Ok, so I'm so completely lacking in funds this year, that I've decided I would make my whole family (sisters, brother, nephews, neices, etc.) mix cds for Christmas. Rather than fill the cds w/ all music I like (which is tempting), I'd like to tailor them to the individuals. However, aside from one sister, most everyone has very run-of-the-mill tastes.

One nephew loves Metallica -- a band, genre that I'm really clueless about. So if I made him a mix cd of like-Metallica type bands (maybe some Indie bands he wouldn't know about), what artists should I include?

One neice is into country. Other than some "alt country" or people like Lucinda Williams/Shelby Lynn I'm not sure where to start there either...I'd like it be stuff she doesn't have but will enjoy.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Nephew is 21 and neice is 19, if that helps...I think I can sort something out for the rest of them.

Country or some stuff a country fan might like
- Kathleen Edwards
- Tift Merrit
- Ryan Adams (suicide songs, baby)
- Gram Parsons or some Byrds
- Crooked Fingers (off most recent album)
- Iron and Wine

Nephew

these are non metal bands which would appeal to a metallica fan

Something off Killing Joke's first album - "wardance" or "the wait" (which metallica covered)
Jesus Lizard - "Mouth Breather"

Some records I could see myself recommending to a Metallica fan looking to expand his horizons:

For the Metallica fan:

The new Corrosion Of Conformity

Trans Siberian Orchestra, no doubt.

My future brother-in-law freaked over Isis when I put that on a mix for him. He has 2 autographs from Hetfield.

i don't know much about what a metallica fan usually likes but try putting on some Mastadon or Pelican. I'm not a huge fan of the instru-metal/metalcore genre but i've been digging these bands lately.

is she like a modern country fan? she might like:
neko case, old 97s, some stuff by the black keys (i.e. "the lengths")

Metallica fan: Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, early Ozzy solo stuff (from the first 2 solo records w/ Randy Rhoads), early 70's Deep Purple, maybe even some Frank Zappa.

Country Fan: Something from the new Loretta Lynn, old Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakam, Hank Williams Sr., Willie Nelson, Sweetheart-era Byrds, Gram Parsons/Flying Burrito Brothers, Dillard & Clark, Johnny Cash.