I'm sat here listening to some Emmylou Harris wondering whether I really like it or not and whether it is really that much different from a lot of country music.
I bought some Sarah McLachlan last week which I really like, and by some that is considered country music, although I wouldn't classify it as such.
So leaving the late Mr Cash to one side, who for some unknown reason I admire, but don't care too much for his music, then is there any other country music really worth listening to?
The Dave Rawlings Machine is almost country but probably more like ballady bluegrass. And it's beautiful stuff.
golden smog
the jayhawks
whiskytown
Lambchop
all great
There's loads of countrified indie music that is well worth listening to - Wilco, Son Volt, Bonnie Prince Billy, Calexico, Lambchop, Iron and Wine etc etc, there's loads. It ain't real country though.
Real country is someone like George Jones - the crown prince of Country Music. He's a transcendent singer like Sinatra, IMO. Unfortunately, country music is such a parodied genre that as soon as most folk hear the pedal steel they just switch off and close down their ears. Listen to his classic stuff on youtube and see what you think.
Johnny cash?
Townes Van Zandt? Check out the end credits tune on Big Lebowski for an example (although admittedly this is a cover).
Also a number of bluegrass covers, the John Peel fabric live compilation has an epic bluegrass cover of Lust for Life, I forget the artist.
There's a song called 'Polly' on the Death In Vegas 'Back to Mine' compliation which is beautiful, can't remember who its by (I seem to remember 'Gene Clark') but its another example of how good country can be.
true enough Garry_Lager, although alt country is probably a good place to start. check out Gram parsons too
we got both sorts. country AND western
For variety try Uncle Tupelo, Nickel Creek, and T Bone Burnett.
bassspine - Member
we got both sorts. country AND western
Yes, sorry about that basspine my standards are slipping.
I have some Lambchop that I have not listened to for long while. I will need to check that out, but I have Underworld playing at the moment 
GJP don't take it as an insult 
it's more me+beer=random association.
get d partons the grass is blue,more bluegrass of course but its amazing,honestly
13thfloormonk - thanks for the recommendation on Death in Vegas - Polly (Dillard & Clark) playing on youtube now.
Of course there is! One of my favourite songs of all time - OCMS, Wagon Wheel.
Wahay! Not Gene Clark then, but close...
Songs: Ohio - Soul off the same compilation, beautiful out of tune guitar work... 
Big fan of Lambchop and Kurt Wagners solo stuff, and weirdly have a huge soft spot for Wichita Lineman 
Gillian Welch - no one has mentioned her - just watched her duet with partner Dave Rawlings doing "Time the Revelator"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFh_DFm_RtM
They are an incestuous lot these country musicians they are always playing with each other!
Am with you there Scratch, Wichita Linesman: "and I need you more than want you" gets me every time!
Love a bit of country, never thought I'd hear my self say that but its true.
Big fan of Lonnie Donnigan too, but he's maybe more skiffle
Alela Diane and Neko Case both border country music, and IMHO are amazing artists.
Wichita Lineman is also a favorite of mine. I like the J Cash cover but can't find it on youtube. Found this one though by REM
++ for Gram Parsons (listen also to his post Byrds band, the Flying Burrito Bros - they rock) and if you want to laugh (with not at) try Asleep at the Wheel and Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen.
Good new alt country is everywhere (many of the recommendations in the posts above) - also try Robert Plant's last 2 albums.
And for good live laughs but also 'wow, they can't half play' vibes in the UK, check out Hank Wangford (the singing gynaecologist) and Los Pistoleros.
Gomez did a fantastic version of Wichita Lineman in the radio 1 Live lounge that I can't seem to locate on You tube just yet. Well worth hunting out.
Emmylou's a folk singer, she just got an association with country and Nashville through her connection with Gram Parsons. How could anyone not love Emmylou's sublime voice? As to her sounding like any other 'country' music, it depends entirely on what album you're listening to. Elite Hotel sounds nothing at all like Wrecking Ball, which is a rock album produced by Daniel Lanois. Red Dirt Girl is an alt. Country album, and Stumble Into Grace isn't really country at all, in fact I don't know quite how to define it. Lovely album. She's also absolutely beautiful in the flesh, too. Linda Ronstadt is another country-ish singer who transcends the genre by singing Spanish, jazz, pop. JD Souther is worth checking out, listening to a best of at the moment as it happens, and La Ronstadt is on one song as well. They were a couple at one point. Lovely man, saw him in a 300 capacity venue and he was fantastic, signed my '72 vinyl copy of Black Rose which I was dead chuffed about. He co-wrote a number of the Eagles greatest hits. Patty Griffin gets called country, and she tours with Emmylou and Shawn Colvin but she's far too diverse in style to be really country, her album second Flaming Red was done with an LA punk band...
George Jones is Country and Western, a pure Nashville 'Hat Act', all about the show like Tom Jones and such. I love country/alt.country, but the showbiz Nashville stuff, all rhinestones, cowboy boots and big hair leaves me cold.
GJP - Member
Gillian Welch - no one has mentioned her
Well, I kind of did in posting the clip of the Dave Rawlings Machine ^^^^
And yes, they are a bit incestuous - went to see Old Crow at The Sage in Newcastle, supported by the DRM a couple of months ago and Dave Rawlings completely stole the show by coming on at the start of OCMS's set with Welch and staying on for the whole set
I stand by my earlier comment though - a lot of these bands have closer affiliations with bluegrass than country.
Early Bluegrass is great too. One of my favourite books is 'How Bluegrass Music Destroyed my Life' by the late and exceedingly great John Fahey.
Flying Burrito Bros, Byrds, Gram Parsons - all fantastic if a bit more rock than country.
The band that really turned the tide in countrys favour for me was The Handsome Family - their first five albums are amongst the best anywhere. Seek out a copy of Milk and Scissors, and your soul will thank you.
I really like Caitlin Cary too. And loads of other stuff mentions up there, Lambchop, Wagner etc - all great.
If you want the rockier punkier side of country try Blood on the Saddle or Jason and the Scorchers
Steve Earle ftw
Hell yeah!
I love country music. Real country that is. Not the rhinestone sincerity stuff.
Merle Haggard is my main man. He is 'famous' for being at the Johnny Cash San Quentin gig: in the audience! His story is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merle_Haggard
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbEstJ98TcM
If you like Gillian Welch you might like Doc (& Merle) Watson. Mostly 2 guitars and voices. In the folky bluegrass tradition. Sadly Merle died in a bizarre (non rock n roll tractor accident). Now an annual festival in his name - Merlefest.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyQOCJ4SUSk
As for Alt.country Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (Greatest Palace Music is a fine place to start), Lamchop, Bill Callahan/(Smog), Jason Molina/Songs: Ohia/Magnolia Electric Co all worth checking out.
Favourite version of Wichita Linesman is by Maria McKee but there you go...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t8y7bUF5b0
Gram Parsons+1
Also try Lucinda Williams
Steve Earle has done some really good stuff too
Is there such a thing as good country music?
The evidence so far supplied would suggest not.
Some country sounding stuff is OK
Alabhama 3, Credence clearwater revivial
You could make me listen to Dolly,Gram, Johnny Cash , perhaps even Patsy Cline without much pain but really - as I am not a middle american - culturally it says nothing to me and is just not my cup of tea.
My mum loves it
www.youtube.com/watch?v=shmyrS9RgEM
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