Tyler Childers: “We’ve Not Fixed The Problem of Bad Country”
Tyler Childers is getting ready to release his major label debut Country Squire on Friday, August 2nd, and ahead of the release, he’s doubling down on both his distaste for much of modern country, and his criticism of Americana as a distraction from the deeper issues facing the country genre. In a new interview with The Guardian, the Kentucky native did not mince words about what he feels the issues that are facing much of modern country music.
“The problem with country is we’ve turned the props into the play,” he says. “Let’s not just Solo cup and pickup truck it to death. Let’s handle this in a smart way. Nobody is thinking about lyrical content, or how we’re moving people, or what’s going on in the background of their minds … It doesn’t make sense to move to one of the biggest-growing cities in the nation (Nashville) to sit in a room with 12 people and write a country song. They’re all singing songs about ‘the place down the road’, but what is that place now?”
Tyler Childers has been able to build a grassroots audience and put major label support behind his career by being the authentic voice missing in most of today’s commercial country. As Childers says, “There are different pockets of the rural US and each one of those has their own color, their own language, the things they’re worried about. They’re so different.” But the homogenization of country, and popular music at large has drained most of the regional character out of the music, making the songs and stories of Tyler Childers feel especially vibrant and unique to ears hungry for variety and regional texture.
Some may recall last September while Childers was accepting his Americana award for Emerging Artist of the Year, he said, “As a man who identifies as a country music singer, I feel Americana ain’t no part of nothin’. It is a distraction from the issues that we are facing on a bigger level as country music singers. It kind of feels like ‘Purgatory.'”
In the new interview, Tyler Childers also doubles down on his charges against the Americana distinction, calling it “a place to recognize people being ignored by their own genres, but now it’s a hindrance. The stuff we used to call ‘good country’ is now getting called Americana. We’ve not fixed the problem of bad country.”
Tyler Childers has certainly been doing his part in the effort against bad country, and now with the muscle of a major label behind him, will likely reach and even larger audience with the new album Country Squire.
The 28-year-old from Lawrence County, Kentucky started playing music when he was 13, and learned how to sing in the church choir. After graduating from Paintsville High School, Childers attended a few semesters at a community college while pursuing a music career, releasing his first record at 19 called Bottles and Bibles. Appearing throughout Kentucky and West Virginia, Childers became a regional phenomenon, and was given a major boost when the drummer for Sturgill Simpson, Miles Miller, introduced the two. Soon Childers was signed to Thirty Tigers, and became one of the fastest-rising artists in country music.
Childers regularly sells out live appearances, and is headlining numerous festivals in 2019, including Pickathon in Portland where he will appear Friday and Saturday night (8-2 and 8-3). It was announced in May that Tyler Childers had signed to Sony Music division RCA Records in a partnership with his own imprint, Hickman Holler Records.
Craig Danger
August 1, 2019 @ 1:35 pm
Give ’em hell Timmy!
Red Cloud
August 1, 2019 @ 1:35 pm
Northern Wisconsin loves your music Mr. Childers.
Can’t wait for tomorrow morning.
Bill from Wisconsin
August 1, 2019 @ 4:40 pm
East central Wisconsin too!
I like how Tyler said what he said.
Jackie Treehorn
August 1, 2019 @ 9:13 pm
I like how he says a lot of what he says.
CeeCeeBee
August 1, 2019 @ 1:41 pm
I can’t love this encough.
Spencer Vilhauer
August 1, 2019 @ 1:43 pm
Wow, after Wildhare the Portland area finally blessed with good country music.
Stupidwordpress
August 1, 2019 @ 2:16 pm
What’s even cooler than this article is that he just posted a sincere apology on the FB fan page because his bus broke down and he won’t make the Bend show. When’s the last time you’ve seen an artist go out of their way to post a sincere apology to the fans?
KGD
August 1, 2019 @ 2:30 pm
Troubadours
Sturgill
The Rolling Stones
Just about every artist I listen to does when they have cancel a show.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
August 1, 2019 @ 6:27 pm
Ha! Turnpike’s posts were primarily a) lies / excuses about made up about health or travel problems, b) were done after the show was supposed to take place and fans had already shown up to the venue, and c) were from their inept and dishonest management instead of being from Felker himself. I’m assuming you include them on that list in sarcasm.
KGD
August 2, 2019 @ 5:11 am
Fair enough. I probably should have re-read before I hit send. Consider them deleted.
I know there have been a couple of better examples in the recent months, vehicle mishaps, illness, etc. Sincere regrets and apologies are really the rule vs. the exceptions in my experience
Billy Wayne Ruddick
August 2, 2019 @ 8:08 am
Fair enough. Tyler’s was pretty cool and unique because of its length and content, and because it came from his personal FB account.
thebugman10
August 2, 2019 @ 5:03 am
Yeah, as much as I love Turnpike, they don’t deserve to be on this list.
albert
August 1, 2019 @ 3:18 pm
its incumbent upon TC and others who’ve held the fort for so long ( thank you ) to re-teach by doing ….not just by talking .
a generation of ‘country’ listeners have never heard REAL country music on their radios and obviously like what they DO hear on their radios . they can’t be faulted , as passive listeners, for their unawareness . that’s the fault of those marketing to a demographic who really just have more to do than educate themselves musically . that’s the fault of labels and artists who take advantage of that demographic . powerful forces .
I’m inclined to think that because radio country has gotten SO bad the pendulum has no option but to swing back and wow ! as it does so there will be a raft of GREAT talents waiting to embrace it and every listener who cares even a little will be touched by REAL country music ….REAL songs ….REAL one-of-a-kind vocalists and trad instruments and be knocked out by the truth .
rock on TC ….
Dan
August 1, 2019 @ 3:28 pm
Tyler will become what Sturgil could have been and what Stapleton also is. A torchbearer for real country and toots music for a generation who only knows about it because of Waylon and Willie.
Dan
August 1, 2019 @ 3:37 pm
*roots
North Woods Country
August 1, 2019 @ 5:13 pm
Man, I want to agree with you, but it’s a real stretch to call Chris Stapleton a country artist. A good artist? Hell yes, but he’s no more country than Isbell is, in my opinion. It’s a song here and there, but otherwise his music fits in other genres.
Toddxolsen
August 1, 2019 @ 7:28 pm
Stapleton is country as cornbread. His albums might have a bluesy tinge to them but he’s as country as the day is long.
North Woods Country
August 1, 2019 @ 7:51 pm
You’re debating what he is versus what he sounds like. A lot of his music doesn’t sound like Country. And that’s fine because it’s mostly good music.
Toddxolsen
August 2, 2019 @ 3:55 am
I’m talking about his music fella.
Nicole
August 1, 2019 @ 7:43 pm
Chris Stapleton is probably the closest “country singer” that is “now” half the shit on the radio is not country, very upsetting, so many song should be played on the “teenage channel”. Country music is becoming a discrace…..its like hollywood “rebooting” arnold and slys movies….um no, we love them for a reason, dont fix a record thats not broken!!!!
Martin d28
August 15, 2019 @ 2:07 pm
Uhhh… you’re all wrong. chris stapleton used to be in a bluegrass band called the steel drivers. hes written many country songs for other artists (loves gonna make it alright george straight, never wanted nothing more kenny chesney, your man josh turner, talk is cheap alan jackson, whiskey and you tim mcgraw, drink a beer luke bryan) alot of these songs were good songs, until he sold them to artists like luke bryan and kenny chesney. but yeah he is as country as it gets listen to the steeldrivers, the only reason people dont think he is is because they are just now hearing about him because he came out as an artist and wanted to make the big bucks instead of that bluegrass money.
Sven
August 1, 2019 @ 6:56 pm
Can someone please explain why Chris stapleton is referred to as a real country singer by so many people? Almost all his music is blues/rock. For exemple, his version of Tennessee Whiskey is blues music, not country at all.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
August 1, 2019 @ 7:10 pm
Primarily because his success came largely from his “country” award show appearances (mainly the big one with Timberlake) and multiple and repeated “country” music awards. Also he got a lot of radio play on “country” stations. The Nashville machine picked him as a horse to ride and market as a country artist, and they made a good choice. Those are the main reasons IMO. Finally, his getup with the black duster and cowboy hat emphasized the country image.
Also, a decent portion of his stuff is country adjacent and has some elements of country, so it’s not like he’s completely not country.
Toddxolsen
August 2, 2019 @ 3:59 am
Because his music is country as a baked bean sandwich. It has blue accents. But it’s damn right country music.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
August 2, 2019 @ 8:13 am
We can agree to disagree on that one. For example, he completely copied an Etta James song musically with “Tennessee Whiskey”. A song that is catchy (I actually like the Etta James version better), but decidedly not country, and yet people have convinced themselves that it’s a country song just because it was re-sung by a guy in a cowboy hat who they saw on the CMAs. Stapleton is talented, but most of his stuff is not country. Nothing wrong with that, it just is what it is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1XAOkOFxec
Toddxolsen
August 2, 2019 @ 8:49 am
Billy,
It’s called a cover song. It’s not copied or re-sung it’s a cover song. Johnny Cash released an entire album of cover songs, it’s a very normal thing to do.
I’ve never seen the CMA’s but I’ve heard almost every song Chris Stapleton has ever sung. Including the albums when he sang for the steel drivers. His music is country because it contains all of the elements that make country music country music. It might have blues influences and all sorts of other influences but Chris Stapleton is a country music singers who writes and sings country music songs.
Marianne
August 2, 2019 @ 11:50 am
Interesting tidbit from Taste of Country:
Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove wrote “Tennessee Whiskey,” and it was first pitched to George Strait, who turned it down. David Allan Coe became the first country singer to cut the song, making it the title song of an album he released in 1981. His version peaked at No. 77 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, but George Jones’ rendition fared better in 1983, reaching all the way to No. 2.
Yes, it’s a mere cover of a song mostly associated with George Jones, but the melody used is an absolute rip-off of Etta James and she should be credited imho.
Jason Bray
August 1, 2019 @ 4:03 pm
Awesome. Tyler is what we need more of. He’s one of the only ones that will speak out about people selling his tickets second hand for double the price. He says don’t pay 200 dollars to come see me. I’ll do more shows. Class act
Billy Wayne Ruddick
August 2, 2019 @ 10:05 am
He never admitted to covering/copying the Etta James song and he didn’t give her one lick of credit for it (even though it was an obvious nearly note-for-note remake of it). I think I recall seeing some BS in an interview with him where he stated that him and the band just “came up with it on the spot” during a sound check, or something like that. Again, I only bring up the Tennessee Whiskey song as an example of one of his more popular songs that isn’t country, yet 90% of his fans would call country for some reason. Again, nothing wrong with it not being country, but it simply isn’t.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
August 2, 2019 @ 10:08 am
That comment was meant for the thread above…..
Jim WILSON
August 1, 2019 @ 4:33 pm
Dan, toots, roots, I knew what you meant and agree .
AndrewEsq
August 1, 2019 @ 5:12 pm
Good to know where his head is at. Well written article also. I’m pretty confident Tyler is going to be great for some time to come. I expect some growing pains (one of which may or may not be this upcoming album) as there’s really no blueprint to what he’s doing in this day and age but, I truly feel like he’s going to be worthy of supporting even if it takes him a minute to figure it out. He may nail it out of the gate or it may take a couple albums to dial in but, so long as he stays true to his mission and keeps writing great songs (as he’s been doing consistently since high school), he will get the image and presentation dialed in, he’s going to be special, and he’s going to have my support. I see something in him and Cody that surpasses even what I see in the other talented artists spoken in the same breath. Can’t wait to see what he does over the next handful of years. I feel fortunate to have gotten in on the ground level.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
August 1, 2019 @ 9:49 pm
Bottles and Bibles was his “out of the gate” album. He’s well beyond the beginning phase now, with his live releases and Purgatory. Having just listened to Country Squire, I think it’s safe to say he’s solidified his place in the Country world now, and it’s his to screw up (although I’m not sure we have any indication that he will be prone to do that).
AndrewEsq
August 2, 2019 @ 9:15 am
This place is oddly and unnecessarily confrontational at times. You certainly don’t need to school me but, I should have clarified that I was discussing “out of the gate on a major label as an “independent” country artist clever enough to negotiate creative control.” I think you’d agree that Tyler is breaking new ground in that regard in this day and age all things considered. I thought the context was apparent by the discussion. Although he’s done everything right as rain, I don’t think its a stretch for his core fans to be somewhat reluctant to Tyler’s signing to a major. Its nice to see/hear him refusing to compromise his integrity in any way was my point. I didn’t expect him to do so but, the above article is appreciated confirmation.
In regards to the new album, if this is his “sophomore slump” effort, I’d say he’s doing pretty darn good. Another controversial red flag to consider, imho, is Strugill’s continued involvement (not to always be bagging on Sturgill but, there stated missions are clearly oppositional and, notwithstanding the high quality of Tyler’s music, a nitpicker might say he’s having “Sturgill issues” in regards to his mixes on the new album especially and having that live energy bleed through).
In regards to common ground, I’d say he solidified his place in country with Purgatory or even Red Barn if one;s place is solidified through showcasing extraordinary talent. We have no reason to bicker here. I just want him to live up to his potential and think the studio presentation falls a bit behind the talent in regards to song writing and the live presentation. That is not to say the studio presentation is bad, only lacking in regards to song writing and live energy imho. Not complaining at all here and, notwithstanding some prior assumptions, I don’t mind teles and fiddles on Tyler records (the fiddle part in Creekers is particularly tasty!) but, I do think that the mixes could be better and are an easy fix if brought to his attention (although I’ve admittedly not heard a hard copy yet and think the mix for “All Your’n” might have been cleaned up some for the video? I just find him difficult to understand and I’m from here. Therefore, it concerns me that a less than ideal mix might lose some folks needlessly whom are already struggling with the (beautiful) mountain language and accent.)
As stated above, you’ll hear nothing but support from me and we are on the same team here. I’m just of the mind that constructive criticism from certain long time core fans could add value and perspective. He’s in my top two active artists period. I wasn’t insinuating he hasn’t arrived but, that he’s so good he’s breaking new ground here.
Tracy
August 1, 2019 @ 5:21 pm
“It doesn’t make sense to move to one of the biggest-growing cities in the nation (Nashville) to sit in a room with 12 people and write a country song.” Amen!!!
Nashville is completely lacking in integrity but Tyler Childers is the cure for that! It’s not just in his music but also in the fact that he has the guts to stand up and tell the truth about the situation.
Ryan
August 1, 2019 @ 5:24 pm
Yes, but what does Tammy Chiggers have to say about this?
Rob
August 1, 2019 @ 6:11 pm
Tammy’s busy puttin the dick in Dixie if you know whut I mean
Rob
August 1, 2019 @ 6:09 pm
Speaking of Tyler.. When can we expect your Country Squire review Trig?
Trigger
August 1, 2019 @ 6:16 pm
We shall see. I don’t review records until they’re released. It might be tomorrow, it might be the next day. But it won’t be until I believe it’s good and done and ready for posting.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
August 1, 2019 @ 6:36 pm
Enjoy Pickathon (assuming you are there) and don’t worry about the review. Will be more meaningful after everyone has spent a little time with the album in any case!
JB-Chicago
August 1, 2019 @ 9:50 pm
Yes, everyone,….. give us all little time to listen and absorb the album a bit before we chime in. I hate making snap judgments especially on iconic artists. I haven’t even listened yet but first thing tomorrow…………..
Nicole
August 1, 2019 @ 8:00 pm
Who the F is Isbell?
618creekrat
August 2, 2019 @ 2:01 am
I sort of think of him as the magnet sitting near the compass a lot of folks set their course by.
Rooster Cruiser
August 2, 2019 @ 6:36 am
Your goddamn father.
BW
August 7, 2019 @ 6:18 pm
Who is Isbell? Hes an extremelyctalented singer songwriter who has traveled a path longer and darker than most.Made some really great music then got political in his Twitter posts and last record and lost any shred of admiration I had for him. Shut up and sing. (I listen to DBT and TC all day everyday.)
Joy
August 1, 2019 @ 8:18 pm
Meaningful can’t be anything better than hearing a song for the very first time and knowing he’s got it, pure country soul that NO ONE can duplicate.. https://youtu.be/C6kiqBl5u5w Much like King George’s Fire I Can’t Put Out. Stay True to what we love about you Tyler, keep sanging those songs that touch our reality and love for the true Joy of living life TODAY. Thank you !!! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Red Cloud
August 1, 2019 @ 9:25 pm
On first listen, album of the year.
ScottG
August 1, 2019 @ 9:50 pm
Sounds great. And the 2 early songs weren’t really an indication of the rest of the album.
I admit that I expected the worse based on the production of All Your’n. Glad I was wrong.
I kind of miss the drums on Bus Route after hearing some badass versions of that. But shit it all sounds great. The piano seems cool too on first listen.
Red Cloud
August 1, 2019 @ 10:00 pm
Love the heavy fiddle on the record, especially on Matthew.
ScottG
August 1, 2019 @ 10:02 pm
Yeah I noticed that too.
The songs are excellent as expected, but it’s cool to hear that the production is actually really good as well.
ScottG
August 1, 2019 @ 9:39 pm
I’m all for this dude and what he’s doing. But, what EXACTLY is he saying with this: “We’ve not fixed the problem of bad country.”
Who is the we? He’s singlehandedly kicking ass and making a difference, hats off. But is there also some not so secret committee out there working on “fixing” the problem? I mean, I’m down for that. Count me in. I just don’t know exactly what it is. Personally, I think part of the problem is pretending that country radio / the mainstream is anything more than garbage, and not worth discussing favorably with a “country radio handicap” applied. But maybe that’s just me.
KGD
August 2, 2019 @ 2:44 pm
I kind of wondered the same thing. If people are going to buy crappy music, somebody is going to make it. I mean I doubt he’s talking about censorship or anything like that.
He and Cody and others just need to keep cranking out great music and we all need to hope quality will out.
tucker33585
August 1, 2019 @ 9:50 pm
Country Squire is #1 on iTunes
618creekrat
August 2, 2019 @ 3:08 am
Well, I”m experiencing a bit of a sense of relief as I listen to the album.
Taken individually, the two pre-releases were a couple of caution signs. House Fire has a bit of a broken record feel to it (right down to the ending, which sounds like it needed to be unplugged to stop it). All Your’n, on the other hand, is a fine piece of writing subjected to a bit of genre bending. In terms of substance:style the songs are the inverse of each other.
The album is a good listen, though. Plenty of good story telling, delivered mostly in the familiar Childers style. In the album context, House Fire can serve as a mood setter, and All Your’n becomes a bit of an exotic stop along the way with its genre shift.
After one listen I’m not sure about AOTY, but it could very well be amidst the lead pack.
Matt
August 3, 2019 @ 6:58 pm
This is a nicely balanced review. My sense so far is that it’s not the surpassing achievement that Purgatory was, but that it’s an excellent outing by a guy who pretty much can’t make a bad song.
FWIW, I feel much more strongly about Lukas’ follow-up to HIS big triumph. The 2017 album was, I thought, a first-class piece of work. This latest one, though, is extreeeeemely disappointing.
CountryKnight
August 2, 2019 @ 4:11 am
I appreciate the sentiment and I definitely agree that all the good singers fleeing to Americana won’t fix the genre but it feels a bit hypocritical for him to utter those words while accepting an award from the Americana genre. It is really no different than all those pop country singers who proclaim their music isn’t country but accept country awards.
TilBillyHill
August 6, 2019 @ 7:01 pm
Yeah. I’ve wondered if I’m just taking his comments wrong because I am reading most of them, instead of hearing him say them.
But, I don’t quite get why he seems to direct so much ire at Americana. It’s not really that artists fled to it from country or other genres. The ones who came from other genres weren’t fleeing, they were exiled. Why does it matter if you label yourself country if there’s zero chance of being played on country radio? I do see how that argument could be flipped: what’s the point in labeling yourself Americana when there are very few Americana stations?
I remember when I used to just go flip through the CDs in the country section at record stores. Based on Trigger’s post on the Kane Brown release date change on Spotify, I get that the streaming and download platforms are today’s version of the record store, and that clicking on a genre can matter, regardless of what radio plays.
I look for Americana and Alt-Country and others that, to me, are subgenres of country. If those labels disappear and are replaced by “Country,” that just makes it harder to find the good stuff.
We vote with our wallets when we buy albums (in whatever format), concert tickets, and merch. I’ve considered trying to roust the troops to call country stations to request songs that deserve a chance. Remember when “Friends in Low Places” and “If You’re Reading This” reportedly made it to radio through public demand, even before or without being released as singles? But, it seems pointless, given how programming is so centralized and scripted these days.
I remember “Young Country,” “Born to Boogie,” and older pushes and shoved between honky tonk, the Nashville sound, the Outlaws, countrypolitan, etc. The difference I see is that there still was some room for a variety of songs. It seems like stations now will play a song once per hour. By the time they have 2 or 3 in heavy rotation and all the commercials and “banter,” and a lot of great music never makes it in front of the deejays it programmers, let alone audience.
So, we have to fend for ourselves. For me, the Americana label is like “no artificial flavoring or coloring” on a food label. It’s info for the consumer. Today, “Country” is the same as “100% delicious,” on a food label.
TL; DR – why does Tyler seem more ticked off at artists who find refuge in Americana than at the industry powers that exiled them from “Country” in favor of non-stop escapism and empty calories?
TilBillyHill
August 6, 2019 @ 7:54 pm
Clarification: where stations used to brag about “no repeat work days,” now it seems like all the country stations where I live will take a song and play it once an hour all day and night. They get 3 or 4 that they play the hell out of, like that, and don’t even give a lot of stuff a listen, let alone one play over the air.
I thought I was in heaven when I was back in my hometown and could listen to a radio station that plays a lot of classic country. I have no idea why, but, it turned out that even that station played the same songs over and over. “Harper Valley PTA” was one 😂
Kevin Smith
August 2, 2019 @ 4:59 am
With the new release, my opinion on Tyler is evolving. His previous work reminded me of “The Mountain” era Steve Earle, kinda rustic bluegrass, Appalachian string band style; a bit of old timey folk, and to be fair there is some of that on the new record, but there is unmistakable and undeniable country music happening as well. Telecaster chicken pickin, pedal steel, and mournful fiddle, coupled with his honest twang inflected vocals and lyrics that at times remind me of Dwight Yoakam and John Prine.
That’s a big compliment from me, considering that I’ve been struggling to understand the phenomenon of TC for some time. All the hype from the super fans about him saving country music was laughable to me, as I perceived him a bit differently. But that’s changing for me now, and with this new record, it appears he’s really made a conscious effort to deliver real country music. Even that Grand Ole Opry performance was solid and I believe resonated well with folks who grew up listening to radio country.
As for his take on Americana, I get exactly what he’s saying and probably agree. To me, it’s almost two different audiences entirely, and I think Tyler figured that out a long time ago. I sense that he is hoping to reach that working class country music radio crowd, despite the fact that his fanbase is a lot of aging hippie NPR listeners, and hipster with money types. ( the Americana audience) No , I’m not picking on anyone, just calling it as i have been seeing it. You go TC!
SleepyBear
August 2, 2019 @ 7:03 am
From the comments on the Guardian article
Americana is not a ‘distraction’, it is a legitimate music genre 50 years old and musically, Country is nothing more than a fusion of Tennessee Honky Tonk and Texas Swing.
Almost all musicians are liberal people and Country is no exception but the Country Music Association and the near monopolistic radio stations in the South exclude anything that doesn’t conform to their vision of Country as Southern, Republican and White, in what amounts to blacklisting (except with some very few and notable exceptions).
Only a few privileged stars have been big enough to sing about some socio-political issues (e.g. Feminism, Environmental issues, Human Rights etc) and get away with it, but despite their desire to change Country music for the better it has hardly changed at all.
This isn’t adequately understood outside the US where people listen to Country simply as a sort of ‘Southern Folk’ music without any socio-political subtext, they happily listen to Americana and think it’s Country because it sounds so similar.
Americana developed in the late 1960’s from two directions.
Those who became ‘Outlaws’ of Country (e.g. Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash) because of their social commentary and who were too big for the CMA to blacklist, and Folk musicians from the North (e.g. Bob Dylan) who saw Country as a sub-genre of the Folk music they played.
Where Country is the narrow vision, Americana is the broad church but Americana suffers in reputation for being difficult to define, a consequence of it containing Country music or artists that the CMA has rejected for being too Liberal, too Northern, or containing elements of black music.
If I played in that style I would always rather be known as an Americana musician than a Country one even if the label confused people, because the segregationist subtext lurking deep within Country music would be make Country a label I’d be very uncomfortable with.
Trigger
August 2, 2019 @ 9:26 am
This is a one-sided, slanted perspective. The same exact thing can be said about Americana’s liberal bias, and how conservative ideals are not accepted, and are even admonished. Also, the music of Americana these days is WAY more political than the music of country. If you release an album in Americana right now and want it to be accepted, you must include political commentary. In country, it is mostly avoided.
“Almost all musicians are liberal people and Country is no exception.”
Completely untrue, and a perspective being driven home by the media that is not based in reality whatsoever. Most country artists are conservative, and don’t speak out on certain causes like gun control because they don’t believe in them. The media has turned country music into a political proxy war because think pieces and research papers have been driving home this idea that the way to undermine conservative support in America is to undermine country music. That is what Lil Nas X is about. That is what these perspectives are about. The Dixie Chicks and Toby Keith were nearly 20 years ago now. Most country music these days is purposely apolitical to give people a refuse from polarization. Country artists don’t speak out because they’re scared. They don’t speak out because they’re tired of politics screwing up everything in America.
wayne
August 2, 2019 @ 10:10 am
Trigger,
A thoughtful and correct reply. The Guardian is who???
Matt
August 3, 2019 @ 7:02 pm
I’d be fascinated to see those think pieces and research papers. Can you post the citations or share copies?
Thanks.
Trigger
August 3, 2019 @ 7:53 pm
I’ve posted a few articles citing and rebutting them, and I have a massive backlog of ones I would like to address. This probably deserves its own article. But trust be, they’re all over the place. There’s two or three being published a week.
618creekrat
August 2, 2019 @ 9:52 am
Just who the F is the Guardian?
618creekrat
August 2, 2019 @ 9:57 am
(BTW, I know who they are. Even worse than Tory, they are Labor. I think we sent both their philosophical ancestors packing a couple centuries ago.)
RD
August 2, 2019 @ 11:34 am
The Guardian lecturing country music listeners is like that pansy-voiced fuck, Neil Young, admonishing Southerners in every other song from the 70’s. What in holy hell could Neil Young possibly know about the American South? Although I’ve been to Canada numerous times, I don’t pretend to know much about their culture aside from hockey, Tim Horton’s and poutine. I wish them well with their progressive petri dish. By the way, get some conditioner for your hair, Neil.
JK
August 2, 2019 @ 3:06 pm
To be fair, this is a comment on the website, not an extract from a piece by the Guardian. The Neil Young pile on’s pretty funny though. He wrote two songs admonishing the South in the 70s, out of maybe 200. And Southern Man’s still a fucking great song.
RD
August 2, 2019 @ 11:27 am
Country music, springing forth primarily from rural areas, is tied to the land. It is blood and soil. There are more “environmental” pleas in country music than in any genre. I’m not sure what “human rights” are, but I’d be willing to bet that there are a whole bunch of country songs that address that, as well. I’ve never heard of a country music artist being rejected for “being too northern.” There have been a whole boatload of northerners who have succeeded in country music. Hell, Hank Snow and Shania Twain were from Canada. Is that far enough north? Certainly, a lot of non-Southern artists are/were rejected for being inauthentic, but that is a legitimate criticism.
Lefty Throckmorton
August 6, 2019 @ 8:31 pm
I’m sorry, but possessing trucks and driving them all of the time (as well as possessing guns) isn’t going to convince those that aren’t fans of C&W (in particular Europeans and Scandinavians) to listen to it or like it more; the only thing that will convince said folks is an artist who’s committed to environmentalism (which means-unfortunately for most rural Americans & Canadians-the negation of things like driving and gun culture [the latter in particular because of all of the recent shooting that have happened.]) Unless traditional C&W and its young artists can address this, it’s going to get subsumed by Americana completely (and I, a liberal Afro-Canadian male, don’t want that to happen.)
Someguy
August 10, 2019 @ 8:52 pm
So if we give up our culture and traditions… foreigners will like our ethnic music? Great sell.
I’m happy if foreigner folks like it, but it won’t break my heart if they don’t. I won’t be listening to Chinese flute tunes anytime soon regardless.
Lefty Throckmorton
August 25, 2019 @ 12:22 am
Someguy, most world cultures have had to adjust to the domination of American culture on theirs, so please spare me the whiny snowflake ‘Oh what about us/me’ bullcaca. There’s a whole wide world beyond the USA, and if you and everybody else wants C&W to survive, you and the other C&W fans may or will have adjust to how others feel about these issues. Not everything in life mentioned in a country song has to be about hard times/getting laid off, driving a pick-up truck, having guns, or going to the bar to listen to C&W, etc.
Kevin Smith
August 3, 2019 @ 5:24 am
The Guardian is a BRITISH publication. Different country and different culture entirely. I would never attempt to do a critical takedown on British pop music as I am an American, I lack perspective and didn’t grow up in that culture. Hearing British folks tell us what country music is really all about is laughable at best, at worst it’s insulting and ignorant. Those comments come from people completely uninformed, who have no clue what it’s like being raised in the south, or the rural places in America , where people work with their hands and sweat everyday to make a living. They are clueless about everyday people here who make up the fabric of what country music is all about. The comment about country is just a mix of Tennessee Honky Tonk and Texas Swing is completely wrong and ignorant. Celtic influences and blues are the two biggest ones that shape country music. Also, as far as Western Swing goes, it’s Western , not Texas Swing as you incorrectly called it. Western Swing is essentially Jazz music with a cowboy hat as the great Ray Benson so eloquently states. And as for the other comments, they are completely off base and unimaginative and have more to do with white university elites who are far removed from the working class and as such, look down on anyone who isn’t like them. In their worldview, everyone is a racist; a tired, worn , clichéd trope that doesn’t reflect the millions of us out working everyday, interacting with people of many cultures and backgrounds and in general getting along pretty well. What a load of absolute hogwash. Now back to your regularly scheduled program already in progress.
RD
August 3, 2019 @ 6:00 pm
How about when people who have been here for a few years try to tell you “what it really means” to be an American? It’s especially hilarious when they are some stripe of eastern indian, like Dinesh D’souza or a first -generation ex-trotskyite, like Michael malice, or some group of pygmy tribesmen who think they have a claim. My family has been here since before the Revolution. They weren’t “immigrants.” They were colonists. “Nation of immigrants,” my left testicle.
Lefty Trockmorton
August 6, 2019 @ 8:40 pm
Kevin, American culture is all over the planet, and many foreigners are familiar with it, so like it or not, it’s going to be commented upon and criticized in ways that you and others here who comment don’t like; you can either deal with it, or not, either way, it’s not going away. You and others here can’t have your cake (C&W being popular across the planet) and eat it too (no criticism from said foreigners.)
Seth of the Wilderness
August 2, 2019 @ 7:30 am
What a pleasant morning this is to wake up, start cooking breakfast, and get a prompt from Spotify to start listening to one of the two best albums of the year. It’s gonna be a difficult task for SCM to choose between Country Squire and Moondog for album of the year. Don’t worry folks. “I’m All Your’n” isn’t indicative of the rest of the album. It’s pure country gold. The only criticism I have is that the production tried too hard to make this concept-album-like. There was a little too much ambient guitar and fiddle in-between tracks, and many times it felt awkward or forced. But, overall it’s a great album, and I’ve only had one listen thru it, and I’ve already got a few tracks stuck in my head that I’ve been singing and whistling to all morning.
eisenhorn
August 2, 2019 @ 8:10 am
This is making my rainy Friday in Georgia great! Add in the Mike and the Moonpies album, and I have got plenty to listen to today instead of working. I just enjoy listening to Childers, and this is country that I want to listen on repeat.
Benny Lee
August 2, 2019 @ 9:21 am
Totally forgot today was national Tyler Childers day! Listening to Country Squire now; two and a half songs in, and so far it’s pure country gold!
Angela white
August 2, 2019 @ 10:22 am
Way to go Timmy Tyler!! Im a huge fan from SC. He takes me back to the music I grew up with,paints a picture,tells a story I want to hear…Can we add Ward Davis and Cody Jinks to the list of real country singers…Tell them Tyler! I love what you do,and how you do it!
Captain Canada
August 2, 2019 @ 10:50 am
Once again i think we are getting distracted from the issue.
Atomic Zombie Redneck
August 3, 2019 @ 9:38 am
Although I grew up on country, I spent my teens, twenties, and thirties thoroughly immersed in metal, as a fan and as a songwriter and performer. In the metal genre, a band that relies on teams of outside writers to complete an album is unheard of. All metal bands write their own songs. No metal record label would even consider signing a band that’s not capable of writing an entire album on their own.
As a kid, I always assumed that the country songs I heard on the radio were written by the people who sang them. As an adult, it’s been disappointing to learn that most country artists rely heavily on outside writers, with many not participating in writing process at all. As a young, amateur songwriter, metal taught me to be creative and to learn multiple instruments and vocal styles so I could be a better composer. I wonder what current country artists are teaching aspiring young artists? Are young singers resigned to being dependent on songwriters? And are young songwriters resigned to giving their creations away to those singers? Why is the country community ok with this?
Country and metal have much in common. Real musicians playing real instruments, a strong loyalty and respect for their musical history. And a strong appeal to the working class. But when it comes to the expectations put upon the artists themselves, country falls short. It’s disappointing, and unnecessary. The talent is out there. Why isn’t the country music industry signing them, and why isn’t the country community supporting them?
Robert
August 3, 2019 @ 11:18 pm
Outlaw country, red dirt, alternative country, real country, Austin country, progressive country, and I’m sure there are a dozen other labels, and dozens of artists that are identified as one, or several of those “genres”. I really don’t care what you call it. I listen to Steve Earle, Joe Ely, Reckless Kelly, CCR and/or The Departed. Todd Snider, Hayes Carll, Micky and the Mororcars, Slaid Cleaves, John Eddie, (look him up). James McMurtry, Jadon Isbell, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and more. Don’t know how they’re classified. Don’t care. I’m over 60 and I know what I like.
DJ
August 4, 2019 @ 9:19 am
Real! Country Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUAyhDhisiU
Lefty Throckmorton
August 6, 2019 @ 1:29 am
This is good news to hear about this young man.
Solvitur Ambulando
August 6, 2019 @ 6:22 am
“The stuff we used to call ‘good country’ is now getting called Americana.”
Amen and amen. Since the resurgence of my own interest in country music, I keep getting stonewalled by folks I grew up around saying things like, “I don’t know if I’d call that country; more like folk or Americana.”
But then I’ll go listen to the stuff from 30 or 40 years ago and it sure sounds a lot more like today’s ‘Americana’ than today’s country.
Insofar as the political content may go, I can deal and even sometimes applaud preaching from either side, but when artists consciously spurn their most ardent fans, that’s when I set them aside. I’m looking at you, Sturgill Simpson.
Matt
August 8, 2019 @ 6:20 am
He actually went to Western Kentucky University for a semester and then went home, not a community college. #factsfirst