Let's get rid of bubblegum pop now, shall we?

So, what exactly is considered Americana or American Folk Rock? Some examples please

I could benefit from an "official" definition, but I have seen many artists I enjoy categorized as such.

John Prine might fit.
John Hiatt maybe?
Townes Van Zandt?

Or am I mistargetting this genre completely?

Hiatt, definitely... Prine and Van Zandt are more folk-country, but they'd certainly qualify as Americana.

I'd say those that went the Johnny Cash route would be considered folk-country, while those that went the Bob Dylan route would be considered folk-rock. Not sure if that makes much sense, but it's kinda how it works.

Anyway, contemporary examples of folk-rock would be Bob Schneider, Greg Laswell, Ray LaMontagne, Ani DiFranco... stuff like that.

I'll get some samples up later.

Prine, being somewhat local to me, is not something I think of as leaning country.

I'd have to look it up to be sure, but I think he co-wrote "We are the Lonely" with Gary Nicholson.
Nicholson's "The Sky is Not the Limit" CD might fit this profile well.
Unfortunately, these American folkish singer/songwriters tend to have their tunes scalped and performed by country vocalists. The twang is in the studio, not in the writing or original performance.

Most of Hiatt's covers are done by country vocalists.

And of course Nicholson's "Trouble with the Truth" by Patti Loveless was an atrocity.
Listen to the original at http://www.myspace.com/garynicholson

Hehe... I hear ya. Same thing happened to Warren Zevon, among countless others.

Country musicians just need to learn how to write their own songs.

Here's a Schneider song... a bit less folk than his usual stuff, but he rocks anyway.

Painful memories of a country version of "Poor Pitiful Me" are getting through my memory suppression filter.

Heh... here you go.



I'll post it on the WZ thread, too, just to double the goodness.

This is Greg Laswell, one of my favorites. He's a tad depressing, maybe a bit melodramatic, but I dig him.

And on a somewhat ironic note, Britain's Minnie Driver (yes, that Minnie Driver) puts out some fucking fantastic folk-rock.

Who knew?

Here's a sample of Minnie Driver's work:

Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris teamed up a couple of years ago for a kick-ass folk record.

Here's the lovey-dovey song from the album (live version, anyway):

Anybody listen to The Decemberists?

Gosh... I haven't spent money or time on music in such a long time... this was delightful! Thanks, Wolfe.

As to the Decembrists.. not a clue. I knew Minnie D. was getting out into the music world, but I hadn't followed her, or anybody else for that matter. The last thing I did was C, S, &N's latest. Last summer, I think...

S'funny about teaching... you keep looking for something more to take to the kids... so the music I pulled was stuff that "said" what I've had in my repertoire for years... and due to brain farts, cannot come up with an example- Ah-- alliteration- Helplessly Hoping, CS&N-- it goes on, but you get the idea. I used to just print the lyrics, but I'm trying to integrate sound, visual and text for those that work better with multi-layered approaches. In addition, I'm getting better at multi-media building. Not great, but better.

No problem, glad to share.

Crosby, Stills, and Nash? Time to catch up!

Ummm.... not.
I'm doing study and recovery. I have six weeks left to re-vamp my classes to fit 7th and 6th grade minds instead of 8th grade- different literature to read, different set of expectations to write, to teach... Maybe by Winter break...

I dig it. I'd still say it's a tad closer to folk-country, but it's undoubtedly Americana.

Here's some folk-indie-rock:

Speaking of... we need to but some Dylan and Cash up here.

Here's one of the up-and-coming greats. Ignore the sap Grey's Anatomy crap.

More Brandi Carlile... again, ignore the video unless you really want to read annoying title cards.



There's a much better version of this song on YouTube. Check it out here.

Did I mention that whenever I log in here, I open that John Prine song you posted and just play it over and over and over and over and over and over and...

The studio version of Lake Marie kicks ass as well.

Prine's "We Are the lonely, altogether. Altogether, we're all alone." is damn fine as well.

Webb Wilder.
Last of the Full Grown Men.

I'm sorry, but this just has to be shared.



Strange that I like it.

Strong bass line.

((((WOLFE)))) and ((((DARTH)))) you have both posted some great music in here that I have never heard. I saw one of you said that Ani Difranco qualifies. She puts on a great show I have seen her a few times. Once was in New Orleans for Jazz fest that was a wonderful show.

Ani is quite cool.

Here is a that Prine tune I was mentioning. Not an official video, but the studio cut of the song is there.

Yeah, she's great. I think I posted some Brandi Carlile, she's a fav. Dar Williams, Ann McCue, they both rock... I'll start fishing for some videos soon.

It is always better in the original Klingon.

Definitely awesome.

For a moment, I thought you posted one of those Star Trek-folk singers from Trekkies.

Here you go, DM: MySpace Music: Kim Richey

You can get a barber shop quartet version of the Yub Yub song from Return of the Jedi though.

I hate all social networking sites.
They have so many 3rd party domains they want to feed that I must view them with suspicion.

I didn't say join, just check out her playlist.

One of the greatest songs. ever.

I'll see if I can find a higher quality version.

Meh... this one's louder, but there's too much audience noise.

Love this song, too... album version, so decent quality.