Comments on: Discussion: Playin’ Favorites

By: Blake Boldt

Blake Boldt — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:34:23 +0000

I feel the same way about albums as I do with newspapers (especially since I used sell advertising for one). There’s a certain “experience” with having a hard copy, and I love how artists will recall their youth spent scanning the album or record liner notes for lyrics and info.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:56:50 +0000

since i heard “when it rains” from eli young band for the first time, i’ve been hooked on the sound of these guys. i’m very curious to see how far they’ll go. lots of potential there.

trailer choir’s “in my next five beers” is still among my favourite good-time songs of 2008. this trio is just good fun to listen to. humour with a twist. let’s see, whether the will be able release an album any time soon.

listening to amber digby is as good as being looked up alone in a fully stacked cake-shop.

By: JarheadDad

JarheadDad — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:15:55 +0000

“Some people still resist digital albums, so an album likely won’t do as well if it ’s only released that way.”

Yeah, that would be me and the rest of The Old Fart Brigade! I absolutely love having a hard copy of the music I like. I’d leave ‘em to my kids but they probably wouldn’t know how to play an actual CD. And it’s in my will to bury me with my turntable! :-o

I do have a lot of playlists made on my computer though. I’ve got a run of Emily West playing as we speak. Not bad for a technologically challenged shrinking man! ;-)

By: Ardi

Ardi — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:16:27 +0000

I have several favorite “kids”: Ashton Shepperd, James Otto, Jamey Johnson, Aaron Watson, Hayes Carll, Justin Townes Earle, and Sarah Johns.

But my absolute favorite is definitely Eric Churh. I think this guy has a lot of potential. There’s just something about him that’s I find very fascinating. I think he’s got loads of charm and his solid songwriting skills will only improve in the future. If only radio would give him a chance…

By: Erik North

Erik North — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:41:01 +0000

Since she made her incredible debut with BRAMBLE ROSE in 2002, I have been a strong advocate for Tift Merritt, a fine alternative country-rock singer/songwriter from North Carolina. Her songwriting on the three albums she’s released thus far (2004′s TAMBOURINE, and 2008′s ANOTHER COUNTRY are the other two) is very rootsy and imaginative; she’s got a great voice; and her sound shows the old-school 1970s country-rock influences of Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris.

Tift is definitely someone to watch out for in the near-future, if not on conventional country radio, then certainly somewhere else (IMHO).

By: bobby

bobby — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:48:04 +0000

I love Emily West’s EP.
Also Jamey Johnson and Ashton Shepheard

By: Leeann Ward

Leeann Ward — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:45:36 +0000

Ha, Dan! Neko Case and the BE Good Tanyas are exactly what I thought of when you said “fringe.” I definitely didn’t think you were meaning true traditionalists. What do I win?

Lynn, as promised I’ve checked out The Wrights and I’m completely sold. The three albums that I’ve found on Amazon are being downloaded as I type. Yup. There goes another $30! And I’m okay with it.

By the way, they’re obviously not new, but I love Neko Case and The Be Good Tanyas.

By: Kent

Kent — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:40:02 +0000

I like the Lost Trailers first single, Holler Back quite a bit, although I’ll have to reserve judgment for the future, seeing as how their album supposedly isn’t very good.

I’m not falling head over heals for Ashton Shepherd, but I’m liking Sounds So Good so far.

It’s a shame I haven’t heard Eric Church more often, because I feel like I could like him if radio gave him a chance. I was shocked when Sinners Like Me came on the radio the other day.

Lady A. hasn’t done anything to blow me away yet, but I like them a little anyway. I see potential.

Jaydee Bixby won second place on Canadian Idol last year, and although his first single Old Fashioned Girl wasn’t brilliant, it showed the charm of a vocalist who could turn out some good material. I’m looking forward to more.

By: Lynn Douglas

Lynn Douglas — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:17:49 +0000

Leeann, check out the Wrights self-titled EP first (and then tell me you don’t love them ;).

Hollerin’ Ben, I’m loving some of your suggestions – artists I can see live! I’m headed up to The Mint to finally see Hayes Carll next month (who is in the UK and Italy right now for those of you over there). LA’s a wee bit of a trek, but I know it well. Now only if we can get some of those Texas boys to come west…

By: Dan Milliken

Dan Milliken — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:58:35 +0000

“I know he didn’t mean anything against the music by the fringe thing”

Seriously, just so we’re clear, I wasn’t even classifying traditionalist acts like the ones you’re suggesting as “fringe.” To me, “fringe” would be someone like Neko Case or Jenny Lewis whose music blends elements of country tradition with other genres of music. I was speaking in purely musical terms in the post, and I threw out “fringe” as just one (musical, not commercial) classification of country music that I thought would illustrate my point: that this post is all-inclusive. I’m definitely a big-tent person, but I certainly agree that country music has certain traditional sounds which must be upheld for it to be accurately called “country” and that it is much more than a radio format.