Smilin' Jim says:
> [Americana] Programmers get
> excited over some pretty mediocre stuff that leaves the rest of us just
> shaking our heads and wondering what you're thinking.
That "rest of us" is a little disingenuous coming from a programmer <g>.
Actually, though, I agree with Jim - except that there's not much overlap,
it seems, between his idea of mediocre and mine. I had never heard Myles
before I was asked to write the notes for H&H, and I didn't agree to do it
until I took a long, hard listen to the album; I liked it then, and I still
like it now.
Regardless, I'll say that although Mike's correct about her "take it or
leave it" attitude when it comes to doing her music the way she wants to,
she and Rounder have been pretty straightforward about trying to get a foot
in the mainstream door, and the fact that not only she, but a lot of other
folks, have had trouble doing so is an indicator of a big problem area for
country and country radio. If things were like they used to be, the odds
are pretty good that at least *some* of the more straightforwardly country
acts and releases that get discussed here - whether it's Myles or the
Derailers or Dale Watson or whomever - would be in the door, not as stars,
but with a bit of airplay, a degree of access to country venues, playing
package shows and/or as openers for more established acts, etc. The
gatekeeper role of radio these days (is there any doubt it's more important
than it used to be?), combined with the Consultants From Hell, has stifled
the artist development pattern of a couple of decades ago, and the
Americana/alt.country scene is not a very satisfactory substitute, at least
not yet. You might not think that's a big deal with Myles if you don't care
for her work, but I'll bet everyone can think of an artist or two that fits
the picture.
Jon Weisberger Kenton County, KY [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://home.fuse.net/jonweisberger/
