It's like comparing whiskey to a milkshake: The earlier days of country music were marked by a blend unpolished twang (Haggard), authentically bluesy strains (Cash) and downhome, boisterous instrumentation (Monroe). But what passes for country today goes down a lot easier -- and has a lot less emotional impact: the bubblegum hits on today's radio stations bear little resemblance to those of the genre's founding fathers. Here, NEWSWEEK's scale of 15 artists who span the continuum. from traditional to trite.

 
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  • Posted By: countryproud @ 05/04/2009 3:35:58 AM

    what about mark chesnutt,still to this day he stays true to his roots with honky tonk music. i personally believe garth brooks destroyed what country music is all about. it should tell of true life stories,hardships.

  • Posted By: BradOlson @ 04/19/2009 11:09:35 AM

    Also, Gram was part of the International Submarine Band who had an album "Safe At Home" which is on CD by Sundazed. Anyway these albums should be heard by any true country music fan.

  • Posted By: BradOlson @ 04/19/2009 11:07:54 AM

    There was also the late 60s-early 70s country-rock scene that Gram Parsons was at the forefront of that really didn't become huge, but Gram was a tremendous influence in country and in rock music, from the International Submarine Band's album "Safe At Home" (available on CD on the Sundazed reissue label), Byrds' "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" album which is on CD on Sony as a single CD and as a 2 CD Deluxe Edition and inspired the name of the 80s country duo the Sweethearts of the Rodeo, this is one of the most critically acclaimed albums in country and rock music history, and his solo albums for Reprise, GP and Grievous Angel (which have been released on CD as a 1990 as a compilation CD combining both albums on CD, as import standalone CDs, and as part of a Complete Reprise Recordings boxed set with the albums plus many alternate takes, etc. and these albums put Emmylou Harris in the spotlight). These albums should really be listened to by any true country music fan.

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