Gothic Americana/ Alt-Country/ Dark Cabaret
 

Just wondering if anyone else on this forum is a fan of the growing "Gothic Country" trend that's been emerging since the early 2000s. For those who are not aware of this growing trend it's essentially country music that's taken a far more rustic approach to country music and the songwriting has taken a more dark tone. Songs about murder, abuse, alcoholism, and tragedy often make up the song matter. It's a very immursive genre of music, you put on the album and it really stays with you. The best part is that it completely ignores all aspects of what makes up the popular country today (Brad Paisley, Toby Keith, Ryan Adams, etc.) and just does its own thing. Highly recommend looking into this genre if you're interesting in country music. I'll put a list of bands with a link to their last.fm or myspace account at the bottom of this post. I want both the good and the negative feedback, but if you're going to post negative feedback just please make it smart with some idea of what you're talking about, not just "country music is teh suxorz".

edit: I would post links to sites but apparently I'm not allowed to because I haven't made 15 posts, so instead I'm just going to list off some of my favourite bands.

Elliott BROOD
Munly & the Lee Lewis Harlots
Those Poor Bastards
O'Death
Pinebox Serenade

Me!




Nice explanation. I have been getting into this rather eclectic sound for a long while now and feel a bit of a loner in my enjoyment of Americana. It is a strange term though and to a degree in the ear of the beholder. One could argue that at time even the likes of Dylan, just as an example, could be included. In terms of style it may in fact at times leave new listeners confused. Take for example Johnny Dowd who to me is the complete opposite in style to say Calexico yet both have been lumped in that genre. That is were the term Goth comes into it I suppose. Dowd lyricism is everything that you described above. Calexico have plenty of instrumental tracks with a Desert Rock sound. The joys of trying to pigeon hole artists. As to "country music is teh suxorz" yes it is disappointing. Unfortunately some are not prone to look beyond their own prejudices. I remember hearing that Classical Music all "sounded the same" when I was young bloke so best not worry about it I guess.



I this week offered a mix tape of artists if anyone was interested but got no reply so it is hardly worth the effort.

I have a Mountain Meadows by Elliot Brood but have not given it a good listen yet. The same as Those Poor Bastards, I have 2 Songs Of Desperation and Hell Fire Hymns and again I need to play them more. O'Death I have Head Home and it is a terrific album. I will have to check out the other names as they are new to me.

I have plenty of favourites and it would be a long list indeed. Over the last few months I have seen live Howe Gleb of Giant Sands fame and Robert Fisher of Willard Grant Conspiracy. If you have not heard either of those two artists I strongly recommend them. If you have I would be surprised if you disliked them. I am going to see a double bill of John Doe and Jim White next week and will write a revue in my journal. I have one John Doe album called A Year In The Wilderness. John Doe was in the cult LA punk band X but has moved towards a more Country style later in life. I struggle a bit with A Year In The Wilderness. Jim White I consider one of the best songwriters I have ever heard in my life, all genres. I only discovered him recently and have not stopped playing his 4 albums. Next weeks gig can not come quick enough. I consider his debut album Wrong-Eyed Jesus (The Mysterious Tale of How I Shouted) essential. His other 3 releases, considering the brilliance of the debut, are all very good albums. He also has a soundtrack of various artists called Jim White Presents Music from Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus that IMO is a very good starting place for the Gothic Country Americana genre.

There are plenty more that I listen to so I will not give too much away as I may be entering a few songs into the regular Music Banter Compilation as some of the regular Sherlock Holmes around here are a bit too good at picking my selections:p:

O'Death are all kinds o awesome

By the way, another band to add to the mix is The Woes

I have been addicted to this sound for years, and it really began with Elliott BROOD (though to be truly fair, it began with Johnny Cash).

Of late I have been really digging deeper, and begun to build up quite the collection of dark/gothic/urban folk and bluegrass. As Pobody's Nerfect and I have been building quite the little list.

.357 String Band
Elliott BROOD
O'Death
Munly and the Lee Lewis Harlots
The Tallest Man on Earth
Drive By Truckers
Those Poor bastards
Lucero
The Interpestuals
Two Cow Garage
Mr. Plow
Pinebox Serenade
Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnies
Sons of Perdition
The Spitfire Tumbleweeds
The Dad Horse Experience
Courtney Wing

I am sure I have more, and were I less impatient, I would hunt for more, but for the time being that is a pretty good list.

I am a big fan of folk of all types as well. Mostly.

Nice to see you joining the forums Chris, is .357 Magnum a different band or did .357 String Band just change their name?

That was a typo on my part. I was typing fast and high, and did not do a check.

.357 String Band indeed.

Now that I have enough posts I'm going to start posting some videos of examples of Gothic Country, enjoy!



That should be enough to give you guys a good start, anymore questions just ask me or The Prophet.

Here's a couple from Jim White. He played both of these when I caught him live recently. Terrific songs.

The absolutely weird Johnny Dowd. Murder lyrics with an off tune hillbilly voice makes this an acquired taste.