"new country" music recomendations please

The Wood Brothers "Ways Not To Lose" is one of the best CD's I've discovered in a long time. It's got great lyrics and spectacular musicianship, a wonderful mix of dobro and stand-up bass, that you'd probably classify as country if you had to pin it down but that defies easy categorization.

Some people call what your describing is "Alt Country".

You would probably like Emmylou Harris. Three to start out with would be:
"All The Road Running" New collaboration w Mark Knopfler. This is an outstanding new release... The proverbial trifecta w great writing, music and sonics.
"Roses in the Snow" This has an appalachian feel that's very melodic.
"Blue Kentucky Girl" A little more country.

You also might like Gram Parsons writing ... also some of Neil Young and early 70's Rolling Stones stuff is of this ilk.

Roseanne Cash
Trisha Yearwood
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Beth Nielsen Chapman ("Sand and Water" is magnificent)

Some very good reccomendations listed here. All are enjoyable country music. However, very, very few of the artists and albums listed are along the vein of Mary Gauthier. For one thing most of the suggestions are country western, not the same style as Mary Gauthier.
Mary's life experiences with alcohol, drugs, prison, and unconventional sexual orientation, make her the real deal in the "I got drunk, went to prison, my dog died, my wife left me, etc." style of music.
It is the difference between listening to someone like Light'n Hopkins sing and play the blues, as opposed to some musician that is technically proficient but, never lived the life.
I'm with you, Aer, Miss Gauthier is something special. Go to her website and see if she has a live show coming near you. She is even better in person.

Julie Miller
Gillian Welch
Blue Rodeo
Garrison Starr
Kathleen Edward