When I tell folks that I like (and sometimes play) country music, I have to give them this big disclaimer and explain to them that the new stuff on the radio isn't really country. Let's elaborate.
Country music is blue-collar music, music with soul, comprised of songs about struggle, heartache, growing up with nothing, farming, and drinking. Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt, and Merle Haggard wrote about their real life situations and circumstances. Unlike current day country music songwriters, they didn't have to imagine fake story lines about struggle with catchy hooks and a 2-chord bridge - example: Toby Keith's new song "Trailer Hood". Here is today's country music top 40 songwriting process - "Hmmm... what's really popular and catchy and what would make a great video?" Example - all of Brad Paisley's recent singles.
Musically, real country music incorporates either a fiddle or a steel guitar in the song, which automatically disqualifies most of Carrie Underwood's songs, as well as Sugarland. There should be no synthesizers, bells, or fake drums in country music. No way amigo.
Don't let the image-driven stuff that's on country radio now influence your ideas about country music, because it's simply not country. Listen to Sweetheart of the Rodeo by the Byrds, some Flying Burrito Brothers, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, and the original Hank. There's an entirely different country music world out there, and if you find it... it'll change your life.
God bless you, Marty Stuart.
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