I searched and didn't see this discussed. 98% of "country music" is unlistenable garbage to me. But every now and then I run into some country music that breaks my heart. (Lucinda Williams, EmmyLou Harris, Steve Earle, John Hiatt).

Why is Written in Chalk so good? Much of it is pretty standard fare, even cornpone, but it just sounds so satisfying...

There must be a thread about this album on ILX.




I'm with you on that. And I'm not sure why some of it manages to penetrate my prejudice against it. It may be a simple case of honesty speaking louder than genre.

Oh man, there is a new album by them? I loved their self-titled release. Buddy Miller is brilliant, and I love Julie, too, so the combination is a fine thing indeed...

They're good people

yeah my dad turned me on to this, very listenable

Saw them opening for Steve Earle and they blew me away.

I agree but see it as a fan of the genre. I always figured country music has so much going for it, song writing, musicianship, american roots, and sometimes that earthy back to nature simple life feel, but the industry really tries hard to synthesize or manage these elements rather than let artists do it on there own. All that said I can tolerate some of the slick schtick but never buy it 'cause it fades after 30 days. I dig the old timers and, sometimes new good ones squeak through the paneling and make it on their own like Lovett, Earle, Yoakam, Willis, Welch, I guess Hiatt. More in line with that, I think this album has got more staying power, thanks for the intro.

I listened to a few songs off the disc, but find it too stylized. It is entirely personal bias, but I cant get over the perception of a generic vocal sound and strings.

Labels are bullshit. Good music is good music- Buddy and Julie make good music (I haven't heard this one yet).

I think it helps that they come across in interviews and concerts as two of the most genuine, unaffected, smart and affable people in the industry.

And if John Hiatt plays "country" music, I'll walk across the St. Johns River without getting my britches wet.

I mentioned him as "iffy" as a guess. A lot of country singers covered him as well as others. His period from Stolen Moments thru Walk On were more of what I was referring to albeit a small time in a large catalog, so you right man, I stretched it. Don't get those britches wet.

harry did it first.

I can totally understand this. I think it comes from Buddy being a back up musician, hired studio gun, or songwriter who writes songs for other people to sing most of his life. This was recorded at their home studio but he worked with T-Bone Burnett on the recording of "Raising Sand", the Plant/Krauss album from last year. He also toured as part of the band on that tour. In fact, "What You Gonna Do Leroy" was recorded in their dressing room one night before one of those shows.

That said, many found that sound kind of "adult contemporary" and lacked some grit. I don't agree but I can see where the argument could be made.

But yes, I've had this since the Spring and it's awesome.

harry, if you can find the Paste article from earlier this year on Buddy and this album do so. It's heartbreaking the amount of suffering they've had to endure during their marriage. She apparently has dealt with some disease that give her chronic fatigue and chronic pain for the last 20 years. Not to mention that Buddy has a heart attack in February. It's a miracle this even came out at all.

But, as toze said, good music is good music. I can easily get past any sort of slickness in production because the songs are so good. They feel real and lived in. There's sadness and joy in lines like:

Most of "Bring the Family"... and thinking specifically of Lipstick Sunset when I included him. Seems like a solid country croon...

I listened to this is the spring when it first came out and it didn't make much of an impression. I'm listening again now.

This leads me to wonder: does my music fandom, which leads me to listen to so much to find what I like, ultimately mean I don't find anything because I speed through it all while at work or whatever?

I reckon you're free to label it anyway you want- doesn't sound a damn thing like Merle Haggard or Ferlin Husky to me.

anyone have a working link for this?

I can totally hear Merle Haggard singing Lipstick Sunset.... and Willie Nelson... and George Jones.... and Conway Twitty.... and... and....

Fixed

Known about them since the early/mid-90s, but didn't bother checking them out until last year. I've had my eye on this record for quite a while now, but haven't picked it up yet.

And I agree that was a good article about them in Paste not too long ago. Seems they started getting interviewed more once they signed with New West.

Umm. Classical has a lower ratio. "Early Music" has a much lower ratio for me. Cool jazz has a much lower ratio. I would say "alt rock", however that's defined, has a lower ratio. African pop music has a much lower ratio. Klezmer has a higher ratio. Showtunes has a higher ratio. British Invasion has a much lower ratio.

I understand the intent of your point, but I think even you would agree that it is inherently incorrect.

Also, the notion of "naming genres", as Sr. Diez Dedos comments above... if it is "labeling" in some essentialist dismissal, then of course it nonsense. But descriptions and categories can lead to deeper critical awareness... and no one would say that Bulgarian Folk Music and Japanese Shikashi is the same, should be understood the same...

threads without links should be locked.

You mean they aren't??????

Is that disease called "Buddy beatin' the fool out of her"?