Country/Bluegrass

[CanaMacPod]

Can anyone here recommend some good bluegrass type country music? I like Alison Kraus+Union Station a lot, and I'm a big fan of popular country, but I'd like to expand my knowledge, and hopefully, love of more traditional country and western. Does anyone here listen to this type of music, and can they help me out? Thanks in advance folks.

[eustacescrubb]

Well, you need to get on down to the music store and git you some Bill Monroe (http://www.billmonroe.com/), yessir. Ain't no bluegrass collection complete without Bill Monroe. I also highly reccomend Ralph Stanley's (http://www.ralphstanley.net/) most recent album, which was produced by T-Bone Burnett. And then there's Doc Watson (http://www.merlefest.org/DocsIntro.htm).
A good sampler is the O Brother Where Art Thou (http://www.obrothermusic.com/) soundtrack. Also, for some young bluegrass hipness, try Jim and Jennie and the Pinetops (http://www.jimandjennie.com/). I do not reccomend Nickel Creek - they're overhyped and bland, IMHO.

[CanaMacPod]

Thanks John, I'm actually already a fan of the O Brother...soundtrack-my Dad drives us all crazy with his constant listening (and singing) of Man of Constant Sorrow.:)
I think I'll check out your recommendations.

[space6donkey]

check out the Black Twig Pickers. They're fairly traditional mountain bluegrass. I found 'em over at emusic

[CanaMacPod]

Cool, I'll check them out.

[CanaMacPod]

Should we turn this thread into a general discussion of all things country-bluegrass?

[lluisb]

Hi folks!

I don't know much about country bluegrass. but mybe you like to check some James Yorkston and the Athletes songs. "Sweet Jesus" and specially "St Patrick" are two little marvels to be discovered.

You can check them here:

http://www.jamesyorkston.co.uk/listen.htm

Cheers!

[stonersmurf22]

I listen to a lot of bluegrass/country, and my fav's are
kenny chesney
kenny loggins
brooks and dunn
dixie chicks
those are my fav country bluegrass wood be
Willard Robinson
Chuck Steak
JoBob Smith
Those last 3 are all unsigned artists up here in South Dakota.!
Check em' out!

[CanaMacPod]

Cool, thanks man!

[mikbau]

I would also throw in a few newer ones as well:

Steve Earle (Jeresulam isn't exactly country, but probably one of the most poignent songs of the last 10 years)
Lucinda Williams (Older stuff is more bluegrass/country, newer stuff is amped up a bit)
Casey Chambers
Rosane Cash (And Johnny Cash, too!)
Trent Summar and the New Row Mob (Kenny Vaughn ROCKS!)
Emmylou Harris
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Kim Ritchey

and I have to throw in Dar Williams and Patty Griffin as songwriters - not country, but most excellent

Most of these guys are more alt+country, I guess. If any of you subscribe to XM Radio, channel 12 (X-Country) is a great place to hear alternative and some traditional country.

~m

[docmichael]

As you're an Alison Krauss fan, one obvious recommendation would be Nickel Creek. If you like your bluegrass a bit on the progressive side, you might want to check out both David Grisman and Bela Fleck. On the traditional side of things, Bill Monroe and Flatts and Scruggs are pretty safe choices. Robin and Linda Williams have done some fine work and in my opinion are worth investigating. I can also recommend the 4 CD set put out by Rounder Records, "Roots Music: An American Journey". While it's not all bluegrass, it provides a great way to sample a wide range of traditional music.

FWIW, I took a gander at my MusicHound Folk guide and they list the following as the Editor's Choice for 20 Essential Bluegrass albums:

Stanley Bros. & The Clinch Mountain Boys: 1953-58 & '59

Bill Monroe: The Music of Bill monroe 1936-1994

Flatt & Scruggs: Complete Mercury Sessions

Joe Val: Diamond Joe

Peter Rowan & Jerry Douglas: Yonder

Gibson Brothers: Spread Your Wings

Front Range: Ramblin' on my Mind

Longview: Longview

Kate McKenzie: Age of Innocence

Rickie Simpkins: Dancing on the Fingerboard

Johnson Mountain Boys: Let the Whole World Talk

Country Gentlemen: Joe's Last Train

Hot Rize: Take It Home

Alision Krauss: Two Highways

Seldom Scene: Old Train

Lynn Morris: The Lynn Morris Band

Nashville Bluegrass Band: Waitin' for the Hard Times to Go

Del McCoury: A Deeper Shade of Blue

Tony Rice: Tony Rice Sings and Plays Bluegrass

Taditional Grass: Songs of Love and Life

[CanaMacPod]

Wow! That's an insane amount of info. Thanks!

[docmichael]

Something else you might enjoy is the Pickin' On series of albums. These are Bluegrass interpretations of the songs of a number of classic rocks performers (such as Springsteen, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, Eagles). I think that most of the albums are devoted to to covering the songs of one band/performer (e.g., Pickin' On The Rolling Stones), but there is a sampler album available at an incredibly low price (I think I paid $4.99 for mine).

On the non-Bluegrass side of things, I would also heartily recommend Mary Chapin Carpenter (perhaps my favorite songwriter) and Nanci Griffith. Oh, and if you like acoustic music, try and get a hold of something by Adrian Legg. Considered by many to be the world's finest fingerstyle guitarist, his albums are chock full of great playing, superb melody, humor, and moments of incredible beauty.

Happy tune hunting!