prefixmag Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 We just published this list of 10 Essential Alt-country Albums today. Wilco is of course on the list. Thought you guys might enjoy reading it. Thanks. http://www.prefixmag.com/features/lists/10...y-albums/20596/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CortezTheKiller Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 Wide Swing Tremolo over Trace and Straightaways? El Corazon #1? It's a good album, but I wouldn't put EC in Steve's top 5. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 It might be fair to include Son Volt AND Wilco, but to ignore UT?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CortezTheKiller Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 It might be fair to include Son Volt AND Wilco, but to ignore UT??Indeed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PigSooie Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 6. My Morning Jacket: It Still Moves Alt-Country? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
the carlos Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 "advertisement" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
people are leaving Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 Based on the starting point of ahem, Anodyne......in no particular order : 01. son volt - trace02. blue mountain - dog days03. scud mountain boys - massachusetts04. richard buckner - since05. wilco - being there06. the backsliders - southern lines07. neko case - furnace room lullaby08. drive by truckers - southern rock opera09. magnolia electric co.- magnolia electric co10. jim white - no such place Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CortezTheKiller Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 "advertisement"And bad advertising at that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hardwood floor Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 putting together this list without still feel gone or anodyne is like putting together a list of the top 10 beatles records without any beatles records Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spawn's dad Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 what a frighteningly incorrect list. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gobias Industries Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 Seriously. Uncle Tupelo birthed alt-country from its loins. All the Uncle Tupelo albums should be on there. Half of those on the list barely qualify, if at all. 1. Uncle Tupelo - Anodyne2. Uncle Tupelo - March 16-20, 19923. Uncle Tupelo - Still Feel Gone4. Uncle Tupelo - No Depression5. Son Volt - Trace6. The Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall7. Wilco - Being There Then you can fill it out however else you like, that's what the core should look like, in my opinion. Also, if you use this Earle’s songwriting talent has cast him variously as a bluegrass traditionalist, political activist, and confessional troubadour of worthy of Blood on the Tracks-era Dylan to justify an alt-country record, then doesn't Dylan's Blood on the Tracks deserve the top spot? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
people are leaving Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 Seriously. Uncle Tupelo birthed alt-country from its loins. All the Uncle Tupelo albums should be on there. Half of those on the list barely qualify, if at all. 1. Uncle Tupelo - Anodyne2. Uncle Tupelo - March 16-20, 19923. Uncle Tupelo - Still Feel Gone4. Uncle Tupelo - No Depression5. Son Volt - Trace6. The Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall7. Wilco - Being There Then you can fill it out however else you like, that's what the core should look like, in my opinion. Also, if you use this to justify an alt-country record, then doesn't Dylan's Blood on the Tracks deserve the top spot?It would, yes...and countless others. It read as some arbitrary starting point w/Anodyne. Where's : The Byrds - Sweetheart of the RodeoDylan - Basement TapesDylan - Blood On The TracksFlying Buritto Bros - Gilded Palace of SinGram - GP/Grievous AngelDillard & Clark - The Fantastic Expedition ofblahblahblahblah Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 My list (as if you care); in vaguely chronological order:The Byrds - Sweetheart Of the RodeoJohnny Cash - At Folsom PrisonGram Parsons - GPWillie Nelson - The Red-Headed StrangerEmmylou Harris - Pieces Of the SkyLyle Lovett - PontiacUncle Tupelo - No DepressionJayhawks - Hollywood Town HallSon Volt - TraceSteve Earle - Train a' Comin' No, no Wilco albums, because their first album wasn't very notable as an album, in general, let alone an essential Alt-country album. And their subsequent albums were something else altogether. And, as far that the list at the link... just... no. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CortezTheKiller Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 Johnny Cash - At Folsom PrisonWhat makes this country alternative? Willie Nelson - The Red-Headed StrangerOr this. It's shame people can't just admit they like country music. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 What makes this country alternative? Or this. It's shame people can't just admit they like country music. I agree, and retroactively labelling the Byrds as "Alt-Country", makes me a bit ill. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 What makes this country alternative? Or this. It's shame people can't just admit they like country music. It's the attitude. The approach. And the influence.Johnny and Willie were not playing by the rules, they just happened to sell enough records that it was tolerated within the mainstream. And as far as admitting that I like country music, I'll tell everyone that I know. I love country music.The best of it is some of the best pure American songwriting that there is. Period. I suppose that some other Nashville hitmakers like Dwight Yoakam or even Dolly Parton could be thrown under the "Alt" banner. For me, I think it means a strict adherence to following your muse, no matter what Nashville is telling you that you have to do. I agree, and retroactively labelling the Byrds as "Alt-Country", makes me a bit ill. Hell, it's just country music. It's history that's given it the perspective. Same with the Johnny and Willie records. Or, as Willie himself might say:It's all just music, let the suits sort it out into what's what kind. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
people are leaving Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 Or, as Willie himself might say:It's all just music, let the suits sort it out into what's what kind. Or, as Townes Van Sandt use to say :There are two kinds of music.1) The Blues2) ...and zippity do da Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NightOfJoy Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 Where's the love for Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 It might be fair to include Son Volt AND Wilco, but to ignore UT?? Don't worry- this thread gets posted at least once a year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
people are leaving Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 Where's the love for Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen??? and Tele master Bill Kirchen ? Oh yes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NightOfJoy Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 and Tele master Bill Kirchen ? Oh yes Thank you and amen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doug C Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 Hmm... my take on this list is quite different from most everyone else's in the thread. Even though it is titled 10 Essential Alt-country Albums, if you read the article prior to the list, the listmaker doesn't appear to be saying "THESE ARE THE BEST ALT-COUNTRY ALBUMS". It seems as though they are simply saying post Uncle Tupelo (they make it clear why UT isn't in the list), here are 10 alt-country albums that are great representations of the genre and deserve to be heard. This quote toward the end pretty much says that they know that there are other great albums: "The ten selections for this list are in no way comprehensive. Instead, they offer a selection of music that is just as vital as Anodyne and informed by a similar appreciation for bluegrass, honky-tonk, and country and western music". Some of you are jumping on it like that asinine list of the '100 Greatest Living Songwriters' that Paste did 2 years ago. That was, like most magazine lists, ridiculous. This one a rarity among mag lists. It makes sense within the bounds that the authors set for it. We often jump straight to the list and begin eviscerating it. Usually we are right but in this case, we'd be wrong. I am glad that I read the prior text. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lost highway Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 I'm not trying to start a post-modern genres are illusion discussion. (cause we all know they are somewhat but are useful as handles), but I never really put Being There down as "alt-country". It has some obviously country songs, but so many other things going on. Earle's El Corazon seems like one of his strongest albums to me. I would put it above Jerusalem, The Revolutions Starts Now, Guitartown. But if you want to talk about Earle doing alt-country, or really country rock (fucking genres) its all about I Feel Alright. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 I'm not trying to start a post-modern genres are illusion discussion. (cause we all know they are somewhat but are useful as handles), but I never really put Being There down as "alt-country". It has some obviously country songs, but so many other things going on. Earle's El Corazon seems like one of his strongest albums to me. I would put it above Jerusalem, The Revolutions Starts Now, Guitartown. But if you want to talk about Earle doing alt-country, or really country rock (fucking genres) its all about I Feel Alright. No.It's all about Train a Comin'. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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