Mixtape #8: Visions of Country Music

Country, like jazz music, is a truly American art form born in the United States. Despite the recent glossy and insincere evolution of the "country" label and the occasional absurdly popular right wing propaganda-inspired song, the basic foundation of the genre is still intact. From old greats like Hank Williams and George Jones to contemporaries like Deer Tick and the Willie Nelson-loving Matthew Houck, this playlist is dedicated to those momentary visions of great country music conceived of and kept alive in song. The mixtape's title is inspired by the above photo of Gram Parsons, who was having his own acid-fueled visions of country alongside Keith Richards in Joshua Tree.

SIDE A

Ricky Nelson - "Lonesome Town"

Justin Townes Earle - "Poor Fool"

Jerry Reed - "You Took All The Ramblin' Out of Me"

Emmylou Harris - "Two More Bottles of Wine"

Gram Parsons & The Fallen Angels - "California Cotton Fields"

Justin Jones & The Driving Rain - "Long Time"

Phosphorescent - "Reasons To Quit"

Waylon Jennings - "Honky Tonk Heroes"

John Doe & The Sadies - "I Still Miss Someone"

Old Crow Medicine Show - "James River Blues"

SIDE B

Bobby Bare, Jr - "I'll Be Around"

Deer Tick - "Houston, TX"

Blue Giant and Corin Tucker- "Gone For Good"

Roger Miller - "King of The Road"

Kenny Rogers - "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town"

Redbird - "I Gotta Get Drunk"

Langhorne Slim - "In The Midnight"

Bonnie Raitt - "Bluebird"

Townes Van Zandt - "Be Here To Love Me"

Steve Earle - "Goodbye"

Visions of Country Music.zip

To retain track order, drag the folder after it's unzipped into an iTunes playlist.

Introducing Justin Townes Earle

Here's what you'll read when you see the name Justin Townes Earle: his father is rebel folk legend and icon Steve Earle, a recovering drug addict (who played the role of Waylon in HBO's the Wire); he's named after Townes Van Zandt, considered one of the all-time great songwriters; he himself is a recovering drug addict and at one point was kicked out of his own father's touring band. 

What you'll also read is that his second album, Midnight At The Movies, is damn good. His best yet. While people like Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood strangle the remaining bits of life out of country music, Earle is pumping his own blood back into it—whether or not anyone cares or listens. Songs like "Black Eyed Suzie" display Earle at his best: an upbeat and lively bluegrass rhythm, earthy and acoustic instrumentation, and dark and intimate lyrics (this time about a prostitute that was a former lover) colored by Earle's own distinctive and nasally bad-is-good Dylanesque voice.

Justin Townes Earle - "Black Eyed Suzy" (from Midnight At The Movies)