Music

"I like everything except country."

You all know this statement. In fact, some of you have probably even said it before. I know I have. Back in my younger days. Except mine, originally, was: "I like everything except rap and country." (Note: Run DMC notwithstanding. Since they played with Aerosmith on the first thing I ever heard from them, they never seemed like rap to me, not at the time.) Then the early 90's hit and there was some rap going on that I liked. So, I officially liked everything except country.

Which was a foolish thing to say, because it would have meant that I liked Baroque era chamber music and polka and Balinese Gamelan music, all of which is untrue. Especially considering that, much like that Hoobastank song "The Reason", I can't imagine anyone truly likes Balinese Gamelan music; they've only tricked themselves into thinking they do.

But even today, I still see people say that. (Usually when I'm shopping for girls on Myspace.) But I can no longer make that claim. When I was on my little southern road trip back at the end of the summer of 2004 I had ample opportunity to hear lots of country music. And it wasn't so bad. Now, not to worry, I've no plans to run out and grab some new boots and 10-gallon hat anytime soon, (although some of the belt buckles are pretty awesome).

It's cool amongst some of the "hipper" crowds to like some country. Johnny Cash, of course. Hank Williams. Old school stuff. No one who cares what people think of their CD collection to have albums by these artists in their CD collections. (Of course these are also the people that tend to think that PBR is the pinnacle of beer.) But the newer pop country stuff has merit too, and I'll tell you why. Of the stuff I've heard, it is almost always very earnest and very sincere. When someone (I don't know the artist) sings "I put the bottle to my head and pulled the trigger," despite the obvious humor of this image, they really mean it. (Also, depsite the hilarity of this chorus, the song is actually pretty sad.) It could be cheesy, hokey, silly, pollyanna-ish, but you know what, I believe them more than I believe whatever girl problems Coheed and Cambria are singing about or whatever the latest angst the Killers are feeling.

What I've found is this: Popular country music to me is the equivalent of pop music. It's usually catchy, usually simple, and easy to listen to. Flipping through the radio stations I'd probably be more likely nowadays to stop at some country tune (not that we get a lot of that here in Boston) than whatever the next cool thing WFNX is preaching. I'm probably just getting old, losing touch with "those crazy kids."