Let's all have an illegal smile for John Prine

[AKwannabe]

This crosses forums (at least for me) so imma put it in the Lounge. John Prine succumbed to Covid 19 in 2020. God rest his soul. Or dog. Your choice.

I will introduce another fav, too, that isn’t John Prine but is ABOUT John Prine. By Kacey Musgraves.

RIP John Prine.

John Prine Underground 1972

https://m.

[AKwannabe]

1. Kacey Musgraves. Burn one with John Prine

https://m.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

2. I adore Kacey. She's the shizz ...

Esp. her debut, Same Trailer, Different Park. Absolutely charming record, great lyrics w/hooks galore. Pageant Material is pretty brilliant too.

[AKwannabe]

3. Right on!

[stopdiggin]

4. does it for me too

pretty straight up country -- with smart and clever commentary on today.

"raise your own kids ... and mind your own biscuits ..."

If you can't lose the weight - Then you're just fat
But if you lose too much - Then you're on crack
You're damned if you do - And you're damned if you don't
So you might as well just do - Whatever you want

So, make lots of noise - Kiss lots of boys
Or kiss lots of girls - If that's something you're into
When the straight and narrow - Gets a little too straight
Roll up a joint,
-- or don't

Just follow your arrow
Wherever it points ....

[Hugh_Lebowski]

5. If you love Kacey I got another young lady for you to check out ...

Last edited Thu Mar 4, 2021, 04:46 PM - Edit history (1)

He stuff is sometimes a bit grittier (it's not just joints in her songs, put it that way), and some of 'em have a definite rock and roll edge (see the last one on this list). I bet you'll like her

Her first album was in 2015, most recent was 2020.

from 2020 album:

from 2015 album:

from 2018 album:

[stopdiggin]

6. I like people that have something to say

Started this string with John after all -- and this young woman certainly seems to have her own voice. I'll do a little digging. And thanks.

[OriginalGeek]

7. wow!

and here I was sitting smugly thinking I didn't like any modern country. I am happy to have been shown how wrong I was.
Thanks!

[Hugh_Lebowski]

8. Well, if you overlooked the first album I mentioned, you should FOR SURE check out Kacey Musgraves

debut, Same Trailer, Different Park. It's really, really good. Top 20 of the 2010's level (and I listen to a lot of new music as you may have gathered).

Ashley's last two albums, 'Girl Going Nowhere' are 'Never Will' are also excellent. They have some really pretty rocking stuff on em (esp. Never Will) ... a number of the songs on 'em are much closer to, say ... Heart ... than they are to Dolly Parton (but then there a handful that ARE pretty Dolly-ish).

All three of these are acceptably cool albums for a hipster like me who still (and likely always will) struggles a bit with 'Listening to Country'

I don't wanna go overboard, but frankly Ashley kinda reminds me of a Female Steve Earle ... which is high praise coming from me

[OriginalGeek]

9. My wife has played me the Kacey song before

And I agree she is terrific. Not sure if she's listened to Ashley but she does listen to a lot more country than I do although her current favorite is Taylor Swift because she likes the stories.

But she went with me to see Napalm Death so I went with her to see Taylor Swift a couple years ago. I'd take her to see Kaycey and Ashley for sure.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

10. I actually really like Taylor's two 2020 records (folklore and evermore) ...

I admit I checked 'em out cause one or both made the 'Top 50 albums of 2020' list in pretty much every prominent publication, even the kool kids ones like CoS, A.V. Club, PopMatters, and Pitchfork ... turns out, they were not wrong. These lists are the main place I discover new people to listen to, going back decades now.

Frankly I never really listened to her much before this ... but these are two really, really good records (the first of them, folklore in particular). It's really not country music either, most of the songs are what I think could fairly be called alternative.

Helps (I'd guess) that she had some great collaborators on these two records, like Aaron Dessner (guitarist for indie-rock icons The National) who co-wrote nearly song, and produced both albums. And there's some great assists from Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), the 3 very talented Sisters Haim, and Marcus Mumford. But she wrote the words, and her voice and words are the stars of the show.