# Is there any "intelligent" country music? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 15, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347 "2009-01-15T00:05:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fatwater\_Fewl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@Fatwater\_Fewl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fatwater_Fewl)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/21 "2009-01-15T03:22:13Z")
Try something from Corb Lund’s [Five Dollar Bill](http://www.corblund.com/site.php?em3=122_-1__0_~0_-1_1_2009_0_0&content=music&em11=&em12=&em16=&em4=) album, maybe “Expectation and the Blues,” or “Short Native Grasses (Praires of Alberta).” ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/22 "2009-01-15T03:29:18Z")
> [@nevermore](#): > > **Rilo Kiley** Lead singer Jenny Lewis has a solo project with the Watson Twins called “Rabbit Fur Coat” that’s pretty good, and has a sort of superstars-of-indie cover of the Traveling Wilburys’ “Handle With Care” featuring Ben Gibbard, Connor Oberst, and M. Ward. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/23 "2009-01-15T03:37:04Z")
I’m not much of a country music fan, but I liked k.d. lang’s [_Absolute Torch and Twang_](http://www.amazon.com/Absolute-Torch-Twang-k-d-Reclines/dp/B000002LH9/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1231990512&sr=1-5). ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/24 "2009-01-15T03:57:25Z")
Jay Farrar & Jeff Tweedy (Uncle Tupelo) and Doug Sahm (Sir Douglas Quintet) have written some pretty intelligent country songs, IMHO. For more a obscure band, check out [Go To Blazes](http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=202600864), from Philly. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/25 "2009-01-15T03:59:19Z")
Maybe check out Big & Rich. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/26 "2009-01-15T04:04:15Z")
> [@Bad\_Astronaut](#): > > I like Neko Case alot, I don’t really think of her as being country though. I’d say her first two albums – _The Virginian_ and _Furnace Room Lulllaby_ – most definitely fit into the country genre. The later stuff might be more folk or singer/songwriter stuff. But she’s generally classified as “alt country.” ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/27 "2009-01-15T04:05:11Z")
Gram Parsons The Flying Burrito Brothers Gillian Welch Emmylou Harris Neko Case Johnny Cash I don’t think of myself as liking country, but all of these are awesome. A few favorites are “Hot Burrito #1” by FBB, “Deep Red Bells” by Neko Case, and “Revelator” by Gillian Welch. ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/28 "2009-01-15T04:34:34Z")
[Will Oldham](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Oldham) aka Bonnie Prince Billy aka Palace Brothers etc… might be your guy. \*Very \*intelligent… ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/29 "2009-01-15T05:01:02Z")
Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Sixteen Tons” seems like a good intelligent song to me. The Dixie Chicks “Good Bye Earl” and “Sin Wagon” are both pretty good intelligent songs. Sons about cheating, abuse, and revenge can be intelligent. I’m fond of Marty Robbin’s “El Paso.” ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/30 "2009-01-15T05:05:09Z")
I don’t know if it’s “intelligent” or just different from the pap on the radio, but I love Dwight Yoakam, Jimmie Dale Gilmore (with or without the Outlanders), the Mavericks, BR549, and Jace Everett (he did the credits song for True Blood). And another vote for Lyle Lovett (“She Wore Red Dresses”) and k d lang. And Steve Earle. His kid’s singing now too. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/31 "2009-01-15T05:11:29Z")
Two words --\> Rosanne Cash. Her album _Interiors_ is brilliant. It’ll give you nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/32 "2009-01-15T05:12:02Z")
Rodney Crowell ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/33 "2009-01-15T05:14:05Z")
Anything by Son Volt. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/34 "2009-01-15T05:30:59Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Two words –\> Rosanne Cash. Her album _Interiors_ is brilliant. It’ll give you nightmares. > [@Ataraxy](#): > > Rodney Crowell Roseanne Cash and Rodney Crowell are ex-spouses and mentioned in back-to-back posts. That’s funny. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/35 "2009-01-15T05:41:32Z")
Absolutely anything by Lyle Lovett. There’s an ‘americana’ label now. It’s part country, part blues, part gospel… I call it Texas Music Steve Earle is absolutely there. As is Robert Earl Keen. A lot of country music is “Nashville Hat Acts”. Not real country music… That’s just pop with a twang. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/36 "2009-01-15T05:44:51Z")
[Junior Brown _My Wife Thinks You’re Dead_](http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DaEzT5MusFs) Or perhaps you’d prefer his version of [_Highway Patrol_](http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=x_wLVCLPx0M&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/37 "2009-01-15T06:19:03Z")
Check out **Uncle Tupelo** , early **Wilco** , **Andrew Byrd** , **Ryan Adams** (especially the **Whiskeytown** albums), **Atherton** , and **Townes Van Zandt**. ---
**Author:** ![Miltonyz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Miltonyz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miltonyz)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/38 "2009-01-15T06:25:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Country music always seems to be about the same stuff over and over again. Your wife leaving you, getting really drunk, talking about driving tractors, being proud to be a redneck, etc. > > Can anyone list a country song that truly breaks the mold for the genre, that’s musically complex and has intelligent, thought provocking lyrics? I’m not nearly as well versed as the other’s in this thread wrt country music but the best country music I’ve heard hasn’t been musically complex or even lyrically challenging it just hits me in the gut harder then any other genre. Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hung My Head” is a simple slow song about accidently shooting a stranger. I’m not a musician but it doesn’t sound like a complex song instrumentally. But the way it is sung by the end of the song you are hanging your own head. And to this day when I’m having a shit day at work “That Lucky Old Sun” starts playing in my brain. I guess I’m not really answering your question but in my opinion country at it’s best makes you feel. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/39 "2009-01-15T07:56:41Z")
I woke up this mornin’ and none of the news was good And death machines were rumblin’ ‘cross the ground where Jesus stood And the man on my TV told me that it had always been that way And there was nothin’ anyone could do or say [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nU278yFdvgQ/hqdefault.jpg "Steve Earle Jerusalem") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU278yFdvgQ) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/40 "2009-01-15T08:13:36Z")
2 posts in a row! Whoopeee! My name is billy austin Im twenty-nine years old I was born in oklahoma Quarter cherokee Im told [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jBtQcZx9gAo/hqdefault.jpg "Steve Earle - Billy Austin (1991 on New Country)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBtQcZx9gAo) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347.md?page=3)