re: Did Garth Brooks Rip Country Music's Soul Out?

quote:

---

A lot of Garth songs lyrics are still very farm/rodeo in nature

---

I don't think that's the point anyone is making. Garth had mega cross over appeal while mostly still holding onto his country/western roots. His first 3 albums are solidly country/western and are classics. His albums after those 3 are a mix of country/western and mainstream pop. And I say that as someone whose favorite Garth song is on his 4th album - Learning To Live Again.

It's not all Garth's fault. He was marketed that way by record producers and country radio. Once his star started dimming, they spent the latter half of the 90's finding the next Garth Brooks, and it killed good country music and lead to where we are today with mainstream country music.