Until this spring, I owned exactly one Springsteen CD (The Rising), which I bought in 2002 because it felt like 9/11 therapy. (I also figured it was time I acted like I was a New Jersey resident or they'd kick me out!) I totally loved it, but never went beyond it. I'm glad I finally have--it's sort of a "where have you been all my life?" sort of thing for me.
As for country, I hear what you're saying, but I'm coming from a totally different angle. I grew up in a Pennsylvania town where country is more popular than God anything else. Every year, Alabama would sell out the fair (which was the only local venue for any event of any size). They probably still do. Hank Williams, Jr, Willie Nelson, Eddie Rabbit, the Oak Ridge Boys...frankly, bands I would rather pop my eardrums than listen to. To this girl who grew up in an all classical-choral household, most of it hits me as twangy with really sketchy vocal quality/diction (I'm not crazy enough to expect Willie Nelson to sound like a choirboy, but still...tothough here I have to say Bruce's "yer"s drive me up a wall, too--oh, they just GRATE) that mostly makes me want to run screaming for some Mozart. Or even some good pop. There's really very little I won't listen to, but for the most part, my list can be summed up as country, metal, and rap. I tend to like the stuff that's more crossover/pop than traditional country for that reason.
I do like Alison Kraus, too, and the Emmylou Harris I've heard is okay (but I've only heard her on the radio, so it's harder for me to judge), so I agree with you there (we may actually be agreeing more than I think, too). But I am not sure I'd ever be able to get myself to sit down and listen to Alabama.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2010-09-24 01:51 am (UTC)As for country, I hear what you're saying, but I'm coming from a totally different angle. I grew up in a Pennsylvania town where country is more popular than
Godanything else. Every year, Alabama would sell out the fair (which was the only local venue for any event of any size). They probably still do. Hank Williams, Jr, Willie Nelson, Eddie Rabbit, the Oak Ridge Boys...frankly, bands I would rather pop my eardrums than listen to. To this girl who grew up in an all classical-choral household, most of it hits me as twangy with really sketchy vocal quality/diction (I'm not crazy enough to expect Willie Nelson to sound like a choirboy, but still...tothough here I have to say Bruce's "yer"s drive me up a wall, too--oh, they just GRATE) that mostly makes me want to run screaming for some Mozart. Or even some good pop. There's really very little I won't listen to, but for the most part, my list can be summed up as country, metal, and rap. I tend to like the stuff that's more crossover/pop than traditional country for that reason.I do like Alison Kraus, too, and the Emmylou Harris I've heard is okay (but I've only heard her on the radio, so it's harder for me to judge), so I agree with you there (we may actually be agreeing more than I think, too). But I am not sure I'd ever be able to get myself to sit down and listen to Alabama.