re: What is missing in country music today

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I moved down here to Nashville with a million tales to tell. The first thing that I found out is that the truth don't always sell. They want songs about the back roads, tractors, trucks and beer. As I write another song nobody will hear."

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One of the best songs I've heard in a LONG time.

I think country music is missing that folk feel. It seems too big and manufactured. They are singing songs about the south and small towns that no one from the south and small towns can truly relate to.

Some bands like Wrinkle Neck Mules and American Aquarium like some have said have a genuine honky tonk, folk feel to them.

The song I linked by Wrinkle Neck Mules is about their struggles as a small time band and is very easy to relate to. Kind of has a similar theme as David Allen Coe's You dont even call me by my name.

Also I think bluegrass and Appalachian folk music has those intangibles that country/western music definitely needs.

/end ramble

The band you're looking for is called Turnpike troubadours

There's still great writers, singers and players around here-but mainstream country is about as real as the mainstream anything these days.

The music industry's intitial fail for not embracing the Napsters of the world is still biting them in the arse. Real artists that used to get developed for months are shelved in favor of trucker hat dirt road buttholes. Writers, the ones that want to keep their lights on in the wasteland, are tailoring songs for them...same goes for the 64 players doing every record. Though awesome, they gotta pay bills too, and a sterile, homogenized sound is whatcha get.

If we can ever download t-shirts and keychains, music is in trouble.

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They're universally praised around these parts but I'm glad you've finally found them

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I dont follow country/western music as much as I should. I get pissed off at all the new pop country bullshite I let a lot of good bands pass through my radar.

I listened to them they are my kind of country.

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Dirty River Boys

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I know of the Dirty River Boys. I am more of folk/americana fan than country/western so its right up my alley. I actually think I met them one time.

Great friends of mine. I actually had drinks with their tour manager last night. Awesome guys and ridiculously talented.

"Rock and Roll Star" is another great Will Hoge song about the music industry. It's off his first record Carousel. More rock than country but great lyrics.