you can have your own opinions on the current state of country music, especially the more commercial end of the business. but one thing that has been true forever – it has always been a good source of songwriters and homespun musicians. the key, i think, is to be open minded about anything that gets thrown into this genre, and to occasionally take a flyer on a few of them. here are three that i have found that you might find interesting.

turnpike troubadours is a band out of oklahoma that i have a been fan of for a few years. i have seen them live, and you should as well. this is their latest effort. i am not sure it is their best release, but it as good as anything else they have done (and i have everything, if that means anything). they have a knack of writing some great songs, and then marrying them to some good ol’ boy country licks. add a six pack of pabst blue ribbon tall boys, and you got yourself a hayride.

chris stapleton gets a nod for album of the year on this one. chris has one of the best country vocals out there today, period. previously of the steeldrivers, he set out on his own and this is pretty much his initial effort in this regard.  produced by dave cobb, who also did the last two jason isbell releases, the overall sound is very well done. stapleton is a good songwriter (not great), and a few of the cuts here sound like an attempt to marry country with sammy hagar vocalizations. but he does touch a nerve overall, and here he makes a good stab at adding his name to some of the great outlaw country players. it is evident from the lyrics of a few of the songs that he is a veteran of the road, and the fabric of this experience is woven throughout this album. ‘whisky and you’ is one of the most honest songs about drinking this ear has ever heard.

 

Kacey Musgraves released her sophomore effort last year, and it is one of the most critically acclaimed of the year. her songwriting is simple but clever, and her harmonies sound natural and genuine. she is a big fan of alison kraus, but i also hear lucy kaplansky in both her timbre and phrasings. the back up band is spot on, and the guitar work, especially on the slide side, is top notch.