The quality songwriting, singing, and musicianship you crave has moved underground, where there is healthy, burgeoning activity. It is called Americana. There was once a print magazine devoted to the genre, entitled No Depression. While the print version is dead, an internet version rose from it's ashes.
There are hundreds of practitioners of Americana, regularly releasing great music. Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Buddy Miller, Richard Thompson, Ry Cooder, Iris Dement, Jim Lauderdale, Marty Stuart, Steve Earle, Jason Isbell, Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier, Alison Krauss, Ray Davies (from The Kinks), Dave Alvin, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, John Doe (from X), Larry Campbell (a veteran of Dylan's and Levon Helm's bands), Rosanne Cash, her half-sister Carlene Carter, Rodney Crowell, Tift Merritt, Bonnie Raitt, and many, many more.
I have old friends and bandmates who are constantly bellyaching about the good ol' days. It's never been better than now! Artists no longer have to play the game via record company rules; they can record themselves and distribute the music any way they choose. Support them and they'll give you more!
