Dixie Chicks Announce Tour; Justin Moore’s Guitar Stolen, Then Returned; Jones/Haggard Guitarist Rescued After Four Days In Snowbank

What is it with people like Eric Church and Kristian Bush? Their criticism of contemporary country is valid, but they conveniently ignore the fact that they’re a big part of the problem. Songs like “I Love Your Love the Most,” and this article’s multiple references to Church’s pseudo-rocker identity, effectively take his legs out from under him. What a douche bag.

What “problem” is Eric Church a part of, Matt C.? Oh, wait a minute, I overlooked that “pseudo-rocker” comment, indicating that the “problem” is that he’s got the wrong kind of rock influences.

And Jim, don’t you think that writing that Church “offers up some advice for anyone who doesn’t follow in his footsteps of making ‘great’ records” might lead a reader to think that Church said that he’s made “‘great’ records?” And wouldn’t a reader led to think that actually be misled? Where does that “in his footsteps” come from?

I should say my problem with Church has nothing to do with his music.

Rather, I get the sense from his PR and interviews that he is rather cocky. I could be wrong. But the personality that comes through just doesn’t appeal to me. Maybe in real life he is a wonderful guy but the persona I get from him doesn’t appeal to me.

Of course, the exact things about Church’s marketing and personality that I dislike are possibly exactly why Church appeals to some.

Jon: We are back to the reading thing again. Matt explained the problem that Eric and Kristian are a part of in the first half of his sentence:

>Their criticism of contemporary country is valid,< but they conveniently ignore the fact that they’re a big part of the problem.

I put arrows around it for you.

Also, Jim put quote marks around the "great" in great albums. That means that the albums in question are not great..

“The narrative of Eric Church as a left-of-center, artistry-first country singer/songwriter continues …”

Has Church made comments along this line in the past that I missed?

He definitely presents himself as an “artistry-first” type, but I’m not sure where the “left of center” bit comes into play. He seems to be advocating a change of direction in country music, but is still working very much within the mainstream — as opposed to the left-of-center Americana types who are outside the mainstream. Either way, I don’t think his music is having that much of an impact.

I’ve been to the Majestic in Detroit numerous times, and nothing in the Watson Twins’ story surprises me in the least.

I’ve never met EC, but I know that he’s super tight with Dierks, Doc Walker, Deric Ruttan, and the Beavers Bros, so that’s pretty much all I need to know. Those are all straight up dudes who are about making quality “artistry first” music (with the codicil that “Sideways” was a label-forced cut).

It never ceases to amaze that EC takes so much heat on here. Reckon some folks need to actually listen to the whole albums, and not just singles.

@Stormy You still haven’t said what the problem is. Which part of “What ‘problem’ is Eric Church a part of?” don’t you understand? The only problem-like thing that Matt C. alluded to was Church’s “pseudo” rocking, and I don’t think that’s the problem that Church and Bush identified. What problem did Church identify that he’s a part of?

“Great” album is probably supposed to mean that none of Eric Churches albums are great.

Maybe, but how do you know? Did you notice that Church actually used the word “great” in juxtaposition to the word “album” in his interview? Are you aware that quote marks are sometimes used to indicate that someone is being quoted, rather than for sarcastic effect? Or haven’t you gotten that far in writing class yet?

Doc Walker is 3 dudes – very cool cats actually!

Yeah, I thought that was sorta weird, too, but who knows what the circumstances were. Pretty powerful line up though, for the shows Urban is a part of.

Brantley Gilbert – Halfway to Heaven

= YES!

Dixie Chicks on tour!
I am happy that all three of them are somewhat together. I think 4 years should be long enough for most of the upset to be ready.

Brantley Gilbert is a thumbs up, in a rocker kind of way.

Jon:
1. Church, who is playing a St. Patrick’s Day show at the Orpheum Theatre, said his beef with pre-packaged country-pop stars is that they dilute a genre he dearly loves.
From the article. That would be what Church does that hs also complains about.
2. How Church uses the word great has no relevance to how Jim used it.

Jon:
1. No, I think that the prepackages country-pop stars comment was what Matt was referring to when he said that Eric Church is a part of what he complains about.

2. You are familiar with the ironic use of quotes, aren’t you?

I’m curious to know what the the order will be for the Chicks-Eagles-Urban tour will be… Any guesses?

I don’t know anything about Eric Church, but I’ve heard “I Love Your Love the Most” and find it a great example of the current state of Country music now. We have sunk so low that this is considered a really strong song these days.