Woohoo! I just lost my greenlight cherry!

Where's the followup about the bravest Frenchman.

While I can't view the video at work, it seems to be Brad Paisley "Letter To Me" which I like though it's not my favorite on the CD. From Fifth Gear I prefer "Ticks", "Better Than This" and "Throttleneck". I first bought his music after hearing "Alcohol". Basically, I like his fun songs more than his serious songs.

ZAZ: Basically, I like his fun songs more than his serious songs.

Heh, those are all good songs. Brad is a hell of a guitar player, too, if you ever get to see his live show. His songwriting is completely head-and-shoulders above the rest of the Nashville radio-driven music industry, if you ask me.

I have to agree with you, in that songs like "Ticks," "Alcohol," and "I'm Gonna Miss Her," he writes his lyrics so that the word play goes in a completely unexpected direction - something that's been missing from country music since Waylon. Not to mention the fact that he's one of only a handful of artists that Nashville lets write their own songs.

NeauxFear: Heh, those are all good songs. Brad is a hell of a guitar player, too, if you ever get to see his live show. His songwriting is completely head-and-shoulders above the rest of the Nashville radio-driven music industry, if you ask me.

I have to agree with you, in that songs like "Ticks," "Alcohol," and "I'm Gonna Miss Her," he writes his lyrics so that the word play goes in a completely unexpected direction - something that's been missing from country music since Waylon. Not to mention the fact that he's one of only a handful of artists that Nashville lets write their own songs.

I don't mind country, but most of them are just pretty faces that have limited writing or musical skills. They do exactly what thier producers/managers tell them to. That is why I listen to more alt country these days such as Reckless Kelly, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Robert Earl Keen. However, I do really like Brad. You cannot say that he lacks talent.

I saw this video for the first time yesterday. What a great song!

That's a great song. Too bad he sings in that fake hill billy accent.

I still haven't forgiven him for marrying my pretend girlfriend.

Note to Brad Paisley: Dude, you are a farking phenomenal guitar player, a good-looking guy, and you seem nice. So please join someone else's band as guitar hotshot and stop writing crap like "Ticks." PLEASE.

I don't care for this song, but I have seen him live and I concur with the folks above that he is a very talented guitarist. Not quite a Skaggs or a Lee, but right up there.

FAIL.

Flight of the Conchords are now grammy winners.

That's a sentence I never thought I would type.

carmody: Note to Brad Paisley John Mayer: Dude, you are a farking phenomenal guitar player, a good-looking guy, and you seem nice. So please join someone else's band as guitar hotshot and stop writing crap like "Ticks" "No Such Thing". PLEASE.

FTFY

On the subject of Brad, he's one of two mainstream Nashville acts I can listen to without writhing in pain (the other being The Wreckers). I wish there were more musicians like him on the radio.

carmody: Note to Brad Paisley: Dude, you are a farking phenomenal guitar player, a good-looking guy, and you seem nice. So please join someone else's band as guitar hotshot and stop writing crap like "Ticks." PLEASE.

Have you actually listened to *anything* else the man has put out? He has a great mix of comedic songs and serious songs. His concert last year was above and beyond the best one of the year to come through Raleigh.

Real Country - Hank III (new window)

This video was filmed in my old high school. It's sucks worse than it looks.

Would like to have a word with you.

\\ "Pop" country blows
\\\ go out and see some "real" country music

seabass242: Real Country - Hank III (new window)

I came in here to say that.

Would like to have a word with you.

\\ "Pop" country blows
\\\ go out and see some "real" country music

Actually, I have heard quite a bit of his music, and I think most of it sounds almost exactly like the rest of the bland, slick, overproduced horseshiat that "country" radio has been pumping out for the past 20 years or so.

Except, of course, for his truly dazzling guitar work.

Country music jumped the shark when Alabama cut "The Closer You Get" in the early '80s.

The only modern country I enjoy comes from indie bands. Is that ironic or post-ironic?

Done rambling...

i had to listen to some Bonnie Prince Billy to get right again.

Horses (new window)

CDP: Would like to have a word with you.

I recognize Ray Price and the Hanks, who is the third pic? More to the point, when was the last time they got regular radio play?

I like Brad Paisley. I also realize he's not the Messiah come to deliver country from the Nashville establishment, though. He is, however, one of the best out right now that gets on mainstream radio these days. That's all I'm sayin'.

That said, III's "Whiskey, Weed, and Women" and "Cecil Brown" are some of my all-time country favorites. Cecil Brown sounds just like the way my grandfather used to sing when he'd plow his cotton fields with a mule-drawn back in the day. Good times.

They are on order:

Hiram "Hank" Williams AKA Hank Sr.
Alvis Edgar "Buck" Owens
Ray Price
Shelton Hank Willams AKA Hank III

Also let's not forget

CDP, you've got some good taste. Not enough people know who Wayne the Train is... it's sad, really.

My current favourite:

CDP: Alvis Edgar "Buck" Owens

Ha! Should have recognized the guitar. I remember him from Hee-Haw moreso than anything else, so I didn't recognize him as a young man. :)

seabass242: Real Country - Hank III (new window)

This

leftymcrighty: CDP, you've got some good taste. Not enough people know who Wayne the Train is... it's sad, really.

My current favourite:

Yes it is,and Brad could learn a thing or two from Merle about that guitar.

I see your Merle Travis and raise you





And my trump card is

Speaking as someone from the class of '92, wtf is with the ancient camera in the first part of the video? Makes it seem like a period a mere 15 or so years ago was some sort of stone age.

/video was "meh", music was as good as could be expected from country (awful)

That's not music, that's commercial crap.

NeauxFear: CDP: Alvis Edgar "Buck" Owens

Ha! Should have recognized the guitar. I remember him from Hee-Haw moreso than anything else, so I didn't recognize him as a young man. :)

His Hee-Haw days were past his prime, check out some of his other stuff on youtube...Don Rich was the master of the Telecaster!

CDP: leftymcrighty: CDP, you've got some good taste. Not enough people know who Wayne the Train is... it's sad, really.

My current favourite:

Yes it is,and Brad could learn a thing or two from Merle about that guitar.

I see your Merle Travis and raise you

And my trump card is

I think I love you...Lefty is the man.

I also love Buck and am right now listening to Dwight sings Buck...awesome.

Sorry but

Ray Price was considered pop country.

\still love him, though

MikeXpop: (the other being The Wreckers)

Enjoy what you got on the one cd - they're toast.

Oh, and PS - the argument back and forth about what is "country" and what is "slick Nashville pop-crap" will rage on forever.

When strings were introduced into country music, people freaked.

When electric guitars were introduced...

When serious drumming was introduced...

When keyboards other than piano were introduced...

And so on.

What's on the radio now IS country music. Is it roots/earthy/dirt-under-the-fingernails type stuff? No.

But it IS country music circa 2008.

Just like people who hear Nickelback but are Eddie Cochrane/Elvis/Carl Perkins fans will say the new stuff ain't rock n' roll.

Just take what you want and leave the rest.

Not really caring about the song but why do some videos on you tube give me the message that I need to update the flash player? I have done that already but I still get that message, usually only on record company you tube player plages.

CDP: His Hee-Haw days were past his prime, check out some of his other stuff on youtube...Don Rich was the master of the Telecaster!

Oh, I'm quite familiar with his music (as well as Don Rich's); I just didn't recognize the younger face. ;)

I'm no country fan, least not of the current crop.
Being born and raised by Tennessee folk, though, you can bet yer arse I know older stuff real well. Rebelled against it bigtime when young, but in the last decade or so, I've come to appreciate it.

Nowadays, I enjoy just about any music that is played well on real instruments, along with true vocal talent.

I read once that todays' country took the place of the old top 40/pop stuff. I agree.

However, Brad is different, both in person and in talent.
He puts a lot of himself in his serious work, can pick a mean streak (you must see him live to see this demonstrated!) and writes a good tune, his silly stuff aside.

/still an old head-banger
//appreciates the hell out of watching Jerry Reed and Carl Perkins fingerpicking - THAT'S talent right there!

I don't like talking about my flair: CDP: leftymcrighty: CDP, you've got some good taste. Not enough people know who Wayne the Train is... it's sad, really.

My current favourite:

Yes it is,and Brad could learn a thing or two from Merle about that guitar.

I see your Merle Travis and raise you

And my trump card is

I think I love you...Lefty is the man.

I also love Buck and am right now listening to Dwight sings Buck...awesome.

You should also check out "Under the influence of Buck" by The Derailers


rbbass

Well after the "Nightlife" album I would agree, but before that it was pure Texas shuffle

Folderol
I could not disagree more. Today's "pop" country is just watered down 70's rock music. It is just soulless carbon copy product for the masses that really do not care about the music.

There are still many new artists who are keeping the hart, soul, and tradition of country music alive.

Most of the new crop of "pop" country singers are a lot like Nickelback in that they are putting out a product as a means to generate revenue, but they are not artist in any way.

I don't like talking about my flair: Lefty is the man.


I thought you were talking about me for a second... incidentally, that's the guy I got my stage name (Lefty McRighty) from


CDP, I call, this is the ace up my sleeve:

I love how anytime country music is brought up everyone pops in with classic/obscure artists and biatch about today's music.

News flash...Hank,Lefty,Waylon and Grandpa Jones are dead.They had great careers. I loved 'em all. But it's time to broaden your horizons.

P.S. Your parents hated Hank,Lefty,Waylon...ect. Sound familar?

leftymcrighty: I don't like talking about my flair: Lefty is the man.


I thought you were talking about me for a second... incidentally, that's the guy I got my stage name (Lefty McRighty) from


CDP, I call, this is the ace up my sleeve:

Can't go wrong with Lefty...some good stuff there

I guess I am going to have to pull out the big guns now

markiedog: I love how anytime country music is brought up everyone pops in with classic/obscure artists and biatch about today's music.

News flash...Hank,Lefty,Waylon and Grandpa Jones are dead.They had great careers. I loved 'em all. But it's time to broaden your horizons.

P.S. Your parents hated Hank,Lefty,Waylon...ect. Sound familar?

So you mean stuff like, Big Sandy & his Fly-Rite boys, Eleven Hundred Springs, Dave Alvin, Moot Davis, Justin Trevino, and Two Tons of Steel. Or just some more of this Nashville "pop" stuff they are trying to sell these days.

These are all viable artists who are putting out some great original music.

My horizons are very broad I have seen bands from Jerry Lee Lewis, Led Zeppelin, Liebach , X, Husker Du, SPK, Ministry, Mud Honey,Seatsniffers,Rev. Horton Heat, to Ray Prince, Willie Nelson, Ralph Stanley,Muddy Waters and JOhn Lee Hooker. My experiences with innovative original music makes it that much easier to spot this corporate B.S. they are passing of as art today.

CDP: leftymcrighty: I don't like talking about my flair: Lefty is the man.


I thought you were talking about me for a second... incidentally, that's the guy I got my stage name (Lefty McRighty) from


CDP, I call, this is the ace up my sleeve:

Can't go wrong with Lefty...some good stuff there

I guess I am going to have to pull out the big guns now

Hmmm, I think I was talking about both of you? Lefty is sweet though...I found him via Dwight Yoakam and I found him thru Gram Parsons...I've been on a musical odyssey since about Dec?

Hank...The Hank is exceptional. Love him. Would listen to him before just about anyone. And I have a freaky love for Dwight Yoakam, can't really explain it.

/obligatory

rbbass: Sorry but Ray Price was considered pop country.
\still love him, though

His second album with Willie Nelson from 2003 is some pretty awesome western swing if you like that. There ain't many new country singers today who can even hold a candle to a lot of the older guys posted in the thread, and the ones who can don't get radio play. Go figure.

CDP: Today's "pop" country is just watered down 70's rock music.

But the truth of the matter is, it's what sells. It's what is wanted. It's what people buy tickets for. Like it or hate it (and this thread is chock-full of traditionalists), it's the Rascal Flatts and Kenny Chesney's of the worlds that sell 5x platinum and make 70 million a year touring.

Why do all the country stations play Taylor Swift as opposed to, say, Hank III or Willie's latest? Because radio is a business, and business is good when you provide the public with what they want. If the public wanted the latest Gene Watson or Merle Haggard, radio stations everywhere would program that music, and it would just fly off the Wal-mart shelves.

The fact of the matter is, art is art. And business is business.

No one buys a 5 million dollar radio station and says: "Hey, let's program really cool music that is artistic and has merit."...because the majority of the listening and buying public don't want that.

You buy a radio station and you say: "Let's put on music that will attract the most listeners. The more listeners we have, the more money we can make, the more successful we will be."

Not saying I agree with this, just saying it's how things are.

Folderol: Why do all the country stations play Taylor Swift as opposed to, say, Hank III or Willie's latest?

Because she's hotter'n two muskrats farkin in a wool sock in a dryer in the middle of a Mississippi July?

Honestly, though, I have no problem with the Kenny Chesneys and Taylor Swifts. My problem is that they're marketed as country, when most male country fans would probably kick Kenny Chesney's ass if they ever met him. Maybe there should be a new genre for them, something between Johnny Cash and Celine Dion. Southern Adult Contemporary? Sounds like incest porn to me, but some marketing guru should get on that, post-haste. These new acts are good enough, but they're crowding out the real country stars from country radio. It's damn rare to hear Hank...well, any of the Hanks on normal FM radio, let alone Willie or Waylon or newer country acts that are still fresh and well-known, but just crowded out by the Keith Urbans and Faith Hills.

*shudder* I'm so sorry for that image, but I didn't sign these clowns.

I also think the fans like it because it's what was given to them. I blame Garth Brooks's "Friends in Low Places" for country's shift, to try to include more pop fans as listeners. It's like how a candidate does the "swing to the middle" to appeal to as many as possible. I can't blame them -- that's where the money is, not in a folk-art driven niche market of rednecks and sister-farkers.

NTTAWWT, you sick farkers. You know who you are.

I'm going to bed.

Roger Miller! FTW!!!


/Brad Paisley is one of the only current country singers I will listen too.
//Nickel Creek kicks arse as well.

CDP
"Big Sandy & his Fly-Rite boys, Eleven Hundred Springs, Dave Alvin, Moot Davis, Justin Trevino, and Two Tons of Steel. Or just some more of this Nashville "pop" stuff they are trying to sell these days."

I didn't say that. I mereley pointed out what "you" just said. People complain about "The Nashville Schlock" on the charts today, when they should listen to it "all" with open ears and minds. There's alot of great music out there. Some of it is worldly successful, some not so much.You either like it or you don't.
It's like porn...wait, bad example!

Bottom line, enjoy music and respect people's taste.

No love in here for Junior Brown? Since we're expanding the palate to folk anyway what about Todd Snider?

/Still love R.E.K.