Comments on: Roots Watch: Refresh…Revive…Repeat…Rethink

By: Rich Layton

Rich Layton — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 23:06:25 +0000

I think it’s the nature of corporate influence in every music genre to homogenize and genericize until there are dozens of artists and radio hits that virtually are indistinguishable from one another. Silly me, I thought at one time that country would be the exception, but it’s not. The lines are blurring even further with the crossover of pop/country/hip hope. I basically have welded my car radio dial to the jazz/blues station here in Portland, but even that station has been absorbed by the NPR affiliate here whose management is now telling DJs what to play. A former Houston rock radio DJ, Crash Collins, died a few days ago, and I was reminded of the nights I fought to stay awake with my Radio Shack headphones listening to his show. God forbid I would miss the next cool song he was about to introduce us to. Little Stephen’s Underground Garage kind of reminds me of that experience. Wonder if there’s a freeform country DJ out there with enough cool music up his sleeve to do the same.

By: Barry Mazor

Barry Mazor — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:58:04 +0000

Well thanks, Rick. About the Miranda rock influence “problem”..It’s obvious that there have been rock influences on country since at least the mid-1950s, and with some of the hopped up boogie woogie in country in the ’40s and harder hitting western swing of the 30s, some might even say the influence goes back at least 80 years! From things you’ve said before, I don’t think all of THAT “left you cold.”

The question–and part of my point here–is WHAT rock (or pop) influences are there–and when they, like any other part of the sound, wear out their welcome from over-use. Miranda’s moving on to some fresher ones.

I just hope that country will continue to have elements unique enough, attractive enough, that any other genre will look to it for things to use too–a good test of strength and broader than core audience mattering, I’d say.

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:31:30 +0000

Barry, I’m so glad you’ve chosen the Engine 145 to ruminate on these sorts of matters since its one of only a couple of country music blogs I give a rip about and bother to read. You get to express these ideas swirling around in your head and my brain gets simultaneously stimulated, a true win-win situation! (lol)

The majority of the dreck that dominates Top 40 AirHead Country Radio these days is the ultimate example of music repetition in style, sound, and subject matter. I’ll still listen to new singles once but rarely find anything unusual or interesting enough to catch my interest on any level. Commercial country music is mostly in a deep rut I have no desire to stumble into. Its nice Miranda Lambert is able to shake things up a bit, but her penchant for rock music influences leaves me cold. To each their own I guess.

Of all the other items you’ve mentioned, its the Etta James collection that sounds the most appealing to me. Hey, how about an Engine 145 give-away contest! I just know I’d have a better chance of winning than on those Julie Roberts Christmas EP’s…