Ride Along For Taylor Swift’s Hendersonville Boy Tour

I am so amazingly sick of the doomsday attitude towards “alt. country” that is oddly attributed to the demise of no depression magazine. I did enjoy the magazine, but this whole chicken little mentality being spouted by the aquarium drunkard blog and many other writers and blogs is just plain ignorant and short-sighted. “alt. country” is a made up label to begin with, and the synthetic nature of such a creation is most likely the reason that the title seems to be dated, not the qulaity if music being offered today by what many folks consider “alt. country”. If the giants of “alt. country” (ryan adams, jay fararr, bottle rockets, etc..) still produce great work and we continue to see great work offered by up and comers like Reckless Kelly & Lucero, then I would say the rumors of the death of this brand of music has been greatly exagerated. For the people that want to bemoan the loss of a magazine and disguise it as the loss of an entire brand of music, stop worrying about labels, grow a brain and find great music you like without worrying about what category other people put it in.

Since Taylor Swift became a media country-pop sensation staring a couple years ago she hasn’t been to high school or had any time to meet new boys. Recently she said she’s open to romance with a boy that’s more interesting than her career, so good luck with that. What can she possibly write new songs about for her next album apart from road songs? How many of her teeny bopper fans will relate to that? Hmmm….

I’ve grown waery of “Where’s Waldo?”, so its nice to see I can now switch over to “Where’s Dale Watson?” instead! Thanks!

Chris - Dal3 Watson rawks!@$%!11

Kelly - I’ve never been able to place my finger on what exactly alt-country is, and I only occasionally listen to the artists most often associated with the label, but I think categories (even if they are broad) help gear fans toward music that their most likely to enjoy.

Katie - I haven’t really listened to much of her music, so I couldn’t answer you (it looks like Bobby can), but I know we have a lot of readers who do like her.

Rick - I got the same impression when I read she hadn’t dated a guy in two years, and even if she had, do you think another album of ex-bf inspired songs would be as accepted?

Thanks Brody, I cant say anyone has ever put a definitive finger on what “alt. country” is (including myself). Thats why I think it’s a lame and unecessary title. I do listen to (and love) a bunch of artists that are considered “alt. country” and thats why it bugs me when writers argue that an entire brand of music is “dead” or “near the end”. While basic labels are clearly needed (Country, Rock & Roll, R & B, Hip-Hop, etc..) there is a point where the labels are more a product of PR than actual necessity. Also, many of the key artists of “alt. country” detest the label and even deny there is such a thing.

Brody,

The ‘viable’ market is exactly why labels are still cropping up. NY based ‘indies’ like Robbins and Wind-up are taking a shot while Classical label Decca has also taken a shot with a Marcus Hummon produced band (One Flew South). It’s an interesting time for sure but I wonder if Nashville’s truly ready for this.

Several years ago I formulated what I think is a fairly bulletproof definition of alt-country: Country music made largely by and for liberals.

Chris N.

Your alt-country definition is totally vulnerable to bullets.

Again, the above discussion is why the whole lame attempt to perpetuate “alt. country” as an actual genre just doesnt work. Even the term “Americana” requires too much vague and general explanation. Is James Hand “alt. country”? He isnt in the mainstream by any degree. Most people agree that Son Volt is “alt”, so should we put Son Volt & James Hand in the same category, even though they are amazingly different??? If Chris N.’s definition of “alt. country” is a werewolf, mine is a phantom, because it can’t be seen or clearly defined.