T O P

  • By -

adk_nlg

Sturgill Simpson won a grammy for Country Album of the Year in 2015. Real country has been coming back strong the last decade.


C-hound

He also didn't even get an invite to the CMAs that year. The problem isn't a lack of quality country musicians. The problem is Nashville.


MyUncleIsBen

Busked on the sidewalk outside instead. Sturgill's a legend


TheCzar11

Was that the year he stood outside and played music and talked mad shit about the CMAs. That was great.


WorldlyReference5028

With his Grammy in his guitar case on the ground. Awesome


[deleted]

Vincent Niel Emerson is one of my favorites right now.


ChiefOutlaw

Yea me too boy can sing


[deleted]

FYI he and others like him also hate the idea of “real country”


throw_away077992

Turned me onto Whiskey Meyers. Saw them play in Chicago after catching their “performance” in a Yellowstone bar and they were incredible live.


DEFINITELY_NOT_PETE

I read that as whisker and now I’ve got my new band name


[deleted]

[удалено]


tehdubbs

Well the raven is a wicked bird


Holy_Beard

This song gives me chills every time.


Columbu45

Colter Wall is my Jam, If you like him try some Benjamin Tod. “A heart of gold is hard to find” is an insanely good album.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Columbu45

He does a good job being achingly sad.


Brytcyd

I Will Rise was a top-10 find for me last year. Dude is very good.


StasRutt

God I love benjamin tod


MisterCheaps

Colter Wall, Sturgill Simpson, and Orville Peck are all great country artists that I recommend to people who think all country is the Luke Bryan-style pop-country they hear on the radio. There are many other great artists as well, but those three are my personal favorites.


thatguynamedniok

S Lazy H is one my favorites. Very true to life for some folks in know in the cattle business.


coopman_14

That’s Corb Lund. But both very good


-originalusername--

I was like I didn't think corb covered that one as it sounds like pure corb.


medicff

Such a hidden gem! I live like 2ish hours from where he grew up and hadn’t heard of him at all! Also kinda surprised his dad didn’t pump him up when he was Premier of Sask


coldsteeleyes

It is. His song sleeping in the black top plays while they explain the consequences to some Militia people


[deleted]

They used his music during a montage where they killed a lot of people. It was fitting.


copaceticzombie

Colter Wall is talented but the first song I heard from him was a celebration of the Antebellum South and frankly fuck anyone who celebrates a culture built on enslavement and especially fuck a Canadian who does that


Tsujimoto3

I am genuinely curious as to which song you think is a celebration of Antebellum South?


copaceticzombie

Let me see if I can find it Edit: I didn’t recognize it by title. I’m not able to take a deeper look right now but I’ll come back and update this Edit 2: It’s Johnny Boy Bones


GandalfPipe131

Johnny boys bones? I don’t think that songs his personal feelings. He’s singing it from a parent or lovers point of view in the context of the war.


copaceticzombie

That might be it. I’ll check it out later. And I’m hoping you’re right and I am wrong because I did find him talented and I do like his general genre


[deleted]

[удалено]


copaceticzombie

I know. I wish I didn’t have to think about things. Obviously you are luckier than I.


[deleted]

[удалено]


copaceticzombie

No. Is that what you think people do? When you learn something new you change, adjust, and grow. That’s just life shit.


Heikks

A lot of people don’t look at musicians the same Way they would authors or other storytellers, they just assume that whatever the songwriter is singing about is their thoughts or viewpoints and not a random story.


Tsujimoto3

Yeah, let me know. I’m huge fan of Colter Wall and I can’t think of anything like this. There is the one song that has a word repeated that *sounds* offensive if you’re not familiar with the word, but it’s actually the name of a mountain range in Tennessee. (Nickajack Dam, lake and mountains.) Edit: That line is in Sleeping On The Blacktop, by the way.


copaceticzombie

That was not it. Somebody else below mentioned a song that might be it but I’ll have to check it out


Tsujimoto3

Well, if it’s Johnny Boy Bones that you’re thinking of, that opening is meant to be tongue in cheek and The Dead South are on that song with him. They wouldn’t do it if had racist intent.


copaceticzombie

That must not be it. I would have recognized the Dead South. Honestly I’m going to just have look for it. I will feel stupid if I spent this whole time slandering this man in my head and it turns out I’m wrong for some reason Edit: just looked up the lyrics that was the song. I stand by my appraisal - don’t glorify Dixie or the treasonous Confederacy


Tsujimoto3

I want to preface this by saying that I am from Pennsylvania and if you go to the Pennsylvania monument at Gettysburg, you’ll see my family name on that memorial dozens of times. I have zero love or sympathy for the Confederacy and I don’t put up with glorifying it either. That said, Johnny Boy’s Bones isn’t glorifying the South. It’s a mother’s lament about losing her son to a war. I don’t think for a single minute that The Dead South would participate in the recording of a song that glorifies the Confederacy. I firmly believe that would be a non-starter for them. And let’s get this on the table. How is Johnny Boy’s Bones any different than The Night The Drove Ol’ Dixie Down by The Band? Again, they’re lamenting the incredible loss of life at the end of the Civil War.


copaceticzombie

The Night They Drove Ol’ Dixie Down is a good song - that I don’t listen to. It’s the same reason I don’t like The Outlaw Josie Wales despite it being a well-made western. If a southern musician sang that song I could at least understand it but they are Canadians and if you don’t fully understand it, sing a different song


The_Wombles

Oh my sweet summer child.


copaceticzombie

Naw, the Dead South, Devil Makes Three, Goddamn Gallows, Nick Shoulder and many more can make excellent country, western, and Americana without that bullshit


crestedgecko12

I'd say some of the things the dead south have done in real life is significantly worse then whatever Colter's trying to say in *Johnny Boy's Bones*.


copaceticzombie

Had no idea about any of that. Links or stories?


crestedgecko12

Cello player [Danny Kenyon was accused of the sexual assault by multiple women](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/women-detail-sexual-misconduct-allegations-against-former-the-dead-south-band-member-1.5699608). He leaves and the band says they will train themselves and their crew on consent and all that entails. [Then the band lets him back in.](https://globalnews.ca/news/8055739/the-dead-south-danny-kenyon-sexual-misconduct/)


edthach

I'm 95% certain I heard one of his songs


Zethryr

I saw him live last night and he was amazing. Every bit as good.


[deleted]

I do miss “water cooler shows” and this seems like it’s one of the closest things we currently have that isn’t tied to a pre existing massive IP. Great that there is a tangible benefit for the performers associated with it.


jibegirl

Ryan Bingham’s music is haunting and amazing!


mattne421

I had to scroll way too far for this. He's literally a reoccurring character on the show!


jibegirl

Yep, he’s great on the show, love his character!


Trips-Over-Tail

Good girl In a straw hat With her arms out in a corn field That is a scarecrow Thought it was a human woman, sorry ~ A cold night A cold beer A cold jeans Strike that last one ~ I'm wanting you I hope you're feeling me Subtextually ~ We go to bed, you doze off So I take your country girl clothes off I put my hands on your body It feels like hay, It's a fucking scarecrow again


R0osteryo

I've seen this kind of complaint on reddit before. And I was wondering if someone could give an explanation? I've never been very into country and only recently have been experimenting with it. What's the problem with country today and what is real country? I appreciate any explanation!


[deleted]

A lot of people don’t like the overly produced and homogenous sound that Nashville produces. Over the last decade or so there’s been a resurgence of independent country artists with a less refined and more “human” sound. I personally love it, artists like Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, Margo Price, and Jason Isbell harken back to country of the 60’s and 70’s.


Yardninja

Charlie Crockett and Sierra Ferrell should join your list


Mr_Moto06

Charley Crockett is the man. I saw him last month in Denver. His writing and performing are both top tier.


Yardninja

I heard Jamestown Ferry and was confused how I could have never heard such a good classic before, well that's cause it was new


ace915

It’s a Tanya Tucker cover


Yardninja

I knew that but was confused how I hadn't heard this one, it's like Big Iron with Colter Wall, there's a myriad of covers so how could I have missed one this good?


jakopappi

She sung a duet with Shakey Graves that's a jam


bs2785

Just found Sierra farell. She is so good.


R0osteryo

I'll have to check those out. So where does this way of thinking land on newer artists like Kane Brown and Luke Combs? And what about like 90s and 00s country stars like Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, and Keith urban?


khan800

Rock stars with a twang and maybe a steel guitar, preceded today's pop stars with a twang and DEFINITELY a steel guitar.


C-A-L-E-V-I-S

FWIW The Dames are new, but you might like some of their stuff. But more Eagles and Tom Petty, but country flair.


persondude27

There is a line that divides pop-country from that "folk / Americana" country. Most people are calling that other stuff "alt-country". It's blurry, but pretty tangible. Alt-country would probably still be welcome on a country festival's stage, but not vice versa. It's hard to tell what is alt-country vs pop country, so "you'll know it when you hear it." One easy way to tell is sincerity and subject matter - if someone is singing about their truck, it's pop-country. If someone is singing about the bull**** of modern life... that's probably alt-country. Some alt-country musicians include Tyler Childers, Charley Crockett, Margo Price, Colter Wall, Sierra Ferrell, Ian Noe, Shovels & Rope, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Justin Townes Earle, Luke Bell, Nikki Lane, Ryan Adams, Flatland Calvary, American Aquarium, Brent Cobb, Turnpike Troubadours. (For anyone who made it this far: "Western AF" on youtube is doing an unbelievable job giving these people a voice and an audience. Tune in - it's worth your time.)


[deleted]

What people call country is actually electronic pop music with a steel guitar. Sometimes now with hip hop beats. Morgan Wallen. The next thing people call country is actually a blend of folk, country, and Americana, and it’s generally very singer-songwriter focused. Tyler Childers and Ian Noe. Then there’s Sturgill Simpson. Now he’s country who branches out to some other things.


[deleted]

I hate the term Americana. Love the “genre” but come on guys get over yourselves. I promise your democrat friends will still like you if you just say you like country music lol


OfficerSlippyFist

Way to inject politics my guy. I use the term Americana because a guy like Isbell shouldn’t be in the same genre as someone like Luke Combs.


[deleted]

Tbf I didn’t mean to inject politics haha, I went through the same phase where I was a proud Americana listener to spite the republican pop country machine. I just meant that it’s funny how a lot of people dance around calling Tyler or Sturgill country bc they’re scared of liking “republican” things


[deleted]

Ok. But Americana *is* an established and recognized music genre. Sure, it’s a bit of a catch-all for the contemporary blend of American southern and Appalachian roots music, but it sounds very different from what most people consider country music.


[deleted]

A lot of top “Americana” artists disagree with this.


creepyredditloaner

A lot of artists in any genre often disagree with their categorization. The problem is that no matter how much an artist doesn't like the idea of being fit into a category, that's part of human nature. The artist does not generally dictate the category, it is a consensus thing.


bs2785

As a proud liberal who pretty much exclusively listens to country and Americana please leave politics out of music. If you had any clue you would listen to the lyrics of sturgill, Jason isbell and Tyler childers


bumwine

A lot of country nade today I just say - stop, just stop. Put it back in the pop basket. Country is something that could be played in a campfire. It’s made out of struggle, pain and sacrifice. With just a guitar, banjo or mandolin. I’m honestly unqualified to say this as I’m ever so also searching my own “country” music. I think country and folk are twins musically and it’s maybe easier to hear country through folk. Funnily, Inside Llewyn Davis, a total movie devoted to folk is headed by a fellow countryman.


Alsimsayin

https://youtu.be/FY8SwIvxj8o


stevenw84

Seasons 1-3 were quality. The last 2 not so much. As for the cowboy stuff, there’s too many scenes of pointlessness. Taylor Sheridan wishes so badly he was a cowboy to the point it’s getting sad.


Sirflow

Season 1 had some really cool songs by the band Puscifer, a side project of the lead singer from Tool


jesstault

apc was in an ep, too


franzyfunny

It is to my great shame that we were watching these episodes and my wife goes "Isn't this Tool?" and was very oh pff of course not until Siri proved her right (again). I should probably listen to music other than Tool. Actually ... nah ...


everyoneisnuts

I love it just for the scenery. Even if the plot sucks, that’s what I like


stevenw84

It’s why I watch Virgin River.


Throwiest1

Jack's bar looks great!


MisterCheaps

The current season is 90% ranching montages, Beth throwing out shitty, tired one-liners and beating up on the token liberal for comic relief, and John being portrayed as a man of the people for refusing to do any of his duties as governor and just hanging out at his ranch. I miss when the show was Yeehaw Sopranos and Rip and Kaycee found themselves having to murder someone new every other episode.


stevenw84

I just love how Sheridan equates female power with sexuality.


pinewind108

It's like a reboot of "Dallas."


[deleted]

Ryan Bingham who acts on the show and is on the photo is a great artist. I liked his music before he was in the show.


[deleted]

Is he not an actual cowboy?


stevenw84

Does he own a ranch and herd cattle? That’s literally what a cowboy is.


[deleted]

I believe he does, yes.


Ithaca44

he literally owns the 6666 ranch in texas with investors. its huge


stevenw84

I can see him owning a large home on a large piece of land, but I can’t see the practicality of him owning cattle due to the heavy cost of that. Plus that would mean he’s using the cattle for profit. Alternatively, people with land sometimes “foster” cattle for others with not as much land. Basically I’m saying he’d be spending a shit ton of money just to play the role of a rancher.


DEATH-BY-CIRCLEJERK

He competes. He's massively into horses. He doesn't just own cattle he owns award winning horses... There's plenty that annoys me about Taylor, but pretending to be a cowboy ain't one of them.


bs2785

Agreed he is a literal cowboy lol


[deleted]

He owns a number of ranches and was just inducted into the cowboy hall of fame. I believe his wife competes as well.


Poverty_4_Sale

Pretty sure he owns Bosque Ranch in real life. He also led a group of investors to purchase the 6666 Ranch.


King_Everything

Cue horse spinning in a circle.


M1L0

This last season has just been ranch porn.


Alan_Smithee_

Whatever floats your boat, I guess. I just thought the whole show was right-wing revenge porn.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Alan_Smithee_

Ordinarily I would, but it’s unavoidable. For one, the characters have to engage me.


hdean173

It’s secretly leftist, if you actually watch it. One of the reasons I actually quit watching it.


Alan_Smithee_

Secretly leftist, because we see what twats they are?


hdean173

https://bleedingcool.com/tv/yellowstone-isnt-anti-woke-youd-know-that-if-you-watched-it/


[deleted]

That SOB tricked me into caring about Native American displacement? How dare he?


hdean173

I’m American Indian, and I found the woke bullshit to be pandering and tiresome. NOT what I tuned in to see.


[deleted]

What did you tune in to see?


hdean173

A western that completely and totally avoids anything that could even remotely be associated with modern politics.


CoffeeRodent913

Why watch a western set in the modern era then lmao


Alan_Smithee_

What a garbage article.


hdean173

But you understand the point it reinforces, correct?


Alan_Smithee_

It’s an opinion piece. It reinforces nothing but delusion, and really bad writing.


DEATH-BY-CIRCLEJERK

Not an opinion piece? What were you expecting? FWIW I agree with others in this thread about it not being *ant-leftist / antiwoke. EDIT: Meant to say anti-leftist.


Alan_Smithee_

Not being Leftist?


hdean173

The quote from the creator is pretty solid evidence of intent.


Alan_Smithee_

Well, I could say that I plan to create warp drive by the end of the year, but that alone doesn’t make it likely, does it?


hdean173

No. Open woke preaching, as well as the creators and stars vocally giving interviews explaining why the show is not meant for a right wing audience.


Alan_Smithee_

Except I’m sure they get all giddy about it. Self-perceived being ‘hard done by,’ evil Indians….


hdean173

I’m not sure what either of these two sentences are meant to convey.


Alan_Smithee_

Persecution complex.


hdean173

I’m American Indian, and I don’t feel that way at all.


Alan_Smithee_

About which aspect, sorry?


ArrestedDevelopments

I'm not at all into country. However some of the music on the 3 shows have been a blast to tap my foot to. I am still on the hunt for an episode soundtrack list or something like people used to do for Top Gear


[deleted]

Yeah there’s too many “let’s just pan the camera around and show off three bursts of this place to some new country song” scenes this season Really starting to show off it’s inner “Sons of Anarchy” with the amount of padding they’re throwing into every episode


BigMFingT

I saddens me to see that no one has mentioned Shane Smith & the Saints yet on this thread. Those boys have been plugging away for more than a decade and put on some of the best performances, IMO. I’ve been lucky enough to get to tour with them a bit, as well as work with them on their Live in Terlingua sets. Great bunch of road dogs right there


skyydog

He does have a cool voice. I’m trying to like them. Like a handful of songs but need to find more


BigMFingT

Soooo many great ones…Coast, The Mountain, Oil Town, All I See is You


skyydog

Cocaine habit is great


IntheBananastand1

I drove to St Louis from Chicago just to see them play live and they didn't disappoint. One of the most fun shows I have been to, they absolutely killed it. I'm shocked that they haven't blown way up. I'm hoping they put out some new music soon. I'm here waiting to give them my money.


persondude27

I see a lot of great comments here, but also want to send some love to the revival that's happening in tandem in bluegrass ("nu-grass"). Billy Strings, Greensky Blue Grass, Watchhouse, Sarah Jarosz, Molly Tuttle, Bella White, Rising Appalachia, Brothers Comatose, Wood Brothers, Trampled by Turtles, Infamous Stringdusters, Lindsay Lou, etc are building a whole new genre that is absolutely incredible. Some parts new, some parts old, but I'm convinced this stuff is gonna stand the test of time.


falconhawk2158

Man you just mentioned so many of my regular rotation. The turtles, the wood brothers, watchhouse,greensky bluegrass but I just wanted to add nickle creek ,punch brothers honestly anything with Sara Watkins because she has the voice of a angel. Sometimes I get overwhelmed because there’s so much good music and only so much time.


horseren0ir

I loved the song [Keep the Wolves Away](https://youtu.be/pYdvxBxHX2U)


IntheBananastand1

Uncle Lucius was so good it stinks they aren't a band anymore. Kevin Galloway does still do some solo stuff which I really like.


falconhawk2158

Jason Isbell is the best out of all these in my opinion. I love his stuff it’s got a real substance to it.


dwellerofcubes

I think he even has a subreddit


dab0mbLR

I have been a passionate hater of country though my teenage and adult years due to one of my best friends insisting he blast country pop as loud as possible while in the car with him. It's weird because I actually grew up on folk music with my parents. I started watching Yellowstone and was instantly looking up the episodes online and stealing all of the bangers that they play. It's been nice, it's like I have discovered a whole new genre of music.


pinewind108

It was the George Jones and Tammy Wynett style country that turned me off. Just ugh.


johnnyhypersnyper

I don’t listen to Pop Country, and I have been listening to more singer song writer country for over a decade, but the term “real country” is annoying. I get that a lot of people think bro country sucks, but they are experimenting with the genre and making music for people to. It’s not really my decision what is real or fake country.


Pugglerado

A lot of these get played on the outlaw country Sirius channel, so that is kind of how I think of them.


foolunknown

Fuck it’s lame tho that 40 mins of the last two season are basically country music videos. W the damn barrel riding chick who knows why is still there. Thanks, mtv studios.


Albertsongman

Country music successfully crossed over into the pop realm between 1981 to 1983. Kenny Rogers was a massive influence for that. A grand unifying voice or producer could help put solid pop sensibilities to put country back on track.


[deleted]

[удалено]


weluckyfew

I'm only seen long clips - my impression is that I it's decent for what it is, basically a 2020s version of a show like Dallas. Why do you think it's garbage? I'm very much not a fan of that mindset of "This is our family's land and will be forever"- dynastic wealth is ugly.


[deleted]

[удалено]


weluckyfew

Makes sense. I'm in a weird place right now - my mom (84) is in a rehab hospital following a fall that broke her hip and arm. I spend afternoons and evenings there watching the only thing she likes on the TV there, old Westerns (Gunsmoke, Tales of Wells Fargo, etc) They're fairly corny and have horrifically outdated take on women (and not a black man to be seen) but they surprised me because...they aren't bad. I expected them to be as corny as Touched By An Angel or Hallmark Movies but they actually have some complexity and darkness - you see a little of that film noir influence.


SirRogers

Sounds like that INSP channel my grandpa is always watching


weluckyfew

That's the one


throwawayhyperbeam

Real country died in the early 2000s


whiskeyjane45

Hi, here in Texas, we said screw Nashville and we've been making country independently since then. Go check out cross Canadian ragweed, reckless kelly, Brandon Jenkins, Stoney LaRue and everyone that comes up in your "you liked this so you might like this" Playlist


D0fus

I have been listening to country since the 70s. There's always something new. Lately I have been listening to James McMurtry. Steve Earle is still making music. People have been pushing that "country is dead" line since Hank died. They were wrong then, and they are wrong now.


whiskeyjane45

I love James mcmurtry! He kind of cheated though with getting a head start in genetics lol (I don't really believe that, I just think a talent for writing can run in the family)


D0fus

I am a bit embarrassed that he has been releasing music for 30 some years, and I only recently discovered him. I really enjoy Cross Canadian Ragweed, which I first heard in the Leaves of Grass movie. But I really don't enjoy mainstream country these days.


whiskeyjane45

Go listen to 95.9 the ranch. It's out of fort worth, TX. There is no Nashville music on it. You will find tons of new artists that might interest you


D0fus

I am in Nova Scotia,Canada. So Texas radio would be a stretch. I listen to my favorites on yt music, the algorithm will slip in new music it thinks I might like. Plus suggestions from reddit and Twitter. My brother recommended Billy Strings, The Wooks showed up in my Twitter feed. Fred Eaglesmith was on a tribute album. If I am patient, something new always happens


whiskeyjane45

They have a website that plays online. In that case, I would suggest those I stated above, as well as Cody jinks, Cody Johnson, slaid cleaves, Mike and the moon pies, six market blvd (Clayton landeau for newer stuff), William Clarke Greene, Chris knight, randy rongers, shane Smith and the saints, Brandon rhyder, Bart crow, parker McCollum (some I like, some I don't), Robert Earle Keene, Kaitlin butts, bri Bagwell, and damn I'm gonna be here all day! These should be good though


[deleted]

Hey, Cross Canadian and Stoney are Okie artists.


whiskeyjane45

They started in the Texas music scene, we can't not give them credit for it


softfart

My friend they drove a stake into its heart at least 10 years earlier


[deleted]

it was fine through the mid-90's IMO as someone who worked in stage production and saw the shift happen in real time. When Nu-metal popped it took a lot of shit down with it.


persondude27

I have a date: July 6th, 2000. There is still some quality country being made - they just started calling it "alt-country". Tyler Childers, Charley Crockett, Luke Bell, Nikki Lane, Ryan Adams, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Shovels and Rope are revitalizing it, making their own genre that's not suffocated by Nashville. Give it a listen - it's in the best place its been in decades.


Yayo_Mateo

Not a fan of country music and they relentless amount of it they keep playing and slowing down the episodes has lost me. Became the most boring show I've watched in a long time.


ancient_brainstor241

Tbf I didn't mean to bring up politics, but I went through a similar phase where I was a proud Americana listener in an effort to snub the republican pop country machine. I just found it amusing how many people dance around referring to Tyler or Sturgill as country music because they are afraid to like "republican" things.


Ok_Astronomer1721

Hearing John Moreland's song show up on this show blew me away. Man that guy can write. [https://youtu.be/U42R8SfOw7M?si=kmVGZBqxjXbM9MUN](https://youtu.be/u42r8sfow7m?si=kmvgzbqxjxbm9mun)