Nominated for the 2007 ARSC Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research
Country music. Is it … a hard music for a hard people, or cliché music for sentimental people? Do all country songs sound alike, or is country music as diverse as the nation that birthed it? Three chords and the truth, or reverb, synthesizers, and platitudes? Intricate psychological, social, and political observations, or rants about Mama, Prison, and Work? Racist, or class-conscious, or both? A genre heavily influenced by European music, or a genre heavily influenced by African-American instruments, blues progressions, and jazz solos? Warmed over rock ‘n’ roll, or birthed from the cradle of Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Chuck Berry?
Country music is all of the above. Love it or hate it, there’s more to this genre than most people recognize. No genre of music deals with a more diverse body of subject matter, provides a more mature perspective, or draws from a wider range of conflicting impulses than Country.
Containing 100 recommended playlists for downloading, this book is the best and most unique way to explore the country music genre in a modern, easy, and convenient way. Each playlist walks you through the history, culture, and relevance of country music, revealing the authenticity and raw truth that represents country.
