| What country music is better: mainstream of non-mainstream?

What country music is better: mainstream of non-mainstream?

KAHN asked the question:


I don’t listen to much country, and I’m curious:

Also, name me some quality albums that I can listen to and get into (I am a hip-hop buff but I want to have a better understanding of good, quality country music.)

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Comments

7 Responses to “What country music is better: mainstream of non-mainstream?”

  1. Stix on January 12th, 2009 4:59 am

    Toby Keith, Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Brad Paisly would be good starters, then expand into the Female country singers..

  2. Amir M on January 15th, 2009 2:28 am

    Taylor Swift. She is the most mainstream country you can get, I think. And she’s awesome. This is coming from someone who doesn’t even like country.

  3. americanguitarist848 on January 17th, 2009 8:16 am

    In all truth, there’s a few mainstream artists that are good and a few that aren’t. The same goes for those that are more of underground artists.

    My personal favorite is Brad Paisley. Not only can he write some great serious songs, but he can also write some great funny songs. Oh, and he doesn’t just sing, like many of modern country’s artists do, but he’s also an outstanding guitarist and is capable of playing, not only great country guitar, but also some great rock, blues, jazz, bluegrass and surf rock guitar.

    A few other of my favorite country artists are as follows: Jamey Johnson, Trent Tomlinson, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Big & Rich, Rockie Lynne, Toby Keith, Jake Owen, Martina McBride, Katrina Elam, Sara Evans, Gretchen Wilson, Ashton Shepherd, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Tracy Byrd, Montgomery Gentry, Jerry Reed, Redd Volkaert, Chet Atkins, Merle Haggard, Garth Brooks, Chris Young and many, many more.

    Hope that helps!

    Here are some great albums:

    THAT LONESOME SONG by Jamey Johnson
    THE DOLLAR by Jamey Johnson
    MUD ON THE TIRES by Brad Paisley
    PART II by Brad Paisley
    DRIVE by Alan Jackson
    WHAT I DO by Alan Jackson
    SOUNDS SO GOOD by Ashton Shepherd
    THESE DAYS by Vince Gill
    PICKIN’ by Jerry Reed
    KATRINA ELAM by Katrina Elam
    ROCKIE LYNNE by Rockie Lynne
    DIFFERENT THINGS by Tracy Byrd
    THE TRUTH ABOUT MEN by Tracy Byrd
    IT JUST COMES NATURAL by George Strait
    OCEAN FRONT PROPERTY by George Strait
    MY KIND OF MUSIC by Ray Scott
    DOWN THE ROAD I GO by Travis Tritt
    TIMELESS by Martina McBride

    Also, if you want to hear some of the best country guitar work, check out these:

    PLAY by Brad Paisley (any of his albums really, but PLAY has the most guitar work)
    FOR THE LADIES by Redd Volkaert
    HOT WIRED by Brent Mason
    PICKIN’ by Jerry Reed (and any Jerry Reed album basically)
    THE ESSENTIAL CHET ATKINS by Chet Atkins (40 songs of some of the greatest guitar music ever recorded)

  4. keeprockin on January 17th, 2009 10:16 am

    If your definition of ‘mainstream’ is today’s pop country,then non-mainstream,whatever that may be.
    Good quality country is mainly pre-1980 in my opinion
    Hank Snow
    Patsy Cline
    Cash
    Etc,Etc

    I like the Johnny Cash album;Bitter tears, tales of the wrong done to US natives

  5. OregonChickFan on January 20th, 2009 9:30 am

    IMO, the non-mainstream stuff for the most part. The new stuff is too “pop” and has, for the most part gotten away from the original country. Everyone is going to have different answers, so I hope you’re prepared to do a lot of listening to a variety of “country”

    I like a lot of the 80’s-90’s country. My suggestions for artists to listen to are: Dixie Chicks: Wide Open Spaces, Fly and Home….Alison Krauss and Union Station….The Judds, Wynonna, Terri Clark, Reba (2003 and earlier) Terri Hendrix, Charlie Robison, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney (2002 and earlier) Patty Lovelace, Vince Gill, Alabama, Diamond Rio, Clay Walker, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood: Hearts In Armour…. JoDee Messina.

    If you want to go way back….listen to The Carter Family, Ferlin Husky, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Sr. Red Sovine, Juice Newton, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn.

    I could go on with my suggestions, but I won’t.

    Have Fun :D

  6. Lisa H on January 21st, 2009 7:46 am

    I prefer non-mainstream. With the exception of such artists as George Strait & Alan Jackson. I like Waylon Jennings (there is a new album “waylon forever” that is great, it was recorded before waylons death, his son Shooter plays the music and Waylon does the singing). I also love Hank Sr -any of his stuff is great, Hank 3 I like all of his albums but suggest risin outlaw to begin with. Wayne Hancock is great-his album thunderstorms & neon signs is awesome, Dale Watson live in London is another good one. There are tons of great artists on myspace-Those Poor Bastards, Unknown Hinson, Bob Wayne & the outlaw Carnies, J.B. Beverley & the wayward drifters, Scott H. Biram, Kasey Chambers, Tonya Watts.

  7. blakree on January 24th, 2009 8:50 am

    The “mainsteam” or “traditional” country is better by far,