Country music has changed through the years, obviously. I like some eras better than others.
I really enjoyed Loretta Lynn back in the day. I even liked Kenny Rogers quite a bit.
Now a days, Kenny Chesney ain’t half bad. Especially when he’s paired up with Pink!.
As the OP, this is what I was trying to say, but missed it. Thanks DrCube!
I give you Zac Brown Band at Austin City Limits:
Lord, that song is gorgeous.Already done 
Thanks for sharing. Jesus, what a wonderful song performed extremely well. Unreal.
I will continue to maintain that the Zac Brown Band defies what people hate about modern country music and encapsulates all that is good about it.
Don’t forget, there are two kinds of music, Country AND Western, and nobody does western swing like Asleep At The Wheel.
You do realize that’s Van Morrison, right?
Hah, my wife would watch The Voice and I always thought he was the most entertaining part of the show. So I figured I’d give his music a chance and… hell no. I’d have a beer with him though if he promised not to sing anything at the bar.
kthx
If you like Wanda Jackson, try z Margo Price.
Tell me what does your pride taste like honey
Or haven’t you tried it out?
It’s better than the taste of a boot in your face
Without any shadow of a doubt
You better learn where the line is
You missed a lot you’ve gotta learn about
How’s it gonna feel to be put in your place
Well I guess you’re about to find out
Give a listen to Bob Dunn’s Vagabonds & Bob Skyles and His Skyrockets. Unfortunately, the Skyrockets’ “Bazooka Stomp” is no longer at the Archive, that is one swingin’ tune.
I don’t think country music has an accepted definition anymore. It certainly used to, but I don’t know whether it was a GOOD definition - just, at least there was one.
Part of the difference, though, is outside of musical definitions. Being “from” a certain place used to define people much more than it does now. If (for example) you were from Montana, a lot of very safe assumptions could immediately be made about your background, your possible occupations, your musical knowledge and preferences, who you might know, and so on. But now, with cheap easy transportation, diverse occupations, and YouTube, a rapper or an opera singer could come from Butte just as easily as a country singer could, and a kid in Billings can listen to Tuvan throat-singers all day every day if he chooses to - his musical horizon is not limited to whichever band happens to be in town on Friday night.
missed edit window:
Going even further back in history, there was a time when going to another geographical area meant you wouldn’t even know what types of instruments they’d have, how they tuned them, or even (non-music) if they agreed with you that it was eight o’clock - to them, you might be twenty-five minutes off. Geography held people together - and apart - much more strongly and definitely than it does now.
I have been listening to Esther Ofarim lately. The are a few old-time country songs in the mix.
Cotton Fields
Dirty Old Town
Sounds like Miranda Lambert or Carrie Underwood.
No, “bouncier” than either, I think.
Yep! But I like the band’s version of Into the Mystic better. The harmonies kill me every time I hear the song.
Yeah, that’s weird…
Some more recommendations for country music you won’t hear on the radio:
John Prine w/ Iris DeMent - Who’s Gonna Take The Garbage Out