# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/61 "2009-01-15T15:22:25Z")
**Emmylou Harris Mary Chapin Carpenter Rosanne Cash Lucinda Williams** ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/62 "2009-01-15T15:29:21Z")
> [@Buford\_was\_no\_angel](#): > > Good call on **Guy Clark**. “The Randall Knife” is one of my favorite songs of all time. > > I’ve unfortunately only seen **Junior Brown** live once, but it was easily in my top five shows of all time. I knew I’d be in for a good one when Junior made an elaborate show of putting in a pair of earplugs before launching into his first song. He draws an interesting crowd, too, by Lexington, KY standards. Lots of your typical “alt-country” types, but almost all the good local punk and metal guitarists were there as well as a sizable contingent from the local Mexican community (Junior’s bilingual, so that makes sense). Hey, I saw him in Lexington! 🙂 ---
**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, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/63 "2009-01-15T15:37:32Z")
There’s always Townes Van Zandt – hell, I almost prefer his rambling intro to “Pancho and Lefty” to the song itself, and it’s a damn good song. And how about [The Silver Hearts (youtube video)](http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=v854eLUWuJ8)? The configuration I saw them in a couple of years ago included 11 members, with a sousaphone for a bass. They also threw a theremin and a saw into a few songs. I hope they come back my way soon. ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/64 "2009-01-15T15:43:31Z")
Here’s my list of favorite country(ish) albums, all of which I’d consider “intelligent country” and some of which have already been mentioned (with YouTube links to sample songs): Drive-By Truckers - Decoration Day (“[The Deeper In](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHwOHesxiBM)” - poor quality live video, but great song) Drivin’ ‘n’ Cryin’ - Mystery Road (“[Honeysuckle Blue](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_zQh8UhOMg)”) Iron & Wine/Calexico - In the Reins (“[He Lays In The Reins](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJT0pqPlzT0)”) Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator) (“[Time (The Revelator)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db_7Lr5Rb3Y)”) Lyle Lovett - Joshua Judges Ruth (“[She’s Already Made Up Her Mind](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEzJilWhURs&feature=related)”) Neko Case - The Tigers have Spoken (“[If You Knew](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUlkDgBKkwg)”) Robbie Fulks - Georgia Hard (“[Georgia Hard](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqoWqN_cJhQ)”) Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker (“[Come Pick Me Up](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM0mjukDGRw)”) Son Volt - Trace (“[Tear Stained Eye](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPf002gwyKw)”) Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway (“[Carry Me Ohio](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKRA7weVyLs)”) Tarkio - Sea Songs for Landlocked Sailors (“[Tristan and Iseult](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze7winRDKhE)”) Uncle Tupelo - No Depression (“[Graveyard Shift](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nblSYuIVGlU)” - poor quality live recording, unfortunately) Whiskeytown - Faithless Street (“[Drank Like a River](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jioy86El20s)” - there’s cussin’ up front, so mind your co-workers) ---
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/65 "2009-01-15T16:51:15Z")
Jesse Dayton. Is he country, alt-country or rockabilly? It doesn’t matter, the boy writes a great song, plays a mean guitar and has just enough twang to make me homesick for Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Buford\_was\_no\_angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Buford\_was\_no\_angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buford_was_no_angel)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/66 "2009-01-15T17:11:51Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Hey, I saw him in Lexington! 🙂 Where? The wife and I saw him at the Dame about three years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/67 "2009-01-15T17:52:27Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Hank wasn’t, but Kris Kristofferson [was](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_Kristofferson) (Wiki link)!! 😉 WTF?! File that under “Things I Wouldn’t Have Guessed With A PhD In Guessing And A Guess-Generating Machine.” ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/68 "2009-01-15T18:01:56Z")
Here’s another vote for Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Old 97’s, and Townes Van Zandt. And I’d add Kelly Hogan to the mix. She’s awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/69 "2009-01-15T18:19:47Z")
Listen to some Waylon Jennings, my friend. Some thoughtful and interesting lyrics to be found in his catalogue. [Dreaming My Dreams](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqtJhSH5zWA&feature=related), for example. Or [Amanda](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cioV0t0r_pU). Merle Haggard has also done some fine work. There is an excellent Merle Haggard tribute album featuring some of his best songs: [Tulare Dust](http://www.amazon.com/Tulare-Dust-Songwriters-Tribute-Haggard/dp/B0000005QY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1232043542&sr=8-1) ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/70 "2009-01-15T21:06:03Z")
> [@Walpurgis](#): > > \*\*16 Horsepower \*\*is a bit more rock, but they have deep country roots. The lead singer’s solo project **Woven Hand** is brilliant. I strongly second this suggestion. Their album _Folklore_ is nothing short of sublime. I’ld also like to add **William Elliot Whitmore**. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej6hCIB6Z7c](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej6hCIB6Z7c) one of my favorite songs. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/71 "2009-01-15T21:12:11Z")
Another “more Americana” suggestion: **Jim White**. Check out the soundtrack to “[Search for the Wrong Eyed Jesus](http://www.amazon.com/Music-Searching-Wrong-Eyed-Jesus-White/dp/B0009I7OCU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1232053891&sr=1-2).” ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/72 "2009-01-15T21:31:36Z")
Jim White is great (although I like his second and third albums more). Jolie Holland is another good one who might or might not be classified as country. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/73 "2009-01-15T21:36:56Z")
Not sure if you’d class it exactly as “intelligent,” but C. W. McCall’s stuff isn’t about gettin’ drunk and his dog dyin’ and his wife leavin’. His music is part “country trucker rap” (in the style of “Convoy”), part love for nature and the wilderness, and part nostalgia. Oh, and songs about cannibals (“Comin’ Back for More”). 🙂 ---
**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, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/74 "2009-01-15T23:58:45Z")
Surprisingly, I don’t think **Kelly Willis** has been mentioned yet. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/75 "2009-01-16T01:44:32Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > WTF?! File that under “Things I Wouldn’t Have Guessed With A PhD In Guessing And A Guess-Generating Machine.” Fighting ignorance is our business. ---
**Author:** ![MizTina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MizTina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizTina)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/76 "2009-01-16T02:23:53Z")
The late Hoyt Axton. “Della and the Dealer” and “Boney Fingers” are two of his better known songs, but he was one talented songwriter/singer. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/77 "2009-01-16T03:35:42Z")
I don’t know if you’d call it “intelligent”, but you might try Charlie Haden’s [Family and Friends - Rambling Boy](http://www.amazon.com/Rambling-Boy-Charlie-Haden/dp/B001BCCPYK/ref=ntt_mus_ep_wlb_dpt). It’s a great collection of what I’d call _Americana_ music performed by an impressive gang of Haden’s relatives and friends. If you enjoyed the soundtrack to _“O Brother, Where Art Thou?”_, I think you’ll like _“Ramblin’ Boy”_. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/78 "2009-01-16T04:48:01Z")
I think I’ll nominate Brad Paisley as the frontrunner of the current crop of radio stars. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, or the business as a whole. He just goes out there and has fun - albeit with a cowboy hat and twangy guitar. Songs like: (YouTube links) [I’m Gonna Miss Her](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O3Plt8DyMk&feature=channel) [Online](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GcVnhNjWV0&feature=channel) (with a great Shatner cameo) (both mentioned already) [Alcohol](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df53LWQuezQ&feature=channel) [Celebrity](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEPe4fZNf74&feature=channel) (nice American Idol parody/Shatner fun/Hollywood point and laugh) [I’m Still a Guy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yQ9a-hJVy0) [Ticks](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KvHB4zpNX4&feature=channel) [Mud on the Tires](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXEgCOjq6EA&feature=channel) [Letter to Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fqtbMHfpXY&feature=channel) The last three get a little closer to standard country, but are still pretty dang good. Thanks for making me realize that I need to track down more of his stuff and make me fight my bank account over going to his tour later this month :mad: 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/79 "2009-01-16T05:11:30Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > 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. And this differs from other genres of popular music… how? MOST popular music covers a very small range of subjects. 99% of pop/rock music falls into one of the following categories: 1. I love him/her so much! 2. I USED to love him/her so much! 3. Let’s dance! 4. Let’s party! 5. I’m really horny! 6. I’m really cool. Obviously, there are lyricists who break the mold, but you get my drift, and I hope you’ll concede the point. Country music lyrics aren’t noticeably more limited in scope than rock lyrics. ---
**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:** [January 16, 2009, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347/80 "2009-01-16T05:38:34Z")
One of the best songwriters of the past 50 years, and once widely touted as “the next Bob Dylan” (along with about ten other guys), is **John Prine**. He defies labels, really, but probably fits most comfortably somewhere between country and folk, like Woody Guthrie. You won’t find more intelligent songs than **Sam Stone** , **Paradise** , **Mexican Home** , **Angel from Montgomery** , **Donald and Lydia** , **Hello in There** , **Souvenirs** , and about a hundred other great songs. His must-have album is his eponymous debut in 1971. It’s one of my all-time favorite albums. Anyone who likes country/folk (or any other music, really), should listen to this album. A front-to-back collection of brilliant songs. Here’s [Sam Stone](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OwEyXFhZ9g) on YouTube. Give it a listen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-intelligent-country-music/481347.md?page=5)