======= ======= ====== ====== ====== ===== ==== ====== ====== ===== ==== ======= ======= ====== ====== ====== ===== ==== ====== ====== ===== ====
In a former life as a young, misinformed idiot, I would make fun of country music artists for pigeon holing themselves. The lyrics always seemed to be predictable, with the artists constantly referencing their dogs in the back of pickup trucks or reminiscing on times back in high school when the only worry in the world was how they were going to buy beer after the Varsity football game ended.
This was an admittedly stupid thing for me to do because once I discovered that there were other country artists in the world outside of Kenny Chesney, my appreciation for the genre skyrocketed. Sidenote: I can tolerate Kenny Chesney on very certain occasions – like cruising around a lake on a pontoon boat or shotgunning beers on a back porch – but I just don’t think he’s all that great. Sorry.
I began delving into the George Straits and Tim McGraws of the world and realized what I had been missing. I’m careful now not to outright rip any genre of music as a whole because that is a dangerous thing to do.
By making an assumption that every country song was about ex-lovers, driving down dirt roads in a pickup, and drinking exclusively beer and whiskey I pigeonholed myself. It was a dumb thing to do and I’m more careful now when I become critical of music because it’s not fair of me to categorize country western music as some kind of one trick pony.
However, with all of that being said I unfortunately have to stick my neck once again to chastise country music. I didn’t want to have to do this. It brings me no joy to write this, but what is happening to country with the rise of bands like Florida Georgia Line is really, really bad.
FGL’s songs pollute every country station on the airwaves and have influenced countless other artists to begin experimenting with EDM and hip-hop inspired beats. I understand that music is ever-changing and crossover appeal is important for growth, but isn’t there a way to do it without FGL and other artists like them? Look at these fuckin’ guys. They’re like The Chainsmokers but somehow worse.
I had to watch that guy with stringy long hair grab his crotch in four different music videos to find that picture, and if I didn’t know that I was flipping in between music videos I would have thought that I was listening to the same song over and over and over again.
This subgenre, which has come to be known simply as “bro-country” would make the OG Hank Williams roll over in his grave. I’m not going to afford that band the opportunity for more clicks by embedding one of their songs in this column, but I’m sure you know about FGL by now.
Their songs “This Is How We Roll” and “Cruise” are essentially one in the same, talking about how their playlists have a little bit of Drake and little bit of Marshall Tucker. They like chillin’ on farms with girls, drinking Bud Lights and blah blah blah.
I thought Kenny Chesney was appropriating country music culture but FGL is in a whole different stratosphere. Props to them for finding a formula that the radio will play on a loop and for making a boatload of money but this music is bad. It’s offensive.
Bro-country is a laughable caricature of the Chesney “I’m a backroads whiskey sippin good ol’ boy” cliche. You want stereotypes about what outsiders think country music is? Look no further than FGL.
I thank God every day that the internet has brought us the Wal-Mart yodeling boy, also known as Lil’ Hank Williams, because if there’s anyone that can stop this onslaught of EDM infused country music, it’s a cute kid in cowboy boots and Wranglers singing “Lovesick Blues.” Florida Georgia Line needs to be stopped. They are an evil that is destroying the country music genre from within..
Respond
jduda@grandex.co
My hands trembled as I opened this thinking it was going to be about your new obsession with FGL and I would have to fly to the Midwest to kill you. Thanks for the early morning ‘tent my man
I thought the same. It would be v on brand of him to be a fan.
You’re about 5 years late on this take, JD.
At least it’s a good take
They are the kind of guys who are still bringing handles of fireball to social gatherings at age 30.
i.e. Everyone I went to high school with
“they’re just doing hip hop for people who are afraid of black people” Steve Earle.
As a black guy, I find this fucking hilarious…and probably true
Hadn’t seen that quote. I love Steve Earle even more than before, if that’s possible.
Florida Georgia Line are the Nickleback of country music
They actually have the same producer, Joey Moi. He modeled their sound after Nickelback. Explains so much
I was going to say they’re the 98 Degrees of country but I like your take more.
False. They have yet to sell 50 million+ albums.
FGL sucks. But I’ve never been more triggered than when touching base poopoo’d Eric Church.
Eric Church is the only mainstream country artist worth listening to that is played on country radio. Feel free to @ me.
Chris Stapleton, Strugill Simpson, and Midland
May I suggest Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers and Chris Stapleton. Do your research before publishing blasphemous statements.
Sturgill is one of the greatest artist of our generation.
Question: is Sturgill even a country music artist? It really shouldn’t matter how he’s labeled, but I always see people drop his name in similar discussions and wonder if that’s accurate. I know a few fans who bailed after Sailor’s Guide because of how different it was.
His name gets thrown around in a couple different genres. He’s (sometimes) labeled as a country artist because his sound is closer to traditional country than most songs on the radio today. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a country artist. The same goes for Chris Stapleton.
Sturgill and Chris Stapleton walk the line (pun intended) between country and southern rock and I think that Sturgills latest album was an expression of everything he could do. To support Natalies point both Sturgill and CS have songs on their albums that sound entirely different. CS has Midnight Train to Memphis and A Simple Song, Sturgill has The Promise and It Ain’t All Flowers. I do think that Sturgill is a little more unique sounding that CS though, CS is a little more traditional while Sturgill is a little more Unique
I’d almost say Stapleton dips into blues sometimes and Sturgill seems to have some folk and bluegrass in his songs.
Both of them are more country than Nashville Pop and Bro country on the radio today.
Part of this deals with the relationship SS had with Merle Haggard (RIP). He’s mentioned numerous times that Merle influenced him in singing and song writing. This makes it easier to call him a country artist.
Sailor’s Guide is definitely a concept album. Even Metamorphosis of Country Music is a little bit out there compared to traditional country. I think he’s getting more and unique because he hates the idea of being categorized as a country music artist in this day and age. If you’re trying to get someone off of FGL, they likely won’t “get” Sturgill.
Someone asked Jason Isbell whether he considers himself a country artist. He said that’s just a distraction. I think the same applies to Sturgill and those who buck traditional genres.
I’ve wondered the same thing. I love High Top Mountain, but really can’t get into Sailirs Guide. Maybe I just need to give it another chance.
Listen to JRE with him and he talks about the process of having a baby and writing Sailors Guide and his meaning/thoughts behind each song then you’ll love it.
Red Shahan just released a new album that is absolutely worth your time.
Just listened to his new album. It’s amazing. Never heard of him till this comment. Great call
Came here to suggest Tyler Childers as well. I’d also recommend Nicholas Jamerson, Grayson Jenkins, Colter Wall and Corb Lund.
Colter Wall…such a badass voice
Never heard of these guys. I will have to give them a try
Throw in Midland. They’re album “On the Rocks” surprised me- lot of Texas swing and traditional western sound.
All of these artists are fantastic
Sturgill Simpson tries too hard to sound like Wayland. Stapleton is OK, but a try hard as well… sorry bout it.
Awful take.
Guys, what if shitty music was purposely made mainstream by Masonic Stakeholders in order to find out who to get rid of first? There’s a reason why Rock n’ Roll is the Devil’s music so blast the Animals Album by Pink Floyd and let life crush your beautiful souls lol
Nived, thought you were gonna make a comment about how Big Music peddles shitty beats and lyrics composed by AI computer algorithms in an effort to distract us from the fact that those very machines are slowly replacing us anyway. Way to keep us on our toes.
Haha that is also a very good point and true. Damn
Don’t knock the chainsmokers
Paris still goes
Ok Will.
You realize this “hot take” is like 3-5 years past when everyone else was thinking it, right?
Sometimes folks need to be reminded
Traditional country seems to be slowly returning with artists like Stapleton. People are kinda tired of the bullshit fake Pop country nowadays.