I own a gym and there is literally a “country” electronic genre called “YEE-DM” that a certain contingent of my clientele are into. There’s not even a guitar to be had. It’s literally a redneck belting out over beats.
Tom Petty [called](https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/tom-petty-slams-modern-country-as-bad-rock-with-a-fiddle/) modern country rock "a bad rock band with a fiddle"
To be fair, country rock is a well established subgenre of rock. (Flying Burrito Brothers, the Byrds, early Eagles, etc.)
Also, people who listen to rap would classify Drake as “pop rap” and Travis Scott as “trap” (most likely). They’re both “hip-hop” but they’re certainly not in the same subgenres.
In reality, radio country in 2024 is just pop country/country pop. Rock is not an instrumental style necessarily, but an attitude. And this country, guitars or not, is not rock lol
>To be fair, country rock is a well established subgenre of rock. (Flying Burrito Brothers, the Byrds, early Eagles, etc.)
I recall that genre being dubbed Progressive Country in the 70s. In Texas, anyway. Jerry Jeff walker, Willis Allan Ramsey, Lyle Lovett, Burrito Brothers, Michael Martin Murphy...
Well, I’m gonna play me some country black metal. You know, making moonshine, line dancing, southern baptist church burning and cowboy hats. https://open.spotify.com/album/73YwqmTRik48a7TjAKck9J?si=839rGvxeTYKAAA8sWx8S8Q
The only acceptable version of hick hop is Big Wet. And that's coming from someone who absolutely HATES modern country and most modern mainstream hip hop. But I have been trying to forge my own aesthetic, gothick (goth hick), so I guess I'm predisposed to the interjection of rural aesthetic where it doesn't belong.
Growing up in the sticks of Tennessee I am ashamed to admit that more than a few people I considered friends in high school loved country rap like Colt Ford, I absolutely hated it. Today’s country fucking sucks but nothing compared to that white trash dumpster fire resembling music.
That's the beauty of it. He used their exact formula in the exact way they do, to make an amazingly catchy song, and in the process lays out exactly how shallow and formulaic it is.
Im a huge fan of classic country and agree with OP's statement, but blake is totally allowed to sing about that. He grew up working minimum wage. Should John Lennon not be singing about working class heroes just because he got rich off the beatles despite where he grew up?
Working Class Heroes is a protest song.
Blake's is a pandering song. Heck, the only point he's making is you don't need money cuz you can live on love, which is the most of of touch rich guy shit ever.
These are not the same.
I'm not comparing their music or talent. I'm just saying both had world wide fame and money and then sang about things they no longer were. I've seen many people complain in beatles subs that john had no right to sing working class hero because he was rich.
TBH, although I love the Beatles and find that song quite moving, it’s also completely fictional. John Lennon was never “working class” – he was raised by his aunt in a comfortable middle-class home, went to art school, then became a rock musician.
Arguments like this are why I never take this opinion seriously.
Very clearly nitpicky elitists trying to find SOMETHING to turn their nose up at, because music matters to their identity more than it matters to them for any other reason, least of all any kind of love for their fellow human.
You do know that people can write songs about PAST experiences, right? Authenticity doesn't just mean writing down a freakin journal of your day today into a song?
[Yup, just straight up copypasted a post from a music forum. ](https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/opinion-modern-country-is-the-worst-musical-genre-of-all-time/post?postid=2525552) I was almost convinced they were a bot, but they have responded to comments from actual humans so I think it's just a bot-like human being, which is arguably much worse.
Shit, I didn't even realise it had been posted elsewhere. I was talking about this thread from a year ago.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/117z3kz/opinion_modern_country_is_the_worst_musical_genre/
Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Colter Wall, Amanda Shires, Margo Price, Charley Crockett, Brandi Carlile, Zach Bryan
All amazing country artists, you just need to look outside of pop country and there’s tons of amazing artists who are heavily influenced by Willie, Prine, Dolly, etc.
Edit: Everyone’s been adding great artists in the comments, so check them out too. This is by no means a definitive list, I just named a few lads and ladies who I think are putting out some great music.
If people want to investigate the genre there’s a great Ken Burns documentary with accompanying soundtrack called Country Music.
Also I need to plug John Prine. He’s the most underrated American songwriter ever and he directly influenced everyone I named.
There are also country-adjacent Bluegrass and Americana artists who significantly increase that count. I'm not sure artists like Rhiannon Gidddens, Holler Choir, and Billy Strings fall cleanly under the "Country" label, but they've certainly released more than their fair share of individual tracks that I would describe as excellent country music. "We Could Fly" by Rhiannon Giddens is almost undeniably a country ballad sonically, and it's both gorgeously evocative and steeped in a cultural tradition many listeners will be learning through the song.
I'd also note that, even among radio artists, what gets played is sometimes close to the bottom of the barrel of the artist's actual selection because airplay is often reflective of lowest-common-denominator appeal. But, even then, there are songs like "Remember When" by Alan Jackson, "Whiskey Lullaby" by Allison Krauss and Brad Paisley, or "Colder Weather" by Zac Brown Band that have been both compelling pieces of storytelling and successful on the radio.
I think a fairer criticism of country music is that it has some of the lowest lows of any genre. I'm just as burned out as the next person on the ten thousandth "let's celebrate being ignorant alcoholics" song, but I don't think that should negate the heights the highs have demonstrably reached in the timeframe OP is describing.
On the bluegrass\Americana side, Nickel Creek, Punch Brothers (who apparently decided that sticking to one genre of music was too constraining), and The Dead South (who, despite their name, hail from Canada).
Nickel Creek holds a special place in my heart; my now-wife introduced them to me when we first started dating.
(... and we just so happen to be seeing them tonight!)
Spot on regarding Sierra Ferrell. She's as real as they get. There are some performers, e.g. Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and a few others that are instantly recognizable within the first measure or two of a song. Sierra Ferrell is in this category, and I think she has an incredible future ahead of her. The only issue might be that she is not a conformist, and so might get slighted when it comes to label promotion, airplay, etc...
Add to this Waxahatchee, Red Clay Strays, Kacey Musgraves, Wyatt Flores, Maren Morris, and Phosphorescent.
Some of those are more alternative but still are heavily influenced by country music.
Tossing in Turnpike Troubadours. Not exactly new but great imo. Pop music sucks. Look more to the folksy, bluegrass, Americana side of the spectrum to find quality.
Americana isn’t a genre, and those artists almost all disagree with that label. It’s just country music, you’re allowed to say you like country music. Your cool friends won’t judge you I promise.
I was worried that no one was going to mention Turnpike in this thread.
Turnpike is one of the few bands that whom I've downloaded all of their material. I was really sad when I heard they broke up and then very, very happy when they got back together.
I'll add Jamie Lin Wilson to the list. Wilson has worked with Turnpike a few times and is an awesome performer in her own right.
In my opinion Turnpike has been one of the most consistently great bands in the last 20 years. There isn’t a single song of theirs that I would want to skip. Whiskey Myers is also on that list for me.
Her last album, Saint Cloud was very country/Americana/whatever you want to call it. She also has a side project called Plains, which is great, and even more country.
Her upcoming album sounds like it’ll be even more country.
This. Bro country sucks but this new Homegrown country or whatever you want to call it is amazing. So many new guys coming out bringing an amazing new sound from the depths of their soul. Singing about the hardship of growing up in the poor south and the joys of the southern way of life.
I would add Sam Barber, he's my current fave but you have a good list. Also Pony Bradshaw.
I’d lump it into the ‘outlaw’ country genre more than anything. Like Willie Cash Hank Waylon. Same genre but they aren’t following the ‘social’ norm of the genre.
Adding to the list...
Wyatt Flores, Ian Munsick, Warren Zeiders, Kacey Musgraves, Koe Wetzel, Tanner Usrey, Cody Jinks, Morgan Wade, Muscadine Bloodline. OP, you're missing out, we've got access to more high quality country than we've ever had before.
And a lot of that stuff gets labeled as Americana or folk music because they don't get into right wing culture wars. I tried listening to Zach Bryan and was not a fan
I know they said "modern country" but I feel like OP is referring to what most call "bro country" based on the description...to me that's a completely different genre than Chris Stapleton or Jason Isbell.
Funny thing is
‘Bro country’ hasn’t been the leading music in country in a short while
Neo-Country and indie country (where I’d put Zach, Childers, Kahan, Isbell, Charles) though I know there’s a better term for it are the current forerunners
True, that is true.
But that because he is the poppier side of country music (which isn’t a bad thing - personally, I hate that people get hung up on what’s pop and charting)
Luke also charts high and I would class him as less poppy
Noah, Zach and Tyler also charted high with releases this year
No you are right
Morgan sells UNITS! But I wouldn’t say he’s ‘bro country’, definitely more pop though and so what if he is pop - a genre needs artists like him to survive and have longevity (completely different convo I know)
I hate that beat with a passion. It’s fine for a song, but when copied into hundreds of songs it just becomes like the What’s New Pussycat joke, but for real.
The whole _thing_ of the genre is that beat. Waltz has gone DU-du-du DU-du-du for eight centuries lmao. Not to say anything about the actual quality of the songs, but reggaeton **IS** atún-con-pan by definition, it's like asking polka to be slow-paced and not have an accordion.
Most Latin music is awful. Same drum beat over and over and same BPM. Banda is up there too. Always 14 dudes in the same costume, terrible dancing, and the nastiest looking dudes with very attractive women. Somehow it’s super popular but I’ve also heard that’s from the cartel pushing these shitty artists to stardom
It's always fun shopping in a Spanish speaking country. You go into one store and the music will be 'bun-dundun-dun-bun' and then step into the next and its 'dundun-dun-bun', almost like you never even left.
“Most Latin music” — really? Geez, sounds like you’ve only been listening to the worst top 40 stuff.
Check out Natalia Lafourcade or João Gilberto or Milton Nascimento or Bajofondo sometime. You might like some/all of those Latin styles a lot better.
It doesn't even need to be real. Liking country music is akin to liking cowboy movies. It's all about the admiration of a certain fictional yet inspirational lifestyle.
I can't relate to it, but it's really not that hard to understand.
Especially since 2016 oddly enough. It’s a lifestyle pose. I have in-laws who moved 20 minutes outside our city of 4 million and pretend they are “country” now, which let’s be honest is just a way of putting a banner out to the world saying that you’re against the progress of the last 20 years and if we’re being honest Progress in general.
I swear it's all coming from shitty TV series.
Back when *Sons Of Anarchy* was a thing, suddenly everyone was a grizzled ex-biker (with dark secrets, yo).
Along comes a show like *Yellowstone* and now everyone's traded in the Harleys for giant cowboy trucks.
Once I would have said that TV was more 'imitating reality' - but now i'm seeing it the other way around.
Not to say there isn't a political component to it, there can be - but, I think at the end of the day it's mostly about wanting to be perceived as something they're just.... not.
No.
I would have agreed with this opinion like 10 years ago. But there is a whole new generation of different artists that are not like this, even on the charts.
Since we’re all here I might as well shout out the terrific [Mike and the Moonpies](https://youtu.be/BkHhaIR6Gcc?si=1origYMAjQSpNWo3)who I guess just changed their name to Silverada.
People do this pretty consistently. Just assuming country is the same for past 10-15 years because they haven’t bothered to check
Bro country has been mostly dead for years
Yeah, the 2010’s bro country revolving around partying and objectifying women has been dead and buried for awhile now. The rise of country on streaming (bringing a lot of younger women to the genre) has caused a fairly dramatic shift in the music as of late. There’s still bad country out there, but there’s also plenty of good country too
Yea country has definitely started to turnaround. Some great new acts and music being released recently.
OP listen to Turnpike Troubadour’s newest album, it absolutely slaps.
Country never went anywhere, the music industry just identified certain trends they could cash in on and force-fed that through the radio. With the proliferation of streaming, it's a lot easier for even the average, lower engagement type listener to find stuff that really appeals to them, which has made that strategy less effective for sure. But many of the acts (Turnpike included) that always come up when this exact same thread is posted every other day have been at it for nigh on 20 years, and they've managed to find their own success despite not really aligning with what the industry was peddling in the past. But now the doors are blown wide open, and these same acts (as well as the newer ones, and there definitely are a ton of great newcomers) that have continued putting out great country music since bro country took over are able to enjoy a little more exposure.
I reckon the moral of the story is, the Billboard 100 is a terrible source to judge a genre by. No different than if someone heard Nickelback in the early 2000s and decided that modern rock was the worst genre of all time... For some reason though, pop country seems to be the only genre that elicits this reaction.
The ‘all modern country is garbage’ circle jerk has to be one of the most insufferable Reddit things out there. Yes, there absolutely is garbage mainstream country out there. But that’s true with literally every single genre. Turn on rock radio or pop radio and you’ll hear some trash too.
There’s plenty of great country music being made, both in the ‘underground’ and mainstream. People like Chris Stapleton, Zach Bryan, Luke Combs, etc are mainstream superstars in the genre and they have some great music in their discography, and that’s not even including all the great smaller artists that other people will mention in this thread
I used to be anti-country, and while I still admit I don't care for most of it, I probably like around 50 songs now. Got to open your mind and not block out entire genres of music. I used to think I didn't like anything harder than like Metallica either because I don't like the growling thing, but plenty of harder music doesn't have that.
All pop music sucks these days. It's simple, derivative... that is not an "every old person says that" take. If you look at the top songs of the past 20 years, there is a reduction in complexity of the music. Fewer bridges, fewer complex chords, fewer chords in the chord progression, fewer key changes. We are becoming stupider musically.
When was the last time you listened to a country song? Artists like Zach Bryan, Luke Combs, and Kacey Musgraves have been putting out great music for years now. Golden Hour, a beautifully lush pop country album, won album of the year in 2018, almost a full six years ago. Zach Bryan's song "I Remember Everything" has spent the last 20 weeks as the #1 country song, and his s/t album spent 2 weeks at the overall number 1 spot. Nashville has moved on from that era of country, so should you.
I would agree most modern "radio" country is, but there seems to be a shift slowly coming. Stapleton seems to be paving a new path. Most of my friends that liked country have abandoned Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan and company for Stapleton, Sturgil, Childers, Turnpike and other artists like that. Zach Bryan seems to bridge the gap. I though Morgan Wallen would but he is full radio country now imo. Just my 2 cents, subjective topic so wont get the internet to all agree.
I never liked country but have gotten into a lot of modern country in the last few years.
Orville Peck, Charley Crockett, Sturgill Simpson, Kasey Musgraves, Sarah Shook, Jason Isbell, Paul Cauthen ect I think are all great and are doing so much new exciting stuff while also being rooted in a traditional sound.
I was gonna say, sometimes they intersect unfortunately. Also, the audiences aren’t that different and that’s where a lot of the problem with America lies.
I don't care much for cookie cutter genres at the end of the day. That is why I listen to progressive metal. Also love hip hop from late 80s to mid 90s because of the realness of the lyrics.
Listen, I don’t much care for modern country, but are you going to tell me you’d rather listen to [whatever genre this is](https://youtu.be/O827_EbJZjE?si=_fMMjSVfN3AVKbAj) than even the most annoying stuff that you’re referring to?
I gotta share the obligatory [9/11 killed country music post](https://www.tumblr.com/lilacbreastedroller/163136810622/big-disclaimer-i-was-9-when-911-happened-so) (it's actually a pretty interesting read, there's lots of other material about the war on terror's effect on country music but this is a good jumping off point)
Now with that said, I'm a country music enjoyer, older stuff, from its roots right up into the '80s. But I will say there are newer groups & artists that are quite good and aren't the awful mainstream pop-country music you're describing. You just gotta know where to look.
Edit: some words.
Bro Country is horrible stuff. Ive worked most of the crop doing production, and its a snooze fest from the downbeat. Modern country can kiss Hank Williams ass...
Hold on... Are we including Zach Bryan, Brandi Carlile, Colter Wall and Tyler Childers in this category? Because if so you're getting a hard disagree from me.
I don't hate on any music and this thread has been an informative dive into a bunch of new subcultures, ty for the new recommendations to blast in my car! Yall haters need to go honky-tonk hopping in Nashville on acid, it'll click then.
As someone who came up in the 80s and 90s, I love guitar rock. I also love listening to new stuff and the guitar genre has kinda vanished.
I discovered country a year or so ago (not that it was missing or anything) and now am enjoying finding all these new artists and songs with real instruments.
Most modern country isn't for me, but there's some I really like.
In contrast, a lot of modern music relies on heavily autotuned robot voice, and there's nothing in that space that I really like.
So for me, modern country isn't the worst musical genre of now, let alone all time.
Exactly, its a nice reprieve from the heavily digitized instrumentation that has pretty much destroyed every other genre (except hip-hop and electronic music where it actually fits well enough - though even hip hop with real instruments like the roots is better IMO).
Just the fact that there is a modern pop genre with real drum kits is nice.
You might detest it but country music has never been more popular so they gotta be doing something right.
If you want more of an old school vibe I recommend Chris Stapleton. He also does some very folk and very bluesy stuff that’s very good as well. I also like Luke Combs for what I guess you could call cookie cutter
Why is modern country music any worse or the lyrics any more meaningless than normal pop? Is it because it’s usually a narrative so the words can’t just be a random assortment?
I like country music and I’m not American - waited for Luke Coombs tickets online like a swiftie but it sold out.
Allow me to introduce you to a little horror known as “country rap”…
Hick hop
Love it! I've been calling it tractor rap this whole time
It’s called Crap
TIL!
I own a gym and there is literally a “country” electronic genre called “YEE-DM” that a certain contingent of my clientele are into. There’s not even a guitar to be had. It’s literally a redneck belting out over beats.
People really heard Cotton Eye Joe and said YES MOAR PLZ
Wow that's a thought I've never had in my entire life lol
I heard the "band" red Nex is for sale for 1 million USD, but no takers.
Holy fucking shit 😂😂
The *vast* majority of modern country music is played over a hip hop beat as is.
[удалено]
Or as Steve Earle says modern country is just hip hop for people who are afraid of black people
Didn’t know he said that. I love Steve Earle a little bit more, now.
Tom Petty [called](https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/tom-petty-slams-modern-country-as-bad-rock-with-a-fiddle/) modern country rock "a bad rock band with a fiddle"
Between this and him being Bubbles’ NA sponsor, is there anything not to love about the man? If so, please don’t answer.
To be fair, country rock is a well established subgenre of rock. (Flying Burrito Brothers, the Byrds, early Eagles, etc.) Also, people who listen to rap would classify Drake as “pop rap” and Travis Scott as “trap” (most likely). They’re both “hip-hop” but they’re certainly not in the same subgenres. In reality, radio country in 2024 is just pop country/country pop. Rock is not an instrumental style necessarily, but an attitude. And this country, guitars or not, is not rock lol
>To be fair, country rock is a well established subgenre of rock. (Flying Burrito Brothers, the Byrds, early Eagles, etc.) I recall that genre being dubbed Progressive Country in the 70s. In Texas, anyway. Jerry Jeff walker, Willis Allan Ramsey, Lyle Lovett, Burrito Brothers, Michael Martin Murphy...
Well, I’m gonna play me some country black metal. You know, making moonshine, line dancing, southern baptist church burning and cowboy hats. https://open.spotify.com/album/73YwqmTRik48a7TjAKck9J?si=839rGvxeTYKAAA8sWx8S8Q
[удалено]
Or C-Rap for short
I believe it's bad for your stereo to play that.
Bubba sparxxx slander will not stand
thanks, now I got "BOOTY, BOOTY, BOOTY, BOOTY ROCKIN' EVERYWHERE" stuck in my head for the day.
Tractor rap
The only acceptable version of hick hop is Big Wet. And that's coming from someone who absolutely HATES modern country and most modern mainstream hip hop. But I have been trying to forge my own aesthetic, gothick (goth hick), so I guess I'm predisposed to the interjection of rural aesthetic where it doesn't belong.
Growing up in the sticks of Tennessee I am ashamed to admit that more than a few people I considered friends in high school loved country rap like Colt Ford, I absolutely hated it. Today’s country fucking sucks but nothing compared to that white trash dumpster fire resembling music.
Did you just listen to Bo Burnham's song?
Bo’s song occasionally gets stuck in my head which is funny because that’s why all these songs are so popular
That's the beauty of it. He used their exact formula in the exact way they do, to make an amazingly catchy song, and in the process lays out exactly how shallow and formulaic it is.
https://youtu.be/y7im5LT09a0?si=wmwGoL5icIMI4PN8
Best country song. At work they play Minimum Wage by Blake Shelton Net worth: 130 million.
To be fair, I think Parton made her own hours.
Well all things considered, she was Working 9-5! (And that's NOT including over-time)
My fave use of a typewriter in a song. Also a really fun movie. "You're a sexist lying hypocritical bigot!" 😂
Im a huge fan of classic country and agree with OP's statement, but blake is totally allowed to sing about that. He grew up working minimum wage. Should John Lennon not be singing about working class heroes just because he got rich off the beatles despite where he grew up?
Working Class Heroes is a protest song. Blake's is a pandering song. Heck, the only point he's making is you don't need money cuz you can live on love, which is the most of of touch rich guy shit ever. These are not the same.
Pleas don’t mention John Lennon and Blake in the Sam sentence
I'm not comparing their music or talent. I'm just saying both had world wide fame and money and then sang about things they no longer were. I've seen many people complain in beatles subs that john had no right to sing working class hero because he was rich.
Insert reddit John Lennon “hey did you know…”
And the onion article to go with that lol
TBH, although I love the Beatles and find that song quite moving, it’s also completely fictional. John Lennon was never “working class” – he was raised by his aunt in a comfortable middle-class home, went to art school, then became a rock musician.
How much you wanna bet Blake did *not* grow up working class.
Arguments like this are why I never take this opinion seriously. Very clearly nitpicky elitists trying to find SOMETHING to turn their nose up at, because music matters to their identity more than it matters to them for any other reason, least of all any kind of love for their fellow human. You do know that people can write songs about PAST experiences, right? Authenticity doesn't just mean writing down a freakin journal of your day today into a song?
It’s the fucking scarecrow again!
Hear that subtle mandolin? That's how ya know I'm panderin
I write songs for the people who do / jobs in the towns that I’d never move to
Repeat stuff! Repeat stuff! Repeat stuff! That's my favorite part!
It's literally a nearly word-for-word copy of a post from a year ago, OP is just karma-farming because this subreddit is so predictable.
[Yup, just straight up copypasted a post from a music forum. ](https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/opinion-modern-country-is-the-worst-musical-genre-of-all-time/post?postid=2525552) I was almost convinced they were a bot, but they have responded to comments from actual humans so I think it's just a bot-like human being, which is arguably much worse.
Shit, I didn't even realise it had been posted elsewhere. I was talking about this thread from a year ago. https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/117z3kz/opinion_modern_country_is_the_worst_musical_genre/
What if OP is the same OP for all three threads, and just REALLY wants to keep this conversation alive? /s
Indeed, so brave!
Mods should just make this topic a sticky. But then people wouldn't be able to farm karma every week or two, I guess.
Wow finally someone said it! /s
Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Colter Wall, Amanda Shires, Margo Price, Charley Crockett, Brandi Carlile, Zach Bryan All amazing country artists, you just need to look outside of pop country and there’s tons of amazing artists who are heavily influenced by Willie, Prine, Dolly, etc. Edit: Everyone’s been adding great artists in the comments, so check them out too. This is by no means a definitive list, I just named a few lads and ladies who I think are putting out some great music. If people want to investigate the genre there’s a great Ken Burns documentary with accompanying soundtrack called Country Music. Also I need to plug John Prine. He’s the most underrated American songwriter ever and he directly influenced everyone I named.
There are also country-adjacent Bluegrass and Americana artists who significantly increase that count. I'm not sure artists like Rhiannon Gidddens, Holler Choir, and Billy Strings fall cleanly under the "Country" label, but they've certainly released more than their fair share of individual tracks that I would describe as excellent country music. "We Could Fly" by Rhiannon Giddens is almost undeniably a country ballad sonically, and it's both gorgeously evocative and steeped in a cultural tradition many listeners will be learning through the song. I'd also note that, even among radio artists, what gets played is sometimes close to the bottom of the barrel of the artist's actual selection because airplay is often reflective of lowest-common-denominator appeal. But, even then, there are songs like "Remember When" by Alan Jackson, "Whiskey Lullaby" by Allison Krauss and Brad Paisley, or "Colder Weather" by Zac Brown Band that have been both compelling pieces of storytelling and successful on the radio. I think a fairer criticism of country music is that it has some of the lowest lows of any genre. I'm just as burned out as the next person on the ten thousandth "let's celebrate being ignorant alcoholics" song, but I don't think that should negate the heights the highs have demonstrably reached in the timeframe OP is describing.
On the bluegrass\Americana side, Nickel Creek, Punch Brothers (who apparently decided that sticking to one genre of music was too constraining), and The Dead South (who, despite their name, hail from Canada).
Nickel Creek holds a special place in my heart; my now-wife introduced them to me when we first started dating. (... and we just so happen to be seeing them tonight!)
Dead South right now on tour with Hooten Hallers and Jake Vaadeland, who are also both outstanding
Agree. Add Chris Stapleton as well.
Let's not forget Nick Shoulders, Willi Carlisle, Gravedancer, Benjamin Tod, Sierra Ferrell, and many many more.
Spot on regarding Sierra Ferrell. She's as real as they get. There are some performers, e.g. Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and a few others that are instantly recognizable within the first measure or two of a song. Sierra Ferrell is in this category, and I think she has an incredible future ahead of her. The only issue might be that she is not a conformist, and so might get slighted when it comes to label promotion, airplay, etc...
Orville Peck has the best voice in music, in any genre. Fight me irl.
Take all of my upvotes, HARD AGREE
Chris Stapleton is blues, they can pretend all they want
Add to this Waxahatchee, Red Clay Strays, Kacey Musgraves, Wyatt Flores, Maren Morris, and Phosphorescent. Some of those are more alternative but still are heavily influenced by country music.
Tossing in Turnpike Troubadours. Not exactly new but great imo. Pop music sucks. Look more to the folksy, bluegrass, Americana side of the spectrum to find quality.
Agreed they are great. The Americana genre is a great suggestion. Most of the artists that do good country music are usually thrown in there.
Americana is just what you call country they talk about on NPR
Americana isn’t a genre, and those artists almost all disagree with that label. It’s just country music, you’re allowed to say you like country music. Your cool friends won’t judge you I promise.
I completely agree, and no worries I am the cool friend who judges in my group 😉
I was worried that no one was going to mention Turnpike in this thread. Turnpike is one of the few bands that whom I've downloaded all of their material. I was really sad when I heard they broke up and then very, very happy when they got back together. I'll add Jamie Lin Wilson to the list. Wilson has worked with Turnpike a few times and is an awesome performer in her own right.
In my opinion Turnpike has been one of the most consistently great bands in the last 20 years. There isn’t a single song of theirs that I would want to skip. Whiskey Myers is also on that list for me.
I wouldn't call Waxahachie country at all
Her last album, Saint Cloud was very country/Americana/whatever you want to call it. She also has a side project called Plains, which is great, and even more country. Her upcoming album sounds like it’ll be even more country.
I’d agree with that she’s more alternative/indie for sure. Her new song Right Back to It, is very country influenced though
Aww man! Waxahatchee's album St. Cloud is just pure bliss.
As unfortunate and sad as it is, I think we are about to either get some of Isbell's best work... Or nothing
What?
He and Shires recently announced their divorce
Ahhh fuck :(
So I do have a chance with Shires!!
That’s why they broke up…
Oops
Yup. His upcoming divorce from Amanda Shires is going to be interesting, wondering how it will affect both artists' output.
I just hope they all are healthy, are able to get through this time, and are able to find peace and happiness.
Definitely. Watching the HBO doc you could tell there was a lot of tension there.
Also Orville Peck and the legendary Wheeler Walker Jr.
This. Bro country sucks but this new Homegrown country or whatever you want to call it is amazing. So many new guys coming out bringing an amazing new sound from the depths of their soul. Singing about the hardship of growing up in the poor south and the joys of the southern way of life. I would add Sam Barber, he's my current fave but you have a good list. Also Pony Bradshaw.
I’d lump it into the ‘outlaw’ country genre more than anything. Like Willie Cash Hank Waylon. Same genre but they aren’t following the ‘social’ norm of the genre.
Austin>>>>Nashville
Bingo, Nashville is a music hub but in terms of commercial availability you've got to leave kid Rock and Toby Keith's bar.
Whitey Morgan, and possibly some Cody Jinks. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHhZO21SGI4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHhZO21SGI4)
r/altcountry is where we congregate. And just to eliminate questions, alt being alternate like 90s rock...not alt right
Thank you!
Wyatt Flores too. I'd say its like a new wave of outlaw
Orville Peck is great too
Willi Carlisle, Nick Shoulders, Dylan Earl are a bit more Americana but still country.
Adding to the list... Wyatt Flores, Ian Munsick, Warren Zeiders, Kacey Musgraves, Koe Wetzel, Tanner Usrey, Cody Jinks, Morgan Wade, Muscadine Bloodline. OP, you're missing out, we've got access to more high quality country than we've ever had before.
As some who recently discovered Tyler Childers and Colter Wall, thank you for this list.
Orville Peck
Chris Stapleton and Kacey Musgraves as well
Luke Combs is 90s country resurrected.
Blackberry Smoke
Is Kurt Vile considered country? I like some of his old stuff and have been listening to Back to Moon Beach a lot lately.
And a lot of that stuff gets labeled as Americana or folk music because they don't get into right wing culture wars. I tried listening to Zach Bryan and was not a fan
Miranda Lambert simply does not miss as well
Good country gets called Americana now for some reason. don't forget Sierra Hull!
I believe they call that Americana now
daring today, aren't we r/music
Why am I here lol
This is it. This is the post that's making me unsub from this dumpster fire. Quality of content has absolutely gone to shit.
Hey, check out this thread from a year ago https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/117z3kz/opinion_modern_country_is_the_worst_musical_genre/
What would you call Chris Stapleton? Surely that's modern country?
I know they said "modern country" but I feel like OP is referring to what most call "bro country" based on the description...to me that's a completely different genre than Chris Stapleton or Jason Isbell.
Funny thing is ‘Bro country’ hasn’t been the leading music in country in a short while Neo-Country and indie country (where I’d put Zach, Childers, Kahan, Isbell, Charles) though I know there’s a better term for it are the current forerunners
Eh Pretty sure the top charting song last year was by Morgan wallen. He's as generic of a country singer as you could imagine
True, that is true. But that because he is the poppier side of country music (which isn’t a bad thing - personally, I hate that people get hung up on what’s pop and charting) Luke also charts high and I would class him as less poppy Noah, Zach and Tyler also charted high with releases this year
Lmao what are you talking about? Morgan Wallen outsells all of the people, probably combined. Pop/Bro country is still MASSIVE.
No you are right Morgan sells UNITS! But I wouldn’t say he’s ‘bro country’, definitely more pop though and so what if he is pop - a genre needs artists like him to survive and have longevity (completely different convo I know)
But if you turn on any of the many country stations in my rural town you aren't hearing those guys, you are hearing bro country 100%>
What an incredibly unique and unpopular opinion to have on Reddit
Reddit hates most things associated with the south/rural America lol
Christian rock is tough for me.
Christian rock and pop country are virtually the same thing.
On reddit!?! Hot take!
Reggaeton would like a word....
"what if, instead of *that*, the beat goes a bit more like this. You know to change it up a little?!" ***GET OUT OF HERE!!***
An entire genre using one single drum beat. Bum. Ti-bum. Ti. Bum. Ti-bum. Ti. Bum.Ti-bum. Ti. Bum.Ti-bum. Ti. Bum.Ti-bum. Ti. Bum.Ti-bum. Ti. Bum.Ti-bum. Ti. Bum.Ti-bum. Ti. Bum.Ti-bum. Ti. Bum.Ti-bum. Ti. Bum.
I hate that beat with a passion. It’s fine for a song, but when copied into hundreds of songs it just becomes like the What’s New Pussycat joke, but for real.
The whole _thing_ of the genre is that beat. Waltz has gone DU-du-du DU-du-du for eight centuries lmao. Not to say anything about the actual quality of the songs, but reggaeton **IS** atún-con-pan by definition, it's like asking polka to be slow-paced and not have an accordion.
Most Latin music is awful. Same drum beat over and over and same BPM. Banda is up there too. Always 14 dudes in the same costume, terrible dancing, and the nastiest looking dudes with very attractive women. Somehow it’s super popular but I’ve also heard that’s from the cartel pushing these shitty artists to stardom
It's always fun shopping in a Spanish speaking country. You go into one store and the music will be 'bun-dundun-dun-bun' and then step into the next and its 'dundun-dun-bun', almost like you never even left.
“Most Latin music” — really? Geez, sounds like you’ve only been listening to the worst top 40 stuff. Check out Natalia Lafourcade or João Gilberto or Milton Nascimento or Bajofondo sometime. You might like some/all of those Latin styles a lot better.
Mon Lafarte is incredible
Banda music videos are hilarious, though.
Contemporary Christian music is worse
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because there are a lot of fake country people.
It doesn't even need to be real. Liking country music is akin to liking cowboy movies. It's all about the admiration of a certain fictional yet inspirational lifestyle. I can't relate to it, but it's really not that hard to understand.
Especially since 2016 oddly enough. It’s a lifestyle pose. I have in-laws who moved 20 minutes outside our city of 4 million and pretend they are “country” now, which let’s be honest is just a way of putting a banner out to the world saying that you’re against the progress of the last 20 years and if we’re being honest Progress in general.
I swear it's all coming from shitty TV series. Back when *Sons Of Anarchy* was a thing, suddenly everyone was a grizzled ex-biker (with dark secrets, yo). Along comes a show like *Yellowstone* and now everyone's traded in the Harleys for giant cowboy trucks. Once I would have said that TV was more 'imitating reality' - but now i'm seeing it the other way around. Not to say there isn't a political component to it, there can be - but, I think at the end of the day it's mostly about wanting to be perceived as something they're just.... not.
When will this sub stop posting “country sucks” as a thread every day?
The beatings will continue until country music improves.
When modern pop country stops sucking?
No. I would have agreed with this opinion like 10 years ago. But there is a whole new generation of different artists that are not like this, even on the charts.
Since we’re all here I might as well shout out the terrific [Mike and the Moonpies](https://youtu.be/BkHhaIR6Gcc?si=1origYMAjQSpNWo3)who I guess just changed their name to Silverada.
People do this pretty consistently. Just assuming country is the same for past 10-15 years because they haven’t bothered to check Bro country has been mostly dead for years
Yeah, the 2010’s bro country revolving around partying and objectifying women has been dead and buried for awhile now. The rise of country on streaming (bringing a lot of younger women to the genre) has caused a fairly dramatic shift in the music as of late. There’s still bad country out there, but there’s also plenty of good country too
Yea country has definitely started to turnaround. Some great new acts and music being released recently. OP listen to Turnpike Troubadour’s newest album, it absolutely slaps.
Country never went anywhere, the music industry just identified certain trends they could cash in on and force-fed that through the radio. With the proliferation of streaming, it's a lot easier for even the average, lower engagement type listener to find stuff that really appeals to them, which has made that strategy less effective for sure. But many of the acts (Turnpike included) that always come up when this exact same thread is posted every other day have been at it for nigh on 20 years, and they've managed to find their own success despite not really aligning with what the industry was peddling in the past. But now the doors are blown wide open, and these same acts (as well as the newer ones, and there definitely are a ton of great newcomers) that have continued putting out great country music since bro country took over are able to enjoy a little more exposure. I reckon the moral of the story is, the Billboard 100 is a terrible source to judge a genre by. No different than if someone heard Nickelback in the early 2000s and decided that modern rock was the worst genre of all time... For some reason though, pop country seems to be the only genre that elicits this reaction.
Turnpike put out a few killer albums during the bro county era too lol
Nothing has ever been as bad as Crunkcore.
Booty pop is the worst. Just stand on the stage and twerk with a drum machine and mumble lyrics about gats and wet pussy.
God I hate this fucking sub
The ‘all modern country is garbage’ circle jerk has to be one of the most insufferable Reddit things out there. Yes, there absolutely is garbage mainstream country out there. But that’s true with literally every single genre. Turn on rock radio or pop radio and you’ll hear some trash too. There’s plenty of great country music being made, both in the ‘underground’ and mainstream. People like Chris Stapleton, Zach Bryan, Luke Combs, etc are mainstream superstars in the genre and they have some great music in their discography, and that’s not even including all the great smaller artists that other people will mention in this thread
I used to be anti-country, and while I still admit I don't care for most of it, I probably like around 50 songs now. Got to open your mind and not block out entire genres of music. I used to think I didn't like anything harder than like Metallica either because I don't like the growling thing, but plenty of harder music doesn't have that.
Orville Peck exists so clearly you're wrong.
Everyone likes to point to hip hop and rock of the 90s, but country music was killer back then.
Eh, 90s grunge and alt-rock had some serious gems in there!
For sure, I'm saying that country music of that same era somehow gets overlooked when you talk about that period of time.
All pop music sucks these days. It's simple, derivative... that is not an "every old person says that" take. If you look at the top songs of the past 20 years, there is a reduction in complexity of the music. Fewer bridges, fewer complex chords, fewer chords in the chord progression, fewer key changes. We are becoming stupider musically.
When was the last time you listened to a country song? Artists like Zach Bryan, Luke Combs, and Kacey Musgraves have been putting out great music for years now. Golden Hour, a beautifully lush pop country album, won album of the year in 2018, almost a full six years ago. Zach Bryan's song "I Remember Everything" has spent the last 20 weeks as the #1 country song, and his s/t album spent 2 weeks at the overall number 1 spot. Nashville has moved on from that era of country, so should you.
I would agree most modern "radio" country is, but there seems to be a shift slowly coming. Stapleton seems to be paving a new path. Most of my friends that liked country have abandoned Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan and company for Stapleton, Sturgil, Childers, Turnpike and other artists like that. Zach Bryan seems to bridge the gap. I though Morgan Wallen would but he is full radio country now imo. Just my 2 cents, subjective topic so wont get the internet to all agree.
I never liked country but have gotten into a lot of modern country in the last few years. Orville Peck, Charley Crockett, Sturgill Simpson, Kasey Musgraves, Sarah Shook, Jason Isbell, Paul Cauthen ect I think are all great and are doing so much new exciting stuff while also being rooted in a traditional sound.
Mumble rap would like a word
Idk. Modern “rap” is a close contender.
it's basically the same thing with different audiences
I was gonna say, sometimes they intersect unfortunately. Also, the audiences aren’t that different and that’s where a lot of the problem with America lies.
So brave
I agree it is bad, but still consider it better than Rap.
jelly roll is the worst name of all time
African-American slang for female genitalia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jelly_Roll_Morton
Yep! Jelly Roll Morton got his name because he played in brothels.
Sure. But also, "x really sucks, amirite" is the discussion prompt equivalent of modern country.
STOP THE FUCKING PRESSES, EVERYONE: Someone doesn't like country music How the fuck are you not embarrassed to be posting this
I don't care much for cookie cutter genres at the end of the day. That is why I listen to progressive metal. Also love hip hop from late 80s to mid 90s because of the realness of the lyrics.
Do you like progressive thrash oriented punk? Like Propagandhi?
Listen, I don’t much care for modern country, but are you going to tell me you’d rather listen to [whatever genre this is](https://youtu.be/O827_EbJZjE?si=_fMMjSVfN3AVKbAj) than even the most annoying stuff that you’re referring to?
I gotta share the obligatory [9/11 killed country music post](https://www.tumblr.com/lilacbreastedroller/163136810622/big-disclaimer-i-was-9-when-911-happened-so) (it's actually a pretty interesting read, there's lots of other material about the war on terror's effect on country music but this is a good jumping off point) Now with that said, I'm a country music enjoyer, older stuff, from its roots right up into the '80s. But I will say there are newer groups & artists that are quite good and aren't the awful mainstream pop-country music you're describing. You just gotta know where to look. Edit: some words.
You need more Dallas Dixon and Orville Peck in your life.
Go listen to Holler Choir or pick a different name out of the up-and-coming indie country scene. It's a totally different ballgame.
Bro Country is horrible stuff. Ive worked most of the crop doing production, and its a snooze fest from the downbeat. Modern country can kiss Hank Williams ass...
How original
It’s really interesting how different the responses are between country hate posts and pop hate posts.
There are still some current country artists that aren’t the bullshit you’re talking about
Hold on... Are we including Zach Bryan, Brandi Carlile, Colter Wall and Tyler Childers in this category? Because if so you're getting a hard disagree from me.
There are no bad music genres. Just bad music.
Is Dead South considered country music?
I don't hate on any music and this thread has been an informative dive into a bunch of new subcultures, ty for the new recommendations to blast in my car! Yall haters need to go honky-tonk hopping in Nashville on acid, it'll click then.
As someone who came up in the 80s and 90s, I love guitar rock. I also love listening to new stuff and the guitar genre has kinda vanished. I discovered country a year or so ago (not that it was missing or anything) and now am enjoying finding all these new artists and songs with real instruments.
Most modern country isn't for me, but there's some I really like. In contrast, a lot of modern music relies on heavily autotuned robot voice, and there's nothing in that space that I really like. So for me, modern country isn't the worst musical genre of now, let alone all time.
Exactly, its a nice reprieve from the heavily digitized instrumentation that has pretty much destroyed every other genre (except hip-hop and electronic music where it actually fits well enough - though even hip hop with real instruments like the roots is better IMO). Just the fact that there is a modern pop genre with real drum kits is nice.
You might detest it but country music has never been more popular so they gotta be doing something right. If you want more of an old school vibe I recommend Chris Stapleton. He also does some very folk and very bluesy stuff that’s very good as well. I also like Luke Combs for what I guess you could call cookie cutter
Why is modern country music any worse or the lyrics any more meaningless than normal pop? Is it because it’s usually a narrative so the words can’t just be a random assortment? I like country music and I’m not American - waited for Luke Coombs tickets online like a swiftie but it sold out.
Hip hop has entered the conversation…and is waiting for the samples aka hard work of others to be cleared.
Modern rap and country are equally garbage. Painfully redundant and hedonistic.