Recommend Some Country Music!

[Joborule]

I like the variety in music, though my primarily vibes is Hip-Hop/Rap and Rock related music. I have a few song on my playlist from different type of genres, but one I'm fairly unknown too is country music. I might have two or three songs that are country at most.

Years before I had a biased against it so I never really bothered to listen, but now that I want to explore my music boundaries and find whatever pleases the ears. I'm hoping CP could help me out here and suggest some country songs and artists to check out.

Thanks ladies and gents!

[calumniate]

Well CJSW has a show called Tombstone After Dark. Even though I'm not a fan of a lot of country the stuff they play on the show is very good most of the time.

Their website has a playlist - lots of different artists, could be good:

http://cjsw.com/program/tombstone-after-dark/

[afc wimbledon]

Personally I think you should go old school, Flatt and Scruggs, Stanley Brothers, Delmore Brothers (huge influence on early rock and roll), Clinch Mountain Boys, Jimmy Rogers, Hank Williams Sr etc.

[chris_yk]

Some of my favourite newer country artists - Eric Church, Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert, and Dean Brody... and you can never go wrong with some Brooks & Dunn or Alan Jackson!

[Travis Munroe]

just check out the billboard list and find what you like by playing samples

[Knut]

Old school.: Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and The Highwaymen

Local: Corb Lund (punk roots with The Smalls) and Shane Chisholm (Stand-up Bass extroirdinaire)

My personal favorite country album is Rodney Crowell - Fate's Right Hand
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Honestly If you want a good transition from Rock to Country you should check out some Americana. Just bring up some Americana radio stations on Internet radio. Wilco, DriveByTruckers for example.

[saskflames69]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5JSUUTO_9I

[Yeah_Baby]

Keith Urban.


:bag:

[afc wimbledon]

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As you can probably tell I'm a traditionalist and what country I love is generally old, I came to it from my love of blues.

There is a tendancy to seperate bluegrass from country, (I suspect because put together modern country sounds so bloody bland and talentless, like listening to blues and then hip hop) but it is all country.

[hockeycop]

Brantley Gilbert (Southern Rock Country)
Jason Aldean
Eric Church

Those are pretty easy to listen to and could get you hooked in. Then try Rodney Atkins, George Strait, and Justin Moore.

Under no circumstances may you refer to Rascal Flatts as country music. Avoid them, as they may cause bleeding of the ears and turn you in to a 13 year old girl.

[carom]

Try some country rock:

The Band

The Byrds - sweetheart of the rodeo

Gram Parsons

Flying burrito brothers

Marshall Tucker Band

This is IMHO, a great place to start. And I know, I really like Gram Parsons.

[CrusaderPi]

Thompson Square is the next big (relatively speaking, of course) thing in country music. Get in on the ground floor now.

[Dion]

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[krazycanuck]

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[The Goon]

With modern country music, I like a lot of the voices (particularly the male voices), but I find you have to pick and choose particular songs. Each artist runs the gamut from great songs to god-awful pop country tunes.

I agree with a lot of a lot of the names already mentioned - Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band. I'm a big George Strait fan, so his best songs are worth looking at.

You should also avoid Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift.

I was watching the CMA Awards last week, and one guy I knew of but hadn't really listened to was Glen Campbell, who was honoured at the awards. He has some great songs - By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Galveston, Gentle on my Mind.

[STeeLy]

I'm gonna throw in Darius Rucker, Billy Currington

I will second (or third, or whatever) Zac Brown Band, Eric Church and Dierks Bentley.

Also can't go wrong with Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffet.

[St. Pats]

I don't have a lot of country on my playlist either. Nothing new and just a few old school. George Jones(She thinks I still care) is a song that to me is just country through and through. Well George Jones singing period is worth exploring. I have Johnny Cash and Glen Campbell as well.

[surferguy]

staying local once again.. try Tim Hus. www.timhus.ca

[Sliver]

Guess I'll be the first hater...

I was at Tony Roma's in Crowfoot on Sunday (man what brutal restaurant choices in that end of town BTW), and I actually had to complain to the manager about the terrible country music they played all through lunch. Fans of country should appreciate their music is horrible to anybody who isn't a fan, unlike say pop music that is generally tolerable to most people. It was the Achy-Breaky-Heart-type garbage they were playing.

Having said that, who doesn't love Johnny Cash or The Gambler:

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[troutman]

Cowpunk ftw:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowpunk

Local - Cowpuncher:

http://wepunchcows.com/

"New" Country sucks balls. It is made by a handful of session musicians in Nashville.

[Hevishot]

Robert Earl Keen
Corb Lund Band
Reckless Kelly

[Joborule]

Thanks for help thus far! :)

[MissTeeks]

I'm a huge fan of Dierks Bentley. He's coming back to Calgary in February and it will be the 6th time I have seen him play. He has good party songs and good slower stuff. He also released a whole bluegrass album last year that was pretty good. Plus he's a huge hockey fan!

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As for older stuff, I love me some Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Not just "Fishin in the Dark" and "Cadillac Ranch", but their really older stuff. I'm a sucker for any country music with a mandolin in it.

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[DrJ]

George Straight, Tim McGraw and Alan Jackson are great.

[STeeLy]

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[Dion]

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[North East Goon]

Hank III

[Sittler]

I'd have to respectfully disagree with the "Nashville" recommendations on here. Go back and listen to all the classics such as Hank Sr., J.C., Waylon, Merle, etc., etc.

As for current (real) country (not necessarily all fitting evenly within the genre) artists I'd recommend :
Scott H. Biram
Roger Alan Wade
Lucky Tubb
Hayes Carll
Caleb Klauder
Jayke Orvis
Dale Watson
Hank III (already mentioned)
Corb Lund (already mentioned)
Whitey Morgan and the 78's
Hellbound Glory
Deadstring Brothers
Those Poor B@st@rds
William Elliott Whitmore
Slim Cessna's Auto Club
Bob Wayne
Brent Amaker and the Rodeo
I Can Lick Any Son of a Bitch in the House
J.B. Everley
Justin Townes Earle
Joe Buck
Otis Gibb
Sally Timms
Sean Reefer and the Resin Valley Boys
etc., etc.

So many good artists doing right by country (or variations on it) and most of 'em aren't being played on so-called "country" radio. Bleh.

[Free Ben Hur!]

One of the best country songs ever (well it's more rock-a-billy, truth be told, but we're talkin country music here so close enough) is Hot Dog by Led Zeppelin, track four of their 1980 album In Through The Out Door. ;)

[troutman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12_Golden_Country_Greats

12 Golden Country Greats is Ween (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ween)'s fifth album, and third for Elektra Records (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elektra_Records).
This album marked the first time Ween limited themselves to a specific genre of music. Bringing in a wide variety of seasoned (and sometimes legendary) Nashville musicians (including Charlie McCoy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_McCoy)Buddy Spicher (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Spicher), Bobby Ogdin (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bobby_Ogdin&action=edit&redlink=1) and The Jordanaires (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jordanaires)), the album sought to recreate the sound of golden-age country music with a great amount of success, while also combining this sound with classic Ween on such tracks as "Piss Up a Rope."

[calumniate]

Cowpunk ftw:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowpunk

Local - Cowpuncher:

http://wepunchcows.com/

"New" Country sucks balls. It is made by a handful of session musicians in Nashville.

I'm not a huge fan honestly but the members of the band are hilarious! Worth taking a look for sure.

[Machiavelli]

I like Dierks Bentley too. My favorite song of his:

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[Cowperson]

The usual names have been taken so I'll step off the beaten track a bit . . . .

Lyle Lovett's "The Road To Ensenanda" won Best Country Album grammy in 1997 and is a great one.

He free ranges from pure country to blues to bluegrass and is a great, great live performer. We saw him once at Carnegie Hall in New York, backed up by his Large Band and the Harlem Gospel Choir, a group which joins him on his "Church" video. And we've seen him a few times in San Antonio as well. The big hair is gone now . . .

Some of my favourite Lovett:

"In My Own Mind" - eloquently clever

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"Church" - pretty hilarious song about overlong sermons.

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"South Texas Girl" - the lady he's with at the end of the video is his wife and a lot of it is home video. A lingering ballad.

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From the late 80's, "She's No Lady"

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I also like some good Randy Travis once in a while but my favourite is very obscure: "A Horse Called Music" that's really a simple, raw display of his voice.

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And locally, I like Paul Brandt a lot . . . .

"Alberta Bound"

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"Small Towns, Big Dreams"

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Sara Evans has had a tumultuous life but has now settled down into a mature, quality act that's getting a lot of appreciation these days. "A Little Bit Stronger" just had a nice run near the top of the charts and most know its a very personal song for her:

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A toe-tapper is "Suds In The Bucket"

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Toby Keith, Sugarland . . . . .

Cowperson

[Dion]

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[Magnum PEI]

I pretty much only listen to Canadian country.

Fred Eaglesmith is a legend. He's been putting out great albums for three decades.
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George Fox
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John Bottomley (passed away this year)
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And of course Corb Lund and Tim Huss who have already been mentioned.

[18flames]

I'm really disappointed in this site right now, no mention of Garth Brooks but numerous mentions of The Zac Brown band, has everyone lost their taste in music?

[MissTeeks]

I'm really disappointed in this site right now, no mention of Garth Brooks but numerous mentions of The Zac Brown band, has everyone lost their taste in music?

I saw Garth in Vegas last December. Best $250 ticket ever! Two hours of whatever he felt like singing and he was funny too.

[drhu22]

Emmylou Harris really should be near the top of the list of artists to check out.

Start out with Profile: Best of Emmylou Harris for a taste of her early work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoWJFC_ock8&feature=grec_index

[Magnum PEI]

I'm really disappointed in this site right now, no mention of Garth Brooks but numerous mentions of The Zac Brown band, has everyone lost their taste in music?

THe thread is Recommend Some Country Music. I think most people know who Garth Brooks is. I had no clue who the Zac Brown band was, but I do now thanks to this thread.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Nick 13

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[TurnedTheCorner]

According to my music library, you only need to add three country songs.

Mud On The Tires - Brad Paisley
What A Crying Shame - The Mavericks
Love Story - Taylor Swift.

You're welcome.

Oh, and automatically distrust anyone who is recommending any Toby Kieth song.

[Dion]

I'm really disappointed in this site right now, no mention of Garth Brooks but numerous mentions of The Zac Brown band, has everyone lost their taste in music?

I think it's a given that everyone knows who Garth Brooks is. Besides there's nothing wrong with exposing people to music they might not of heard ;)

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[Azure]

Can't believe this thread went 3 pages without Jamey Johnson being mentioned.

[PowerPlayoffs06]

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[The Goon]

I will second the love for Sara Evans. Great voice, amazing rack.

[Capitano]

I grew up and still love the old classic country...

A few of my favorites...

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Song reminds me of my younger years, and my mom...Brings a tear to my eye.

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And the most underrated of all classic country, is the young george jones...

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Here's another one that is just so catchy...

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[schteve_d]

Really diggin' this song right now:


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[To Be Quite Honest]

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[Joborule]

Thanks for the help again guys! Gotten through a bunch of them thus far.

[saskflames69]

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[GreatWhiteEbola]

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[Bonded]

Old Crow Medicine Show is awesome. Was going to post them but I was beat to it.
I leave Johnny Cash in return
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[Regular_John]

It's either gotta be old school (EG: Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton*) or else you've gotta be really drunk to enjoy country. Usually by the time I start nodding along to "I love this bar" I know it's time to down a water and go home cause I'm gonna be feeling it the next day.

*Screw you, Jolene is a heart breaker of a track. Emo bands wish they could dump that much emotion into a single tortured scream

[Sopure]

I've always loved the country music. I was the kid with the Randy Travis poster growing up.

Here's a few that I don't think have been mentioned.

Montgomery Gentry - Gone

Kip Moore - Somethin' bout a Truck

Blake Shelton - Playboys of the Southwestern World


Good luck in your country music search!

[Senator Clay Davis]

Ween - 12 Golden Country Greats. Ween may not be a country band, but if every country artist made country music like Ween did on this album, I'd actually probably listen to country music. Hilarious lyrics in poor taste with great backing musicians.

[Muffins]

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Big thumbs up for Dwight!


Don't listen to much country anymore (besides stampede) but here are some of my favorites
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[Dion]

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[Lt.Spears]

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[Azure]

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[Azure]

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[The Reverend]

I think punk music and country are one and the same, essentially. So my recommendations are a bit more eclectic:

The Sadies
Ernest Tubb
Mike Ness
Two Cow Garage
Brown Bird
Junior Brown - (a veritable guitar demon)
Me First & the Gimme Gimme's record, "Love their Country" - a mix of classic country covers.
Hank III's record "Ghost to a Ghost" can be strange to someone unfamiliar with his work but it's well worth the listen if you like your country with the requisite twang.

[Puppet Guy]

I like Ian Tyson:

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[Displaced Flames fan]

"We have both kinds of music; County and Western!"

[Displaced Flames fan]

For mainstream country, I would recommend Dwight Yoakum.

If you want to get a little deeper though, try on some Split Lip Rayfield.

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[Displaced Flames fan]

What A Crying Shame - The Mavericks


The Mavericks were fantastic.

[Rifleman]

I have made a Stampede mix every year since 2009. Mostly I just put on the best 100 country songs I can find. Here's some from last year which made it into my all time favorites.

Little Big Town - All The Way Down
Uncle Kracker (Feat. Kid Rock) - Good To Be Me
The Band Perry - Postcard From Paris
Kid Rock - Purple Sky
Sunny Sweeney - Skinny Dippin'
The Band Perry - All Your Life
Thompson Square - Getaway Car
One More Girl - Tumblin' Tears
Blake Shelton - Honey Bee
Taylor Swift - Mean
Dierks Bentley feat Sarah Buxton - Sweet & Wild
Zac Brown Band - Toes
Blake Shelton - Some Beach
Billy Currington - Love Done Gone
Steel Magnolia - Homespun Love
Billy Currington - All Day Long
Jewel - I Love You Forever
James Otto - Since You Brought It Up

[Joborule]

I still haven't gotten around to checking out a bunch of these clips. Stampede is near though so good time to get around to it.

[Prufrock]

Corb Lund, Corb Lund, Corb Lund aaaaand Corb Lund. Good Alberta boy, great songs.

EDIT: He's already been mentioned, I just thought I'd provide a friendly reminder :)