Music I would succumb to under torture

@n80, "Pop" Country drives me out of the room. After being exposed to it even briefly, I need to cleanse my soul by listening to some real Country (referred to as Americana by some, though many so-considered artists are not what I myself consider Country). Thankfully there is quite a bit of it being made these days---real good songs, singing, and musicianship. For the Americana-curious, check out The Americana Awards Show (hosted annually by Jim Lauderdale) on You Tube, and the No Depression website.

I know a lot of younger (than I, anyway ;-) Rock music lovers have a "problem" with Country, but remember, Elvis was called The Hillbilly Cat when he first appeared. Country/Hillbilly is a large element in "real" Rock 'n' Roll; it was removed from the music when Rock 'n' Roll became Rock, Blues remaining as the major element. Country made a reappearance in Rock in the late-60's with the emergence of The Band, Gram Parsons and Chris Hillmans The Flying Burrito Brothers, Dylan of course (who had been recording in Nashville since '65) in his John Wesley Harding and Nashville Skyline albums, and many others (I won't further bore the uninterested).

What makes Pop Country popular is that it is really just Pop music---melodies, chord structure, high-gloss production---with just a hint of Country, via the cynically-calculated and contrived lyrics sung with a deliberately-hick "twang".

The Country music industry has chosen to push this brand of Country, as performers/entertainers are easier to control and manipulate than are artists. EmmyLou Harris is going to do what she wants, not what she is told. It's a shame, because the audience that buys Pop Country would like real Country just as much, and in fact does when exposed to it. Jim Lauderdale's songs feature strong chord progressions and melodies, as do the songs of other Americana writers. And with quality lyrics, as well as accompaniment from some of the finest musicians in the world.

For Rocks fans, do ya'll know that Chad Smith of The Red Hot Chili Peppers is the drummer on The Dixie Chicks Taking The Long Way album? And that Mike Campbell of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers plays guitar on the album? Get hip, man!