vamp111
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Post by vamp111 on Nov 7, 2014 17:12:31 GMT -5
What are unpopular opinions you have about country music in general? It can be anything from songs, artists, albums, etc. I thought a thread like this would be interesting! Some of these may be controversial, so try to keep your cool and not get offended.
Here's mine:
- Miranda Lambert has a good voice, but I find her overrated. I don't understand how she keeps sweeping all the awards. - Ditto her husband Blake Shelton. His music is nothing special and I think he can thank a lot of his success today to The Voice. - I'm not a fan of the way many of the male country singers get a bunch of tattoos and piercings(FGL, Love and Theft, Brantley Gilbert, etc). At least try to look like a country singer as opposed to a rock singer. - I don't consider Cassadee Pope as country at all...she belongs in the pop-rock world. - I actually like Achy Breaky heart.
List yours.
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Kat5Kind
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Post by Kat5Kind on Nov 7, 2014 17:46:34 GMT -5
- I love FGL. LOVE them. They're fun and I'm confident when listening to them. (Plus, BK is hot and Tyler is cute) - I'm also crazy about Hunter Hayes. He's so talented! -I don't like Kacey Musgraves for the most part. I love Step Off though. - I don't like Maddie and Tae either. They have yet to impress me. - I will listen to any type of country, but today's country is my favorite. - Blake's songs have been so boring I haven't remembered them for the past year, and I'm a Blake fan. - Another FGL related one: Sun Daze is a lot of fun to listen to (I'm not even a stoner, I don't do drugs) but Get Me Some of That will make me cringe. I don't know why. - I think Miranda is more interesting to listen to than Carrie. I connect with her more. - Wanted is one of my favorite Hunter songs because it stopped me from committing suicide when I first heard it. It led to my love of everything music, especially Hunter. That song changed my life and the lyric "You'll always be wanted" will bring me to tears in an instant.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2014 18:13:24 GMT -5
-I like a few of Blake's recent singles, but for the most part the Country community overrates him -I don't mind seeing Miranda win so many awards, and I think she's one of the best the genre has to offer -I love Rascal Flatts, and I don't always understand the hate they get -I have never understood the praise for Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney or Brad Paisley
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2014 19:33:37 GMT -5
- Springsteen and Give Me Back My Hometown are arguably Eric Churchs biggest songs but yet they're my least favorite songs by him thus far
- I don't like Sam Hunt even as a pop artist and think that Cop Car, We Are Tonight and Come Over are all vastly overrated
- I enjoy the bulk of Rascal Flatts material and actually very much enjoyed their most recent album
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2014 19:58:34 GMT -5
So this is like a confessional?
Here's a few... -Miranda, while I love her, should never have gotten even one CMA EOTY nomination before Carrie let alone as many as she has. -Blake's overrated. -Kacey Musgraves' is overrated. -It's utterly despicable that country has turned its back on its legends and women. -FGL suck...bad...really bad.
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someguy
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Post by someguy on Nov 7, 2014 20:10:03 GMT -5
I'm not really a George Strait fan at all. I think he's probably the most overrated country singer of all time.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Nov 7, 2014 23:29:53 GMT -5
"Wanted" might get my vote for most overrated song released to country radio over the past decade.
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Markus Meyer
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Post by Markus Meyer on Nov 8, 2014 12:22:33 GMT -5
- I know FGL's lyrics suck, but I still love them.
- Joe Nichols' 'Crickets' is overrated. It's a good album for sure, but I don't think it's the masterpiece many say it is.
- Brad's 'Wheelhouse' is a really strong album.
ETA
- "Good Girl" is an absolutely awful song.
- "Let it Rain" is easily David Nail's weakest effort to date.
- LBT's new album isn't great. Decent, not great.
- "Keep Me In Mind" isn't a very good song at all.
- I really like "Get Me Some of That".
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Post by drummerman2009 on Nov 8, 2014 12:40:49 GMT -5
- Billy Currington is very underrated. 12 years into his career and 9 #1's he has yet to see a headlining tour for himself.
- Zac Brown Band is overlooked at every CMA and ACM Awards show except for the Grammys.
- The lack of females on country radio save for Hilary Scott from Lady Antebellum, Karen and Kimberly from Little Big Town and Maddie & Tae.
- Real country not being pushed by country radio (Easton Corbin being one example)
- Jason Aldean comes across as very arrogant (his tantrum about not being nominated for this year's CMA Awards shows it and his dad as well for his tantrum).
- Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith singing about the same thing (beach music sounding (Kenny) and drinking songs (Toby) all the time)
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Andy
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Post by Andy on Nov 8, 2014 17:44:11 GMT -5
I have many, but here's a good starter's course. :)
-Although I am a fan, I too think George Strait is a bit overrated. While his music is consistently solid, he rarely takes creative risks or records edgy material. This allowed him to be commercially successful for an extremely long time, but as a side effect, there are few George Strait songs and albums that I would consider genuinely great when compared to many other country legends.
-The last good Blake Shelton album/era was Pure BS.
-I am as big of a George Jones fan as there is, but I've always found "He Stopped Loving Her Today" to be, while a great song, somewhat overpraised. There's about twenty Jones songs that I think are every bit as good. Heck, it's only about my third favorite track on the album it's on, much less in Jones' entire discography.
-Alan Jackson's Like Red on a Rose is easily one of his best albums and gets way too much hate.
-Most of Garth Brooks' greatest songs are album cuts. Stuff like "Alabama Clay", "Cold Shoulder", "New Way to Fly", "Victim of the Game", "Ireland", "When There's No One Around," "Pushing Up Daisies", etc. Also, Garth's later albums - Fresh Horses, Sevens, and Scarecrow - are every bit as good as his earlier ones.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Nov 8, 2014 17:53:07 GMT -5
-The last good Blake Shelton album/era was Pure BS. -Alan Jackson's Like Red on a Rose is easily one of his best albums and gets way too much hate. Two things. * I think you're not alone when it comes to Blake's last good album era. * I never heard much hate about Like Red On A Rose? I must have not been paying attention back in 2006. Radio friendly certainly wasn't its strong suit but I enjoyed it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2014 18:00:35 GMT -5
- Billy Currington is very underrated. 12 years into his career and 9 #1's he has yet to see a headlining tour for himself. - Zac Brown Band is overlooked at every CMA and ACM Awards show except for the Grammys. - The lack of females on country radio save for Hilary Scott from Lady Antebellum, Karen and Kimberly from Little Big Town and Maddie & Tae. - Real country not being pushed by country radio (Easton Corbin being one example) - Jason Aldean comes across as very arrogant (his tantrum about not being nominated for this year's CMA Awards shows it and his dad as well for his tantrum). - Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith singing about the same thing (beach music sounding (Kenny) and drinking songs (Toby) all the time) I've been at Pulse long enough to know you're not alone with ANY of these opinions . Another one of mine: Although I know Alabama is quite possibly the most influential Country band ever, I can't stand any of their material, and never really understood their appeal.
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Andy
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Post by Andy on Nov 8, 2014 18:04:06 GMT -5
* I never heard much hate about Like Red On A Rose? I must have not been paying attention back in 2006. Radio friendly certainly wasn't its strong suit but I enjoyed it. "Gets a lot of hate" might be a bit of a stretch on my part. It was very well-received critically. I've just heard/read many people say on various country blogs and message boards it's too slow, boring, impenetrable, suffers from a lack of tempo, etc. IIRC, it was also his first album to not go gold, and only had two singles, neither of which charted particularly high.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Nov 8, 2014 18:12:15 GMT -5
* I never heard much hate about Like Red On A Rose? I must have not been paying attention back in 2006. Radio friendly certainly wasn't its strong suit but I enjoyed it. "Gets a lot of hate" might be a bit of a stretch on my part. It was very well-received critically. I've just heard/read many people say on various country blogs and message boards it's too slow, boring, impenetrable, suffers from a lack of tempo, etc. IIRC, it was also his first album to not go gold, and only had two singles, neither of which charted particularly high. Okay. I wasn't really on the blogosphere back then so I couldn't pay attention to it's boring or impenetrable criticism. The only thing is that I do think that listeners weren't really getting into "Like Red On A Rose" when it came out, thus missing the top 10. "A Woman's Love" did go top 5 in 2007 though. BTW: There's no way in heck that song would come close to being a top 5 hit right now.
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Uncle Lumpy
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Post by Uncle Lumpy on Nov 8, 2014 18:55:23 GMT -5
* I am a huge fan of older Country & traditional country music , but I've always found Johnny Cash to be terribly over rated compared to his peers.
* I agree with andythedrifter, I own every piece of recorded music by George Jones & " He Stopped Loving Her Today" wouldnt make my top 50 favorites of his music.
* I really want to root for more female's in the genre , but I honestly find almost all the female's outside of Lee Ann Womack in mainstream country (if LAW could even be considered "mainstream" anymore) to be terribly boring and/or hate the direction of their music.
* While I was never a huge fan of Rhett Akins , I hate that his songwriting later in life has made me second guess the songs I used to enjoy from earlier in his career.
* When he doesn't over sing (which is rare) , I love Gary LeVox's voice & always wished RF had cut a straight country record (yeah , yeah , not gonna happen).
* I try to not let image get in the way of the music I enjoy , but I really don't think I could enjoy Brantley Gilberts music when he just looks like such a Grade A Douche Bag.
* To be clear , with his voice ...there's really not much of a chance of me getting over "BGs" image.
* I really dislike how Chris Young is still being categorized as a neo traditionalist , when he really hasn't cut much that I would call traditional since his second album.
* I enjoy most of Gary Allans catalog but find "Smoke Rings In The Dark" (the song & the majority of the album) to be by far his weakest effort , even though its at the top of most folks lists.
* I know its all opinion based , but I guess I understand how FGL fans can ignore the horrible lyrics , the douchie image , and the fact that their music in no way resembles country music , but I simply cant understand how anyone can listen to Tyler's voice and say "yeah , I like the way he sings".
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Andy
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Post by Andy on Nov 8, 2014 19:02:08 GMT -5
* I really want to root for more female's in the genre , but I honestly find almost all the female's outside of Lee Ann Womack in mainstream country (if LAW could even be considered "mainstream" anymore) to be terribly boring and/or hate the direction of their music. * I really dislike how Chris Young is still being categorized as a neo traditionalist , when he really hasn't cut much that I would call traditional since his second album. Completely agree.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Nov 8, 2014 19:34:00 GMT -5
* While I was never a huge fan of Rhett Akins , I hate that his songwriting later in life has made me second guess the songs I used to enjoy from earlier in his career. * When he doesn't over sing (which is rare) , I love Gary LeVox's voice & always wished RF had cut a straight country record (yeah , yeah , not gonna happen). * You're not alone with how you feel about Rhett Akins. Every time I hear his songs when he was a recording artist all I can think of his the mediocre songs he's helped write lately. I still enjoy "That Ain't My Truck" along with others but I'd unfortunately be lying if I say it doesn't cross my mind. * I don't exactly love Gary's voice but it doesn't bother me nowhere near the level of others. But if he sung songs like "Why" and "Winner At A Losing Game" on a consistent basis then we'd be on to something.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2014 20:00:36 GMT -5
* I am a huge fan of older Country & traditional country music , but I've always found Johnny Cash to be terribly over rated compared to his peers. * I agree with andythedrifter, I own every piece of recorded music by George Jones & " He Stopped Loving Her Today" wouldnt make my top 50 favorites of his music. * I really want to root for more female's in the genre , but I honestly find almost all the female's outside of Lee Ann Womack in mainstream country (if LAW could even be considered "mainstream" anymore) to be terribly boring and/or hate the direction of their music. * While I was never a huge fan of Rhett Akins , I hate that his songwriting later in life has made me second guess the songs I used to enjoy from earlier in his career. * When he doesn't over sing (which is rare) , I love Gary LeVox's voice & always wished RF had cut a straight country record (yeah , yeah , not gonna happen). * I try to not let image get in the way of the music I enjoy , but I really don't think I could enjoy Brantley Gilberts music when he just looks like such a Grade A Douche Bag. * To be clear , with his voice ...there's really not much of a chance of me getting over "BGs" image. * I really dislike how Chris Young is still being categorized as a neo traditionalist , when he really hasn't cut much that I would call traditional since his second album. * I enjoy most of Gary Allans catalog but find "Smoke Rings In The Dark" (the song & the majority of the album) to be by far his weakest effort , even though its at the top of most folks lists. * I know its all opinion based , but I guess I understand how FGL fans can ignore the horrible lyrics , the douchie image , and the fact that their music in no way resembles country music , but I simply cant understand how anyone can listen to Tyler's voice and say "yeah , I like the way he sings". As someone who used to love Rascal Flatts, I hate the direction they've gone in the last several years. I think they're great when they strike a balance, but too often they go for overdoing everything, and it just doesn't work for me. I'd love to see them do something simple and unique again; their cover of "Next To You Next To Me" is one of my favorite tracks from them in years. I also 100% agree about Chris Young, too. I love this voice, but his material has been mediocre at best since the release of "Neon" (the album). I typically don't like it when ANY artist is labeled as the "savior" of Country music, anyway. Confession: I've never understood the /praise for Shania Twain (musically speaking). I find most of her music and lyrics to be downright cringeworthy.
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gonecountry
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Post by gonecountry on Nov 9, 2014 7:14:25 GMT -5
Sunday morning confessional and I intend to blow the roof off this church:
I like most every Craig Morgan single. They are not all pieces of poetry but I generally like his stuff.
Some of his stuff I love (going on record that I love "This Ole Boy", "Little Bit of Life" and "International Harvester"), but at minimum I like most everything. Even "Bonfire".
"Corn Star" and that "Chicken on the Bone" song, not included.
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someguy
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Post by someguy on Nov 9, 2014 14:32:46 GMT -5
I don't like the "Something In The Water" video. I know I'm probably the only one who feels this way, but it does nothing for me (and I don't think it fits the song very well).
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jesster
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Post by jesster on Nov 9, 2014 15:43:39 GMT -5
Oh dear Keith Urban is a good and appealing performer, but most of his songs sound the same. Carrie's voice is shrill and annoying way too much of the time. Blake Shelton's voice is generic and nothing special. As are probably >50% of the other solo male guys out there these days. Chris Young has a good voice but is on the awkward side and unexciting as a stage performer. I liked Miranda better before she decided to lose weight. I used to like Rascal Flatts but I got turned off seeing them live a couple years ago - for a headline act, their show was really sloppy and lazy.
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Ten Pound Hammer
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Nov 9, 2014 17:33:47 GMT -5
Let's see: * I have liked all of FGL's singles unironically so far, except for "This Is How We Roll". * I have also liked all of Brantley Gilbert's singles, and I find his Southern rock flavorings a lot more authentic than most other artists'. * I like "Achy Breaky Heart" too. * I think Sara Evans is overrated and completely lacking in musical identity, and I'm so surprised that she's popular around these parts. To me, she seems like she can't make up her mind whether she wants to be more traditional or more pop, and she just seems to flip-flop between the two. Also, "A Little Bit Stronger" has great lyrics but is otherwise kinda boring. * I don't think that "Get Me Some of That" is sexist. * I liked "Boys 'Round Here" because it just felt fun. I also thought that it was interestingly produced. * I liked "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" (then again, even Todd in the Shadows said it was all right). * Although the eras had a ton of amazing songs, I'm not overly fond of a lot of country released before the mid 60s. So much of it just blends together for me. * I can't get into most bluegrass, and I especially find Alison Krauss a total snooze most of the time. * I generally prefer Carrie Underwood's uptempo material. "Undo It" got a lot of flak around here, but it's in my Top 5 favorites. * "I Cross My Heart" is by far my least favorite George Strait song. It's just so ungodly boring. * "A Boy Named Sue" is Johnny Cash's most overrated song. * I really like Tyler Farr's voice. * I don't like Brad Paisley as a guitarist. Nothing but showy, rapid-fire noodling without a discernible melody in sight. * I think that Lionel Cartwright is one of the most underrated country artists ever. "Wanted" might get my vote for most overrated song released to country radio over the past decade. This. The melody is almost nonexistant, and the lyrics are nothing but vapid lovey dovey lines to make empty headed teenage girls swoon because OMG Hunter is so hawt.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2014 18:02:42 GMT -5
I honestly think modern country music gets way more flak than it deserves lot of great artists out there in my opinion
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Andy
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Post by Andy on Nov 9, 2014 20:25:07 GMT -5
Some more from me:
-The '90s as a decade are overrated when it comes to mainstream country music. The first few years of the decade were great, but the middle and later parts were pretty much average, if not a tick below. It was a solid decade overall, but I don't agree when people act as if it was this grand time that no other era before or since can match.
-Joe Nichols used to be a wonderful artist who tackled challenging and substantive material on his albums with regularity, and I will sing the praises of his first four albums endlessly, but as of late he has been increasingly recording extremely safe and poppy material in order to stay commercially relevant, beginning with Old Things New and bottoming out with Crickets.
-Bobby Bare, Vern Gosdin and Gary Stewart are among the most under-appreciated artists in country music history.
-Hank Williams never wrote or recorded a song that wasn't at least good.
-Brad Paisley's first two albums were magnificent, his next two were pretty good, but after that, his music (save a couple of bright spots like "Letter to Me" and "Welcome to the Future"), has alternated between uninspired and outright bad, at least singles-wise.
-A singer's technical ability, range, etc. aren't terribly important to me. Once a singer achieves decent technical proficiency, the uniqueness/character of their voice and their ability to convey emotion (and not to mention the quality of their material) quickly become vastly more important to me than anything else. Many of my all-time favorite artists have what many people would consider weak voices, and while I admit they kind of do, it doesn't affect my enjoyment of their music one iota.
Here are a couple things I had written while composing the above. Upon reflection, I realize they're not exactly unpopular opinions, but they're more like "confessions", which certainly fit in with the overall theme.
-There is a large number of country legends I wasn't a huge fan of at first and took some time to warm up to; specifically Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Ernest Tubb, Emmylou Harris and Tammy Wynette. Now, I love all of them. Currently trying to love rather than like Dolly Parton (the problem is most assuredly with me and not her).
-I consider myself a passionate scholar of country music, but still have yet to really delve into the works of several legendary artists: Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Thompson, Porter Wagoner, Hank Snow, Faron Young, Patsy Cline, Bob Wills.... I'll get to 'em all eventually!
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gonecountry
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Post by gonecountry on Nov 9, 2014 21:51:37 GMT -5
Love Dierks. Love all his albums (Feel that Fire was a slight decrease in quality IMO). Riser is great, but I don't get why it is getting all the love when his prior albums were just as strong. Frankly there are one or two songs on Riser that I don't think I'll ever love (I'm looking at you specifically Pretty Girls)
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Nov 10, 2014 15:44:47 GMT -5
If I had to pick between "Remember When" or "The Talkin' Song Repair Blues" by Alan Jackson to listen to, I would pick the latter.
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Ten Pound Hammer
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Nov 10, 2014 15:50:01 GMT -5
A few more:
* I give "Redneck Woman" a thumbs-up because I find it relatable. I KNOW people just like that, and I like the anti-commercial message of the second verse.
* That said, I think Shelly Fairchild did Gretchen's formula about 10 times better, and I think that if Shelly had come out first, then she would've been much, much bigger.
* Don Williams mostly makes me gag because of how syrupy his voice is, and how syrupy his songs are too. That said, I do like a few of his songs.
* I think that "Back That Thing Up" is actually quite clever in how it subverts being a "booty" song ("Ain't no time to play to day, no rolling in the hay") and sides with the innocent interpretation of the double entendres for a change.
* Fuse and Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing are Keith Urban's two best albums.
* Although I think that Alabama's quality took a huge nosedive with Just Us, three of my favorite songs of theirs ("Jukebox in My Mind", "The Cheap Seats", and "I'm in a Hurry (And Don't Know Why)") come from after that era.
* "I Hope You Dance" is one of the most vapid, unlistenable pieces of glurge in country music history. It's representative of the two worst trends in the genre at the time: vapid, hackneyed "Chicken Soup for the Soul" type lyrics, and horribly bombastic pop production. I'm surprised LAW didn't belt all over it to go for the trifecta.
* I'm generally not a fan of soldier-oriented country songs. That said, "Riding with Private Malone", "Arlington", "If I Don't Make It Back", and "If You're Reading This" are fantastic.
* Rosanne Cash was one of the best female country singers of the 80's.
* Hot Apple Pie's only album was excellent.
* "Cain's Blood" by 4 Runner is one of the most underrated country songs of the 90's.
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bigfan101
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Post by bigfan101 on Nov 10, 2014 15:58:42 GMT -5
- I love Dylan Scott's new song that features the word "bae".
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Nov 10, 2014 16:05:56 GMT -5
* That said, I think Shelly Fairchild did Gretchen's formula about 10 times better, and I think that if Shelly had come out first, then she would've been much, much bigger. * "I Hope You Dance" is one of the most vapid, unlistenable pieces of glurge in country music history. It's representative of the two worst trends in the genre at the time: vapid, hackneyed "Chicken Soup for the Soul" type lyrics, and horribly bombastic pop production. I'm surprised LAW didn't belt all over it to go for the trifecta. * Hot Apple Pie's only album was excellent. * Ditto (it's a crying shame that "Tiny Town" and "Kiss Me" were largely ignored by radio) * Ditto again (for years I kept my feelings to myself that "I Hope You Dance" was overrated and everything you said is spot on) * Ditto a third time (Hot Apple Pie's album was easily one of the best of 2005 which is saying something)
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Ten Pound Hammer
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Nov 10, 2014 16:58:48 GMT -5
Another one: "What It Ain't" is probably Josh Turner's most underrated song.
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