how the two are different.
First of all, the obvious ones:
Johnny Cash
Bob Dylan
Now for some other countryish bands that I like:
Uncle Tupelo-
They started in the late 80's. They had heavy influences in both punk and country, but they sound more like a country band than a punk band. When the band broke up, they split into two other bands: Son Volt and Wilco.
Their albums are kind of expensive, and I couldn't find any free mp3's, but you can listen to samples of their music here
Wilco-
They're one of the more well-known bands around here. Lately they've become a lot less country and more experimental.
Billy Bragg-
One of my favorites. He's British and does folk music. He also has some punk roots, but don't let that scare you away. When he started out, it was just him and an electric guitar, later he recorded with a full band. He follows the tradition of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan in that he writes political lyrics. It's largely working class/ leftist stuff. I recommend that the conservatives don't let that scare them away before giving him a chance though.
At the shop on his website, there are free mp3 downloads. To get them it's kind of weird though, because you add them to your shopping cart and go to checkout, putting in your address like you were buying something. You don't need to put in your credit card or anything though. After checkout, an email will be sent to you with links to the songs. You can get them here
If you'd rather not jump through so many hoops, or even if you are willing to, there's also a free download for a live version of one of his songs on amazon. It's really good. Get it here
The Flying Burrito Brothers-
They are considered one of the bands that connected country and rock. The leader of the band is Gram Parsons, who was in The Byrds and some other famous country-rock bands. Their music is very countryish, so you might not all like it as much. I couldn't find any free mp3's unfortunately.
Billy Bragg and Wilco-
Woody Guthrie's daughter, Nora Guthrie, approached Billy Bragg and Wilco with unfinished lyrics by her father and asked if they could put them to music. The result is at least one excellent album, Mermaid Avenue. There are two volumes, but I've only heard the first. Opinions are mixed about volume two.
That's it for now. I'll post more later, unless nobody is interested.
Of course, "suck" is subjective, so it's really country music that I like. I'm also including folk, because I don't know enough about how the two are different.
First of all, the obvious ones:
Johnny Cash
Bob Dylan
Now for some other countryish bands that I like:
Uncle Tupelo-
They started in the late 80's. They had heavy influences in both punk and country, but they sound more like a country band than a punk band. When the band broke up, they split into two other bands: Son Volt and Wilco.
Their albums are kind of expensive, and I couldn't find any free mp3's, but you can listen to samples of their music here
Wilco-
They're one of the more well-known bands around here. Lately they've become a lot less country and more experimental.
Billy Bragg-
One of my favorites. He's British and does folk music. He also has some punk roots, but don't let that scare you away. When he started out, it was just him and an electric guitar, later he recorded with a full band. He follows the tradition of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan in that he writes political lyrics. It's largely working class/ leftist stuff. I recommend that the conservatives don't let that scare them away before giving him a chance though.
At the shop on his website, there are free mp3 downloads. To get them it's kind of weird though, because you add them to your shopping cart and go to checkout, putting in your address like you were buying something. You don't need to put in your credit card or anything though. After checkout, an email will be sent to you with links to the songs. You can get them here
If you'd rather not jump through so many hoops, or even if you are willing to, there's also a free download for a live version of one of his songs on amazon. It's really good. Get it here
The Flying Burrito Brothers-
They are considered one of the bands that connected country and rock. The leader of the band is Gram Parsons, who was in The Byrds and some other famous country-rock bands. Their music is very countryish, so you might not all like it as much. I couldn't find any free mp3's unfortunately.
Billy Bragg and Wilco-
Woody Guthrie's daughter, Nora Guthrie, approached Billy Bragg and Wilco with unfinished lyrics by her father and asked if they could put them to music. The result is at least one excellent album, Mermaid Avenue. There are two volumes, but I've only heard the first. Opinions are mixed about volume two.
That's it for now. I'll post more later, unless nobody is interested.
It's not the side effects of cocaine, so then I'm thinking that it must be love