The Colt Ford Collaboration Country Music Blacklist
You have to give credit to “country” rapper Colt Ford for at least one thing: his boldness. While wearing a grin like a mule eating garlic, he’s hoodwinked the country music consumer out of millions of dollars by trashing traditions and self-admittedly having little talent. In some ways I cheer for Colt Ford’s success. Hell, lets give him the CMA for Entertainer of the Year. Because his success just proves the point that most of the stuff coming from Music Row is no more than a punch line, and that we are in a headlong sprint toward all popular music coalescing into one big mono-genre presiding over the death of contrast.
I know that Colt Ford is a guilty pleasure for many. Some of his lines are catchy, or whatever. I find it hard to work up any venom for someone who isn’t shy about speaking on how much of a gimmick he is. What really gets me hot under the music collar is the who’s who of country music that come out of the woodwork to collaborate with this knucklehead. Look at the list of people that signed up to appear on his next album Every Chance I Get: Charlie Daniels, Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, and my favorite “new Outlaws” Eric Church and Josh Thompson. You can add these names to people like Kevin Fowler, who Colt Ford had running around with women’s underwear on his head, or other previous collaborators like Montgomery Gentry, and yes, even the beloved Jamey Johnson.
I expect nothing less from Josh Thompson. If his music is your speed, then don’t let my opinionated ass get in your way, but since I roasted him for his stupid “Outlaw” song, it seems like wherever stupid is going down, he’s there getting his pony tail stuck in the spokes of it. As for Eric Church, since my first reactions to his music, he’s been keeping his nose surprisingly clean, and putting out some songs that I dare say show some promise for being very progressive and engaging. So then why regress to cutting a song called “Country Thang” with the gringo version of Grimace? That’s “Thang” with an “A”, yo. Word to yo mutha’. Wiggety wa wa.
So please, all the Josh Thompson and Eric Church apologists, explain to me how I’m supposed to overlook this. I thought these were the guys that were Saving Country Music, and I was a fool for not seeing they were the key to upholding traditions. I know, they’re just trying to get their name out there, but at what expense?
And why is Colt always associated with these “New Outlaws”? Last year Hank Jr. put Colt Ford on his “Rowdy Friends” tour with the aforementioned Eric Church and Josh Thompson, along with the other “New Outlaw” Gretchen Wilson, and the untouchable Jamey Johnson.
If you want to listen to a true, creative meld of hip hop and country, go listen to some Beck or some Paul’s Boutique-era Beastie Boys. But this Colt Ford stuff is garbage, despite a few catchy lines, and as far as I’m concerned, lending your name to a Colt Ford project lands you a card carrying membership to the “Colt Ford Collaboration Blacklist”. Here’s the names I’ve amassed so far:
Colt Ford Collaboration Blacklist:
- Eric Church
- Josh Thompson
- Jamey Johnson
- Kevin Fowler
- Charlie Daniels
- Montgomery Gentry
- Tim McGraw
- Luke Bryan
- Trent Tomlinson
- Craig Morgan
- Tyler Farr
- JB & The Moonshine Band
- Frankie Ballard
- James Otto
- Randy Houser
- Ty Stone
- Josh Gracin
- Sunny Ledfurd
- Darryl Worley
- Rhett Akins
- Joe Nichols
- Rachel Farley
- Ira Dean
- Jason Aldean (for recording Colt’s “Dirt Road Anthem”)
- Hank Williams Jr. (for putting him on his “Rowdy Friends” tour)
April 21, 2011 @ 10:40 am
I’m deeply saddened to say….i have family who likes this guy.
April 21, 2011 @ 10:45 am
The whole lot of em are hellbound.
April 21, 2011 @ 10:47 am
Thank god someone feels the same way I do. I first saw this asswipe on CMT Wide Open Country and was floored that someone gave him recording time. And now he has videos and will mostly like have a, dare I say it, a number one song with douche licker Jason Aldean. I am assuming the song that Aldean raps in is his.
I agree this guy puts out pure garbage. Consider me backing your list 100%.
You know as badly acted “Pure Country” was they got one thing right. Nashville can always “turn up the fire on another dancing chicken”.
April 21, 2011 @ 11:18 am
First off I think this guy is the biggest (literally) piece of shit in Nashville today but like you said Trigger you can’t hate him for being successful. It’s not his fault people are mopping this shit up like gravy on a biscuit. I can’t sing for shit and if I could get away with making millions of dollars by sucking at something as enjoyable as playing music for a living you’re damn right I’d do it.
Second, I DO NOT consider Eric Church and definitely Josh Thompson “outlaws” by any stretch of the imagination…actually the more I hear of Josh Thompson, the more I can’t stand the guy. Eric Church on the other hand I kind of like. I’m not sure he’s pulling off the “bad ass” persona he’s trying to portray though. The only guy in Nashville today that may have a little outlaw cred as far as I’m concerned is Justin Moore and I don’t think he even wants it. DAC even gave him some props at a show I just saw him play.
Lastly, why do you think guys like Hank Jr. and Charlie Daniels support this garbage? It’s the same with guys like George Jones who lend their voice to an Aaron Lewis record or Willie Nelson performing with Snoop Dogg. Shit, these are the guys that should be setting an example for the future and if they are…. it’s the wrong damn example.
April 21, 2011 @ 12:07 pm
Totally agree, except for one minor point. Have you listened to Willie’s collaboration with Snoop? It’s not hip-hop and, no, it’s not country. It’s pure blues. Snoop also is a huge Johnny Cash fan and, regardless of your thoughts on hip-hop, is good at what he does (unlike Colt Ford or Aaron Lewis). So if he can help introduce Willie to a new generation I’m all for it.
April 21, 2011 @ 12:57 pm
Adam I agree with you on Snoop. He is talented and I really don’t have a problem with him… just not a fan of Hip-Hop. And for that reason I didn’t listen to Willies duet with him. I will have to check it out though.
April 21, 2011 @ 12:19 pm
I want to like Eric Church, I really do. I’ve been roasted over the last few days for an article I wrote about him about a year ago with some very heavy thoughts/ But how am I supposed to take him seriously now?
I think Hank Jr. and Charlie Daniels are trying to hold on to their relevancy, as opposed to embracing a transition to a legacy act. Daniels might be the worst. He seems to have completely changed his political beliefs for the popular flavor of the day as displayed by his work with Aaron Lewis. I imagine it must be hard for these guys to let go, but look what happened with Willie and Johnny Cash; they have become beloved by everyone.
I think the Willie and Snoop thing was purely fun for Willie. I don’t think that was a play for relevancy for him. They’re pot buddies for whatever reason. But Willie did go through his phase, doing stuff with Dave Matthews produced by Kenny Chesney. But now he has embraced his role as a country elder statesman, and I think his career and public image is better for it.
April 21, 2011 @ 1:18 pm
My problem with Eric Church I guess is the same problem you have with Blake Shelton. He’s trying to be something he’s not. Just keep sing those good ballads and fun honky tonk songs and stop trying to be edgy to sell records.
April 21, 2011 @ 5:07 pm
before I found this site I listened to guys like Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Old Crow, Hayes Carll. I tried to find what I could from the mainstream that didn’t suck hind nut. Found alot of guys from you that are better, some I don’t like as much. I still like some some eric church songs but most of what you promote is better. What i’m trying to say is he isn’t as bad as most of the stuff in the mainstream ( Listen to Longer Gone) but doesn’t touch guys like Joseph Huber, Caleb Klauder, Possesed by Paul James. I still like him better than some stuff on this site but that’s probably personal taste. Just don’t group him with Justin Moore, Josh Thompson, Blake Shelton, cause he’s not that bad
April 25, 2011 @ 9:32 pm
Wow I didn’t know so many folks hated Me (lol) I make Country Music the Best I can and I aint never paid any of the Amazing Artist to be on my record because I can’t afford to. I am on a Small Independent label. I talk about regular Country Stuff I never wanted to disrespect Country Music if you knew Me you would know that I believe in God,Family,Friends,Hard Work,America and Freedom! I am Thankful to all the Artist who have been apart of my Music. I don’t care if y’all don’t like Me but don’t talk down about the other Artist for lending their Voice to a Country Boy who can’t sing to good. Music has and always will change that is what makes it Great. I am Proud we live in a Country where You can say what you want to say even if it is talking Shit through a computer and not to My Face. I ain’t playing a character I am just being Me and if you don’t like it I could give less than a Damn. I always speak my mind and I tell theTruth if You think I ain’t Country you should come to a show. I take care of My Friends and Fans I sign after every show and I always stop what I’m doing to take a picture or shake a hand because I was raised with Respect and I am Thankful for any Success no matter what it is. I am sure sorry that some of y’all don’t like what i do I guess Mamma was right you can’t please them all. I just thought I would check in with y’all I got nothing but Love and Support for any Country Folks that what Country Folks do. I admit it Hurts to see bad things wrote about You but it is the World we Live in. I wish y’all all the Best!
God Bless,
Colt
April 25, 2011 @ 11:36 pm
You know kill me if you want but I agree with Colt. For one bc it shows what kinda man he is if its really him and I respect the hell outta that he spoke up and two his music actually aint terrible to me I mean it has meanings to it that I can relate to being a country boy from nc hell sure beats the hell outta that bubble gum pop country. Thanks Colt for the way you helped Brantley get noticed and I loved mudd diggers awesome song hoss just do me on favor don’t go pop stay hip hop and country I can’t stand rap but I’d rather listen to your hick hop than pop. I might just buy this new album bc I’ll say it again it took a country boy to come on here and stand up like that. And I apologize for wronfully judging you the lord is the only one who can judge or atleast that’s what I’ve been taught.
April 26, 2011 @ 2:01 am
I believe in the Lord too. Knowing this, we are ALL sinners, and fall short of the glory of the Lord.
I still don’t like Colt Ford’s music and his attempt to cash in on country music.
April 26, 2011 @ 9:04 am
I have serious suspicions that is Colt Ford, though it is probably someone related to him from my cyber sleuthing. Though I find it funny that someone who is flashing the devil horns more times than not any time a camera shutter goes off is evoking “God” so much in a comment, including on his album covers. Not saying Colt isn’t a Christian, but:
April 26, 2011 @ 4:07 pm
Trig…
“The Devil Horns” huh???
I have heard it called many things…but devil horns? Never. Come on. What a stretch.
And how many of the artists you endorse put some artistry that is deamonic yet they are Christian or spiritual when it comes to thanking God or say we shouldn’t judge.
Also, I don’t think Colt is filling a niche. I don’t think he sat back and said, “hey no one is doing this, and there is a market.” I think he is doing what he is doing regardless of who is buying it. Just so happens a label took it up and marketed it.
April 26, 2011 @ 9:23 am
OK I’m game. I’ll just go off the notion that this IS Colt.
Like I said in the article above, I have respect for you, because even though I may not like or agree with the approach of your music, you are certainly filling a niche that there is an appetite for, and you’re being honest about your intentions and talents. That is all I ask of any artist, is to be honest. That is why you cannot find a full on rant against you on this website, like you can find against some of your collaborators like Eric Church and Josh Thompson.
It seems to come up often that I say things in front of a computer screen, but I wouldn’t say it to someone’s face. Actually I would, but not after I introduced myself, shook your hand, and if you asked me my opinions on your music. I have respect for everyone, especially people I disagree with, and would treat you no different that I treat anyone else, meaning with respect. Think of it like the sheepdog and the coyote in the old Looney Tunes skit, where all day they chase each other around, but at 5 PM when the whistle blows, they both meet at the time clock, and act cordial and wish each other a good night. Your job is to fill a niche, and my job is to fight for purity.
Like I’ve said in other comments, the point of my “blacklist” is to illustrate ridiculousness by being ridiculous. There is no blacklist, nor do I have the authority to create one. What it does is illustrate the irony in the public image of some of your collaborators, and the reality of the situation. If Jamey Johnson, Eric Church, and Josh Thompson and/or their fans did not portray them as saviors of country music, them working with you would be irrelevant. The point of this article is: What are we supposed to do, where are we supposed to find modern heroes when every one of them is clearly has a closet full of skeletons and unresolvable issues?
If country wasn’t so diseased right now, something like “country rap” could exist and be fine. But since there are so many other gaping holes and problems, it helps pull it down even further by appealing to the lowest common denominator. I am not surprised or insulted that someone is having success with “country rap”. But you and anyone else can’t be surprised that there’s people willing to fight against it, especially in the form you present it in.
April 26, 2011 @ 12:21 pm
I agree trigg I like Colt he seems like a good guy although I dont know him personally hell he might be the one who saves country lol. Im sure him being a country boy hes got a taste for some Conway or Jones. But like I said for the way he came on here and stood up for himself I respect him and Im gonna give his cd a listen. I dont at all think rap couldnt be a subgenre but this coporate pop has to end. Colt also is what us on here would call underground he hardly ever gets air play on the radio and he is on his own independent label.
April 26, 2011 @ 4:54 pm
Actually he has his own label hes not on a major Nashville label. And I agree hes doing it bc its what he likes. I finnaly agree with icecold on something lol. I dont think the trigg was meaning hes feeling a niche in a bad way or a disrespectful way.
June 21, 2011 @ 8:11 am
Colt, I don’t care what others think, I just started listening to you a few days ago, and I like your music. I was raised a traditionalist as far as country music goes, but I am expanding my horizons. Of course just like any other artis there are some songs I like better than others.
I serve on a comittee with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and I would love to see you play at the worlds biggest rodeo.
God bless
From someone who isn’t so closed minded
October 21, 2011 @ 6:14 am
Hey first off I have to disclose I am from the north so my opinion probably won’t carry much water with all of the southerners. Not complaining, it’s just the way it seems to be, that a man born in a Boston suburb can’t understand true country cause he hasn’t lived it.
Even still I grew up in the 70’s listening to some of the greatest country artists ever. I don’t need to name drop, cause we all know who they are. As I got older, country became “not cool” so I turned to rock & roll. Many years later I have come back to my roots. That’s not to say I still don’t enjoy rock, blues, soul, hip-hop, rap, & R&B. What it does say is that I have perspective. I have an appreciation of many styles of music.
Now by my understanding, the whole “Outlaw” movement was because these boys had long hair, and too much “rock” in their sound. They sang the truth about who they were, where they’ve been, and most importantly they weren’t afraid to be judged on that.
Fast forward to present day and you have all these so called “purists” claiming it is BS that Colt is bring rap into country and there is no room for that. Am I the only one that sees the complete hypocrisy in these statements. Country, in my good for nothing yankee opinion, is about delivering from your soul and being true to yourself. It shouldn’t matter that you don’t fit in the box and maybe that’s why some of latter day the county greats have collaborated with Colt. Maybe they can see through the “genre” and just see a man, speaking from his soul, saying what he feels in his heart.
God bless.
April 28, 2012 @ 12:56 pm
Well said Colt !
August 18, 2015 @ 8:04 pm
You are awsome but I got told I’m not country just because I like,your music. I grew up on a mountain and I love horses and,animals,but 4 years ago I had to move with my parents to illinoi I honestly, dont lile it here because no one. I know has any respect but anyways I love your music .
April 21, 2011 @ 11:51 am
i just dont give a fuck no more bout them blacklisted folks no matter how hard i might try, no matter how contrived and generic and just plain shitty i think their “music” is, except for two of them. fuckin kills me that he legends(in my mind) keep company with these type folks. charlie daniels should be playin with hellbound glory, not this fuckin guy. ol’ bocephus should be lending his name to whitey morgan and the like. they probably aint even heard of these guys. i know they’re probably too far gone for this to ever happen and probably were long ago, just too fuckin bad. back in the old days these guys were some of my old man’s country heroes, part of my foundation in this music.
April 21, 2011 @ 2:59 pm
charlie daniels wouldn’t collaborate with anyone in the underground. he’s an extremely devout christian. if you see him live he’s changed the words in long haired country boy. he’s taken out the references to drinkin and smokin pot
April 21, 2011 @ 3:45 pm
aint familiar with colt ford’s songs, but im guessin he’s got more than a few drinkin references and i guess that dont scare charlie off. if i referenced an underground guy/band with cleaner lyrics than HBG it would make no difference. i like the “longhaired countryboy” lyrics the way they were, and i werent too fuckin happy with DAC changin “if that aint country” when i seen him, but what the fuck do i know.
April 21, 2011 @ 3:47 pm
Yet he collaborated with Aaron Lewis, whose song says “but I smoke a little weed”. And in the video it shows him blowing pot smoke at the camera.
And I don’t know if I am comfortable with the characterization that underground bands are somehow anti-Christian. For sure, some are, but both Dale Watson and Wayne Hancock are devout Christians. Wayne is in a Christian motorcycle group that you can’t even cuss or you’ll get kicked out. Bob Wayne, Lonesome Wyatt, Joe Buck, Roger Alan Wade are all sober guys, and in fact someone posted on the message board a while back that RAW was playing a church function.
April 21, 2011 @ 5:23 pm
I wasn’t trying to characterize every band as un-christian. I myself am a follower of Jesus and I listen to Hank 3, Hellbound Glory, etc., etc. I just meant in general.
April 21, 2011 @ 6:18 pm
I would like to see Hank Jr and his son do something together.
April 22, 2011 @ 7:15 am
I get where Jessi’s coming from. Guys like Hank III definitely give of that ” I burn crosses in my days off” kind of vibe. But their definitely is a lot of underground bands who I’m sure are Christians and have just as much faith as anyone else. I just can’t see CDB performing with Hank III because their wouldn’t be anything in it for him financially.
Oh and Denise… as long as Hank Jr is still tucking Kid Rock in every night and reading him Goldie Locks and the Three Bears I doubt we’ll ever get a Hank Jr./ Hank III collaboration.
April 22, 2011 @ 8:54 am
Buddy Miller would be an example of an “out of the mainstream” artist who is a professed Christian.
April 25, 2011 @ 5:34 pm
Are they Anti-Christian? To be non religious is not the same as Anti-Christian. Atheism is not bad, to not be a Christian is not bad. To not be a religious person does not mean you are anti anything.
October 23, 2021 @ 8:39 am
Atheism is bad.
It is an ideology of nothingness.
April 21, 2011 @ 12:12 pm
“As for Eric Church, since my first reactions to his music, he”™s been keeping his nose surprisingly clean, and putting out some songs that I dare say show some promise for being very progressive and engaging.”
Sorry to say Trig but I saw this Youtube video on the9513 site before the ACM’s. Made me sick to my stomach. His music may be getting slighty more promising, but comparing himself to these guys? C’mon… Good luck sitting through the entire 1:58!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYDGOV5qLU8
April 21, 2011 @ 12:30 pm
Ha! Propaganda.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I’m an Eric Chruch fan, but I can respect the man for some of the music he makes….until he pulls something like this. As far as I’m concerned, this flushes any and all credit down the turlet.
He wants it both ways. He wants people to think he’s the next in like to Outlaw royalty. His peeps made that video; we all know what they’re implying. And then he’s gonna cut a song called “Country Thang”.
To imply that Eric Church is anywhere near those other people in that video is an insult. But seeing the venom with which many of his fans defend him with, it’s pretty clear the propaganda is working on his fan base. They really think he’s carrying on the legend of Cash and Waylon.
It’s all marketing, with just enough substance thrown in there to throw you off the scent.
April 21, 2011 @ 12:19 pm
never heard of him, i reckon i’ll never miss him… the name colt ford sounds like a new hybrid car or some shit…
April 22, 2011 @ 8:58 pm
Glad you said that Wayne. I was beginning to feel like I was the only one who had never heard of him!
April 21, 2011 @ 12:23 pm
Amen Bigstem about Justin Moore that kids got talent and hes a real small town boy like me he aint a fake ass poser like alot of these guys and his songs are all true. His last album he wrote or co wrote all the songs and his new album 11 of the 13 i think are all his songs hes doing it his way. The song Outlaws like me is a amazing song. Also he dont wear no three piece suits at awards shows he wears wranglers lol cant beat wrangler.
April 21, 2011 @ 12:47 pm
My jury is still out on Justin Moore. I’ve had a ton of people emailing me about his upcoming “Outlaws Like Me” album. Eric Church and Josh Thompson fans have come to the defense of them saying that they have never come out and specifically called themselves “Outlaws”, and I’d say that is an important point. When I saw Marty Stuart last week, he made a point of not calling himself an Outlaw either. Now here Justin Moore is making it the title of his album. When I listened to some of his music, it did not hit me as the gimmick that Eric and Josh did at first. But at the same time, I find it hard to call someone on Big Machine Records, which was put on the map by Taylor Swift, and has Rascall Flatts on their roster, and is run by the country music anti-Christ Scott Borchetta, an “Outlaw”.
We’ll see.
April 21, 2011 @ 1:14 pm
Trigger, I’ve been to 3 maybe 4 of his shows and I really think this guy is genuine. From his heart felt stories about his grandfather who recently passed away to his stories of kicking the shit out of the dickhead (his words) who decided to steal his guitar at show to him telling off a bunch of old people who were yelling at the kids in front of them because they were standing up and having a good time.
Every show I’ve been to he plays for at least 2 hours. He also stays afterwards and signs tons of autographs… even on chew cans, which he usually takes a dip from if it’s worthy of his taste buds. I
Oh and the “Outlaws like Me” single…it’s actually more of a heart felt song where he’s not gloating about how “bad ass” he is.
I’m not trying to sell you on the guy, to each his own. But my personal opinion is he is a straight up, true country star who appreciates his fans and is thankful for the life God has given him. That’s good enough for me.
April 21, 2011 @ 1:19 pm
I had not heard of Justin Moore before this discussion. Just sampled a few of the songs off his debut on Amazon, including Backwoods, Small Town USA, and Good Ole American Way. I don’t know. Sounded like formulaic pop country to my ears.
April 21, 2011 @ 1:52 pm
He may not have that gritty, underground sound but I think he’s true to himself and to the music. He writes most of his stuff and he sings what he knows. I can’t hate him for that. And I’m not saying there’s not a little pop in his country because their is… but even old Conway or George Strait sounded a little “Pop” from time to time.
April 21, 2011 @ 1:56 pm
I totally agree that all the greats wrote a song or two that could be considered pop country but you cant put a guy down for one thing. His voice is enough to kill the what little pop there is in his music.
April 21, 2011 @ 2:31 pm
And to be fair, I only listened to the 30 second samples. Mainly, I checked him out because of other comments you’ve made on this site (e.g., suggesting that I check out Whitey Morgan). Maybe because I came to straight country music through rock ‘n’ roll, and bluegrass, I’ve got some blinders when it comes to country music that has a significant pop component. For example, my wife has George Straight’s 50 Greatest Hits and while I like a good number of the songs and respect the fact that he’s a great singer with artistic integrity, it’s not a CD I would have bought for myself. Same thing with Alan Jackson.
April 21, 2011 @ 2:53 pm
Typo. I mean George Strait.
April 21, 2011 @ 3:39 pm
One song of his that I would definitely consider pop is “Hank It”. With a title like that most people would think here’s another song about trying to be like Hank Williams. When in truth it’s about the start of his career when he opened for Hank Jr. in Hershey PA and how he had an influence on his career. I’m an hour from Hershey and no body ever mentions Hershey in a country song…. hell nobody mentions Pennsylvania in a country song.
April 21, 2011 @ 1:22 pm
I have also thought the same thing about the record label he is on but me being from a small town in nc i can put myself in his shoes. Hes a country kid who went to sing his music that was his dream and he got a chance at a record deal and took it. Im also afraid that this dumbass Scott Borchett is using him to try to appeal to the younger small town demographic so he can make more money. Almost everybody i know listens to Justin and buys his music. I think though the real test is if big machine trys to change him which being big machine will happen will he stay true or break to make more money like so many other people in country music have.
April 21, 2011 @ 12:31 pm
“it seems like wherever stupid is going down, he”™s there getting his pony tail stuck in the spokes of it”. This might be my favourite line of all time.
April 21, 2011 @ 12:44 pm
Yep. That’s the one that made me put my head down and laugh out loud. A powerful metaphor, indeed.
April 21, 2011 @ 1:31 pm
Here’s my opinion on the artist on the list…
”¢Eric Church – Liked his first song “Lightening” but nothing since.
”¢Josh Thompson – Never heard of him.
”¢Jamey Johnson – Loved “That Lonesome song” album, but hated the new one.
”¢Kevin Fowler – only heard a couple of songs. They are alright but nothing special.
”¢Charlie Daniels – Can you blame a once great artist for his latter day sins?
”¢Montgomery Gentry – Loved everything up till there “Best of” album.
”¢Tim McGraw – Has a few songs I like, but I’ve never like him.
”¢Luke Bryan – Never heard of him.
”¢Trent Tomlinson – Never heard of him.
”¢Craig Morgan – Never cared for him.
”¢Tyler Farr – Never heard of him.
”¢JB & The Moonshine Band – Never heard of him.
”¢Frankie Ballard – Never heard of him.
”¢James Otto – Only heard 2 songs. Only liked 1
”¢Randy Houser – Same as Otto.
”¢Ty Stone – Never heard of him.
”¢Josh Gracin – Don’t like him or his music
”¢Sunny Ledfurd – Never heard of him.
”¢Darryl Worley – has a couple of good songs
”¢Rhett Akins – Same as Worley
”¢Joe Nichols – I’ve heard better, but I’ve also heard worse.
”¢Rachel Farley – Never heard of him.
”¢Ira Dean – Never heard of him.
As for Colt Ford him self, I’ll Quote Cledus T. Judd’s song “Hell No”. “Bring back the days of Conway Twitty, When singers were good and songs were country”.
April 21, 2011 @ 2:18 pm
While I do agree with your article I have to say I was surprised to see the very few negative comments about Jamey Johnson that I did. Other than his first album he made way back when, his last two albums IMO are the best thing to come out of “Trashville” right now. He is going to bat for Country Music the way no other artist is on mainstream radio now.
I do have to say that I am not a fan of the song he did with Colt Ford though. Also Im not a Colt Ford fan in the first place.
April 21, 2011 @ 2:51 pm
Bit of a bummer seeing Charlie Daniels on this list. Haven’t followed him since the late ’70s, but I still love those early CDB albums like Fire on the Mountain and Nightrider. Southern Rock classics heavy on country music. And his version of Orange Blossom Special was my first introduction to bluegrass music.
April 21, 2011 @ 3:50 pm
I love Charlie Daniels, and still love his old classics. But collaborating with Aaron Lewis and Clot Ford just gives those knuckleheads credence. He should be better than that. It’s a cry for relevancy.
April 21, 2011 @ 4:46 pm
I meant I was bummed that there was a reason for him to be on the list. And yes, his decision to collaborate with Aaron Lewis was surprising . Also, there was his monologue at the end of the video (yes, I made myself watch). Hard to reconcile it with the man who once poked fun at the John Birch Society.
April 21, 2011 @ 3:59 pm
It’s my opinion Charlie Daniels best album came out in the late 90’s. It’s called “Tailgate Party”. I love his version of Let Her Cry.
April 21, 2011 @ 2:52 pm
it’s hard to say this has anything to do with nashville or music row since average joes(colts record label) is out of athens, ga. but other than that, i’m just gonna keep my mouth shut on this one.
April 21, 2011 @ 3:08 pm
This is where you and i part ways hoss. I see Ford carrying on the age-old tradition of traditional minstrel and medicine show in a contemporary form. Hee-Haw was a great example of this as well. Corn-pone humor and couples with music. Rap is just the palatable delivery form for blue-collar youth. For 15 year old me it was country and rock, that’s why I was (am) a Skynyrd fan. And a black list, really?!
April 21, 2011 @ 5:19 pm
I think you’re giving Colt Ford way more credit than he is even giving himself. But like I said, Colt Ford is not the one I have the problem with, it’s the collaborators.
“Minstrel & Medicine Show in a contemporary form”
Yes, screwing people out of money by selling them garbage. I’d put Colt more on the level of Jamup and Honey blackface comedy. Either way, this is something I would hope we could evolve away from. And you might be right that this is making music “palatable” to youth, but if this is the case, it speaks to a deeper systemic problem with our youth. Or maybe we’re putting the cart before the horse. Is this all that’s accessible to them because that’s all we celebrate in youth culture?
The “blacklist” is admittedly bellicose frap. I have no authority or power to blacklist anyone. But the premise behind it is what’s important. Can I really take someone like Eric Church seriously when I am sold that he is in the direct lineage of Cash and Waylon, and then he descends to this base level of donkey punch entertainment?
April 22, 2011 @ 5:57 am
A applaud Ford for employing Nashville musicians like Tim McGraw and allowing them to record what, in my opinion, might be the closest things to country music they will record in their career and for hanging with quality performers like John Michael Montgomery, and Jamey Johnson. Colt is a big man with a big tent and he’s Blue Collar Comedy or Red State Update with a soundtrack. Praise Colt Ford…amen.
April 21, 2011 @ 3:09 pm
If your going to black list somebody you should check your facts its John Michael Montgomery not Montgomery Gentry.
April 21, 2011 @ 3:53 pm
Well John Michael Montgomery might have collaborated with him too, but so did Montgomery Gentry. Link from the above article:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCGT371cKRY
April 21, 2011 @ 5:15 pm
dam hate when im wrong but it happens
April 21, 2011 @ 11:47 pm
I hear Michael Montgomery Jackson is going to collaborate with him too.
April 21, 2011 @ 3:22 pm
Here’s my take on these artists:
*Colt Ford – I actually kinda liked his first album I admit but he’s lost my attention especially after the song Chicken & Biscuits which was so damn hokey. I do feel country needs a sub-genre of Hick Hop as they call it. Cowboy Troy attempted it but he came across as a regular black rapper who just threw on a cowboy hat and belt buckle and called himself country. I feel Colt is a regular Georgia country boy who just happens to like both rap and country and found a niche that works with the girls at the clubs is all. If anybody remembers there was a band called Smokin’ Armadillos in the 80’s who I felt were the first to incorporate rap style in their music in songs. They had the song “Red Rock” about the bull that killed Lane Frost and the song “I’m a cowboy” which has been remixed over and over again and played at all the country dance clubs.
* Eric Church – I still like the guy. He has had some good songs like “Lightning” and “How Bout You” and “Guys Like Me”. I also like “Smoke a lil Smoke” but hate his new one “Homeboy”. I can’t stand his stage presence and definately don’t consider him an outlaw.
* Josh Thompson – I like his song “Way Out There” and “Blame it on Waylon”. Haven’t heard enough or seen him live to make my assumption about him. Again don’t consider this guy an outlaw either.
* Jamey Johnson – I can’t help it and don’t understand the haters of Jamey Johnson. This guy is as pure country as it gets for Nashville and we should stand behind him, that’s the only way real country artists are ever going to get back to Nashville.
* Kevin Fowler – I’ve liked a few of the guys songs especially “Long Line of Losers”, “Beer, Bait, and Ammo”, “Don’t Touch My Willie”. But after he’s made it to Nashville I feel he’s selling himself out with songs like “Girl in a Truck” and “Pound Sign”. His music is becoming hokey.
* Charlie Daniels – He’s a legend and has paid his dues. He can do whatever he wants. I wish he would continue doing his own stuff to become a legend like Cash and Willie.
* Montgomery Gentry – I’ve liked a couple songs like “You Do Your Thing” but otherwise the rest of their songs are ok
* Tim McGraw – I honestly can’t stand this douchebag. His first album was the only thing decent. After that he got away from his roots and became this GQ fashion model type with shitty songs. Same with Faith Hill loved her first album then boring.
* Luke Bryan – I like his music only viewing it as Pop country though. But I’m afraid he’s going downhill with his new badonkadonk type song.
* Trent Tomlinson – I still like this guy as well but he’s kinda fell off the map. His song “One Wing in the Fire” was great but he always kinda came across to me as a fake biker type.
* Craig Morgan – I like this guys songs..again pop country though.
* Tyler Farr – Not sure who this is
* JB & The Moonshine Band – Just learned of these guys a few months ago. Love their song “Sticker Peck Out”. Hilarious
* Frankie Ballard – Saw this guy a couple weeks ago open for Gary Allan. Nothing special. comes across as a Luke Bryan type but with guitar skills.
* James Otto – Never liked him. He always come across as a football build type but a pussy with his V-neck shirts and tight jeans.
* Randy Houser – He is one of my favorites in Nashville other than Jamey Johnson. This guy may not be country but he mixes blues, rock, and country to create some very good songs.
* Ty Stone – No clue who this is
* Josh Gracin – Boring
* Sunny Ledfurd – I liked his hokey song “Pontoon Boat” but everything else is hokey hip-hop type stuff.
* Darryl Worley – I still like this guy but often overlook him. He had a great song “Tequila on Ice”
* Rhett Akins – Probably one of the better writers in Nashville right now. He has some great hunting songs too.
* Joe Nichols – ok nothing great
* Rachel Farley – no clue who this is
* Ira Dean – Don’t know enough of his own stuff to comment
* Jason Aldean – Had some good songs when he first came out but went downhill from there. He lost me after his rapping
* Hank Williams Jr. – I’m still a huge fan and felt his last song “Pink Slip Blues” shoulda got alot more attention. It was a great bluesy country song. Again he’s a legend and has paid his dues.
April 21, 2011 @ 4:06 pm
Rifle in a gun rack hanging in the back glass
Buck knife on my belt, ain”™t no land for sale ”˜round here
Red clay country mud, sippin”™ on a cold Bud
Blue tick coon hound you know where I”™m found out in the
CHORUS:
Backwoods down in the holler
Out in the backwoods, workin”™ hard for a dollar in the
Backwoods yeah we get it done right
Work hard, play hard, hold my baby tight
Lordy have mercy it”™s a real good life
In the backwoods, yes sir
____________________________________________________
Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun
And you might meet ’em both if you show up here not welcome son
Our necks are burnt, our roads are dirt and our trucks ain’t clean
The dogs run loose, we smoke, we chew and fry everything
Out here, way out here
(Chorus)
We won’t take a dime if we ain’t earned it
When it comes to weight brother we pull our own
If it’s our backwoods way of livin’ you’re concerned with
You can leave us alone
We’re about John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere
Way out here
________________________________________
How the fuck is Justin Moore getting any credit here?
April 21, 2011 @ 4:08 pm
*Josh Thompson
Getting my names mixed up.
April 21, 2011 @ 4:54 pm
It took me awhile but are you trying to say Josh Thompson completely ripped off Justin Moore? Then yes…I agree with your statement.
April 21, 2011 @ 4:56 pm
That’s Josh Thompson? Ugghh. Heard that song on the radio once on a long trip in the car, when it was my wife’s turn to listen to music. My first thought was that Johnny Cash was a complicated person and didn’t belong in this stupid ass song. And John Wayne is an actor and wasn’t actually on the Sands of Iwo Jima or at Fort Apache.
April 21, 2011 @ 5:19 pm
Ok, all this shit sounds so similar. The first one is Justin Moore, the second is Josh Thompson.
Sorry to confuse everyone, I was pretty confused myself. But my god those lyrics are terrible.
April 21, 2011 @ 5:14 pm
I don’t listen to any of the dumbells on that list anyway
April 21, 2011 @ 5:27 pm
Ford is no different in my opinion than Cletus T Judd (both just being silly and making money, nno interest in making music). Both have other artist collaborate with them. Why should anyone who works with Ford be “Blacklisted”. Is there such a list for artist that have worked with Cletus T Judd on this site?
And as for the “untouchable” Jamey Johnson. He is the real deal. He is too country for mainstream, yet his talent has landed him there. He should be praised for such a feat, not belittled. He is trying to “Save Country Music” in the most traditional form possible. If you can listen to his album “That Lonesome Song” and think any pop-country thoughts, You are lost beyond all hope of an escape.
April 21, 2011 @ 5:37 pm
guess I’ll be lost forever.
April 21, 2011 @ 5:50 pm
Toby Keith?
April 21, 2011 @ 7:47 pm
“He is trying to “Save Country Music” in the most traditional form possible.”
OK, but even if I give you that, if I tried to put Jamey Johnson on some pedestal, there would be hundreds of people trying to knock him down, specifically for things like him collaborating with Colt Ford. I guess that’s the main point of this article. If he really wanted to be the guy, he would be coming out against Colt Ford, not collaborating with him.
I would LOVE for Jamey Johnson to be the man, you have no idea. And I’m not even ruling him out to be the man in the future. But as long as he’s singing duets with Colt Ford, he’ll be considered Waylon Jennings circa 1968, instead of Waylon Jennings circa 1975.
April 21, 2011 @ 8:32 pm
Fair point Trig,
The only Ford song I ever Heard was “cold Beer” with Jamey Johnson. It was not a duet. Johnson sang a hook around some cheesy rap. I personally placed it along the lines of someone singing a hook for Cletus T. I knew the song was garbage, but didnt hold it against him. I took it as a parody of music. (not sure i i can explain that or not).
The other Knock on Johnson is the Bedonikidonk song, that he wrote as a joke, and just threw it out there thinking no one would cut it (he had no money, but had a writers deal). Someone did. But correct me if im wrong. That same year before he had fame, He wrote two number one songs, That very bad one AND a very good one. “Give it Away” cut by George Straight. So say we can toss that up to equall maybe.
And Waylon didnt become ’78 Waylon by skipping the early years. Not Fair to compare someone with two quality albums under his belt to ’78 Waylon. We will all know that guy when we see him. Probably will be Shooter or Johnson or Hank III, but they all need some time to get there. Hell Hank jr had what about 25 records before Family Tradition came out.
April 22, 2011 @ 7:11 am
Not to get off topic, but there are plenty of people with as much or more talent than Jamey Johnson who are still squarely in the underground. Being mainstream has nothing to do with talent.
April 21, 2011 @ 7:09 pm
Ford is completely different than Cledus. Cledus knows he’s writing dopey parodies; Colt Ford IS a dopey parody. Great article. I have also railed against this charlatan. (still a staunch Jamey Johnson and occasional Eric Church & Joe Nichols fan though)
April 21, 2011 @ 7:11 pm
Well I know none of these newer artists because I just refuse to listen to the radio. I will say that while I grew up on and loving Charlie Daniels. however I saw him in concert a few years ago and it was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen! I do still listen to his old stuff occasionally but it always leaves me feeling kinda sad now.
April 21, 2011 @ 8:23 pm
While I’m a fan of Eric Church’s music, I don’t know how to take his collaboration with Colt Ford. The song is average at best and I’m happy it’s just an album only version so, hopefully, it wont get that much exposure. The way I see the situation, it probably follows one of these scenarios:
1. Eric is pandering to his label/manager/publisher (whichever… I don’t understand the music business’ structure). If this is the case, it is another bullet in the gun for people who make the case that he’s not an outlaw.
2. Eric genuinely likes Colt Ford’s music and made the decision to join Colt on the track. If this is the case, I have to give him credit for doing something different and not sticking with the status quo… although it would mean he has a strange taste in music.
For me, in either case the end result is the same, the first Eric Church song I don’t enjoy listening to.
April 21, 2011 @ 8:46 pm
My earlier comment about Eric Church’s collaboration with Colt Ford being the only song I don’t enjoy hearing is true in spite of Eric Church’s earlier foray into hip hop. It’s not a type of song I usually enjoy hearing but it’s kind of a guilty pleasure. If you’ve never heard it I’ll add a youtube link below.
Triggerman – I’d like to get your thoughts on this song and how it fits into your views of the impending mono-genre.
Homegrown
A variation of Eric’s “Smoke a Little Smoke”
April 22, 2011 @ 10:16 am
Wow, Kevin Fowler. Like my wife said after hearing “Pound Sign” and hearing he was signed to the same label as Rascal Flatts:
“You thought Pat Green sold out? This, this is going to set a new standard. He”™s gonna be making Pat Green look like Ray Wylie Hubbard.”
Looks like she was right.
I liked a lot of his stuff before that, though. Even with its more polished sound, Bring It On was still a really good record. Another one I need to hunt down & rip to the ole iTunes…
As for Eric Church, he always struck me as a poseur. Maybe it was wrong of me, but after hearing “Hell on the Heart” I wrote him off as a Keith Urban clone. “Smoke a Little Smoke” wasn’t as bad, but I remain unimpressed by Mr. Church.
And then there’s his hypocrisy vis-a-vis writing one’s own songs, as CM WIlcox at Country California pointed out a couple of weeks ago with his Quotable Country feature:
Sorta makes you wonder, would he have called Cash a poseur for singing about shooting a man in Reno just to watch him die?
April 22, 2011 @ 10:36 am
I don’t think you have to live EVERY song that you write but a great song writer should also be a good story teller. Some of my favorite country songs are story songs. Like Pancho and Lefty or Seven Spanish Angels.
I saw a interview with Jake Owen (I know, not very popular in these parts). But when someone asked him if every song he written was about him. His response was, “Hell, I’m 21… I haven’t lived THAT hard.” I gotta a kick out of that. I’m sure that’s very true for most singers.
I also don’t have a problem with artists recording other peoples songs if it relates to them or they have a connection to the lyrics. I will say my favorite artists are the ones who write there own stuff or most of it anyway.
April 22, 2011 @ 1:59 pm
I don’t really care one way or another if an artist writes his or her own songs, as my George Strait fandom attests. But I don’t think Eric Church should be running down people like that after writing a song like “Lightning.” And even if he had lived through being strapped to the electric chair, it’s a completely unwarranted insult to artists of all genres. To go back to another of my favorite genres — Steve Harris might not have flown Spitfires in the Battle of Britain, but “Aces High” still is a great example of what Iron Maiden is all about. Same deal with Queensryche, dystopian future nightmares and “NM 156.” Just because they didn’t live songs like those doesn’t mean that writing them makes the bands, for lack of a better term, less real.
Denise — Sorry if I made you think I would any way compare Eric Church & Johnny Cash. That was sort of the complete opposite way I’d go, actually.
April 22, 2011 @ 12:13 pm
Please don’t contort Johnny Cash with Eric Church. It makes no sense. Johnny Cash lived an amazing journey.
April 24, 2011 @ 11:43 am
I would say that the biggest reason that I like artists to write their own songs is that they will probably have a consistency in quality if they do. And I won’t have to worry about hearing some boy band or teenaged slut singing the same song and ruining it. All that said, I really liked Johnny Cash’s American stuff which was mostly cover songs – but he made them his own.
April 22, 2011 @ 1:59 pm
Who cares what Charlie Daniels does? He washed out and sold out years ago. He turned his back on the so.rock music scene and 180’d his political beliefs so he could become a member of the Grand Ol’ Opry. I don’t fault him for wanting to earn money on his name and former reputation, but please don’t give the guy any cred.
As for Hank Jr., he’s always just been an alcoholic screecher who traded on his daddy’s name and was propped up by savvy producers to turn out a few mainstream hits. He doesn’t have a tenth the soul or genuine talent as his dad or son.
While I’m on the pulpit, I give props to Colt as a great snake-oil huckster. Unlike CDB and Jr., Colt never claims to be anything other than a con man who hit a winning formula. And don’t blame his Georgia BS on Nashville, please.
April 22, 2011 @ 7:30 pm
Maybe we should make a black list of everyone in country that has done something that maybe wasn’t a historic, groundbreaking, genre changing song or didn’t fit the traditional country mold and call them out too?
This is an article to bash some of Trig’s favorite punching bags and rally his troops.
Look at that list… if you take the time to know anything about the artists on that list before just agreeing they are sell outs or fueling the dimise of country, everyone of those people are pranksters and jokesters. Colt Ford is a jokester. Not everything has to be history changing.
Colt is not like Cletus T. was, but Colt isn’t much different than Slim Pickens or Stringbean. If you don’t know who they are, look them up in your country music history.
Is Stringbean a hip hopper cause he was the first to sag his pants?
Colt Ford… not the problem.
Trig, suggestion- if you haven’t heard, check out the album Jamey Johnson is producing for the Blind Boys of Alabama coming out in May. Some country icons or on their lending their voices to a project you might find up to your standards. That might be worth putting time into vs. an article like this.
April 24, 2011 @ 2:19 pm
“This is an article to bash some of Trig”™s favorite punching bags and rally his troops” Yea i forgot hip hop is soo country we should call it traditional come on boss its about time that the troops get rallied I’m tired of Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwear, Brad Paisley. Its getting old ive been listening to country all my life and ive seen it change in front of me. I was born in ’91 I grew up listening to Don Williams and Waylon around my pawpaw and my mama was a big Travis Tritt fan. And now i hear this pop bs on the radio it pisses me off. I’m not the only one either all my friends cant stand the shit but its almost like i cant do anything to stop it but then i found this site and got involved a bit. So everybody needs to lay off the trigg hes doing something thats worth doing hes fighting for a cause thats being buried under bs pop singers trying to make money. Traditional country will come back and when it does people will see why bc the trigg and people like him. Thanks trigg hopefully soon your works gonna pay off.
April 25, 2011 @ 9:45 am
Oh yea, traditional country. Like Travis Tritt. Or do you mean Don Williams. Or Waylon.
Waylon was influenced by Jimmie Rodgers, but he sounds nothing like Jimmie. So are we hoping for Jimmie’s traditional country sound?
There are label artists that keep labels, writers and radio in business because they market to a young audience that eats it up. Doesn’t mean the young people don’t grow up to learn about new/deeper meaning music, but the label is not there to do that.
Then there are artists that do what they want. (not many can reach this status with any significant money in the bank, and few can go from label artist to this) but these artists are what we want to hear.
Both sides will always be there. And some artists can work both sides… some. That is the game they all play.
April 25, 2011 @ 8:03 am
I listened to about thirty seconds of that awful song called Beer or whatever and wonder if you defend that song, Ice Cold? You think that’s a good one?
April 25, 2011 @ 9:28 am
No, I don’t think the song is good. I do think Jamey sang the hell out of his part.
Colt’s music is not trying to change the landscape. The labels that put it out and the stations that play it aren’t going to play underground artists anyway.
Saying any artist that records with Colt has contributed to the down fall is the wrong thing to say as well.
April 27, 2011 @ 7:18 pm
I’m responding waaaaay down here because I can’t where you made the original comment. Just curious but have you really never heard them called ‘devil horns’? That’s all I’ve ever heard them called! Maybe it’s a west coast, Pacific NW sort of thing. I know Trig had a hideout up in my area for awhile.
April 24, 2011 @ 3:12 pm
You guys are seriously the goth kids of country music. guess all that meth and low self esteem manifests itself here pretty bad.
April 25, 2011 @ 2:07 am
Hahahaha man come on if you were a real redneck like you claim and not some poser you’d know real music. George and Alan were both great artists and in some aspects still are but the music they’ve both been making lately is manufactured pop bs more George than Alan. In some of Alans stuff I still here that honky tonk sound he had but Georges stuff is pop that’s all. And it pains me to say that too bc I love em both and still listen to the old stuff they made and it also kills me to hear one of there new songs bc I know there both better than that much better but its really hipocrisy at its best here bc they sang Murder On Music Row together and in that song it says “the almighty dollar and lust for worldwide fame has slowly killed tradition and for that someone should pay” looks like the dollar got a hold of em to me bc there puppets doing what there told by the big executive in his high rise building telling them you sing this bc it will make you more famous and it will get you more money. Its a true shame and record labels are the true problem with country music today not pop artists its the record labels with all there money killing tradition bc they have a lust for money and power. Like oil companys charging me 5 bucks a gallon for diesel while they set back not worring bc there pockets are lined with cash. And as for being the outcasts of country hell yea can I get a yeehaw bc I don’t wanna be associated with this pop bs.
April 25, 2011 @ 7:32 am
If Colt Ford’s thang is turning country music into a big joke, hee hee ha ha, then no I don’t like it and his stupid songs. Another “artist” trying to take the money and run. No Thank You Colt Ford.
April 24, 2011 @ 3:17 pm
one more thing for baby-shaking meth-heads,
you bash alan jackson and george strait, who are probably the two guys playing country music in its purist form right now.
you said that Merle was going senile when he endorsed joe nichols and now you bash charlie daniels.
seriously bunch of ravenous cracked out wolves
April 24, 2011 @ 4:26 pm
Who bashed Alan Jackson and George Strait? Who said Merle was going senile?
Don’t paint everyone around here with a wide brush when maybe who you mean is one or two commenters, maybe.
And yeah, maybe we are the outcasts of country, but in the state “country” music is in, I’m proud of that.
April 24, 2011 @ 5:03 pm
Well, I mentioned George Strait and Alan Jackson in a post, but to say that I bashed them is beyond ridiculous. Get a hold of yourself, please. I was describing how I might have a blind spot for country with a commerical element as I came to “modern” country music through rock ‘n’ roll and bluegrass. As examples, I listed George Strait and Alan Jackson as two artists that I’m not enough into to buy their albums, even though I like a good number of their songs. Two artists who I know are held in very high regard. It’s just that I tend to go more for the gutbucket. It’s personal taste, that’s all.
April 25, 2011 @ 9:39 am
Redneck might be painting with a wide brush, but so is the click here.
Each time some legendary country musician or established artist or some up and comer does something with a hint of Nashville label to it, or with some artist from another genre, or isn’t a song that is ground breaking, you all paint them as “out of touch” or “they are just trying to stay relevant” or “they are caving to the almighty dollar” or “they have sold out”.
I mean christ, you hold high artists like Merle, Willie, Striat, Alan Jackson, but when they do something that isn’t in the mold of how “underground” would do it, you start making up excuses and ripping them.
Colt is a character in country right now. Just as Stringbean was, Slim Pickens, fast foward to Cletus T., etc…
April 25, 2011 @ 10:27 am
IceCold nobody does that here we dont all say that they have sold out that is also painting a wide brush. I said i hold Alan and George to a higher standard than others bc they both once were true traditional country and sang a song bashing Nashville. And its not all about the underground scene there covered here bc there covered no where else in country. Its about tradition man a word that has all but been forgotten in Nashville today. And I do kinda see where you and others are coming from with the whole Slim Pickens thing Colt is a character but as for the black list i understand it again its all about the dollar. And i never will bash Charlie Daniels the mans paid his dues but he is making some bad endorsements.
April 25, 2011 @ 11:01 am
GVF- “And I do kinda see where you and others are coming from with the whole Slim Pickens thing Colt is a character but as for the black list i understand it again its all about the dollar.”
Those artists that cut a song with Colt… they did it for the dollas? Really? Now I don’t have stats, but I would be curious to see how much each artist actually got paid to to do it, and if that artist was in desperate need of that cash.
Perhaps they just think it is funny and want to do something a little less “historic” all the time.
As far as tradition? The tradition in Nashville is to make music with certain writers, studio musicians and a certain sound to the music. I.E. early E.T and Hank country, then to the “Nashville Sound” era, then into the 80’s, then the 90’s and now the pop country for the last decade.
April 25, 2011 @ 10:27 am
Just as you are trying to give relevancey to Colt Ford’s role in all this. First of all, it is not a “click” here. It is a backdrop for opinions, far and wide, and you are wrong to dismiss all the discussions as such. Everybody has their personal taste on the matter. Pop country trying to give it’s relevancy to real country music is ironic. It’s pop country. Pop is short for popular in case you didn’t know. Popular music, just because it gets all the airplay on the radio. Popular because they have strategically scheduled award shows. Popular because it is pushed to be so. If you take Rachel Brooke, give her the same exposure with the same financial backing do you think she’d be up there getting her statues and saying, “This is all for my fans! I wouldn’t be here without you.”
Then I would be saying Rachel sold out too as she goes on GLEE and does movies and buys Hollywood Hills mansions and so on and so forth. Elvis started to hate those musicals he did. Why? Because he knew it wasn’t real. It was contrived. It was for the wrong reasons. It was selling out.
Country folk shouldn’t sell out. It goes against the grain. Loretta didn’t sell out to collaborate with Jack White. Hank III fought tooth and nail NOT to sell out. Willie didn’t sell out to collaborate. Colt Ford collaborates with anybody and everybody just to specifically sell out.
Get the difference?
April 25, 2011 @ 11:11 am
Amen thats well spoken there Denise. And as for you IceCold you think if Colt was a nobody and nobody liked his music that these guys would be fighting to get on his cd?
April 25, 2011 @ 11:16 am
Oh man… they are fighting to get on his CD? Really? You give him that much credit? Wow.
April 25, 2011 @ 11:14 am
Denise- “Elvis started to hate those musicals he did. Why? Because he knew it wasn”™t real. It was contrived. It was for the wrong reasons. It was selling out.”
Are you sure about this? Be careful how you answer.
and,
Country folk shouldn”™t sell out. It goes against the grain. Loretta didn”™t sell out to collaborate with Jack White. Hank III fought tooth and nail NOT to sell out. Willie didn”™t sell out to collaborate. Colt Ford collaborates with anybody and everybody just to specifically sell out.
Lets look at it this way-
Did Jack White sell out to country because rock was dying?
Hank III fought, but lost the fight. Now he has a chance on his own, but he signed that deal with Curb, at a time that…oh- he needed the money. So he took it. What do you call that?
Willie, no he didn’t sell out, but he does collaborate on non-country things and with pop-country artists.
Colt isn’t a sell out. He didn’t try to be one artist and then another. He does exactly what he wants to do. If he didn’t make a dime on it, he would still be the same guy.
Again, an article like this just fans the flames for round and round discussions between us who I think are fighting for the same thing. But when I read some of the responses on here by a few (who are pretty outspoken) I wonder if you really know what your fighting for, or your just somebody that likes to say your fighting the big machine.
April 25, 2011 @ 11:29 am
OK IceCold, you’ve been warned about the back and forths. You’ve made your points. Let’s agree to disagree and move on.
April 25, 2011 @ 12:18 pm
I’m not defending Jack White and his moves around the country music world and what not—but, just so you are informed, he was a drummer in the band Goober and the Peas in the Detroit area pre-White Stripes.
Goober and the Peas did a kinda tongue in cheek style of country—they were real popular in early 90’s and sold out clubs around the area. So, its not like he didn’t have any country roots.
Just so the facts are laid out there.
April 27, 2011 @ 7:21 pm
Grammer police. Ice, it’s a ‘clique’, not click.
April 28, 2011 @ 9:19 am
Oh, you can find more grammar mistakes than that in my offerings. I won’t pretend my grammar is even average.
I find it funny though when it comes to grammar…some that claim to be huge fans of artists, and they can’t even spell their name correctly.
April 28, 2011 @ 9:33 am
Grammar, with an a,while we’re at it.
April 28, 2011 @ 10:03 am
ha. yes. that actually is done on porpuse.
April 28, 2011 @ 10:08 am
opps. hit post to quick.
ha, yes, that actually isn’t done on porpuse? (or purpose…tongue and cheek here)
I hope Nikki was doing that as a joke.
April 25, 2011 @ 12:25 pm
Jeremy, I agree. I didn’t know that about Jack White, but I am a Jack White fan, so although I was asking the “sell out” question to Denise in a way of looking at it from another perspective, I wasn’t defending nor accusing him of either.
As you said, so the facts are laid out, is what I try to do as well when folks say things about artists.
May 2, 2011 @ 10:12 am
I don’t consider Jack White selling out to collaborate. He still stayed true to himself and true to the artist he was collaborating with.
I also don’t need to be careful about thinking Elvis didn’t like the musicals. I saw it on a documentary about his life. He thought the plots were all the same. The songs all sounded the same. He was bored with it. Why? Because music was his first love. Not Hollywood.
And you insist that Hank III has lost the battle to Curb. I say he hasn’t. He hasn’t lost anything cause it’s still moving forward.
April 26, 2011 @ 8:46 am
Colt Ford is a novelty act. Which I have no problem with, but the thing is…he’s not that talented as a rapper. Now country music i were my heart is, music wise. but my brother is a HUGE hip hop fan and so I often find myself listening to some hip-hop on occasion. And colt ford just…lacks. His rhymes are sloppy and he doesn’t seem to have the ability to create a flow with his words he all over the place. Much like other people commenting the only songs I’ve heard of his is Cold Beer (Feat. Jamey) that song, isn’t very good. I enjoy Jamey’s contribution (he sings the chorus) but thats not enough to redeem the lack of skill Colt Ford has as a rapper. Also Hip Hop In a Honky Tonk…god thats a horrible song, it seems to try and defend Hip Hop/Country Mix which is at times a pretty good mix, but Colt Ford is NOT Hick hop, hill hop or hip hopry, or what ever you want to call it. If you want a DAMN fine country rap album look up GangstaGrass: lightning on the strings, thunder on the mic. Its what country rap should sound like.
April 26, 2011 @ 10:13 am
Glad to hear that others see this trash for what it is. These guys are gonna keep on till they implode on themselves. I hope you’re proud. Corporate Country Is A Dying Breed! Keep up the fight triggerman, and SCM fans!
-Peewee Moore
http://www.peeweemoore.com
http://www.facebook.com/honkytonkeratlarge
http://www.twitter.com/peewee_moore
http://www.youtube.com/peeweemooremusic
May 2, 2011 @ 9:26 am
Saw this review of Every Chance I Get on allmusic.com:
http://www.allmusic.com/album/every-chance-i-get-r2172366
January 31, 2012 @ 7:27 pm
I’m very certain that my opinion will go unnoticed seen as my affiliation with country music is nil to none. That, and for what I am about to say.
You seem to black listing Colt along with any of his collaborators because of their affiliation with Colt and or his music in general. I grew up on rock and heavy metal hence why my words shall go unheard, but.. Coming from someone that has associated with all different music genre’s due to wanting to know what I could given I worked on the retail side of music…
So.. I’ll ask this.. If it is your purpose to save country music, why haven’t you black listed what I consider to be the “death” of country music ages ago.. Meaning the what seems to now be heralded as country but flat lines real country music…. POP COUNTRY! The likes of Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Billy Ray Cyrus, Darius Rucker, Kenny Chesney and so on. I’m not questioning your beloved current artists.. It’s to make you contemplate what you’re trying to accomplish. Your “classic” country died long ago.
February 1, 2012 @ 2:53 pm
You haven’t read any other articles on this site, have you……..?
April 26, 2012 @ 3:18 pm
Was I the only one that noticed that in “Colt’s” comment in the forum that he was a ‘Merican, he did a laundry list, threw in nostalgia, waved the flag, tears from heaven. Colt’s take, with a little work, will become a #1 song soon. Mark my words!
August 27, 2018 @ 3:44 pm
Happy 47th birthday,Colt !!!(Multiply your age times seven,and you get a reasonable guess of your weight !!!!)
Seriously,”Cold Beer ” was catchy,though dirt-dumb ( I TEN THOUSAND TIMES would rather listen to “Cold Beer” than “Body Like A Backroad “) ,but most of “hick-hop” blows as many chunks as “Bro-Country.”