Actually, I'm not surprised, Dale.The thing that was once called "rock and roll" is more or less dead, having been swallowed up by something called "alternative" (Alternative to what?) Contemporary country music is still a little too pop-flavored, plugged in and electronic for my taste (I prefer all-acoustic styles such as bluegrass) but IMHO, country music is the only genre of popular music that is still:

a) comprehensible
b) melodic
c)not hopelessly vulgar and debased.
Niall Mor | Homepage | 11.12.09 - 2:45 pm | #

You're not the only one surprised to find himself listening to--and liking--country music. It's happened to me, too.

Of course, it happened to me after I'd been living in the South for fifteen years or so, which doesn't do much to explain your case .

Peace,
--Peter
Peter Brown | 11.12.09 - 2:56 pm | #

What Niall said. Jeff Foxworthy had a wonderful speech some time back that summed it up, though not as concisely as Niall.

Let me also remind you who has both programmed the buttons on our car radios and been my first consultant on "Who does this song?"
Heather Price | Homepage | 11.12.09 - 2:57 pm | #

been my first consultant on "Who does this song?"

Everybody's heard of Toby Keith. I mean everybody. Nelson Mandela, Buddhist hermits, Chilean social workers, Maori rugby players, undiscovered Amazonian tribes--EVERYBODY.
Dale Price | 11.12.09 - 3:13 pm | #

At the time I asked you, the only one I knew by him was "As Good as I Once Was."
Heather Price | Homepage | 11.12.09 - 3:30 pm | #

See? You'd heard of Toby Keith, too!
Dale Price | 11.12.09 - 3:37 pm | #

I've heard of Toby Keith, but wouldn't recognize a song by him if the CD case was staring me in the face. I'd be more likely to look at the case and then say "what'ya playing?" than leap to the obvious conclusion that the empty CD case implies the CD is in fact in the player.

But as far as listening to music goes, country music is pretty much only beat by classical for not containing ridiculously excessive amounts of sex and/or violence.
Matthew A. Siekierski | Homepage | 11.12.09 - 3:49 pm | #

Matthew:

Unless the classical in question is opera, in which case all bets are off.

Peace,
--Peter
Peter Brown | 11.12.09 - 4:03 pm | #

How many times do I have to tell y'all that the pop music they play on "country" radio ain't country?


Jay Anderson | Homepage | 11.13.09 - 11:05 am | #

Jay:

Yeah, pretty much. Especially the oeuvre of Ms. Swift. The first time I heard "Love Story" I thought Heather had moved the dial from the local Nashville Pop station. And don't get me started on the remake of "Life in a Northern Town."

There's still some twang in the repertoire, though. Brad Paisley comes to mind.
Dale Price | 11.13.09 - 12:04 pm | #

Dale,

You really should give Robert Earl Keen's latest, The Rose Hotel, a listen. It won't get any Nashville airplay, but it is, by far, Keen's best effort in years.
Jay Anderson | Homepage | 11.13.09 - 12:15 pm | #