# Folk Music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 20, 2005, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/folk-music/331912 "2005-11-20T10:19:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/folk-music/331912/21 "2005-11-29T05:43:40Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t mean to threadshit, but IMO, real folk music as a force is dead. Sure, there’s a genre called Folk Music, but it has nothing to do with the folk. It’s simply another genre to be exploited. At one time, there were lots of real folk greats (people who started out playing music particular to their folk group: bluesmen, hillbilly singers, etc.) who were informing the music of the US and the world, but those people are all pretty much dead or out of the scene. **John Prine** is still going strong. His eponymous debut album is essential listening for anyone who likes folk. You might also listen to what **Billy Bragg and Wilco** did to **Woody Guthrie**. As for where folk may be headed, listen to **The Decemberists**. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/folk-music/331912/22 "2005-11-29T10:54:15Z")
Wow, **Sam Stone** citing **Billy Bragg**? 🆒 I think my head is exploding. I was prayin’ the pieces wouldn’t fall on me. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/folk-music/331912/23 "2005-11-29T15:00:20Z")
If I let my politics choose my artists, the playlist would be pretty short. Good music is good music, and **Mermaid Avenue** is great music! ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/folk-music/331912/24 "2005-12-01T03:51:24Z")
**Sam Stone** , when you gonna wake up and strengthen the things that remain? Now there’s a conservative song with great guitar playing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/folk-music/331912.md?page=1)