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In the Country of Country
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 29, 2019
A towering masterpiece.
February 5, 2011
Collection of essays regarding country musicians/singers ranging from bluegrass (Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley) to such traditional performers (George Jones, Merle Haggard, etc). Chapters on Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, and lots of other luminaries in the country music realm.
This is a history of the roots of the music, biographies of the people who made country music a distinctive style of music that focuses in on the sad, forlorn, lonely hearted, heart broken, drunkard. I loathe what is considered country music in 2011--just watered down, soulless, marketing driven dreck that is more pop sheen that raw, country bitterness and emotion. Ugh. I love these people chronicled in the book though. They make the sad, wrench your heart out music that is pure Americana.
I took this to another level in some chapters. When the essay is about Earl Scruggs, I would get out my Scruggs music and play it. When the chapter looks into the Louvin Brothers, out comes their classic LP "Satan Is Real" for a spin. Call it method listening. I drew the line at music though, I didn't pop speed like Johnny or swig a bunch of whiskey like George.
This is a history of the roots of the music, biographies of the people who made country music a distinctive style of music that focuses in on the sad, forlorn, lonely hearted, heart broken, drunkard. I loathe what is considered country music in 2011--just watered down, soulless, marketing driven dreck that is more pop sheen that raw, country bitterness and emotion. Ugh. I love these people chronicled in the book though. They make the sad, wrench your heart out music that is pure Americana.
I took this to another level in some chapters. When the essay is about Earl Scruggs, I would get out my Scruggs music and play it. When the chapter looks into the Louvin Brothers, out comes their classic LP "Satan Is Real" for a spin. Call it method listening. I drew the line at music though, I didn't pop speed like Johnny or swig a bunch of whiskey like George.
August 13, 2012
If you are looking for an accessible introduction to the culture and roots of country (which i was), then this isn't it, contrary to Kazuo Ishiguro's puff on the cover. Probably worth reading if you are already up to speed and like disjointed interviews with musicians.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews