alt.country

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Anderson:

quote:

Originally posted by ewemon:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jeff Anderson:
Kasey Anderson "Nowhere Nights"

Do you think it is his best?

It is the only one I have, I discovered him through a recent newspaper article. I think the songs are excellent. Apparently he is back from a year in Europe doing club residencies, just working on his craft.

regards
Jeff A

Had a listen to it on Spotify and bought a copy. Sounded vg.

Almost too much of my collection to mention!

For something new-how about J Tillman (drummer from Fleet Foxes) 'Vacilando Territory Blues'. Whiff of Iron and Wine/Bonnie Prince Billy to it. Speaking of the latter his output is a bit variable to my ears but I love 'Lie Down In The Light'

An absolute favourite alt.country album for me is Willard Grant Conspiracy 'Regard The End'.

The Handosme Family is fairly 'alt' alt.country but does it for me. 'Last Days Of Wonder' as good as any.

How about Calexico for a more Mexican feel? 'Feast Of Wire' perhaps a good place to start.

...and of course the entire Wilco catalogue.

Bruce

Just what is "alt country" meant to convey?

An alternative to country could be jazz, these bloody genres do my head in.

My understanding was it meant outside the traditional "country and western" of Nashville - think Dolly Parton, Minnie Pearl, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, Roy Rogers as "traditional country and western". Not so much an alternative to, but an alternative of.

my take
Jeff A

Some incredible suggestions here, hard to go wrong and I add anything by Mary Gauthier, Bottle Rockets,Joe Ely,Robert Earl Keen, Billy Joe Shaver,Robbie Fulks, Gourds,Townes Van Zandt,Lucero,Buddy Miller, Alejandro Escovedo, Jason Isbell, to consider as well.

Thanks for the recs.picked up a nice little sampler.

quote:

Originally posted by fama:
Thanks for the recs.picked up a nice little sampler.

That's a strange mix of artists. No one would ever call Bobby Womack country.

quote:

Originally posted by ewemon:

quote:

Originally posted by fama:
Thanks for the recs.picked up a nice little sampler.

That's a strange mix of artists. No one would ever call Bobby Womack country.

Yes strange tho has tupelo and calexico
been listening to this

so thought I might as well get the compilation
since it was only £3.97 at tesco

My question about alt.country is when did alt.country music start? It is I believe a fairly recent term and most of the recommendations on this thread are recent or relatively recent recordings - and jolly good too although I'm not sure what is alt. about Gillian Welch.

But can we go back and (re)define music from earlier periods as alt.country - Little Feat being perhaps the most obvious example - and if not, why not? And if we can who else would we reclassify?

Olly

RIP

quote:

Originally posted by Olly:
My question about alt.country is when did alt.country music start? It is I believe a fairly recent term and most of the recommendations on this thread are recent or relatively recent recordings - and jolly good too although I'm not sure what is alt. about Gillian Welch.

But can we go back and (re)define music from earlier periods as alt.country - Little Feat being perhaps the most obvious example - and if not, why not? And if we can who else would we reclassify?

IIRC 'alt.country' was a term originally used to classify artists who shunned the country music establishment in Nashville. An artist like Townes Van Zandt would spring to mind in this regard.

I think the term also became a catch phrase for artists who approached country music through the ethos of independent/alternative music - Whiskeytown and Uncle Tupelo spring to mind.

Personally I find the phrase has outlived its usefulness and think that 'americana' is a far more appropriate term that more accurately describes the loose bunch of artists and genres. However I accept that this term is also problematic, but then again any attempt to categorise music is always going to be problematic.

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
CCWR Ive always thought of as alt country.
Still dont like them though.

Nah they're swamp rock and I love 'em - except Mardi Gras, which is alt.terrible.

Is Mary Chapin Carpenter alt.country?

Angie Palmer? She's more Manchester than Nashville, but makes mighty fine country elpees.

The Whiskeytown "Strangers Almanac" as mentioned earlier is a great elpee/seedee/flack/whav.
The Deluxe Edition has an extra CD of acoustics/outtakes and covers. There's even a cover of Fleetwood Mac's Dreams.

If you like Mr Adams then you can download/torrent officially endorsed Flacks of his concerts off the soundboard at ryanadamsarchive.com

quote:

Originally posted by nap-ster:
The Whiskeytown "Strangers Almanac" as mentioned earlier is a great elpee/seedee/flack/whav.
The Deluxe Edition has an extra CD of acoustics/outtakes and covers. There's even a cover of Fleetwood Mac's Dreams.

If you like Mr Adams then you can download/torrent officially endorsed Flacks of his concerts off the soundboard at ryanadamsarchive.com

There used to be a ton of his shows over at archive.org same with Little Feat and a whole host of others. I remastered a few for my own personal listening pleasure.

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
This album did it for me.

The guy next door to me in the 70's used to play this morning noon and night.
I hate it.

Funnily enough Stu I love them but for the most part only their singles as I always struggle to listen to a complete album these days.