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?

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.