Music Nerds & The Fear of Country Music

** DISCLAIMER: **

 I am going to make some broad generalizations based on my experience. This is just an opinion!

Hello friends, my name is Chaz, and I am the art director this year. This is my second rant on the WRMC blog with little to no editing, and I am a fan of Country Music.

In the last 6 years of my life, I have been obsessed with music. I pride myself on listening to everything from all types of artists to broaden my taste. Yet one pattern I have noticed, discussing with other music-obsessed youth like me, is the disdain for

C o u n t r y   M u s i c

From my hometown of Seattle, Washington, to my current residence in Middlebury, Vermont. Music nerds in urban areas across the nation consistently turn their noses up at the mention of Country Music.

“No, I don’t like that music at all”

“I listen to all types of music, EXCEPT Country”

“All they do is sing about trucks & beer”

This has always been deeply strange to me. So-called Melomaniacs who could go on and on about the difference between Cloud Rap & Trillwave look me dead in the eyes and tell me that they hate ALL country music.

Look, I get it. When people think of country, they think of pop country radio, inauthentic lyrics, Shaboozey, basic patterns, and small-town ideals. But thinking that represents the genre as a whole is willfully naïve. From the unmatched talent of classic country artists such as Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and John Prine. To the profound modern songwriting of Tyler Childers, Wyatt Flores, and Sturgill Sampson. Country music has a deep well of musical merit.

Furthermore, (this may come as a shock, but) like any music genre, country has vivid subgenres that span the musical spectrum.  What’s even stranger is that these Music nerds are fully aware of it.

                 Mj Lenderman

                 Wednesday

                 This is Lorelei

                 Waxahatchee

                 Greg Freeman

                 Ovven

                 Mt. Joy

                 Hell, even Wilco

All, yes, ALL of these artists are Country or have had a country phase in their music (thanks, Neil Young)

People fawn over these artists, hailing them as the next big sensation or whatnot. Yet, somehow, they draw a line in the sand when it comes to engaging with country music as a genre. There’s a strange unwillingness to acknowledge that the very qualities they admire in these musicians are paralleled in country traditions. The authenticity and emotional grit that define “cool” indie acts are the same threads woven through classic country records.

So why the disconnect? Maybe it’s a branding problem. The word “country” conjures up certain stereotypes: pickup trucks, small towns, beer, etc. But country is so much more than that. The artists above prove that the genre is constantly evolving, absorbing influences from punk and Alt-rock. Alt-country, Americana, and roots music are all just new ways of expressing age-old themes: heartbreak, longing, growing up, and looking back.

Which leads me to wonder. We are in an alt-country renaissance; why do people still turn their noses up at country?

I think it’s time people stepped down off their high horse, listened to some Marty Robbins, and dug a little deeper into the genre.  

Song recs 

Women Without Whiskey (Drive By Truckers Cover) – Wednesday 

Fool’s Gold – The Damn Quails

Diamond Girl – Abigail Lapelle 

Castle in the Clouds – Cutworms

Fish and Whistle – John Prine 

Doggone Cowboy – Marty Robbins

Beer Garden Baby – Tyler Halverson 

Fourteen Gears (Adobe House Version) – Midland