Yeah, whatever. Lena O's a stirrer, loves attacking sacred cows (almost wrote "scared cows" - maybe that too) and "alt country" is definitely pretty big in hipster circles.

I reckon there's some good and some bad on both sides of the "alt" fence. If I wrote country music I'd never want the "alt" tag slapped on front of it... but I imagine a lot of the acts who get that are in the same boat.

Thanks Lena. Now I'm educated. (Please ignore any inferred sarcasm - I really mean it). I shall steer clear from bad country in the future.... Is there still 100% fair dinkum original ideas in "hard-core" country circles?

i dont attack sacred cows- just false idols

...and then of course you've got the country v countryrock debate. Charlie Pride v Gram Parsons? Hmmm, there's no contest after all. I think your right Hun, cool country is good country, uncool country is bad country (although I realise that's not quite what you meant). People should listen to more countryrock.

didn't jimi hendrix make some famous statement like: there's only two types of music, good & bad. that'd make you a class philosopher pissme.

& damn straight randy, there's been some beeeeautiful country stuff coming out in the last couple of years... people = listen.

That quote's normally attributed to Duke Ellington.

the best is dance music with country influence ..
i.e certain songs by The Grid, The Rednex etc

I thought 'americana' was a mash of american roots - blues, country/bluegrass, folk. artists like townes van zandt & wilco. I guess people like whiskeytown & gillian welch fit into both catergories though. we're slipping into the ol' music genres debate & last time that happened it got a little nasty, so, whatever.

It's all good as long as it breaks your heart... not your 'achy breaky heart' mind.