Comment: Wrong Country
Kenny Chesney. Rascal Flatts. Toby Keith. Is it any wonder that these are the nominees for Entertainer of the Year at the May 23 Academy of Country Music awards?
It shouldn't be. These are the artists, along with the Gretchen Wilsons and the Big and Riches, who are constantly played on radio. It's a world sanitized, vanilla and mainstream. The Academy, as usual, has ignored tons of great music from last year that is country music by virtue of soul, sound and spirit:
Album of the Year
Stephen Bruton, From the Five. The former Kristofferson and Raitt sideman from Texas knows how to play guitar (think of Chuck Berry playing slide guitar with Mark Knopfler's phrasing and The Band-era soul) and write beautiful songs. Listen to "Put Me Out of Your Misery."
Cross Canadian Ragweed, Garage. This roots-rock band from Oklahoma owes just as much to The Eagles and John Cougar Mellencamp as to R.E.M or the Black Crowes. And their music is as catchy as the best tunes those four have ever put out.
Top Male Vocalist
Delbert McClinton, Cost of Living. Bar none, there wasn't a better singer belting out country and western and roadhouse blues and soul music than McClinton. "Kiss Her Once For Me" will make you tear up for all the right reasons.
Top Vocal Group
BR5-49, Dog Days. I still can't figure out why the rest of the world hasn't caught on to these guys. Country hillbilly swing at its most exciting, BR5-49 is everything country music should be in the future because they know and respect the past.
Steven Ward
I'm glad that someone feels the same way that I do about Nashvegas...too much crap there.
It shouldn't be. These are the artists, along with the Gretchen Wilsons and the Big and Riches, who are constantly played on radio. It's a world sanitized, vanilla and mainstream. The Academy, as usual, has ignored tons of great music from last year that is country music by virtue of soul, sound and spirit:
Album of the Year
Stephen Bruton, From the Five. The former Kristofferson and Raitt sideman from Texas knows how to play guitar (think of Chuck Berry playing slide guitar with Mark Knopfler's phrasing and The Band-era soul) and write beautiful songs. Listen to "Put Me Out of Your Misery."
Cross Canadian Ragweed, Garage. This roots-rock band from Oklahoma owes just as much to The Eagles and John Cougar Mellencamp as to R.E.M or the Black Crowes. And their music is as catchy as the best tunes those four have ever put out.
Top Male Vocalist
Delbert McClinton, Cost of Living. Bar none, there wasn't a better singer belting out country and western and roadhouse blues and soul music than McClinton. "Kiss Her Once For Me" will make you tear up for all the right reasons.
Top Vocal Group
BR5-49, Dog Days. I still can't figure out why the rest of the world hasn't caught on to these guys. Country hillbilly swing at its most exciting, BR5-49 is everything country music should be in the future because they know and respect the past.
Steven Ward
I'm glad that someone feels the same way that I do about Nashvegas...too much crap there.
posted by Lisa at 7:03 AM
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