someone calls new country out

[Kevin Hatton]

Theresa, I feel exactly the same about BP. Cold and sterile.

[Joachim Kettner]

BP's lyrics often deal with falling in love, which naturally attracts younger folks. Another factor to be considered for his success.

[David Mason]

The Machine definitely like to keep it's products concentrated. I've four years into recovery from TV, so I have little idea of what's on, but my impressions back then were that Brad Paisley was the "She's a little weird but I love her anyway" guy and Keith Urban was the "I love her so much I wiggle like a puppy!" guy. It'd be tough to turn down the money.

There's a great story about the young George Benson, meeting the "pop music sellout" Wes Montgomery. At the time, Benson was a fierce, flashy bebop player - with an old guitar, old beater car, couldn't even think about marriage + children... Of course Wes had been a fierce hot young bebopper himself at one time, and his early albums were worshipped by "real" jazzers.

And Benson saw Montgomery's new car, nice clothes, beautiful equipment - Montgomery by this point was known for his Beatles covers, and happy, easy-listening style. There were still currents of Black nationalism/revolution running through jazz and turning some jazzmen into de facto prophets and heroes (free jazz - yay?), and Montgomery had gone so far into the "sellout" category he escaped that foofaraw entirely. The result of course, was George Benson the popstar crooner with "This Masquerade" and "Breezin"' and the rest. I think we can assume he has a nice car by now.

[Charles Davidson]

On this subject NO ONE says it better than the GREAT Dale Watson in his song[ Country my Ass];YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Good to see you back around here Bama.

As one forum member said a few years ago, I think part of it lies in the changing environmental aspects and issues eloquently alluded to in this Travis Tritt tune, Country Ain't Country Anymore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cllDgvPnHGo

[Charles Davidson]

Thanks Jerry.THOMAS KATT [aka TK.]sends his regards also. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

[Theresa Galbraith]

Gregg played lead guitar on Travis Tritt's "Country Club" album!

[Tony Prior]

So how many CD's have any of us bought in the last 15 years let alone this week ?

The issue far exceeds the artist, today, well make that the last many years, it's about selling ONE single download of a song for 99 cents rather than a full production CD of 10 or 12 songs.

Vince is right, kinda, but he also has a multiyear career behind him..he's not looking to start a career...he's obviously a gifted and talented artist so he is looking at this from another side of the coin.

So is it really about the 99 cent download or is it about the tour, that's where artists and road players make their income, not from the 99 cent download or the CD.


Yes, true... music has changed but it is not always a bad thing, Every artist , unless they are totally self funded with a ton of cash in the bank to draw from, should be making ART that the public wants to hear, not ART or Music that THEY want to hear. A successful artist will connect with whats going on right now or they will be directing traffic at the County fair rather than being on stage.


Todays music is not yesterdays music, some is good, some is not so good. yesterdays music..some was good some was really bad...

A few Steel Guitar forum members who don't like today's Country Music in the scheme of things is like a pimple in the Milky Way...Brad sells out his shows...Vince sells out his shows...Toby, I think sells out his shows...etc...obviously someone is interested in seeing them even if it's not any of us...

The music will change again when those shows/artists have minimal or no attendance...which basically equates to NO INCOME.

it's called survival...

It's no different than a local gigging musician, if you are locked into playing Pedal Steel guitar in a so called country band...in most area's you are un-employeed. If you can bring a few different genres of music and Instruments to the table you are now "employeed"...

Yes I get it , a few of my forum friends will say " If I have to play other styles , and not Country, I'm staying home"...so..stay home . It's a choice.

I don't particularly care for most of the CM released today, even my go to artists it seems have run the course and are releasing average music at best..and that's part of the problem as well...What great CM music song has been released by the likes of George or Alan etc...in the last 5 years ? Songs that we all migrate to ? I love those guys I just don't love what they are releasing...

t

PS..I have maybe bought 6 CD's in the last decade mostly because the music was poor...filler tracks to support one or two hit tracks...

[George Crickmore]

Yes, it's about selling records to those that buy music!

New Country if you wanna call it country is about selling trash to young kids who don't know any better.

[Tony Prior]

Yes, it's about selling records to those that buy music!

New Country if you wanna call it country is about selling trash to young kids who don't know any better.

I have spent the last 30 years telling my family that traditional Country Music is not trash...

[LJ Eiffert]

Can't we all just Steel together in any kind of music.The new world of music kids are happy to be who they are! It's a new game and the old dogs are running it. If you would just take a good look at who's going social in the digital press conference words,I think Reba with her back bone man is running most of what's coming out and the Record Companies are in bed with great MONEY! Gene Weed & Bill Boyd now with Dick Clark are sure in fighting over what's going on down here! I can't wait " Til Jesus kills the Devil " is my new CD single on Young Country records and it all about! So,just have fun in your music no matter what style it is. It's all about Music with some Steel Guitar in it that makes many old dogs happy like me.Uncle = Leo J.Eiffert,Jr. Thanks to all my young old friends.Brad Paisley,Kenny Chesney,Alabama Group,Charlie Daniels,Montgomery Gentry,Martina McBride,Vince Gill,Willie Nelson,Randy Travis,Ronnie Milsap,Merle Haggard,Garth Brooks,Tim McGraw,Tanya Tucker,George Strait,Freddie Hart,Buck Owens & the # 1 Big Dog,Toby Keith.

[Tracy Sheehan]

This is only how i personally see it.Things change and thats the way it should be i suppose. I remember the old western movies where the bands always had an accordion drowning out the fiddle. As we know accordions have not been popular for many years and steel guitar is going the same route. And before any one takes this wrong i made my living for over 50 years playing steel and fiddle.

I no longer own a steel but do have my two fiddles. I have accepted the fact the majority of the public have no idea what a steel guitar is and never have. Many liked the sound but i have often wondered if the steel was over used and the public and singers got bored with it and moved on to something else.
The bottom line is IMO the steel guitar has about much of a chance as making a come back as the accordian.
I now play my fiddle for my personal pleasure only so i do not have to be concerned if any one likes it or not as they can kiss my amp. Opps,I no longer have an amp either.

Forgot the most important thing about steel guitar. One can't jump all over the stage like an idiot playing a steel and thats what the public wants now days.
My opinions are half serious and half satire so you have to decide which. I am still trying to figure it out myself. Tracy

[Clete Ritta]

It seems increasingly hard to come up with something truly new and innovative today, even at the peak of population in the history of humankind. So much music has already made its mark for time eternal that its very easy to look to the past and compare anything new to something already done.

Music from former generations has always been inspirational to latter generations in various degrees. There are still many young fans of older music that really dont like current music much at all either. There will always be a segment of the younger audience that will associate with genres that have reached their pinnacle in the past and are no longer considered current.

Compared to whats shovel fed on the charts these days, there is a vast library of music available in any genre, both historical and current, which is superior. There has never been a time in history where so much material is so readily available to anyone who searches for it. Kids today have the ultimate jukebox at their disposal. I dont underestimate todays youth just because they are young!

Older music will always be adapted to new genres, created by those who are inspired by it. Why else would old songs be redone and old movies remade for younger audiences?...because they are classics!

Clete

[John Mulligan]

Kids today are making some good music. There's a folk revival in progress that's under the radar, but the public face of it is groups like Old Crow Medicine Show, Mumford and Sons, the Avett Brothers and more. They're not all traditional but they have a respect for the traditional are play a lot of acoustic music. In the town where I live there is a Duo that plays old time string band music and their gigs are well attended. In the town where I used to live there is an Old Time Music festival every year that is well attended and has been running for a number of years. There's a lot of good music just outside the mainstream.

[b0b]

So how many CD's have any of us bought in the last 15 years let alone this week ?

[...]

PS..I have maybe bought 6 CD's in the last decade mostly because the music was poor...filler tracks to support one or two hit tracks...

That's really a shame, Tony. I'd say that I still average about one a month. Of course, none of them are modern radio country - that's just not what I like - but there's a lot of great music being recorded and released.

I pick up classic country and rock via download at Amazon and iTunes, but for new music I like to add the actual first release product to my shelves. Hence, I still buy CDs.

[b0b]

It seems increasingly hard to come up with something truly new and innovative today, even at the peak of population in the history of humankind. So much music has already made its mark for time eternal that its very easy to look to the past and compare anything new to something already done.

It might be hard, but it is being done. I was blown away recently by Goat Rodeo's concert on PBS. I see pop rock groups playing music that I can't follow in my number-system shackled brain. I hear unconventional phrasing, odd modes, strange rhythms and unusual instrumentation all the time. Mainstream artists like Jack White tend to break the mold every time they step on stage.

I'm not a big fan of most of that music, but there's no denying that it's "new and innovative". Only time will tell if the innovations are worth keeping.

[Tony Prior]

So how many CD's have any of us bought in the last 15 years let alone this week ?I have maybe bought 6 CD's in the last decade mostly because the music was poor...filler tracks to support one or two hit tracks..

That's really a shame, Tony. I'd say that I still average about one a month.

It is a shame I agree !

But I do have a monthly subscription to Rhapsody where it is my understanding that artists do get royalties from that... I also pay copyright royalties for all songs I use on my projects and re-sell.....

I do also download a single tune now and then for 98 cents......it's much easier to do that then find a place to get it for free !

Personally for me though, although I enjoy playing Steel and love Country Music, I am moving farther away from this as a primary genre for performing....so I guess it's safe for me to say I'm not paying all that much attention to any Country Artists these days...Young, Old, New, Traditional...Hot , Cold, Modern, relic..whatever...that's probably the biggest why I really don't buy any Country CD's...on top of nothing jumps out at me...

[Theresa Galbraith]

Tony,
It's about what people like. Thank goodness we all have a choice in what we listen to and buy. Supporting it by buying what we like will hopefully keep it going.