I have a little question. Here is a ignorant french-canadian who ask the question: What is "Americana"? How is it different from Folk?

Actually, I think it's a very good question, eTe.

The term Americana tends to cast the net a bit further than just folk to encompass country, bluegrass, and other traditionally American musical forms. I've seen 19th Century song including Stephen Foster lumped in as well as American folk-influenced classical music on occasion.

What I don't see often included is ragtime or jazz, which would lead me to suggest that the emphasis is on American music's more rural roots, though to further complicate matters, blues is rarely lumped in, so that kind of shoots down that assertion.

You might also check out the Americana Music Association, which maintains a weekly radio-airplay chart of what they consider to be active Americana artists.

Now Playing: "Open Up the Gate" The Congos The Heart of the Congos <-- Jamaicacana

thanks LinnTate

A while back, I was working on a list of my favorite alt-country albums of the 90's (the alt-country heyday, in my opinion). I never really decided for certain that this was the final list, but I'm sure I could obsess over it forever and still not make up my mind.

1. Uncle Tupelo - No Depression
2. Whiskeytown - Strangers Almanac
3. Son Volt - Trace
4. The Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall
5. Richard Buckner - Bloomed
6. Wilco - Being There
7. Steve Earle - I Feel Alright
8. Old 97's - Too Far to Care
9. Scud Mountain Boys - Massachusetts
10. Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road

Hi there...i was just wondering why people havnt mentioned Townes Van Zandt? is there anyone out there who loves his music the same as me!! "Tecuseh" wot a song!!!!!

of course i meant Tecumseh!! doh!!

Yeah, Wovenhand - Consider the Birds is really one of David Eugene Edwards finest moments. There something deeply personal about it:
http://www.musicemissions.com/display_review/2593

Also, I didn't see much mention of Iron & Wine. I think Sam Beam deserves mention on this thread. He is one of the finest folk-ish songwriters going right now.

Calfone - Quicksand/Cradlesnake
Cub Country - High Uinta High
Cash Brothers - How Was Tommorrow
Bonnie 'Prince' Billie - Greatest Palace Music

Can't believe no one mentioned these uns. Maybe they don't qualilfy for some?

Yeah, Sicnarf, I love Quicksand/Cradlesnakes. Not quite as good as Roomsound, but quite good nonetheless. That part at the end of "Horoscope.Amputation.Honey." when Rutili's voice comes in and he says "silver harm, sugar hands, drunken hive" kills me every time.

I haven't heard Roomsound. I just have Quicksand/Cradlesnake and Heron King Blues. I actually love Heron King Blues the best but wouldn't really qualify it with other standard Americana/Alt-Country. How is Roomsound different/better?

Roomsound's not all that different from Quicksand/Cradlesnakes, I just think the songs are stronger. I was a bit disappointed by Heron King Blues. Five of the first six songs are pretty good, but none of them were really great. The last "song" is a joke, and it makes up about a third of the album. And speaking of Califone, they're about due for another album, aren't they? I haven't heard anything about them for a long while.

Although I really like alt-country, my knowledge of it is not very extensive. But from what I do know, my favorite alt-country songs are:

"Guitar Town" by Steve Earle
"Acuff-Rose" by Uncle Tupelo
"Gravity Fails," "I'll Be Coming Around" by the Bottle Rockets
"Hold On, Hold On," "John Saw That Number" by Neko Case

I'm surprised no one has mentioned them, but I need to give special credit to the band Rusty Truck. Brand new band founded by Rolling Stone Magazine photographer Mark Seliger, the debut album Broken Promises is incredible. This album really turned me on to alt-country. I highly recommend it!!!!!!

Just got a bunch of alt-country albums today, so I'll probably be commenting here a lot in the next couple of days.

I just finished listening to Blanche's album "if we can't trust the doctors" and it sounds like a real classic to me. Why has it taken me two years to hear about these guys? Great southern-gothic country album similar to the handsome family.

quote:

Originally posted by keylimetrev:
I just finished listening to Blanche's album "if we can't trust the doctors" and it sounds like a real classic to me. Why has it taken me two years to hear about these guys? Great southern-gothic country album similar to the handsome family.

I'm with you, klt. If I'd have gotten to this album in 2004, it would have definitely made my year-end list. It's just wonderful in general and "Who's to Say..." may be one of the creepiest, yet most compelling tracks I've heard in a long time.

Now Playing: "Booty Call" Demolition Doll Rods There is a Difference

Hi. This is my first post, so I will try to make it a good one.

Maybe broadening the definion of Americana a little I count these amoungst my favourites. Trying to name ones that have not been named yet - I like a lot of the more modern stuff mentioned as well.

• The Band - Music from the Big Pink and also Self Titled.
  
• Ry Cooder - Paradise and Lunch
  
• Bob Dylan - Basement Tapes
  
• Robbie Fulks - Country Love Songs
  
• Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
  
• Guy Clark - Old No 1
  
• Various - Poet (Tribute to Townes Van Zant)
  

The Townes tribute is a great way to get into this amazing artist. The Fulks album is straight country to my ears, but country fans ignore it for some reason So us rock fans take up his cause. Surely it is not too good for country? Most of the rest is well known enough.

Hello everyone. This is my first post. Is this discussion moribund? MY QUESTION Can americana music issue from outside of the U.S.? Many of my favorites have not been discussed. A partial list: Willie P. Bennett, David Essig, Bill Bourne, Dixie Flyers(all Canadian), Backsliders (Australian) to mention a few. Others include Chris Gaffney, Hacienda Brothers, Dave Alvin, Bierce in L.A., $1000 Wedding, Fred Eaglesmith, Del McCoury, Guthrie Thomas, Butch Hancock, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Guy Clark. That will be all for this posting. Anyone want to comment? Later,
Steve

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sanford9850,

Okay more to the point here are some favorites:

GENE CLARK White Light and No Other, everything else including DILLARD & CLARK
VAN MORRISON everthing, especially Veedon Fleece and THEM
TOWNES VAN ZANDT everything
PETER LaFARGE everything
PATRICK SKY everything
KEITH SYKES everything
FAIRPORT CONVENTION first several LPs and SANDY DENNY solo stuff
RICHARD THOMPSON w/ and w/o Linda
LEONARD COHEN all, especially The Future
NICK DRAKE everything
JOHN MARTYN most everything
RALPH McTELL most everything
WATERBOYS Fisherman's Blues
LOS LOBOS everything
SCUD MOUNTAIN BOYS Dance The Night Away, Pine Box and Massachusetts, & PERNICE BROTHERS
GIANT SAND, HOWE GELB, CALEXICO etc.
SEBEDOH, LOU BARLOW most everything
UNCLE TUPELO/SONVOLT/WILCO everything
STARKWEATHERS & Mike Ireland/Holler
EARL C. WHITEHEAD & the GRIEVIOUS ANGELS Angels and Inbreds
FIVE CHINESE BROTHERS
SUBDUDES all, especially Annunciation
BOTTLE ROCKETS first three
PALACE BROTHERS everything
WHISKYTOWN first two
JOLENE Hell's Half Acre
COWBOY JUNKIES most everything
FREAKWATER first few
STAR ROOM BOYS first two albums
CHRIS GAFFNEY everything plus Hacienda Brothers
JIM LAUDERDALE most everything
DIRK HAMILTON everything
STEVE YOUNG everything
WILLIE P. BENNETT everything
DAVID ESSIG everything
BILL BOURNE everything
$1000 WEDDING Somewhere In Between and Nadine's Probably Right
BIERCE IN L.A. Vale Of Tears and L.A. River
MARY GAUTHIER everything
ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO everything plus Rank and File
RICHARD BUCKNER first two
STEVE EARLE everything
LYLE LOVETT everything
FRED EAGLESMITH everything
THE BAND everything
GRAM PARSONS and FLYING BURRITO BROS. everything
ROSSLYN MOUNTAIN BOYS their only LP
STARRY EYED & LAUGHING two albums
BRINSLEY SCHWARZ all of their LPs
NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SKY
EMMYLOU HARRIS everything
DEL McCOURY everything
DAVE ALVIN solo and Blasters
RAY WYLIE HUBBARD last several albums
BILLY JOE SHAVER and SHAVER most everything
JOHN PRINE everything
BRUCE COCKBURN everything, especially In the Falling Dark and Humans
GUY CLARK everything
WILLIS ALAN RAMSEY self titled LP
DIXIE FLYERS Toronto,Ontario bluegrass band
RAY MATERICK Life and Times
GREG BROWN everything
DOUG HOEKSTRA everything
GILLIAN WELCH everything
BUDDY MILLER everything
CHRIS SMITHERS everything
BUTCH HANCOCK everything
JOE ELY everything
JIMMIE DALE GILMORE everything
FLATLANDERS
JERRY JEFF WALKER everything
MICKY NEWBERRY most everything
GUTHRIE THOMAS everything
DOUG "Sir Douglas" SAHM everything
BILLY CHARNE self titled LP
LOUVIN BROTHERS everything
LILLY BROTHERS everything
STANLEY BROTHERS, RALPH STANLEY everything
BILL MONROE everything
JIMMY MARTIN everything
JIMMIE OSBORNE everything
SELDOM SCENE early stuff
NEW LOST CITY RAMBLERS everything
LARRY SPARKS most everything
J.D. CROWE everything
HANK WILLIAMS, SR. everything
LEFTY FRIZZELL everything
GEORGE JONES most everything
JOHNNY CASH most everything
JIMMIE RODGERS everything
WEBB PIERCE early honky tonk stuff
RAY PRICE classic honky-tonk period



I hope these aren't too obvious, but this is a beginning. All belong in the Pantheon.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sanford9850,

quote:

Originally posted by sanford9850:
Hello everyone. This is my first post. Is this discussion moribund? MY QUESTION Can americana music issue from outside of the U.S.?

I'd say yes. Country of origin shouldn't matter when classifying music.

quote:

Originally posted by sanford9850:
GREG BROWN everything

I've only heard a few songs of his, but I really liked the album his daughter, Pieta Brown, released last year. It's called Remember the Sun and it's an awesome americana album. Have you heard it? Definitely one to check out if you haven't.

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:

quote:

Originally posted by sanford9850:
Hello everyone. This is my first post. Is this discussion moribund? MY QUESTION Can americana music issue from outside of the U.S.?

I'd say yes. Country of origin shouldn't matter when classifying music.

I would concur. One of my favorite 'Alt-Country' acts of the last several years is Peter Bruntnell-- not sure if he's been mentioned yet, but Normal for Bridgewater (2000) and Ends of the Earth (2002) are both exceptional.

Hello Maximum Jack. Thanks for the heads up on Peter Bruntnell. After checking some reviews I decided he was worth checking out, so I just ordered both CDs from half.com since they were available at reasonable prices ($1.47 and $.75 respectively). Best to you,
Steve