A Penny for My Thoughts, Oh No, I'll Sell Them for a Dollar
I had just recently given up on the folk revival I had long anticipated, and had begun instead blathering about the potential invention of a new instrument.
I think I was under-appreciating country music’s recent developments.
This was actually written by the singer, with a light nod to Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shalott” (flashed on the screen just before the video cuts off).
Aside from the light drums, some unconventional instruments, and that rock ‘n’ roll haircut on the bassist, you’re looking at a fairly strong bluegrass foundation, especially the mandolin and fiddle. I also have to include an artistic nod to 2:37, where they subtly make it look like she’s in the painting.
Combine that with what’s going on with Eli Young, Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen’s near-classic “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” Brad Paisley’s Midas touch, Jason Aldean’s rap-country fusion in “Dirt Road Anthem,” and a pop side-stage actually quite well-represented by Taylor Swift, you’re looking at a genre, like it or not, that’s blowing the rest of rock/pop out of the water. Darius Rucker, best known as Hootie, has also rebooted his career into country, where he’s seen significant success.
The Buzz is digging out Marcy Playground for literally almost the fifteenth year (“Sex and Candy,” their only significant single, debuted in 1997), and that’s the “new music” station. The next time I hear The Cardigans’ “Lovefool,” I think I’ll complain to the FCC. It’s ridiculous. Look at all the American Idol winners heading over to country. The newest guy is pretty much a Josh Turner knockoff, but he’s making some respectable stuff all the same.
I would also direct attention to a segment of the summer single slate, which featured I suppose you could say meta-music, such as Brad Paisley’s “This is Country Music,” the fairly despicable “Country Must Be Country-Wide,” and a pretty significant revival of Alan Jackson’s 1994 “Gone Country.” I’m looking at a genre that sees it’s winning.
It’s just sad to see mainstream rock so lost. Anything “new” I hear right now pretty much sounds at best like Chevelle covering a Fall Out Boy song.
This isn’t dead-dog boots-under-wrong-bed country here. This is thought-out stuff, often going back to classic structures like the old parallel chorus word play structure (where the same chorus or theme plays out in different contexts after each verse).
The general acceptability of the professional songwriter in country allows a better specialization or compartmentalization of lyrics, musical, and vocal talent, but you’re definitely seeing some of the newer bands writing their own stuff. While I want rock to come back, it’s been fun to spend some time on the country side of things, after a fairly dreary time between the fall of Garth Brooks and a few years ago.