Saving Country Music

Git him Triggerman!!! Hey lets all talk about what makes us country instead of actually living it. Butter up mu biscuits what the fuck!!! Music Row actually has a real country nusician on the roster, well he’s jumpin ship now that the contract is finally up, but I caint fathom why they wouldn’t shove that down our throats. Hell we could all go to bed full.

Goddamnit, now my fuckin’ ears are bleeading.

Bow Chica Wow Wow? WTF!!!!
I’ve notice that the young ladies go for this same kind of beat that the “new” country is putting out. Almost every one of the female fans of these clowns state that RAP is one of their favorite styles of music. Most don’t even list country.

I’ll just keep on writing and recording this good ol outlaw country music!

Well golly gee,Josh, you mean if I buy yer album you’re gonna come pick me up in yer pick up truck?

Coattails, buddy, coattails. I suspect he doesn’t have the first clue about it.

Preach it, brother!

Fuuuuuuuuuuuck

THANKS TRIGGERMAN FOR EXPOSING THIS POP COUNTRY PIECE OF SHIT JOSH THOMPSON..ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVE WAYLON..I WEAR 3 DIFFERENT NECKLACE PIECES OF WAYLON AND KISS ONE OF THEM EACH TIME HIS NAME IS MENTIONED..HE IS MY TOP MUSICIAN,SINGER,PERFORMER OVER HANK SR.AND HANK III TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE AND I LOVE ME SOME HANK..
I DARE JOSH TO TAKE WAYLON JENNINGS NAME IN VAIN..IT NOT ONLY MAKES MY PISS BOIL,MY EARS BLEED JUST LISTENING TO 3 VIDEOS THAT HAVE TAKEN 8 MINUTES 55 SECONDS OF MY LIFE I WILL NEVER GET BACK..IT HAS RUN MY BLOOD PRESSURE TO STROKE LEVEL THAT A PISSY LITTLE PUNK ASS PRICK IS USING WAYLON TO BOOST HIS CAREER IN THE POP COUNTRY BULLSHIT THAT NASHVILLE KEEPS BREEDING..
JOSH NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PRISON AS SOME BIG BLACK MANS BITCH AND HAVE THE SHIT FUCKED OUT OF HIM DAILY FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE WITH MY HOPES HE LIVES A LONG ONE..I HAVE TO STOP..

I couldn’t agree with you more Triggerman. And Mr. Bandana, I totally agree with you too, and completely understand. I feel the very same way about Waylon. It’s sickening to here one of these pop jackasses even say the name Waylon Jennings and I damn sure don’t want to here them say it in a song of theirs.
Nashville has become a ridiculous shadow of what it once was. It’s damn strange that the very people they once hated so badly for being “outlaws” are the very ones that MADE true country music and are now the very ones that they try to emulate. But what these assholes don’t realize (Nashville and the “artists”) is that people can see right through their smoke and mirrors. It’s like I’ve said before, you either ARE country or you’re not. If you’re truly country, that will show through and if you’re not, that will show through too, with an even greater blinding light.
One of my songs says “We’re coming for you and there’s no place you can hide. You done pissed off true country, and you won’t escape this time”. Be ready Nashville, your days are numbered!!

That was without a doubt the funniest thing I’ve seen this week (the promo vid for “You Ain’t Seen Country Yet”).

Alison Bonaguro who wrote that blog is the biggest pom pom waver for pop country there ever was. The only thing that surprises me about that article is that it is not about Taylor Swift, who she writes about incessantly.

So he had a shitty job when he was 19. Who didn’t? Actually I take that back, a union job is pretty cushy to what I was doing at 19. When I was 19, I was working concrete for half the money and no bennies compared to union workers.

WTF is this guy doing? WHo in the Hell does he think he is? OUTLAW, how about FAKE or asshole! I am not quiet as pissed as BANDANA but when he uses the HILLBILLY SHAKESPEARE’s name in vein I may have to make a road trip

I’m with Cody McCoy… I rember Jamie Johnson tryin’ to be pop country cool and laughed out of town… He went home bought a Harley, grew a beard, and said now i’m a outlaw… WTF…

Yep, that’s what happens when there’s an audience and money to be made.
May the Outlaws rise again!

Bow Chicka Wow Wow? Awesome, it’s the ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ for a new generation! I have but one question: Is Josh the fat one or the sensitive new age one with the ponytail?

I don’t know either Carla, but I do know that either one causes vomit to well up in my throat.

And Burch, I’ll see what I can work up on “Blame It On Nashville”!! I think that’s an AWESOME idea!! I’ll let you know when it’s done and where you can go listen.

You knocked that one out of the park! Well said!

http://www.the9513.com/hall-honorees-comment-on-induction-josh-thompsons-polarizing-reception-sarah-buxton-performs-new-album-acoustically/

You made the9513.com. More pop country bullshit.

THIS SHIT MAKES ME FUCKIN’ ANGRY!!!

I’m am disgusted by this shit.. How dare he even call himself a fuckin outlaw?? How dare Nashville call him a fuckin’ outlaw… How dare he even call himself “Country” I don’t give a fuck if he’s had some hardship’s.. Havin’ a Union paid job at the age of 19 is goddamn lucky not to mention cushy like Triggerman said.. I’m 17 year’s old and i’m a ranch hand and break my back just to make that extra dollar so that i got some fuckin’ clothes to wear and to pay my own way and he had it easier than i did for growin up as a young man in this big world and hell yeah i party hard after a long day’s work and i’m not kiddin when i say long day’s work i pull 13 hour shifts workin’ my ass off sweatin in that summers sun and freezing my ass off in that winter’s cold i’m more goddamn country than he is and not to mention i’m more of an outlaw than that guy will ever be.. Fuck the goverment, Fuck the rules, Fuck people like Josh Thompson and Fuck the Grand Ole Opry and Fuck Music Row for destroying something that i love so much. R.I.P Waylon “Hoss” Jennings R.I.P Hank Williams Sr. R.I.P Johnny Cash and may the rest of the outlaws live forever!

and i still hate it… *lol*

Dont yall think this outlaw shit done got out of hand?

Wow. Really everyone? Are you serious? If you don’t like the man, stop wasting your time and trashing him. Obviously y’all have nothing better to do in your life than find people, that are obviously much better than you, to put down. Pop country? Seriously? Rascal Flatts is pop country. Taylor Swift is pop country. You can not compare Josh with them, not even close!! Obviously you guys have some issues and don’t realize that music is changing, in every genre, not just country. Pop has changed styles over the years just as much as Rap and Country. Sure, Josh isn’t Waylon or Haggard, but he puts on one hell of a show just like them and attracts crowds just as well. Y’all need to get a life and stop trashing someone who you obviously don’t understand. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of Jennings and Haggard and all of the legends of country music, but music changes over the years! Y’all are taking this wayyyy out of proportion and need to realize that, or you’ll have trouble in the years to come. If you think you know so much about country music, show me your record deal.

David Lee-
Really now? You have to go that extent?? You obviously have major issues. That wasn’t needed at all.

look I know Josh and I am very upset that you would trash someome like that! Josh is who he is! if you wanna trash some one for not being counrty enough try Rascal Flatts or T Swizzle like Kate said! seriously dis the ones that deserve it not those who don’t!

See the guy live, then post your opinion. Listen to his cd. And for you David Lee, they have medicine and psychiatrists for people like you. You have maaaajor issues.

Josh Thompson fans,

I appreciate you coming here to support your artist, but bring some substance with it. I’ve heard Josh’s music, all of it. And saying he can kick my ass or that I can’t talk because I don’t know him on a personal level is childish. I’m a music critic; I’m criticizing the music and the marketing scheme around it. None of the people I write about, good or bad, do I know personally, which is how I can do it with integrity.

And don’t use one reader’s comment to try to trash the whole article.

So Triggerman - question for you - doesn’t the fact that Waylon, Hag, David Allen Coe, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and whatever other names you tack on all had contracts with record labels put them in the same category as say Josh Thompson or Eric Church or whoever else you claim is violating some unwritten code that you created?

It is an industry. The argument you make is similar to the one indie rock fans make - when you make money off of music you are a sell out. Isn’t that sort of the point?

I don’t see exactly how the “Outlaws” resisted the industry? They all had talent that they took to a label, got a contract, made music, sold albums, went on tour, and have been able to enjoy the riches of their music. Now, the pitfalls of fame, i.e. the drug usage of all the above stated names is the same for Cash, Waylon and I don’t know, Brittney Spears maybe? It is a societal issue.

So….you have totally lost me on your argument. I think that if Josh were a suburban yuppie from middle America and he had been the football star with a scholarship to some fancy college, had never listened to anything remotely called country music and then was put together in a nice little package by the label marketing department - then I could buy into your ‘fraud’ argument. But that isn’t the case…

Now if he were created at the Disney Factory where tons of TweenBots are manufactured on a daily basis, I would completely agree with you.

Now, it seems you are upset that he is using Waylon’s name in this song. You clearly do not like the video. I think we can all agree that when one goes down the path of being a country artist - there are pros and there are cons. There are things an artist has to do because the label says it is so….There is a fine line that the artist has to walk to remain true to their self. No different than Johnny Cash wanting to make gospel music and his first label saying no. It doesn’t sell. So was Johnny Cash a fraud too?

Was it a money decision from the label to have Johnny do a cover of Hurt? You know, by Nine Inch Nails…..maybe it would attract a new younger demographic? I don’t know.

I know more about Hag and Cash because I have researched them quite a bit. I can’t really address Waylon because I haven’t read his autobiography yet, though it is sitting next to me now.

But, wait - he wrote an autobiography….and mass published it…and made lots of money? hmm.

I look forward to your comments Mr. Triggerman! Help me out, you are the music critic.

Judy

Oh - one last comment…Waylon was an outlaw because he told the Nashville establishment that he was the Hoss and it was his way; yes similar to Hag’s views on the Grand Ole Opry and Music Row etc. But….those views are thrown out there in a ‘fuck you’ type of attitude after many, many, many years of playing the game.

Had Hag not ‘played the game’ he would have never become “Hag”. Johnny Cash played the game…he didn’t get to do what he wanted until he had enough ‘fame’ to say ‘fuck you’.

So sadly, had the Outlaws not played the game….we would never have known who they were. And we would have missed out on some serious talent.

Judy

Well , he is just a good Songwriter and good singer ..He just let us how how he feel and what is on his mind …If his Fans like it than it’s fine .The show must go on and Josh rock the country ..His Music bring me smile on my Face .

Patti, you summed up the point of the article succinctly. “Sometimes they have to bend a little to have the career they love…” and he name drops Waylon Jennings, the man who’s legacy is his lack of bending what-so-ever?

The problem with country music changing, is it was traditional music, and this “change” has stripped it of that. You’re right, there won’t ever be a Hank or a Cash again, and we can’t hear clones. But we should be hearing echos, and we’re not. This is maybe a bit of an overstatement (though not to some on here, I’d imagine), but liken his name dropping Waylon to someobody talking about how much they love Jesus while defiling a church.

And as an addenudum to you others who think josh thompson is “fake” or whatever other tag you want to put on him need to seriously listen to his music. His music can speak to you if you really listen to the words. Josh’s music is heartfelt and deep and is liked by alot of people. I mean he is on the “Jaeger Tour” with Eric Church for crying out loud. So all you narrowminded egotists who think out your A$$ NEED TO SHUT THE HELL UP!

William Cowdery,

Yes, I have written songs. They may be better than Josh’s, they may be worse. But I’m not putting them out there on a major label for people to judge. If Josh is tough and/or smart, he will deal with the criticism I and others give him in a constructive manner. That is what it is there for. There is a fight going on right now for the heart of country music, and I represent one viewpoint. Conflict breeds resolution, and resolution breeds progress.

And no, I don’t live in my parents basement. I am a professional writer and take this very seriously.

Judy,

All the Outlaws used major labels, before and after becoming Outlaws. The difference is that when they because Outlaws, they had complete creative control of the music, something that modern Nashville labels won’t allow.

I also alluded to this in the article:

“Willie and Waylon started inside the system too.”

The bigger evil over what Josh is doing, is the major label that is controlling all the media hitting the mass market’s eyes. Watch his “Blame it on Waylon” video. If you ask me, it is insulting to women, and glorifies excessive drinking, while the Outlaws sang about the trials of addiction: an inherent country theme throughout its existence.

Josh may not be claiming to be an Outlaw, but that is what his label is marketing him as, and he may not have any say so about it.

And yes, I am wholeheartedly, admittedly bias on this topic. I am fighting for what I believe in, the direction I think is best for country music. The industry and their fans fight back. I have nothing but respect for all these Josh Thompson fans who’ve come here to defend an artist they like, including the ones who have personally insulted me. Because they are just defending an artist they love, and that means that people still care about music.

But understand, there is a whole other world that I represent. Read all the comments before this article went viral in Josh Thompson fandom. What I feel is what many people feel, and I am also not the only critic/writer to criticize this album.

I wrote this article with a lot of passion, and I wrote it was weeks ago. Today, I would write a different article, and it probably would be a lot more tame. But the theme would be the same: Josh Thompson is the product of a marketing strategy, and must be stopped.

It is well known that Rick Ruben let Johnny Cash pick what songs he would play on the American Recordings. It had nothing to do with marketing, at least at the song picking stage.

Wait. So Josh Thompson has to cheat on his wife, do drugs, and be a crappy father to be considered an outlaw?

?,

No. Being a country has very little to do with personal behavior, or even what you sing about. The original Outlaws were known as such because they rebelled against the Nashville oligarchy that wants to control every aspect of an artists music. Clearly you don’t understand that, and Josh and the marketeers behind him don’t understand that either.

I think…that it is awesome that there is so much music out there. Something for *everyone*. There are people who love pop (I don’t like it overall but there are a few good pop song songs out there). There are people who love metal, rock, rap, country (new and/or old). In general I like a little bit of everything. But “new” country is my passion. It was Eric Church who drew me to Country music. Before that it was 80’s hairbands lol.

I kind of understand where you are coming from. Rock is the same way. Some people curse the newer acts because they aren’t the rolling stones, who, elvis, beatles.

There is something for everyone. I truely believe that. But I think that sometimes people get defensive of “their” artists. Josh is a grown man - and quite honestly probably not as concerned with your reveiw as his fans are.

I’ll be honest - there are a couple Josh supporters *here* that made me cringe a bit. Being nasty to you sure doesn’t represent Josh well. But I do think overall *most* of us have been kind…a bit defensive of Josh but not nasty.

But I do completely believe in today’s music industry that the old time “outlaws” would not have made it. They would have been squashed. I’ve heard rumors of artists dropped from labels because they didn’t follow what was required….and get blacklisted. No labels, no gigs. Josh wants a career doing what he loves. I can’t blame him for bending.

Have you *never* bent a bit at a job? *EVER*? Just asking.

Again - I also don’t see Josh claiming to be an outlaw. Which seems to be the gist of your review….he sings that his love for music and his playing it is because of “Waylon and all them other outlaws”. Not “I’m an outlaw look at me i’m bad” lol. I’ve never read or seen anything with him claiming to be an outlaw. Ever.

I’m just happy that there is so much variety in music

Triggerman:
I only utilized the same tactics at the end of my article that you utilized throughout the entire article. Yet it seems that you try to use words against people to make yourself look better. I don’t even think a team of plastic surgeons could accomplish that,lol.

I brought valid arguments and the only thing you could pick out of it was the same banter you used. Shows that a real writer your not. A real writer would’ve acknowledged the validity of my arguments and condemnded the insults. Yet not you, which is not a shock.
Music is like beauty, although music is in the ear of the beholder. I do believe that when you wrote your critique, you were way harsh and have felt the backlash of true josh thompson fans, that understand his music and identify with him.

Serialkiller,

You just showed your ignorance! Maybe some people like music that isn’t so harsh and realistic. With the economy these days people use music to escape from their problems. This music is fun… sorry that you think its bullshit!!

What puddle of Mudd is grunge is what this bastard is to outlaw country.

[...] riddled radio ready songs that further trash the soul and name of country music. With new artists like Josh Thompson, and new albums like Gretchen Wilson’s I Got Your Country Right Here, Music Row proved that [...]

Country music has become a joke. Moron singers prattling on about how the love small town life. Its such a cliche : “I love God, Beer, Women, Small Towns, and Hank Williams (or Johnny Cash)” over and over. Nothing interesting or new. Country is lowest common denominator music for morons. Its garbage and not even worth saving anymore.

DJ,

If Josh is family I would expect nothing less than for you to defend him. But country music is MY family, and so I am going to try to defend it as well.

To the Haters;
The first time I heard Josh Thompson I actually couldn’t stand him. I head his first single “Beer on the Table” on the radio and had to call one of my buddies telling him how much I didn’t like this new guy from WI, (we happen to live in WI, so it was kind of cool to have someone from here, for lack of a better word, make it). Then we saw him on stage before Eric Church (who you most likely don’t care for either) and it was a great performance, and his songs were actually good, other than his first hit. We were not expected to like him, we wrote him off from what we had heard.
As far as the outlaw thing goes, give it a break. There were only the original outlaws of country music and that is what there will always be. You cannot add more people and group them all together. No one will sound like they did and do the things they have done.

Who would you say are the new outlaws of country if Josh isn’t? And please don’t put a bunch of no name people.

Why is Josh’s somewhat groomed appearance a problem for people? Is he supposed to have a big scuzzy beard and wear ratty clothes? Who cares, thats the way he dresses, deal.

I am kind of curious as to how this turned into a pissing match for some. Josh worked hard in concrete before he was in Nashville, but for some reason a few people act like that doesn’t matter and they work harder. You are supposed to relate to the song, or the type of songs being sung. Where does saying you have it harder really make sense?

I can see, and do hear the argument of country being to pop, but I think Josh Thompson is a far cry from that group of artists.

So you need a country singer to act like its the 60’s singin that old tired tune?. That is the way country USED TO sound. Everything changes. Why would you want new music to sound pretty much the same as the old music? You could just get on album and call it a day and have no variety.

amen triggerman new outlaw my ass

First id like to say i dont give a damm if mr thompson worked in concrete or a burger joint. He worked. Big deal! It does’nt matter where or how hard. How does Where you work or what you worked in have anything to do with your talent as a country singer? We all could sit around and tell sob stories about the hellish places we worked and each and every one of us could come up with one worse than the guy before him. Does that qualify us for a pass if we go into country music? If it does, Well damn, sign me up. I dont care what he looks like, how he dresses or anything else. Its the sound i hear and what its presented as and how its presented that turns my stomache. its the same exact thing with a different wrapper. And whats worse is outlaw is being used as the wrapper. Second i firmly believe there can be real outlaws again. Waylon never wanted to be an outlaw or a rebel, he just wanted to express music in its truest form, from the heart and his way. Bucking the system earned him the outlaw title. If people would start saying no again and fight against the factory preduced country and show the differences, you can bet there would be outlaws again. If they can get a following and shake up the current system i think it would be a start to a much needed change in country music.