Trace Adkins

I have Pam to thank for this one. When we got together I thought one of the oddest things about this delightfully odd person was her love of mainstream country music. Not part of the whole Yankee new age artist profile. Until then I didn't care for it, but in hindsight that was when we were just emerging from the long national nightmare that was Garth Brooks. But now I understand.

Part of it is that country is about the only mainstream genre not churning out piles of steaming crap. One of the main reasons why the Holy Record Industry is failing is they forgot music is supposed to be something people enjoy hearing. Instead they focus on promoting stars, most of whom stink when it comes to actually singing interesting songs. I mean, did anyone really ever like 50 Cent, or was it just the tattoos? Isn't Beyonce urging Time Warner customers to upgrade their service her best work in years? Didn't anyone notice when Madonna transformed into a creepy old perv with no rhythm? Did anyone not working for Sony ever buy a Jennifer Lopez record? Doesn't it tell you something that a new Britney Spears record everyone mocks mercilessly is the best seller of the Christmas season? And then they wonder why we don't flock to pay $15 a pop for their product.

One part I find amusing is that country music always had the same songwriting ethic as rap. And that's where Trace Adkins appears in our story. "Songs About Me," that pretty much says it all. Singing or rapping in the first person about your own experience works when you like the singer or at least think they has something interesting to say, and Trace Adkins is a really cool guy.

There's a live and let live attitude in his music that as a Libertarian I find very appealing. Adkins loves people and loves life and it shines through. He stands for all the true, honest all-American values such as dressing your wife up in sexy lingerie or drinking heavily in bars or just good old fashioned girl watching. Though I do just have one problem with that video for "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," in that none of the girls in it has a booty worthy of the title. So just close your eyes and imagine you're seeing "Baby Got Back" instead and it'll be ok.

But here I am going on about values and missing my own damn point. Which is that I really like the music. I don't have anything brilliant to say about it. It's just simple traditional country music done very well. Songs that talk to people in their everyday lives in a kind and understanding way. The themes may have changed from rambling songs to ones about arranging visitation, but the appeal is the same. He's got a great deep voice and surrounds himself with some fine musicians. Maybe that's another reason why country remains relatively vital in the sea of corporate bilge product - they always placed a high value on musicianship.

One odd soulseek note, Trace Adkins and Tegan and Sara are the two artists most likely to be downloaded by people who don't share. Why it's the two of them, I don't quite get it.

So thanks sweetie, without you I could never appall all my hip friends by posting about how Trace Adkins is the only decent popular artist today.