People that like Pat Green should probably also listen to more Randy Rogers Band, Kevin Fowler, Kyle Park etc...

Randy Rogers Band is good. I'll check out the other two.

I like mostly old country like Haggard, Porter Wagoner, pre-pop Dolly Parton, George Jones etc.

Here are a few more recent songs I like:

This is genius, James McMurtry's Choctaw Bingo. He's Larry McMurtry's son. His songs are like great literate short stories.

Steve Earle's Nowhere Road

This guy should be more famous: Chris Knight's Down the River

Ray Wylie Hubbard's Snake Farm. Hubbard's been around forever and wrote Jerry Jeff Walker's hit Redneck Mother.

While there wasn't a sawdust joint, or festival in the late 80's and 90's that didn't have Steve Earle playing during the setup and pre starter and headliner acts, I'd not go so far as to call it country music. Southern rock or rockabilly, yes.

It's a shame that country gets such a bad rap by so many people growing up, most of them have never even listened to it. The older you get, the more realize that not only is it the best type of music, but that generally the people who listen to it tend to be higher quality people too.

20 years ago, it was late at night. Radio on, I was studying for exams.
Suddenly I hear this sound coming from the radio. This Voice, guitar...,
in a dutch studio, live, singing songs, about Texas...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbB5TRLF9mo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBPOu5c5i6A

Good stuff.

Arguments about music classifications are usually pretty pointless, but I do want to go on the record as believing that Steve Earle's first 2 albums, Guitar Town and Exit O, are way closer to country than they are to anything else. Now for the Copperhead Road album, you might have a point about southern rock there.

For my money, of today's prominent performers, Keith Urban is the best performer going. He just barely edges out Brad Paisley, who is also absolutely amazing in concert. I slightly prefer a Paisley show just because I prefer his music to Urban's, but I'll jump at any chance to see either one in person.

Of the popular country acts today, I think the only ones I haven't seen in person are Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum, and the Zac Brown Band. I don't care about Tim McGraw much at all, but I badly want to see Zac Brown given how great his band is on award show performances, and would definitely like to see Lady A also.

Zac Brown Band doing Devil Went Down to Georgia on the CMAs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QVWQTDoMr4

(I liked it better the last time I looked up that video and the top-rated comment was "My ears just came.")

There's a live version of Ray Wylie Hubbard singing Redneck Mother where he complains about having to sing the song, but how he perks up when the royalty checks come.

When Chicken Fried just came out (i.e., before Zac Brown Band was as big a name as they are now), they were playing for free on Fremont Street in Vegas when I was there, but I didn't stop by. Wish I had.

It's thankfully not just their live performances that are great. ZBB albums are solid top-to-bottom. Their entrance onto the scene is absolutely great for the genre.

Agreed. That era was a time of transition where country became cool beyond the local fair or rodeo. The purists condemned any artists that didn't or couldn't perform at the Grand Ole Opry. Superartists were born, with a side asterisk 'hat act' entering the lexicon.

Was a great time for the girls, they all wanted to look and dress like Shania Twain by 95. Which has continued to 2011, Merritt Mountain Music Festival
http://www.timescolonist.com/enterta...771/story.html

zack brown bad is the ****ing nuts. highway 20 ride is such a great song



pretty much all of lkj post is correct

+1

Anything by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman is alright by me too, although it may be considered more blue grass or folk than country.

Willie Nelson has one of those awesomely distinctive voices that it's hard not to like. I feel the same way about Randy Travis.

I completely agree with the bolded. I'm not a huge Keith Urban fan myself, but I do know quite a few giant Keith Urban marks.

I've seen Paisley live 3 times, and every time he gets better. The interaction between the band and his fans is ridiculous, as well as the flash animations (which he does himself) that play throughout most of the show. As far as entertaining goes, he's clearly in the top tier in North America.

The last show I saw was Don Williams, and for being in his 70's, the man can still sing. The last two times I've seen Charlie Pride live he was a wreck and could barely sing. He basically just told stories for a few hours. George Jones was pretty terrible last time, as well, which is sad. He's so classic that I truly did not want to be disappointed, but I was.

Now, Stompin' Tom Connors is probably my all-time favourite. I've seen him live every chance I've been able to. I've caught him 6 times. It's the same show every time, but I just can't help and enjoy it.

Prairie Oyster is one band I miss and wish would keep putting out albums. Very obscure (nowadays), but still some classic bluegrass melodies.

Prairie Oyster:
Did You Fall in Love with Me

One Precious Love

One Way Track

One Kiss

Only One Moon

She Won't Be Lonely Long

Have you seen Urban live? Because he went from "meh, he's okay" in my book to being one of the most impressive performers that I've ever seen the first time I went to one of his shows. I've brought skeptical friends to his concerts and they've reacted the same way. Such a sick guitar player and musician in general.

I never have. He was here for two shows last year, and I had a ticket but ended up giving it to someone who was having a rough time with his relationship. lol

He's coming again this year, though. I'm going to have to attend.

I dunno. My only clear memories from Country Jam are two fat women peeing on a campfire and throwing beer bottles at the guy who sings the Copenhagen song.

For some old school country music by a former punk singer, check out Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans:

The Truck Got Stuck

I Wanna Be in the Cavalry

Hair in my Eyes like a Highland Steer

Family Reunion

It's Hard to Keep a White Shirt Clean - Live Radio Version

I'm interested in hearing some opinions on the few that I've posted from both Prairie Oyster and Corb Lund.

Guy Clark is so good.

ladies and gentlemen... conway twitty

seriously though conway twitty clips on family guy are my only exposure to country music. the nyc area famously has not a single station that plays country.

what do you guys recommend for a complete noob to see if I'd like it?

To figure what type of country you might mesh best with...what are your current genres of choice?