Alt.country. Search and destroy.

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I like what I've heard of Lambchop and Vic Chestnutt. What next?

Billy Dods, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Uncle Tupelo is a good place to start... and I like The Silos' "Cuba." But don't forget to go back and buy your Gram Parsons/Flying Burrito Bros., Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, etc.... the roots of "alt- country." Some of it might be too "country" for you, but you'll come to appreciate the songwriting. The Jayhawks are good (if a little wimpy), Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, etc.

Andy, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Whiskeytown, Neko Case and her boyfriends, Smog, Silver Jews, Billy Joe Shaver, Oh Susanah .

anthony, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Definitely get 'So That Tonight I Might See' by Mazzy Star. Not exactly country, but not too far off.

Johnathan, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Is Will Oldham/Bonnie Prince Billy/Palace alt.country? He's mighty fine, whatever the category...The new BPB alb 'Ease on Down The Road' prob. his most countryish alb to date - some wicked duets with one of the singers from Freakwater. For the 'tougher' stuff, give 'Arise Therefore' by Palace Music a go - great use of drum machine in non-machine music context (bit of a trib to producer Steve Albini/Big Black), and v. appropriate work from David Grubbs on keyboards. Grubbs' alb from last year - 'The Spectrum Between' - also his most straight-forward so far, and quite country-pop in places.

Andrew L, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Say yes ma'am to Edith Frost "Calling Over Time"

Curt, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

The BPB album is great, forgot to mention it in the question. God knows, I've tried but I just don't get Gram Parsons. So much praise for GP/Grievous Angel and I just can't hear it. Are the Flying Burriti Brothers substantially different to justify investigating them?

Billy Dods, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Flying Burrito Bros. are occasionally a little more "psychedelic", there's no female harmonies, but it's not a whole lot different. I think alot of alt.country fans have a similar problem with Gram Parsons... it's not very "alternative", it's like real country music. But that's what I was raised on, his songwriting and singing are superb.. "$1000 Wedding," "She", " A Song For You"... such a strong, solid voice. I grew up in California with basically ONLY country (merle haggard, buck owens, don williams, etc.) so to me it sounds pretty good...

andy, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Seach: Waco Brothers, Scud Mountain Boys, Wilco. Destroy: Son Volt, Jayhawks

Sterling Clover, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I never thought of Silver Jews or Smog as alt.country. Probably because I have some stuff by both, and I didn't think I had any alt.country. But both are excellent.

Mark, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Oh, and Mazzy Star will NEVER be country... country-tinged folk or whatever, but not country. In a similar vein, I understand Nina Persson of The Cardigans is dabbling in Loretta-esque country with her side project called "A Camp." Anyone heard any of it?

andy, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Love the Handsome Family songs I've heard ("Drunk By Noon", "Weighless Again." ) Any suggestions as to which LP I should look into first?

Arthur, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Does the alt tag even matter anymore? This genre was so badly re/defined in the first place... at any rate, catch Neko Case live if you've ever the chance, the music is excellent and her voice is truly amazing...

Jason, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Seconded on Neko. She's a good 'un, and has a good stage repartee as well.

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Oh yeah, since they're always *IGNORED* by the No Depression-following crowd -- the Walkabouts. Anyone posting anything in this thread who hasn't investigated them is beyond missing out.

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Taking a side road off the dusty pike, headed towards say Neil Young/ Crazy Horse territory, my 5-star recommendations would have to be: 'Downtown, Saturday' (1999) from St.Louis band Nadine; 'Nothing stops moving', stunning home-produced altc/roots-pop cracker from LA band Gingersol; anything from Denton, Tx. outfit Centro-Matic (esp. 'All the falsest hearts can try' from 2000)...

steve m, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

ok, a mention of nadine - i love this band, or at least the only album i've heard, "back to my senses". so what other albums have they put out, when, label?

and what about david bromberg? can anyone supply any recommendations? nadine put a song called 'david bromberg" on their album, so i've listened to a couple lof his 70's lps that i could find - "bandit in a bathing suit" and "you should see the rest of the band". they're ok, but i get the feeling i'm missing the good stuff. maybe i should start a new thread?

stephen clover, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

If you like Lambchop you'd probably dig East River Pipe, Calexico, Scud Mountain Boys, and some Giant Sand. Vic Chesnutt would likewise lead to Victoria Williams and maybe the Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers. I think you'd be doing yourself a serious disservice to not check into some other less obvious choices, though: Julie and Buddy Miller both have some nice work (Julie is more moody, Buddy is more twangy). Jimmie Dale Gilmore has a real twang in his voice but I find his material totally haunting (esp The Flatlanders album and Braver Newer World). Gillian Welch has a pair of excellent American Gothic albums with hellfire and damnation all over them--and the first two releases by Canada's Oh Susanna also fit this mould somewhat. While we're in Canada, yes yes yes, check out Neko Case.

I also don't care what Sterling says: the first Son Volt album is amazing. The followups drifted into louder Neil Young territory, but I still think they're better than Wilco's Summerteeth.

Sean Carruthers, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

The Old 97's "Too Far To Care" is the definitive alt-country album to me. It's damn near perfect.

Mark M, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

"Rainy Day" compilation with some Neil Young (and Alex Chilton) covers on it. Finally found it on eBAY.

Stevie Nixed, Wednesday, 11 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Stevie - you're talking about the Rain Parade/Bangles/Dream Syndicate/3 O' Clock 'supergroup' album issued on Rough Trade in around 1984, right? I looked for that for ages too. Nice album - but can't say I'd call it any kind of country though.

Dr. C, Wednesday, 11 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Yeah, that's the one. Well as they covered some Neil Young songs on it and wanted to brag (hah!), I decided to mention it.

Stevie Nixed, Wednesday, 11 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Meat Puppets. Butthole Surfers. That's where it ends for me. The second Wilco album was good, third one limp ELO outtakes.

tarden, Wednesday, 11 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Destroy: Menlo Park. A poor copy of Roy Clark!

tarden, Wednesday, 11 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

pernice bros, the sadies, gillian welch, calexico.

fritz, Wednesday, 11 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

the HICKIODS!

Cash Lone, Wednesday, 11 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

search: giant sand/howe gelb/rainer/calexico/op8/brute(vic chestnutt & rem's producer) destroy: son volt/garth brooks

Pwal, Wednesday, 11 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Search: whiskeytown, willard grant conspiracy, lucinda williams, kasey chambers, willie nelson, johnny cash, black heart procession destroy - the new prefab sprout attempt.

Geoff, Wednesday, 11 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Definitely search Joe Pernice / particularly Big Tobacco on Glitterhouse Records. that label put out a lot of excellent stuff; Rainer, Hazeldine, Califone, and of course the Walkabouts. Destroy Willard Grant Conspiracy....very slowly.

GM, Wednesday, 11 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Search: The Beauty Shop, who sound like Son Volt's no good, drunken little brothers. In a less saloon, more coffeehouse kinda vein, search Pinetop Seven. I find the guy's singing pretty weak, but I've recommended them to friends who are into Lambchop and Calexico, and they practically swoon over the Pinetops' "soundscapes". I think they're starting a fan club.

Destroy: Joe Pernice, who always sounds good on listening stations, but never over a full CD at home no matter what he calls his band.

Curt, Wednesday, 11 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Color me stunned that no one's mentioned Michael Nesmith so far -- his countrified compositions both solo and with the Monkees are among the most underappreciated in the field.

I second the Calexico mention, and note for the record that Wilco's "Summerteeth" is one of my favorite albums of all time.

Joseph McCombs, Thursday, 12 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I second Mike Nesmith. And the Hits Just Keep on Comin' and Pretty Much Yer Standard Ranch Stash are great proto-alt-country.

Blake, Thursday, 12 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I haven't decided what I think of the Mollys, but they're fascinating if nothing else: Mexican-country polka played on Greek instruments (well, that's just one facet).

Frank Kogan, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Ryan Adams

, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

and exactly what would you like to say about ryan adams?

ernest, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

and exactly what would you like to say about ryan adams?

Q: I like what I've heard of Lambchop and Vic Chestnutt. What next? A: Ryan Adams

alex in mainhattan, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

one month passes...
I don't want to start a new topic for this, but for everyone talking about the walkabouts, what would you recommend from them?

Jeff, Thursday, 23 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

my morning jacket. their latest, 'at dawn', is insanely beautiful.

ernest, Thursday, 23 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

eleven months pass...
Whiskeytown's Pneumonia is wonderful, and light years* better than Strangers Almanac (yawn). A couple of the songs annoy me (What the Devil Wanted is the one that really sticks out in my mind as not really worth listening to), but overall it's a great album. If you're just looking for songs, you should track down Mirror, Mirror, Don't Wanna Know Why and Crazy About You, which are probably the poppiest songs on it, and where it really shines.

*Is that supposed to be one word or two in this context? It looks a bit odd either way, which probably means I should just find another word to use.

lyra in seattle, Saturday, 27 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

one year passes...
Ernest deserves some sort of prize.

Huckadelphia (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 18:37 (twenty years ago) link

seven years pass...

I was really into alt country from about 98-05 or so, but since then my favorite label, Bloodshot, has been more miss than hit. What's been going on worth hearing the past 5 years?

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 11 April 2011 16:57 (thirteen years ago) link

The Volebeats released what could be their best album last year.

kornrulez6969, Monday, 11 April 2011 17:09 (thirteen years ago) link

i don't seek out alt country, but this record by some friends of mine is pretty great: http://loukascatalog.com/the-fingers/O/1-the-fingers/songs

adult music person (Jordan), Monday, 11 April 2011 17:12 (thirteen years ago) link

10 years on, I still don't 'get' Gram Parsons, but I gave up worrying about that a long time ago.

To answer my own question, Neko Case, Laura Cantrell, Gillian Welch, Jim White, and Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins.

Cluster the boots (Billy Dods), Monday, 11 April 2011 17:27 (thirteen years ago) link

I enjoy Drive By Truckers and Okkervil River, but neither knock my socks off.

We're just so lost as a buzzosphere (rip van wanko), Monday, 11 April 2011 17:36 (thirteen years ago) link

Hey, the thread originator's still here! Thanks for that - I've loved Neko for years, run hot and cold on Gillian and need to look at the other more (I have an old Hello Club CD from Laura Centrell I recall enjoying). The best of Drive By Truckers is amazing but I find their albums a bit inconsistent so I made a killer compilation of the best bits. As you found, Okkervil River didn't knock my socks off either.

It just seems to me that the genre had alot of energy and interest for a while but seems a bit tired these days. Then again maybe I'm not looking in the right places.

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 11 April 2011 20:29 (thirteen years ago) link

big fan of richard buckner

diamonddave85, Monday, 11 April 2011 20:41 (thirteen years ago) link

Then again maybe I'm not looking in the right places.

The Volebeats are the answer to your alt. country prayers.

kornrulez6969, Monday, 11 April 2011 20:59 (thirteen years ago) link

Here's one of the highlights from their 2010 album...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgA1vK_5dnc&feature=related

kornrulez6969, Monday, 11 April 2011 21:01 (thirteen years ago) link

I got around to listening to Mark Mulcahy - Smile Sunset (2001) for the first few times. There's some real gems on here (and also some songs that remind me that alt country is generally a really snoozy genre almost all the time - but I'm real tough when it comes to reviewing music)

My friend only hears new music from the radio but he likes Avett Brothers a lot

cold hands of monkeys on my heart (CaptainLorax), Monday, 11 April 2011 21:02 (thirteen years ago) link

kornrulex6969, do you listen to lyrics... I'm just curious because I'm gonna make my friend (that has recently discovered alt-country) a mix and I like the sound of the song in that youtube there but I'm a terrible judge of lyrics because I just don't care about them. you seem to know some good suggestions.... you should make me a mix so that I can make it for my friend

cold hands of monkeys on my heart (CaptainLorax), Monday, 11 April 2011 21:07 (thirteen years ago) link

four years pass...

Silos KCRW recording from 1990 -- just after the one w/ the bird on the cover was released:
http://www.forcedexposure.com/Catalog/silos-the-tennessee-fire-live-cd/HS.1023CD.html

john. a resident of chicago., Tuesday, 20 October 2015 02:24 (eight years ago) link

Nice, love the Silos. I actually have their album from 2012, Florizona. It's not Cuba but it's pretty good.

My apologies to CaptainLorax, I did not see your question.

kornrulez6969, Tuesday, 20 October 2015 03:57 (eight years ago) link


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