Opinion: Modern country is the worst musical genre of all time

At the risk of beating a dead horse (no relation to a broken down pickup truck ;-), I must reiterate that there are many current Country artists making music that is deeply rooted in the music’s Hillbilly origins, not in Rock music, Southern Rock, or Garth Brooks and his ilk. No, you don’t hear it on radio or see it on TV, but so what? They’re out there, you just have to care enough to look for them.

Speaking of which, Robbie Fulks has a new album entitled Bluegass Vacation coming out on April 7th. Providing Robbie with musical accompaniment are a who’s who of Bluegrass practitioners: Jerry Douglas (the master of the dobro), Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien, Ronnie McCoury, Alison Brown, and John Cohen. All these musicians are virtuosos on their instruments, many of them also playing Bluegrass-Jazz Fusion music.

I mean, Jerry Douglas is heard on all of Alison Krausses albums, for God’s sake. Just pick up a copy of No Depression Magazine for an intro into the world of Americana/Alt-Country.

@alexatpos , I thought it was catchy, with a good beat. It would not even make it into my top-5.  If I had to vote, I would probably say that brief period of what came across as highly manufactured music from the 60s, like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MJLi5_dyn0

@thespeakerdude , thats interesting, meaning, the whole mind process behind someone's taste in music. Often I wonder what is more important,regarding our  choices,our cultural upbringing, or perhaps some inclination toward specific expression that we are born with, including our present state of mind and soul.  If I may ask, what are the other four examples of 'bad' music that you had in mind? I liked that clip you posted, not something that I would listen generally, but nonetheless it seems to be 'feelgood' music. By the way, the clip I posted, is a from very (unfortunately) prevalent 'music genre' among younger people in region where I live, called 'turbo folk'...but we have some others as well, almost bad as that one,ha,ha...

For me personally, 5 may be tough, but:

• 60's manufactured music
• Angry gangsta rap. If there is any musical value, I can't get past the anger / violence
• Free jazz and/or highly improvised. I appreciate the musical talent, but cannot connect emotionally
• House music - the stuff that was in the dance clubs late 80's/90's into the 2000's. No real songs, just a stream of bass beat.
• I would have formerly put older twangy country in there too, but I think I have softened to it.

I think culture/environment is huge on our influence. What you posted reminds me of dance club stuff during my formative teens and 20's. Not always high art, but catchy and fun. I am influenced by parents into popular country and folk, but a general love of music, older siblings heavy into what is now classic rock, and my own rock/pop/dance influences.  I think my love of classical comes from movies.  I think jazz grew out of that.

@thespeakerdude , I would agree, to some point, about culture/enviroment influence. But, medias plays enormous role, now more than ever and it is almost dystopian to observe results of its influences. Perhaps it was like that before, but it took us more time to get 'influenced' without internet. Today, I would guess, that there are very few music forms (except perhaps some archaic or particular folk music ) that are not known to very wide and very different type of people or nations...so is that means that all 'culture' is becoming the same, or that our present 'culture' is not build on very solid foundations ? On the other hand, classical and jazz music stand for about only 4% of all sold music, so, not sure if wide spread flow of information has brought us anything good in that regard (call me judgemental ) I share your opinion on midlle 3 examples, but that 'turbo folk' is very high on my list. Must add that techno music has made heroin (in my country) very unpopular at the time when it first started to be played in the clubs. So,not all bad there, ha,ha. As for me, most of my posts are in Jazzaffc.thread and I have not bought more than 10 albums of other genres in last 25 years. In my next life I plan to listen classical music much more..and sometimes I am surprised how the music I enjoyed younger now seems unlistanable or at least not interesting....