2011 Year in Music - Country (with a mention of hip-hop)

I'm not a big fan of country music. No, Wait, that's not exactly true. As someone who has studied music and music history, I can appreciate most styles of music. But as a listener, a lot of country artists irritate me. Which is a problem for me in this day and age. Country music is rivaling hip-hop as the prevalent style of pop music in this decade, so I guess I'd better learn to love it. Fact: Remember that "Top 50 tracks of 2011" list I mentioned a few days ago? Well, there's the 5 tracks that are actually good; and then there's a lot of hip-hop/R & B, and then the rest of it is country music.
It makes sense because Country and Hip-Hop are very similar. Both styles evolved from folk music created by regular people, not necessarily trained musicians. Both were born out of poverty. Hip-hop came out of Urban poverty, and Country from Rural poverty. Once they became popular, and more widely performed, image started to take over.

In Hip-hop, the image is of a young black man who is tough, possibly with ties to gang activity, and definitely into drinking and smoking pot and lovin' up da bitches. The WORST hip-hop around today, (and most of that list) is built around that image. How much can they curse, threaten somebody, insult someone, and act all tough and hard? Because of this, for people like me who see through it all, it comes off as idiotic and musically horrible. However, above it all you have groups like the Roots, Common, Mos Def; artists who stay true to the artistic expression that gave birth to the music in the first place. Because the songs are well written and soulfully performed, it comes off as being the better work.

In Country music, the image has become one of the all-American, Blue Collar and/or white trash farmer/cowboy who loves drinking beer in a red solo cup, rejecting educated folk, and being proud of their down home, low class, rural upbringing. The WORST Country music is built around that image. How poor were my parents? How uneducated am I? How much do I hate Democrats and love America? Because of this, for people like me who see through it all, it comes off as idiotic and musically horrible.

And it's not because I dislike country music. I thoroughly enjoyed the music of The Decemberists, who qualify as an American folk music group. I absolutely LOVED Steve Martin's Bluegrass album, Rare Bird Alert. It's just that in the case of must country artists, that ridiculous image supercedes their desire to write a good song. However, above it all, you have records like these; my favorite Country Albums of the year:

Keith Urban - Get Closer - Now some could argue that Keith Urban isn't country, because he's from Australia. But remember, I don't fall for the patriotic image of country artists. I'm looking for a well written song. And it doesn't get much better than Mr. Nicole Kidman himself. A plus for me, this year in particular, is that the deluxe edition includes a cover of Santana's "Winning" which became an anthem for fans of Charlie Sheen in 2011.

Hunter Hayes - How good is he? He's a kid! He's been playing guitar since he was six. Now usually a guy like him would be exploited and put out really cheesy stuff. Not him, this sounds as good as any other country artist out there. If "Storm Warning" doesn't get you, nothing will.

Randy Montana - His single "1,000 Faces" was one of the top of 2011, and the first of my reviews last year. The entire album, which came out later in the year is also really great.

The McClymonts - Wrapped Up Good - Like the Dixie Chicks, these girls are genuinely talented. And unlike most artists who call themselves country but are really pop singers with a fiddler in their band, their sound actually has some down home bluegrass roots.

Whitney Duncan - Young in America - This EP came out. I heard it. Really I did. When Napster turned into Rhapsody, I lost it. But usually, an EP means a new album is coming soon. Whitney sings some really great music on this EP, and I look ofrward to hearing more from her.

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers - Rare Bird Alert - OK, I'm going there. If you claim to be a country music fan, and you don't like this record, you're full of it. Steve Martin, in addition to his other talents, is a phenomenal banjo player, and had written some beautiful, skillful, and often hilarious songs on this record. This is where the roots of country music are. Open your mind and get into it. Phew, I feel better having got that off my chest.