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Audiophile level country (genre)

djb

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Oct 13, 2023
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I was late to appreciating this genre, and I'm not talking the current hick-hop stuff. I don't ever see country songs or albums listed on audiophile lists. Are there any, or do audiophiles just gravitate jazz, classic, rock etc.

I think offerings from Jason Isbell and Justin Townes Earle sound great but hese are more Americana than country.
 
You could try John Hiatt. Tony Rice is halfway country and Bluegrass. Some John Prine is country. Bonnie Raitt. Chet Atkins. Peter Case.

I generally loathe the genre for the most part.
 
You could try John Hiatt. Tony Rice is halfway country and Bluegrass. Some John Prine is country. Bonnie Raitt. Chet Atkins. Peter Case.

I generally loathe the genre for the most part.
I was with you for a long time but there is some good stuff. You would think simple vocals (no auto tune) and acoustic strings with minimal compression would lead to great recordings. You ever listen to the Turnpike Troubadours? Maybe check out 'Goodbye Normal Street' for some good country.
 
After checking out some of your suggestions, youtube suggested this. I like this sort of thing. But I wouldn't call it country, more Appalachian or Americana which is probably splitting hairs. Especially since it is their version of a Tears for Fears song.

 
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Sierra Hull is great, but it's bluegrass/Americana, not country. Likewise Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Crooked Still, I'm With Her, Nickel Creek...
 
Sierra Hull is great, but it's bluegrass/Americana, not country. Likewise Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Crooked Still, I'm With Her, Nickel Creek...
I'm obviously not an expert on musical genres. I suppose I liked it because it wasn't country. Blame youtube's algorithm for thinking it was country-like.
 
I'm obviously not an expert on musical genres. I suppose I liked it because it wasn't country. Blame youtube's algorithm for thinking it was country-like.
See if this is appealing to you.

 
Add Gillian Welch & David Rawls to that list. Their album the Harrow and the Harvest made it onto Stereophile's "records to die for" list a few years back. And that list is more about music than audio.
Agreed, their new "Woodland" album is great.
 
Fancy by Reba McEntire is in my "audiophile" play list as the only country song. Nice real country story ( poor, misery, death) as well. Stole it from a headphone review yt channel.
 
Here is Sierra Ferrell singing a Kitty Wells song. That has to be "country" music.

 
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Asleep at the Wheel? I like'em.
 
Yeah. Too bad it is recorded a bit too hot. It sounds fine until dynamic crescendos, where you can hear the distortion caused by soft limiting and clipping.
Your hearing, and perhaps system, must be better than mine MRCO1 :)
 
Heck, just take a gander at that little lady's outfit! That's country.
You should see what she wore to play the Grand Ole Opry.
 
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