Which is why I'm proud to say I've never been to NYC.

Country has a lot of "fun" songs that are hard to hate even if you don't want to associate with the country lifestyle or whatever.

This was a good Lounge thread with a bunch of links to good songs. Have a listen.

I listen to all sorts of random music. rock, classic rock, hip hop, top 40, classical. today I alternated between the Beatles, jay z, and Bach harpsicord concertos at work.

Try this for a start http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_Music_Television
http://www.cmt.com/

Can't call myself a country music fan by any stretch, but there are a few songs and artists that work for me. Older stuff mainly I guess. I don't think I'd need more than 2 hands to name all of the songs I know though.

I got the Johnny Cash album Live at Folsom Prison a couple of months ago and have had it in heavy rotation since. Amazing stuff. Lots of live albums have good fan reactions recorded, but I don't think anything compares to the inmate energy that comes through on this one.

Don't know why, but I've always liked Galveston by Glen Campbell.

Jerry Jeff Walker is pretty good too. And Willie.

Hmm, not sure if I can agree with the very last part. I grew up in Nebraska, and it seems like everyone in the state not from Omaha or Lincoln loves country, and I think the people that listen to country are either very high quality people or very judgmental, blow everyone up who isn't American, religious types who annoy the hell out of me. There doesn't seem to be much middle ground, but I will concede that the ones in the former group are some of the best people I know.

Well, if you're that eclectic, I have to think there's something in country that you would like.

I think Kenny Chesney has fallen off badly, but back when he was at his best, this is probably my favorite song of his: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP-Sxfntdb4

Here's some of the funny side of country, courtesy of Brad Paisley (who is probably my favorite artist in the industry...he does every type of country): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwRrKaq0IyY

Some good country that's more akin to pop courtesy of Taylor Swift:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xg3vE8Ie_E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUwxKWT6m7U

Same type of thing courtesy of Sugarland...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEJh-aMMpJ0

And Lady Antebellum...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM213aMKTHg

Some neo-traditional, courtesy of Alan Jackson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTA2buWlNyM

And courtesy of George Strait: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KrrsLZaY9s

More traditional country, here's Johnny Cash:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr0Vt7E7U7w&feature=fvst
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHF9itPLUo4

Anyway, others can add more, but there's a sampling that already hits a pretty wide range.

Older country is good stuff. I have been listening to Doug Sahm a bit lately. Alt-country (if you can call it that) like Uncle Tupelo is also good. However, the Nashville country/pop schlock that salts the airwaves in the flyover states is a vile abomination against all mankind.

Verily, I have spoken.

LKJ,

I disagree on your point about Kenny. I don't think he's fallen off, but more just "mellowed out".

However, going through that list, I could pretty well guess what songs by each artist you posted. I believe you and I have some very similar tastes when it comes to the more modern country music for sure.

I thought No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems was a great album and that When the Sun Goes Down was even better (easily one of the best country albums in the last decade, IMO). After that, I really end up having to pick and choose what songs I like of his. He still puts out good stuff now and then, but I'm just not a big fan anymore. I can appreciate his subtle/reflective stuff; "Old Blue Chair" was a really good song. I just don't know that I can get with most of the current material. "Down the Road" was good though. Anyway, different strokes and all of that.

If Kenny Chesney were any more "mellowed out" he'd be dead.

I used to read this guy's stuff. Super knowledgeable but man did he hate Kenny Chesney.

The Road and The Radio FTW. I think he probably realized that he couldn't just make beach music forever, which is why he's changed a bit. I was really into the pre-island Kenny and then when it blew up it was just an awesome time. Everything the guy touched turned to gold.

Building my overall response to this thread - two of my favorites right now are Blake Shelton and Eric Church. They both keep a country sound in more contemporary music, so that's pretty much the best of both worlds. There's still an awful lot of good stuff on country radio even if you don't like the poppy Taylor Swift kind of stuff.

This is one of my favorite songs ever. I think the concept is super awesome and unique and the lyrics are super well written. And the superstars in it are obviously phenomenal. I think Waylon's part is my favorite for sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw1bHaUk1CM

One of the few female country songs I really enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCBFKkAla6Y

It's impossible to pick out a favorite Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn or George Strait song for me and I'm sure most of you country fans know most of their discography.

This is a favorite Brooks & Dunn song because it's Kix singing. It's not one of their most well known songs so hopefully it'll be new to some of you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dwx-JXt1AEM

Willie Nelson with Sheryl Crow - Crazy.

Pretty clutch and Sheryl is looking off the charts hot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0zhjsWzxvA

To me, there's very little that's interesting or entertaining about Kenny Chesney. Most of his stuff is just really, really forgettable. Two songs I like of his:

That's Why I'm Here

Anything But Mine

I've always liked the line "In the midst of the music/I tell her I love her/And we both laugh, 'cause we know it isn't true."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbtNHK1oPDg

Didn't really grow up listening to any country but my girlfriend of the last 4 years listens to a lot of it. Have a hard time getting into some but really enjoy Brad Paisley (awesome guitar player) ZBB, some of Kenny's stuff, really dig most of the Montgomery Gentry stuff I hear as well.

Where the spectrum of Chesney is concerned, I actually prefer his early stuff where he was a pretty raw talent to the stuff he has moved to now. Again I still think he peaked at around the turn of the century, but if we're looking at his quality like a normal bell curve (I realize that some like OP disagree and don't think he has dropped off like I do), I prefer the beginning thin part of the bell curve to the late part of it.

But here's an early one of his that has been forgotten and I've always loved: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uPagxTGpa4

One can disagree with the merits of Kenny's music throughout his career, but if you like him at some point, I strongly suggest checking out a show. He's ridiculously good live, and it seems like people are just there to let lose. Amazing stuff.

Aside from that, he always seems to have a good opening band or two.

I'm all for the Texas county. Some good young bands are Josh Abbott Band, Kyle Park, Aaron Watson and Kyle Bennett Band. Tons of other great artists, and they all play small venues around DFW which I love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7XK_zNq930

Meh. Country is one of, if not the most uncreative and boring genre of music available, especially the modern pop stuff you hear on the radio. Definitely wouldn't say people who primarily listen to country are higher quality people, either. Not hating, but I used to sing covers of Clint Black, Garth Brooks, Collin Ray, Brooks & Dunn, Aaron Tippin etc. at talent shows when I was younger and as I got older and found more creative genres my interest in country dwindled. Probably had something to do with radio country being so terrible as well.

That'd be Chris LeDoux. Poor couldn't carry a tune in a bucket but his lyrics were very good and so was his music. Really more cowboy music than country though.

A wore out tape of Chris LeDoux.

isfun

+1

So good...that song doesn't get nearly enough love.

This. I moved up to Canada for poker July 1, he played 5 minutes from my house the night before so a bunch of friends came down from school and we went. I had been considering moving up a week earlier but stayed solely to see this concert (had bought tickets as soon as they went on sale, way before Black Friday) and I couldn't be happier with my decision. By far the best concert I've ever been to and I'll be down to road trip to see him live whenever feasible.

He had Billy Currington and Uncle Kracker open for him and Bret Michaels of Poison and Pam Anderson Sex Tape fame accompany him for a song out of nowhere. I took the liberty of changing the line in Anything But Mine to "and in the morning I'm leaving, making my way...**** Cleveland!" and the Cincinnati natives loved it.

I despised country until my freshman year of college...dated a girl that loved it, took her to a Taylor Swift/Rodney Atkins show and surprisingly found myself enjoying it, and since then it's gradually become my favorite music with Kenny being by far my favorite artist. His music is the only stuff I've ever been able to listen to constantly and never tire of it.

I dunno, I don't have the same amount of love for Kenny's live act. It's good, but I've seen him four times and I think I'm pretty much content not to anymore unless he has some opening act(s) that draw me in or someone else buys my ticket or something. I don't think he's all that close to measuring up to Brad Paisley or Keith Urban where live acts are concerned.