Comments on: Ride Along For Taylor Swift’s Hendersonville Boy Tour

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:45:24 +0000

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.

By: Chris N.

Chris N. — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:35:08 +0000

Yes, but only silver bullets. My alt-country definition is a werewolf.

By: Hollerin' Ben

Hollerin' Ben — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:02:11 +0000

Chris N.

Your alt-country definition is totally vulnerable to bullets.

By: Cindy2

Cindy2 — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:22:29 +0000

Chris N: I don’t know if that holds up. I write as a conservative. And yeah, there are certain people that i like that I respect there stance on things (Craig Morgan), but I know that there are a lot of musicians that I love that are more than likely liberal. As long as they aren’t rubbing my nose in it, or coming off like because they are a musician, their opinion on politics means something special, I’m ok with them. It’s a free country.
Wasn’t it Alice Çooper that said that people that get their politics from musicians are idiots?

By: Chris N.

Chris N. — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:28:43 +0000

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

By: Lucas

Lucas — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:57:00 +0000

I used to be a Lucero fan, I could just never find any of their stuff!

MySpace artists listing themselves as “Funk/Crunk/Country” has always been quite the laugh to me. I can understand something like “Acoustic/Christian/Country” but a lot of them just seem like they’re trying to play the myspace chart game.

I think Taylor Swift will be able to find inspiration, if not she can just do some songwriting with somebody her age that’s still out there living a “normal” life and is heavily into country. Me for example! ;) Haha, just kiding, I wish.

Taylor’s chances of finding a guy more interesting than her career are slim. He would need to be a mixture of Martin Luther King Jr., John Wayne, Rodney Dangerfield, and any action character ever played by Will Smith. He would also need to be rich and have invented something amazing like the internet or the television…. ok, you get my point. Her career is insane.

By: Matt B.

Matt B. — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:08:21 +0000

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.

By: Brody Vercher

Brody Vercher — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:20:18 +0000

I agree that the labels have become a product of PR lately. Not too long ago there was a press release claiming Three Doors Down or Coldplay (or someone like that) had roots in “alt-country.” And half the artists who list “country” as their genre on MySpace don’t have anything country about them or their sound. I forget where it was, but an article that I read recently basically said country was the most viable genre left as far as making money goes. Now everyone and their mom wants to be considered country.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:52:49 +0000

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.

By: Chris N.

Chris N. — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 06:29:29 +0000

In the interest of self-promotion, I’d like to note that several of these issues are addressed in this interview I conducted with Taylor a while back:

http://www.nashvillescene.com/Stories/Arts/Music/2006/11/02/Can_t_Tell_me_Nothin_/index.shtml