Every time I return to it after an absence, I am struck again by the power and integrity of country music. In part it is the lyrics, self-consciously clever (“If I said you have a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?”), alert to and accepting of contradictions (“She’s a Saturday night out on the town/Church on Sunday girl”), precise in their observation of small detail (“She left the suds in the bucket and the clothes hanging out on the line”). In part it is the structuring of a narrative (usually unabashedly maudlin) by a line that gradually changes meaning, as when George Jones sings, “He stopped loving her today”, and reveals in the last verse that he has stopped only because he is dead. In part it is the affirmation and exploration of a raunchy Christianity that holds drinking, cheating, criminality and Jesus in a volatile and energising mix. In part it is the extraordinary musicianship of pianists, fiddlers and guitarists who bear comparison to members of any symphony orchestra. And most of all it is the fact that when I’m in the car searching for something to listen to, the sound of country music, even in just a few notes, is unmistakable. Country music knows what it is. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2007/feb/03/weekend7.weekend5]

Do you still live in NYC? Try the Rodeo Bar or Hill Country.

On iTunes or Spotify, look for these bands — Girls Guns & Glory, Pistol Annies, Mt Moriah, Little Country Giants, Todd Grebe and Cold Country, Kasey Chambers (especially early stuff like The Captain), Fred Eaglesmith. Anything recorded by Ray Price in the 50s or early-to-mid 60s (NOT Danny Boy!!!). Pre-Okie from Muskogee Merle Haggard, 70s Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Buddy Miller, Julie Miller. Some of these are now considered “Americana”, but that’s a pretty big tent that also includes some stuff that leans toward indie.

Consider bluegrass and old honky-tonk — those genres are where many of the types of songs you say you like originated. You might like the Steve Earle/Del McCoury joint project The Mountain.

Sirius/XM radio has Willie’s Place, which places much 50s and 60s honky-tonk, as well as Outlaw Country, which can be a mixed bag but often plays Hank 3, Steve Earle, Shooter Jennings, Girls Guns & Glory, Lucinda Williams, Drive-By Truckers.

Hope this helps!
Renee

After moving to New York City from San Antonio Texas I went through a kind identity crisis and dealt with it the only way that made sense. I looked for music.

I wanted music that took the rich narrative and, dare I say, true grit of country spiked with the rock and punk I had also been weened on. As I dug I cam upon bands like The Drive-By Truckers, Slobberbone and Uncle Tupelo and publications like No Depression. I sensed a community of weary, like-minded souls and I wanted to contribute and learn so I started by blog Twang Nation. That was 7 years ago.

Much of the music you desire (like the mentioned Civil Wars) live under the broad moniker “Americana” but if you dig around you’ll find the spirit still lives.

Here’s to three chords and the truth.

baron