Merle Is Right Country Music Lack Substance

[Big Skyz]

My two daughters and my wife listen to a lot of country music. So I hear it too much. I used to listen to it on purpose when I was a lot younger. Back in the day of Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, and Don Williams I was a hard core fan. For the last couple of years I have had a real hard time listening to country music. Frankly, I think most of it sucks and sounds the same. Basically a lot of it sounds like 80's rock with a country twang. I just read on Fox News where Merle Haggard said: “Too much boogie boogie wham-bam and not enough substance.” I feel the exact same way about it. About the only modern country artists I can stand are The Zack Brown Band (Nearly everything they do is great), Brad Paisley (Consistently good), and some Lady Antebellum (Good but not consistent.) There is a whole pile of punks in country music though, that if they never cut another song let alone an album, I'd be just fine with that.

[Tightline]

ala, Taylor Swift who just left for the pop scene. I could just kick their butts when they try to incorporate rap into country, Jason Aldean from right here in Macon is the 1st one I heard try that crap.

[Arty]

Eric Church is legit. I like him a lot. Check him out.

[Chicken Dinner]

Just got exposed to Eric Church a couple of weeks ago. Good stuff.

[Bwana]

Yeah but explain EC's"My Hometown."

[Big Skyz]

Sorry not an Eric Church fan at all.

[Thumper]

I went through a "stage" many years ago ... can't even remember when it was really ... where I got heavy into country music. Actually, back then, it was called "Country-Western". It was a temporary thing and I've never really been that much into it since. I was pretty much a rocker in my earlier days, but I like most everything from Classical to Techno to Rap ... really! Most of what I listen to these days is my homemade Blues cd's as we don't have any local blues stations and I don't have satellite radio. I'm pretty well-rounded when it comes to music I guess. 'Bout the only thing I never liked much was the 70's "Super Fly" crap and much of the Heavy Metal stuff.

[Niner]

Today's Country music ALL sounds the same to me. Not "bad", makes for nice background music at the Tractor Supply store. When I am in a Country and Western mood, I turn on the TV and dial in the DISH to Willie's Roadhouse.

The radio music I listen to the most would be a little tiny station here that plays a great mix of rock from the "70's, 80's, and 90's". Since it is an "I heart radio" station, I imagine the station is nothing more than a satellite down-link to a local transmitter. No telling where in the heck the signal really originates. BUT, I do like their selections.

[Captain]

I listen to Willies Road house and that's it.
Old Country music is all I want to hear.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[Chicken Dinner]

I like Uncle Willie's, but I can't listen to it all the time. Something about the "cowboy" stuff just doesn't do it for me. As for newer country, my tastes tent to go more to Alt Country. Government Mule, Uncle Tupelo, Sun Volt and Wilco are probably the some o the most famous examples.

[BarryBobPosthole]

My parents are still in radio and the format they have on their station is one of the most unique and well liked formats in their listening area. Its probably a 30/30/30 mix of classic country (old standards like you'd find on Willie's Roadhouse) soft rock classics like the Eagles and James Taylor, and classic pop like Sinatra and so forth. they do have a very thin mix in there of current country hits but its usually that's on a 'by request' basis. It probably doesn't sound like that music goes together but it really does and it appeals to adults of a lot of ages because almost all of the songs or artists are recognizable. I know they sell almost 100% of their advertising slots every month and they have NO salesman other than my step-Dad.

BKB

[Niner]

Sounds like a good mix, BBP. Do they stream their broadcasts?

[BarryBobPosthole]

They don't stream their daily broadcasts. They do stream high school football games on Friday nights on Ustream. My brother calls the games and has for 25 years or so and is awesome at it. I'm surprised he hasn't been asked to do some college games, he's that good. KPRV are their call letters.

BKB

[Bwana]

So Posthole, what do they do for the other 10% of their programing? ;)

[LJ3]

Viagra commercials for Jimmy.

[LJ3]

I listen to much more country than I used to. To me, it's just like any other genre. I like about 30-40% of it that includes good musicianship, good lyrics and something other than what appeals to mainstream listeners. IT's all about substance for me no matter what the genre.

[Big Skyz]

While I listen to a large cross section of music, a lot of these new country artist's (if you can call them that) just leave me cold. Jason Aldean , Big and Rich, Sugarland, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, The Band Perry, and Taylor Swift all (except Big and Rich, the totally suck) produce one or two good songs, but the majority of their music sounds like it was conceived in a cooperate office somewhere in Memphis. It's not limited to just these artists I just mentioned. It's pretty much across the board with just a few exceptions. Anyway I just can't really get into it and find myself always defaulting back to the Classic Rock stations.

[BarryBobPosthole]

Troy, to me the best adjective to describe it is its 'slick'.

I'm a country music classics fan too but I do like some of the new country music that has a blues and bluegrass influence too. There's no reason country shouldn't morph too. I'm talking about red dirt music, and artists like Malcom Holcombe, Steve Earl, Townes Van Zandt, Hayes Carll, Drive By Truckers, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Flying Burrito Brothers among others. Stuff that's got good country roots but is something you'd like to hear somebody play on your back stoop.

BKB

[BarryBobPosthole]

And speaking of Merle, here's an oldy but from the genre I'm talking about.

BKB


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhpq2oDPT9w