oldcrowprophet

Hello children,

It's been over a year since I last visited this little hideaway. I am delighted to see you are stubbornly sticking around, despite the stagnant nature of this genre.

I'm about to begin a research paper and am considering writing about this genre, at least the americana/country parts of it, perhaps briefly mentioning the dark cabaret.

My question for you good people to ponder is, what would be an interesting article to read concerning this style? I would like to stay away from a historical rendering. I also would not like to focus too much on one band/artist.

I am considering focusing on a question, like, "Will this genre every see the respect like it's literary counterpart?" or "Could this genre ever catch on and become more accessible?"

Thoughts?

LoathsomePete

I'd say write an article on how it's more of a response to the god awful pop country that has been plaguing the airwaves for so long now, a complete antithesis to the status quo.

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oldcrowprophet

Yeah, I considered that approach as well. As a matter of fact, someone else suggested that to me yesterday.

Keigh

Interesting thread. I immediately thought of Tarnation. They were on 4AD back in the day with Cocteau Twins, Throwing Muses, Belly and Dead Can Dance.

oldcrowprophet

[QUOTE=Keigh;957086]Interesting thread. I immediately thought of Tarnation. They were on 4AD back in the day with Cocteau Twins, Throwing Muses, Belly and Dead Can Dance.

I had forgotten about Tarnation. Thanks for digging that up.

Berni

I've been mulling this over and am coming up blank. What is the literary counterpart - stuff like Poe, Lovecraft, etc.? If I were writing it I think I would look at the development over time. Why are you excluding that trope?

oldcrowprophet

I'm actually reconsidering that as my topic. I first dismissed it based on a few articles I'd read that attempted to describe this music, name dropping, brief history, etc. So, I thought I'd leave that alone.
Now, however, I realize it wasn't given the proper attention it deserved. One article actually said the lead singer/songwriter for 16HP and WH was Eugene Oliver Davis, or something far off like that. Most articles leave out so much. They usually start with Nick Cave or 16 Horsepower but I believe it goes so much further. Unfortunetly, I'm running out of time, so I hope to not fall into the same trap as others attempting this.

I'd say the closest literary counterpart are those authors plus quite a few more. Faulkner, O'Connor, Crews, McCarthy, too name a few (because those are the books sitting in front of me). Nick Cave has two books, which I haven't read yet. Jay Munly has even written one (two?) but, I can't find a copy anywhere.

Berni

I read something once about Johnny Cash being gangsta 'cause of lyrics like "I shot a man in Reno , just to watch him die...." but that notion goes way, way back with old songs like Knoxville Girl. A Truer Sound (blog) posted a murder ballads comp a while back. If it's not available anymore let me know and I'll send it to you. A wonderful, scholarly site, Old Weird America, is an in-depth analysis of Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music. Plenty of historical fodder there. Gee, I'm starting to miss grad school!

oldcrowprophet

Old country blues songs were talking about murder long before hip-hop came around, I agree. If anything, gangsta rap is just a continuation of some of those old blues songs from Blind Willie McTell, Johnson, etc.

A Truer Sound still had the comp. I have most of those songs but some I don't, what a treat!

The Anthology of American Folk Music is great, I dl it a while back but only listened to a bit, but loved it.

Has anyone listened to "The Executioner's Last Song: Vol. 1-3"? It's a John Langford project, filed under John Langford & The Pine Valley Cosmonauts. The first song is a rendition of "Knoxville Girl". Steave Earles version of "Tom Dooley" is a must listen. If I had a better connection with the interweb, I'd upload it and provide a link.

Berni

Have the Jon Langfords, but had forgotten - good call.

I really enjoyed a book called The Sound Of The City: The Rise Of Rock And Roll by Charles Gillett. He starts at the beginning of recorded music (if I remember correctly) and makes the connection between the old blues and Jimmy Rogers, whom is considered by many to be the start of country (along with the Carter Family).

Even apparently sweet songs such as "You are my sunshine" contained the following : "But if you leave me To love another You'll regret it all some day"

I'd really like to read your work when you get done!