Final Post: Here's to hoping for quality music

This series of blog posts has been for a course at Harding University. I will now be putting an end to this blog for the summer. I hope you have enjoyed reading my thoughts on music, past and present, and the direction of the industry. I'm not the expert, but I hope my thoughts have at least given you reason to check out new music, and maybe think a little bit more about how we as a society make out music choices.

Longeviety in Country Music

How does one achieve staying power in the music world? For every George Strait and Alan Jackson, there is a Buddy Jewel, a Nashville Star winner, and Arkansas native, with four or five hits, that now, two years after his last one, can be seen playing a 60 person dive bar in my hometown. I for one, don't feel compelled to watch that train wreck. Why do we drop stars of the past so readily? Why do we shun those who can't get played on the radio anymore. Who makes these decisions? Us, the music consumer, record executives, d.j. s, or music program directors at radio stations? It is probably a combined effort, but nontheless, I feel it is something to think about. In your personal music listening, what makes you buy every album an artist puts out, what makes you shun one hit wonders?

What happened to bands in Nashville?

Alabama, Sawyer Brown, Diamond Rio, Richota, Little Texas. All of these were great groups, that put out great music through the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. What happened to them? What happened to great country groups in general? Have people gotten so star and power hungry, that they aren't willing to share the fame and money with other musicians? I think it is a sad commentary that the country band has gone by the way in the last ten years. Groups have been responsible for some of the best music ever churned out in the hustle and bustle that is Nashville. I call for less selfishness, and more collaboration to produce decent music!

Jamey Johnson: That Lonesome Song

After my last post of ranting about the sub par work coming out of Music City, I feel I should tip my hat to a man that is carrying on the tradition of real men in music, twangy bar room guitar, and tough lyrics, Jamey Johnson. I first became aware of Jamey Johnson when seeing him performing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, with hair on his shoulders, a huge beard, a great back up band, rumbling guitar, and lyrics about things he has thrown away, I was immediatly interested. It was like looking at video of Waylon Jennings from the 70s. Upon buying Johnson's acclaimed "That Lonesome Song" album, my faith was restored in hard hitting country music with a message. Buy it, you won't be dissapointed.

Stevie Ray Vaughn: Greatest Hits

If you aspire to be a guitar player, of any genre and of any consequence, I suggest you buy The Greatest Hits collection from Stevie Ray Vaughn. It's blazing, rock infused blues guitar from start to finish. String bends, dives, and hammer ons abound in this shrine to the greatest blues guitar player of all time. This point may could be argued, but nontheless, this album is worth listening to. Stevie Ray penned songs, and covers jump off of this album and hit you in the face with equal intensity. This C.D. is always a good one for a long road trip.

Montgomery Gentry: Tattoos and Scars

Montogomery Gentry's first album, as is often the case in all genres of music, is the best one they have released. Released right at the conclusion of the 90s, this album was what really made me aware of modern country rock music. Every song on this album can still make me smile, and sing along, ten years after I first heard it. That, is an accomplishment in itself. Rock guitar, with good lyrical writing, big drum beats, and rough voices will always have a place in my music rotation, and Montogomery Gentry, especially on their debut album do it as well as anyone.

Hank Williams Jr: The way I see it

"The Way I See It" is an older album, and not one that is widely known. Bochepus put this album out in the late 80s as an ode to America, and to let the world know how he felt about the changes in the world, and in the United states over the previous hundred years. With songs that speak about terriosim, the difference in blue collar and white collar life, the repeated failure of the justice system, greed from big business, and even a redention of his famous into to "Monday Night Football," I think this album would resonate with much of our country, particullarly in current times. Despite being released over twenty years ago, many of the themes Mr. Williams sings about on this album seem to be reccuring and echoing through recent history, and the future.

Corey Smith: Hard Headed Fool

Corey Smith has alienated me with this new album. As a long time fan, I have come to expect stripped down performances of witty witty clever lyrics, with lively acoustic guitar, and minimal band backup. Smith seems to be going in a diffferent direction with "Hard Headed Fool." Gone are the great songs about everyday life, and here are slicked up, overproduced nonsense with minimal lyrical content, and too many electic guitars. Corey Smith seems to be going away from his fan base, and trying to venture out into the "mainstream." I don't detest all things commercial, but if Corey wants to continute to be able to play music for a living, and not go back to teaching 9th grade history in Georgia, I for one believe it is time to go back to the original formula.

My Rant on Current Country Music

I grew up on 90s country. This was a time when artists could sing, largely wrote their own music, played instruments, and actually had statements to make in their lyrics. Country music today has been blurred, beaten down, and made into something that it is not supposed to be. No talent women, soft men, and the ultra redneck have made modern country radio, and certaintly award shows unlistenable to me. I am not strictly a puruist, and understand that acts just will not sound like Waylon and George Jones of old, but this "music" being churned out in Nashville in the last two years is not worth a spot on my radio.

Brad Paisley 5th Gear

Brad Paisley released a real gem in "5th Gear." This album is one of the very few in modern country, with every song being catchy, smart, and fun. Paisley seems to have cornered the market on witty, tounge in cheeck songs. Paisley's odds to driving fast cars, love, lust, love lost, sin and redemption certaintly hit home with me. Paisley's mix of guitar riffs, soaring solos, and excellent lyrics make this c.d. worth listening to.