For the country writers:

[matthoggard]

Squids, thanks for all the wonderful comments. Im more frustrated that I let my job get in the way for the last five years. Time lost you know.Maybe we can make it up.The few months Ive been here have been a wealth of knowledge and understanding. You guys are awesome. Youve learnt me good! M~

[squids]

Well, it wasn't time lost though, sweepea. It takes quite a while to grow a very good songwriter and some of that isn't spent writin', it's spent livin'. I get that all y'all must write songs with stories (do not get me started on that! ) but really, how much emotion can you write into a story you heard from someone else about a story they heard from someone else without sometimes writin' a really wrenching example from your own life? We all gotta live. And no matta what Steve says, we all gotta eat.

[ontariolightning]

just write songs that no one can pass up and someone will give you a shot thats how I think anyways

[ontariolightning]

I've been at this since 2003, everday, reading songs, listening to songs, listening to badly written songs and then listening to better written songs, learned to stay away from cliche lines, which was hard, pretty much have been at it everyday for almost 5 years, the thing is I've maybe written one or two songs about my life, It's hard for me to do that so i make most of it upbut I believe through hard and dedicated work you can do anythingThey say it's hard to get a cut in Nashville only to discourage youIf you believe that honestly you don't have itJust my opinion, but it all starts with one song

[mojobone]

Traditional music is currently developing an entirely new audience that has little to do with Nashville. From Hank III to Southern Culture On The Skids to The Bottle Rockets and groups on the Chicago scene like the Henhouse Prowlers, there's lots of great traditionally oriented music to be found, for those that are looking.I just watched the CMAs earlier tonight and heard maybe four songs that I would describe as country; I'd say things are as bad as they should ever be allowed to get and the pendulum's due to swing the other way, but change generally comes to Nashville, not from it, to paraphrase Barack Obama. I think the kind of change that hit the rock biz with the rise of the Seattle sound and what was then called alternative rock will at some point smack Nashville upside the head, but in the meantime, I ain't holdin' my breath. I jes' keep pickin and grinnin'.

[claire]

I just watched the CMAs earlier tonight and heard maybe four songs that I would describe as country; I'd say things are as bad as they should ever be allowed to get and the pendulum's due to swing the other way, but change generally comes to Nashville, not from it, to paraphrase Barack Obama. Most of the songs on awards shows are so forgettable, I'm thinkin'...If one of those "country" songs was the thing George Strait sang, I'll say it again - that man can sing anything and people will love it. Which one of us wouldn't have had that song flung back at us via Taxi or NSAI or any critique service you can mention? It was boring, the lyrics were insipid, but the whole audience was sitting there bouncing their heads and smiling. I thought that song was what I would call "country". I'd hope you'd consider "You're Gonna Miss This" as being country. That's a gorgeous piece of writing.Likewise "Love Don't Live Here" which is one of those "wish I'd written that" songs for me."Waitin' On A Woman" couldn't be more country, in my opinion.Miranda Lambert's ballad "More Like Her" was very moving.If one of those songs wasn't "Sweet Thing" that Keith Urban sang, that's fine by me. I don't care if it's country or not - it's a heck of a good song and he has such a creative way with a groove and with the guitar, who wouldn't want to be him?Kellie Pickler, Carrie Underwood, not so much. Sugarland last night, not so much. I'm not a big fan of Kenny Chesney to start with but hey, that's obviously just me. Martina is country to me but her song choices don't always thrill me.I don't talk about Taylor Swift.I'll check out your recommended traditional bands because I like traditional and bluegrass and contemporary and even some pop country.

[matthoggard]

Didnt get to watch the CMA's, Got caught up in recording guitar tracks and forgot about them.Just watched "Start a band" with Paisley and Urban. What a smokin performance. This is how cool country/rock can be. Both these guys are top notch guitar players and to watch them both tearing it up was very enjoyable. Taylor Swift was dreadful. Very off key and bland. I hope it was just a bad stage mix. I hate dissin performers cause Ive been there when you cant hear a damn thing on stage except the kick drum and bass guitar. Its very hard to sing like that. BUT this is the CMA's!You gotta shine!!"More like her" is an incredible song. I think Miranda writes alot of her own stuff. At least so Ive read. Still cant believe George Strait didnt win anything. Troubador is an excellent song that shouldve won something.Ow well maybe one of us Taxi folks will be up there one day.and KUDOS TO CLAIRE ON HER RECENT FORWARD!Great job!M~

[squids]

I saw Urban and Paisley.......I love Brad (Urban's adorable too!) and they both tore it all up. I loved that, that they both sing so well but are simply superb in their genre for guitar work too.And I'm sorry but they were all wearin' in-ear monitor so Miz Swift got no excuse.....she could hear jes fine.

[ontariolightning]

brad paisley is weak live, hes my favourite country singer though but his voice sometimes gets lost in the music and it gets hard to hear him, taylor swift isnt any better but she was pretty sick before the show so

[jeep]

Daughters 17th B-day Cd top of her list "Fearless" Taylor Swift not my favorite but my guess all high school girls will make it top seller...Dave