David, I actually don't really disagree with you at all, and I admit I'd like to see some changes in Nashvegas. But it's certainly not the musicianship, and to a large extent not even the 'stars'. Most of these folks sing just great, and generally when they get to cut loose on some trad country music, they kick it in the butt.
For me, the issue is production values, which are controlled at a higher level. I'd like to see things get down to earth more. Less slickness, more soul, a little more grease, more freedom to go outside, and perhaps even a little less demand for technical perfection. But the musicianship right now is A-#1 first rate, and the music is much more listenable than any other 'popular music' around, much of which (but not all) sounds like hyenas with chain saws. Look at what's going on around us. I just don't want to see things go down that road. </p>
Country is now a 'mainstream popular music'. Think of the hardcore old-school styles: country, bluegrass, cool jazz, rockabilly, blues. I think people forget the relatively small numbers most artists in these fields did back in their heyday. This stuff isn't that easy to bottle and sell in large numbers, never was.</p>
Another distracting thing is that a lot of people criticize Nashville these days for being influenced by blues. Whassamatta with the blues? Heaven forbid 'real' country singers should start flattin' 5ths, messin' around with microtones on 3rds, and hittin' them pentatonic scales like blues singers do. Ya' know - George Jones, Tracy Nelson, Delbert McClinton, Patsy Cline, Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, Delmore Bros, Jimmy Rogers, etc. - no blues there, that's for sure.

</p><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Dave Mudgett on 05 May 2005 at 10:47 PM.]</p></FONT>