Every-thing except country

That’s one of the answers I get the most when asking what music other people like. Despite being one of the most popular genres globally at the moment, people don’t deem it to be a “cool” genre to listen to, with the rise of bro-country in the last decade or so contributing to this opinion. It’s in vogue for people to take a stance against the genre overall, but why? Much like every other genre, while there is bound to be bad music, there are also some fantastic projects, buoyed by pop sensibilities and originality while lyrically standing on its own, even removed from the greater country scene. Even people who rest their laurels on the country of their times, the Johnny Cash’s and the Townes Van Zandt’s should be able to find modern music within that hemisphere. Country is far from a bad genre, it may just be a bit harder to sift through and find the gold. I’ve gathered a few country albums (maybe skewing a bit more towards alt-country) that may appeal to people typically against the sound, and maybe turn these usual answers around a little.

Zach Bryan - Zach Bryan

Not a whole lot to say about this album that isn’t already known, but I’ll give it a shot anyway just to be able to talk about it a little. One of the more recent and most popular ones I’m going to be talking about today, and one of my favourite releases of 2023, Zach Bryan’s newest album is a triumph in modern country, bringing a lot of substance without losing any of the catchy appeal that propelled it to the number one genre in the country. Taking inspiration from indie, red dirt, and rock, as well as featuring musicians not typically associated under the country banner, Bryan melds these elements together into a consistent, tight and overall fun 54 minutes. Doesn’t hurt that the album was a certified hit, hitting number one on the Billboard 200 while the single “I Remember Everything” featuring Kacey Musgraves simultaneously hit number 1 on the Hot 100. If you’re looking for something a bit more pop-oriented and catchy, this is the right album for you. 

Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains

Wowee, another self-titled album! What a fun and unique naming convention for albums of all genres. Anyways, Purple Mountains is the title of a project that was helmed by the late and great David Berman, known most for his ‘90s albums with the band Silver Jews. One of the greatest songwriters of the era, Berman did not miss a beat in the 11 years between this and the final Silver Jews album. This album is frequently, and unfairly, in my opinion, labelled as an indie rock album if only because Berman was firmly under that genre for much of his career, but it fits much more snugly under the alt-country bill. Featuring some of the most heartbreaking songs ever put to record, even the titles will hit you in the feelings: anybody wanna listen to “All My Happiness Is Gone” or “Maybe I’m the Only One For Me”? Despite this, it manages to wring some humour out of the situation to keep you from feeling soulless by the end of the album, the juxtaposition embedding the songs in your mind for maybe the wrong reasons. Released shortly before Berman’s suicide, leaving this album hitting even harder than it did at first, this songwriting masterclass is a good intro to country for any sad sacks out there. But, in my opinion, not the best.

Songs: Ohia - The Lioness

Now this is the peak of depressing country music. Abandoning the last bits of humour that Berman left in his music, deceased musician and frontman Jason Molina keeps the sadness a little bit more abstract, leaving layers to be peeled back from the project with each listen. While this is typically not the first album suggested by the musician (Magnolia Electric Co. is usually the go-to), the slowcore influence of this project has always taken precedence in my mind, and it remains one of the most underrated albums of the 2000s. The instrumentation on this project is given just as much importance as the vocals, with each taking turns drowning each other out without ever coming across as claustrophobic or cluttered. While maybe the least conventionally catchy of the albums I’ll be talking about today, and containing song structures that wouldn’t really cut it on the radio, the songwriting on this project elevates it above much of, well, anything released since. Solo suites like “Coxcomb Red” help showcase Molina’s powerful voice and poetic writing, featuring heartbreaking lyrics about the collapse of a relationship in the face of a death, specifically the son of the protagonists in this song. Alternatively, on songs such as the opener “The Black Crow,” Molina doesn’t so much cede the spotlight to the music as it overtakes him forcefully, drowning him as he bellows and attempts to keep his head above sea. This album is a triumph for any genre, let alone country. I don’t care what kind of music it is that you generally prefer, this is absolutely a must-listen.