I'm should be the last person to create an alternative country thread, but it doesn't exist so I was obligated to make one. Who are some of your favorite alt country artist? Neko Case, Bright Eyes, CCR is halfway alt country, The Gourds?

I really do find myself being more of a fan of alt-country these days. Neko Case's latest album is fantastic, of course, and I also enjoy Blacklisted. Jenny Lewis's solo album is solid, if a little slow. I also really enjoy bands that mix an alt-country sound with rock, like Wilco. Any suggestions in that vein would be much appreciated.

Lucero, Rebels, Rogues, and Sworn Brothers. The "hick version of The Hold Steady," I believe the AV Club called it.

I've recently become a fan of Bellwether, particularly their 2001 album Home Late.

Elephant Micah, as I've said elsewhere, is fantastic. I posted a song of his in the "5 songs you want others to know about" thread in General Music Discussion. Not sure if you'd call him alt-country though. It's kind of a weird category if you ask me.

Dolorean is another band I've started listening to some. They've got a new one coming out early next year that I'm looking forward to.

We actually have several alt-country threads in the "Folk and Americana" Forum, where I've moved this. LOTS of alt-country love there.

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
I've recently become a fan of Bellwether, particularly their 2001 album Home Late.

I have a self-titled 2000 record from Bellwether, which I assume is the same band. They're from Minneapolis, as I recall. I like it. Very Jayhawks-y.

I haven't heard that one. I've only heard Home Late, which is excellent and their 2006 album The Stinging Nettles which is pretty good and a lot more upbeat than the other one.

Oh, one that I forgot - the Iron & Wine and Calexico EP, "In the Reins", is some pretty great alt-country. They work pretty well together. I actually need to check out more Calexico...

The Stinging Nettles is a great rebound after the less than stellar 7&6, the follow up to the fabulous Home Late. From what I understand, things were a bit sketchy (close to splitting up) after Home Late, which is why 7&6, IMO, was a poor outing, but from what I understand the Bellwether ship was righted and Stinging Nettles was the result, good things to come from what i understand.

Great band

My favorite alt-country album is Fear and Whiskey by Mekons. It's this punk-country thing from the 80's.

It's so good.

So good.

Picking favourites is a hard but if i had to narrow it down to a top five it would be:

1. Sparklehorse
2. Sun Kil Moon
3. Okkervil River
4. Grand Drive
5. Richmond Fontaine

I had no idea Sparklehorse was an alt-country band. I've always been meaning to look into them but never have for some reason. I've never heard of Grand Wave. Are they well-known?

Grand Drive are still (suprisingly) a fairly unknown band, but in their native Britain they recieved a fair bit of attention after being nominated for the Mercury Music Prize a few years back for their album 'True Love and high adventure'. If you like Americana in the vein of the Jayhawks definitely check them out.

hows about pavement's crooked rain, crooked rain? or the mother trucker's broke, not broken? or my morning jacket's it still moves? or anything from the deraillers? okay. i guess that's it. the mother truckers are playing in one of the coolest venues around on 8 october-the fox theatre in boulder! who's comin?

oh! and chamberkerk check out calexico's Feast of Wire. it will not suck.

So many male singers people are raging about! Myself I just can't get enough of the female vocalists doing that twang: Neko Case, Gillian Welch, Watson Twins. And for smaller stuff I dig Annie Keating- she's got a track on myspace I can't stop listening to.

Limbeck's "Hi, Everything's Great" and "Let Me Come Home" albums are amongst my favorites right now. As well as just about everything from Lucero.

My fave alt. country singer is Mike Zito . Texas native. Very handsome. (Sigh...)

For those of you who are into alt. country noir bands like Woven Hand and 16 Horsepower. I strongly recommend the new Slim Cessna's Auto Club album "Cipher". A little less bouncy than their previous releases and more output from Jay Munly (of Munly and the Lee Lewis Harlots fame). A great album overall!

Never really been a fan of 16 Horsepower or Woven Hand, but thanks anyways.