Have to admit that I can't really call myself a country "fan" - though I was brought up listening to both C&W and heavy metal! Things like Don Williams, Waylon Jennings, Boxcar Willie, Crystal Gayle, Dolly...
I've found myself gravitating that way in the last couple of years, because it's one of the few places left where you get great melodies, songwriting, singers etc.
I like the "hat" acts as much as anything, which is what I was getting a kick out of at the CMAs - though I couldn't make head nor tail of Travis Tritt! I love Faith Hill, though she's getting poppier by the album (she's still good, but I prefer her country side). And it's one of the few genres in which I can really listen to female singers properly (sorry!) - I think Reba McEntire is great, also Martina McBride ("Independence Day" was just a brilliant song) and Trisha Yearwood. But, like I say, I'm only just starting to actually BUY country music - other than Faith!
Copperhead Road by Steve Earle. Anything by Nancy Griffiths. Nothing by Eva Cassidy. (Dont even go there). Dancer with Bruised Knees, Kate and Anna McGarrigle. Wrecking Ball by the sublime Emmylou Harris.
Don't know if you would strictly classify it as country, but if you get a chance, listen to Linda Rhondstat's version of the Eagles 'Desperado'...amazing!!!
Usksider - Blackfoot! I can't believe it, there's a balst from the past. Blackfoot were support on the first concert I ever saw (Scorpions, 1980, Liverpool empire).
Mr A - I'm not a big country fan but if you like Faith Hill then you must like Shania Twain? I buy a lot of CD's and have been tempted to go down the Country route but have not yet found anything contemporary enough.
At the moment I'm into a vein of discovering progressive rock.
In the autochanger: 1 Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A 2 Dixie Chicks - Fly 3 Jimi Hendrix - Best of 4 Blondie - Parallel Lines 5 Stravinsky - Rite of Spring 6 Eric Clapton - Unplugged
Inside the car: Cream - Best of Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces
Mr A, not much into women country apart from Shania Twain , The Dixie Chicks and a bit of Dolly, Garth Brooks (the best) Brad Paisley (Joint fave with Garth) Alan Jackson (brilliant) Travis Tritt (very good) Brooks and Dunn (very good) Mark Chesnutt Quite good) George strait (slow stuff) and loads to many to mention......
Dont like the old country and western music, just modern and new country and as you say, Hat music, will have to upload a picture of me in my hat, then again better not.....
Had to change my 3 in the car (I get three the wife gets three) because Daughter #1 doesn't like 'boys' singing.So had to ditch PWEI,New Order & the Ramones.
Replaced with Saint Etiennes new album 'Finisterre' - brilliant , Basement Jaxx get a reprieve with 'Rooty' and Best of the Smiths (a 4 year old can't have it ALL her own way....)
Dustin - St Etienne! Thanks for reminding - that's just been added to the Crimbo list! Saw them a month or so ago at the Royal Festival Hall, and they were brilliant.
Can't say I'm a big fan of Shania Twain, though I do have one of her albums (someone gave it to me!). She was better than Mariah on "Fame Academy" though...
MartinH - carn't beat the old classic rock acts like Blackfoot!
Have you lot checked out all the MP3 sharing sites? You can get a completely eclectic set of tunes to suit any running mood.
Not that I'd suggest for a moment robbing hard working bands and music executives of much needed royalty payments....but purely in the cause of promoting music check out www.grokster.com.
Little Grey Rabbit stories(read by Hannah Gordon - serious chill out) The Big Mog Tape Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense Paul Weller - Live Wood Trance Nation 3 Pulp Fiction soundtrack Grateful Dead - Without a Net Louden Wainwright - More Love Songs REM - Dead letter office Bruce Springsteen - Greetings from Astbury Park Maria McKee - Life is sweet
Comments
Have to admit that I can't really call myself a country "fan" - though I was brought up listening to both C&W and heavy metal! Things like Don Williams, Waylon Jennings, Boxcar Willie, Crystal Gayle, Dolly...
I've found myself gravitating that way in the last couple of years, because it's one of the few places left where you get great melodies, songwriting, singers etc.
I like the "hat" acts as much as anything, which is what I was getting a kick out of at the CMAs - though I couldn't make head nor tail of Travis Tritt! I love Faith Hill, though she's getting poppier by the album (she's still good, but I prefer her country side). And it's one of the few genres in which I can really listen to female singers properly (sorry!) - I think Reba McEntire is great, also Martina McBride ("Independence Day" was just a brilliant song) and Trisha Yearwood. But, like I say, I'm only just starting to actually BUY country music - other than Faith!
So I'm learning slowly - any recommendations?
Mr A - I'm not a big country fan but if you like Faith Hill then you must like Shania Twain? I buy a lot of CD's and have been tempted to go down the Country route but have not yet found anything contemporary enough.
At the moment I'm into a vein of discovering progressive rock.
1 Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A
2 Dixie Chicks - Fly
3 Jimi Hendrix - Best of
4 Blondie - Parallel Lines
5 Stravinsky - Rite of Spring
6 Eric Clapton - Unplugged
Inside the car:
Cream - Best of
Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces
Garth Brooks (the best)
Brad Paisley (Joint fave with Garth)
Alan Jackson (brilliant)
Travis Tritt (very good)
Brooks and Dunn (very good)
Mark Chesnutt Quite good)
George strait (slow stuff)
and loads to many to mention......
Dont like the old country and western music,
just modern and new country and as you say, Hat music, will have to upload a picture of me in my hat, then again better not.....
Replaced with Saint Etiennes new album 'Finisterre' - brilliant , Basement Jaxx get a reprieve with 'Rooty' and Best of the Smiths (a 4 year old can't have it ALL her own way....)
Schizoid list:
Goldie: Timeless
Massive Attack: Blue Lines
Supergrass: Disc with 'Moving' on it - superb song.
Or:
Mahler: Ninth Symphony
Schoenberg: Moses und Aron
Reich: Desert Music
Schubert Heine Lieder
Or:
Ella, Duke Ellington and Count Basie
I like to keep an open mind...
DC
Dustin - St Etienne! Thanks for reminding - that's just been added to the Crimbo list! Saw them a month or so ago at the Royal Festival Hall, and they were brilliant.
Can't say I'm a big fan of Shania Twain, though I do have one of her albums (someone gave it to me!). She was better than Mariah on "Fame Academy" though...
Coldplay - Parachutes
The Cure - Staring at the sea
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
U2 - Best of
Radiohead - OK computer
Have you lot checked out all the MP3 sharing sites? You can get a completely eclectic set of tunes to suit any running mood.
Not that I'd suggest for a moment robbing hard working bands and music executives of much needed royalty payments....but purely in the cause of promoting music check out www.grokster.com.
Little Grey Rabbit stories(read by Hannah Gordon - serious chill out)
The Big Mog Tape
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense
Paul Weller - Live Wood
Trance Nation 3
Pulp Fiction soundtrack
Grateful Dead - Without a Net
Louden Wainwright - More Love Songs
REM - Dead letter office
Bruce Springsteen - Greetings from Astbury Park
Maria McKee - Life is sweet