Alt Country is still Country, and Country sucks. What a cheap way for Ryan Adams to try to sell albums by name dropping the Smiths and Morrissey. What a jack ass. I hope he chokes on all his cigarette smoke so we don't have to hear from him again.

Whiskeytown....what a novel name for a country band. What's next? Red Pick-up Truck? Wife-beater Tank Top? Toothless Joe and the Inbreds?

Don't slap the word alternative on something to try to make is sound good damn it. If is sucks, come right out and say it.

Thank you.

Alejandro is indeed special. Viva Austin!

I got interested in country a few years ago, after purchasing "Sweetheart of The Rodeo" by The Byrds. It took me quite some time to get used to the style, but right now I think it is one of the most vibrant genres happening in music.

I was first introduced to Ryan Adams a few years ago, coutesey of "Uncut" magazine in the UK. I think he's an incredibly gifted songwriter with a great voice. His energy and his prolific releases remind me of Dylan in '66 - constantly changing and evolving.

I've read a few interviews with Ryan where he's talked up The Smiths. In a recent "Uncut" he said "Meat Is Murder" was the album which changed his life, and on his first solo album, "heartbreaker", there is a snippit of studio conversation between him and producer, arguing about Morrissey songs.

I'd definately recommend any of Adams' albums to Smiths fans .... especially "Heartbreaker" and the second Whiskytown album, "Strangers' Almanac".

Fot those who did not realize, Adams is great!!
The first song on his first solo-album is called "Argument about Morrissey". He is a true music maker, who knows his classics, you morons

I was introduced to it by a friend who has an encyclopedic knowledge of music. His taste runs the gamut from the "alternative" bands of the 60's to classic rock to punk, to jazz, to britpop, to country/bluegrass, to Prince (!!) and everything in between.

Besides Alejandro Escovedo and Whiskeytown, I would also recommend the Old 97's, Wilco, Bare Jr., Clem Snide (a more whimsical and melodic take on country - and for chrissake, they're from New Jersey! No 10-gallon hats and cowboy boots; the singer looks like Buddy Holly), Golden Smog and Uncle Tupelo. It's obviously NOT like the Smiths or other British bands, but it's a representation of some of America's finest bands that you'll probably never get a chance to discover on the radio.

If you want to sample some of it, you should tune into a great show on www.wrct.org (Carnegie Melon University's radio station) called "Fear and Whiskey," which airs on Monday nights from 7pm to 9pm Eastern Time.

And as for Mr Anonymous who feels the need to denounce all forms of country music on the basis of...well, being country, I won't bother to try and change his/her opinion, as they strike me as insular and ignorant. Alt. country is not for everyone, but it's a well-respected type of music which crosses over many different genres and is full of hard-working musicians, not a bunch of degenerate "wife-beaters."

Jerk.

But if you are really interested in good music, Alt. Country is fine, but why not check out the real deal...like Johnny Cash, Faron Young, Hank Snow, Patsy Cline, Johnny Horton, Hank Williams and the like. That, my friends is some amazing music!
Leigh

Ryans Adams new "Gold" album is very good. I got it a month ago and haven't stop listening since. I also bought Heartbreaker but don't think it is as strong of an album.

I haven't heard any Whiskeytown, but I like country and Ryan Adams, so I will soon.

I like Whiskeytown more so than Adams alone, although Adams alone is still great. Whiskeytown's best album IMO is Strangers Almanac. Tons of great songs on it such as "Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart" and "House on the Hill". My personal favorite song is "Jacksonville Skyline" off of Pnuemonia because it's about his hometown of Jacksonville NC and mine. Lyrics like "Jacksonville is a city with a hopeless street light/seems like your lucky if it ever change from red to green" and "somewhere the night sky hangs like a blanket/shoot it with my cap gun just to make it seem like stars". It rings so true.

The new Wilco album 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot 'is awesome as well

Also Wilco and the Jayhawks.

what this creep thinks about the smiths?
isnt the loot responsible for run to you and summer of 69;he can go play with the buses.
Marti Pellow rocks!

Personally I think that the whole "alt/country" genre should be wiped clean off the planet. When I hear it, I feel violated and cheated. Adams is a lame name-dropping hipster, how dare he take Morrisseys name in vain. I would rather swallow diseases razor blades than listen to his records. He is the most wretched, grotesque wart on the backside of the music industry. Someone pass the Compound W please...