Recommended for Americana Fans: Amanda Ann Platt and the Honeycutters

@grislybutter

Did you see my comment about how she defined her sound? "Rock-tinged Country".

I hear quite a bit of Rock influence in her music and she has pointed out that Tom Petty and Springsteen are as important to her sound as Classic Country. Having recently bought and listened extensively to three of her CDs, I’d argue there is also an element of Folk present. Yes, some of it sounds more Country than anything else, but the lyrics are more sophisticated than most Country (avoiding the cliches so enamored by Country songwriters) and furthermore, display a notably introspective quality that tends to couch situations in shades of gray, rather than black and white. It’s here, in the lyric writing, that I detect a Folk or singer-songwriter influence. That said, I’m no longer sure it is Americana. In fact, the more I’ve thought about it, the less sure I am about what exactly constitutes Americana.

What’s your definition? I'm confused by your mention of Shania Twain. What I've heard by her is stylistically, writing-wise and production-wise, a very long way from Roots genres.   

@stuartk yes I did read it. To be honest, I am no expert in various music genre, I am just an Americana/folk fan. Can’t stand modern country :(

To me, Shania Twain is one of the inventor’s of modern country (but she is good. she did it with substance). By now, modern country is a cliche, zero substance, lots of empty "feelings"

I mentioned her because when she started, she represented Canada and country at its roots, Then she blasted into pop/rock with a country spirit and it worked very well for her. I love her energy, country girl sweetness and laid-back-ness.

I know I am absolutely butchering it but to me country is people playing music to make a living and folk is people singing/making music after work. Which is why country is labored and folk is inherently free spirited. 

Americana is a grouping but closest to folk. The Be Good Tanyas, one of my favorite bands is classic Americana to me, very acoustic, underproduced, harmony based, lacking elements of popular music and just free/"country liberal"

I did butcher it with a lot of non-sense

@grislybutter

To me, Shania Twain is one of the inventor’s of modern country (but she is good. she did it with substance). By now, modern country is a cliche, zero substance, lots of empty "feelings"

I mentioned her because when she started, she represented Canada and country at its roots, Then she blasted into pop/rock with a country spirit and it worked very well for her. I love her energy, country girl sweetness and laid-back-ness.

Ah. OK. All I’ve heard of Shania Twain is slickly commercial. Apparently, she has a different, rootsier side that I’m unaware of. My bad.

FYI, my favorite "Country"singer is EmmyLou Harris, who has always incorporated Folk, Bluegrass, Gospel and Rock into her overall approach.

I know I am absolutely butchering it but to me country is people playing music to make a living and folk is people singing/making music after work. Which is why country is labored and folk is inherently free spirited.

Interesting. Are you making a pun when you describe music "made to make a living" as labored, or is that just the way your words happened to come out?

Personally, I wouldn’t describe any music that’s well performed as "labored". If we’re talking about Country artists such as Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Jeff Walker, Rodney Crowell, Emmy Lou, Radney Foster, Dwight Yoakam or Marty Stuart, they are highly accomplished but definitely don’t sound labored to me. If anything, they make playing and singing seem effortless, a term that is, to my mind at least, fairly close in meaning to free spirited. But perhaps I’ve misunderstood? ? ?

For me, Americana is music that lets its deep sources in roots genres -- Country, Blues, Folk, Bluegrass -- show, but does not overtly sound like any one of those influences, in particular. And, is not necessarily acoustic. Lucinda Williams is a great example.

Sorry if my response comes across as excessively rigid or professorial. You did warn me about "butchery". I’m perhaps a bit too obsessed with exactitude when it comes to the written word. Trying to write poetry will do that! ;o)

@stuartk I don't think there is any value in explaining my ignorant and half-informed definitions.  By labored I meant more professional, with the goal of selling the product. Folk always felt to me like playing to themselves and their bubble and enjoying it. But of course your examples prove how I make no sense.  

I studied music theory when I grew up but it was strictly for my country's musical background where there was folk, folk-dance, gipsy, beat, rock, and classical music. (Totally butchering it, my teacher would smash my head with a book)

And I totally understand if someone doesn't get Shania. I had a phase and it stuck with me. 

@grislybutter

Seems to me you’re being awfully hard on yourself!

Thanks for explaining what you meant by "labored".

I wouldn’t say you weren’t making any sense. I didn’t understand your use of the word labored. Having said that, there are people who just play for fun and others who attempt to make a living, in both Folk and Country -- at least in the US. In the 50’s/early 60’s there was a heightened popular interest in Folk, which got many people into playing guitar who later went on to play other styles, both as amateurs and professionals.

I’ve also studied music theory --up to a point. It’s been very useful for guitar playing. I don’t know why the other guitarists I’ve played with have had zero interest in it.

You wrote "for my country’s musical background". I’m curious; what country are you referring to?