This is a living webpage.  Expect to see it change as I recommend more artists as well as when I just change my mind.

Shawn James

A relatively new artist, I believe all of his major work has been released within the last few years (no earlier than 2008 I would wager).  His voice is deep, heavy and slightly raspy, so the blues, folk and soul type sound is a perfect complement.  His cover of "Who Did That to You", which is on YouTube, is fantastic and kind of embarrassingly overpowers the original written for the "Django Unchained" film.  

Find more on him at www.shawnjamesmusic.com

Kenny Chesney

This guy has been around Country Music for a while.  My friends and I often refer to his varying sounds throughout the years in three phases:  Vintage Kenny, Beach Kenny, and Post-Beach Kenny, or Modern Kenny. Vintage Kenny put himself on the map with hits like "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy", "The Good Stuff", and "That's Where I Come From".  It seemed that, somewhere along the line, Mr. Chesney started running around with Jimmy Buffet and reminiscing about high-school-spring-break in Panama City Beach, FL, where Beach Kenny was born.  Some people resent Beach Kenny, but songs such as "Be As You Are" and "Beer in Mexico" and "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" take me right to the beach myself, and that's never a bad thing.  Finally, Kenny came back inland and continued with some music-magic singing "You and Tequila" and "Come Over".  

Easton Corbin

Easton Corbin is a new Country Artist, his first major album debuting in 2009.  Two songs from that album that I still love are "A Little More Country Than That" and "Roll With It".  His next album, released 2012 "All Over The Road", contains the album's title song, "All Over The Road" and "Lovin' You is Fun".  I already described him as being the Michael Buble of George Strait (Michael Buble sounds exactly like Frank Sinatra in case you missed that reference).  

Jake Owen

Most people know Jake from "Barefoot Blue Jean Night", and he's also a pretty new artist, debuting in 2006.  My favorites by him are "Eight Second Ride", "Keepin' It Country", and, most recently, "Anywhere With You".  I hope to see a lot more of him.

The Band

The Band is a music legend.  They started off playing as just a supporting band for other big names in music, most notably Bob Dylan, but eventually branched off and wrote their own stuff.  They wrote and performed some epic tunes such as "The Weight", "Ophelia", and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", an almost dirge-like anthem about the southern US immediately following the Civil War.  

Otis Taylor

I don't know too much about Otis Taylor except that he's talented.  The reason I found out about him is because of his song "Ten Million Slaves" which is used in the movie "Public Enemy" starring Christian Bale and Johnny Depp.

Mission South

I went to school with the lead singer and one of the guitarists, Dan Miller, of Mission South.  They are originally from D.C. and play a brilliant blend of blues, jazz, rock, and folk, and maybe just some of their own flair.  My favorite song of theirs is Kerosene.

Their website is www.missionsouth.com and you can follow them on Facebook as well.

The Beatles

Why do... what do I even... do you guys need me to talk about the Beatles, really?  "Eleanor Rigby."  "Yellow Submarine."  "She Loves You, Yea."  The freaking Beatles.

Louis Armstrong

Another champion of music, "Satchmo" helped define what jazz means, and only further solidified New Orleans' role as not only the birthplace but also the home of jazz and blues.  

The Tilt

The Tilt is a brand new band from southern California who play a kind of an outlaw-southern-rock country.  I saw them live at Belly Up near San Diego, CA and they were great.  Check out their website at www.thetiltmusic.com and anxiously await with me as they come out with new music.

Phillip Phillips

Phillip Phillips is already pretty well-known in mainstream music crowds, and he has a great sound that's popular with fans of most genres.  His sound is folky with soft rock, and his voice sounds like a mix between John Mayer and Marcus Mumford, the lead singer of Mumford and Sons.

Pistol Annies

Yes, that's Miranda Lambert in a trio.  They sound amazing, and they don't look too bad either.  They are true to a more classic country sound and remind me of women like Reba McIntire, Lee Ann Womack and The Judds from back in the day.  Taylor Swift can stay in the pop world.  These are female country artists.

The Band Perry

The Band Perry released their first album in 2010 and haven't looked back.  Hailed by mainstream country music, they are digging their feet in and want to plant themselves firmly in the country music world.  My favorite song from their first album is "You Lie", and their brand new album has "Better Dig Two", which I wrote about earlier this year, as well as a well-received song called "DONE." although I think it's being overplayed by the radio.

Zac Brown Band

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the band is as American as Toby Keith, as twangy as Charlie Daniels, and as fast as Mumford and Sons.  Their sound is unique but familiar to fans of the Country genre which only made their popularity skyrocket.  They have only been around since 2002, and we're just waiting on consistency and longevity to put them in the same category as Alan Jackson, Toby Keith and Kenny Chesney.  I'd say Rascal Flats, too, but they honestly haven't written or performed a decent, original song since Fast Cars and Freedom.  

Brad Paisley

Another mainstream country artist responsible for beauties such as "Mud on the Tires", "American Saturday Night", and "Water", Brad Paisley is doing what he loves.  The sheer quantity of original songs that he is responsible for is testament to his commitment and enthusiasm for country music.  If you like some of Brad's well-known songs, it would behoove you to look up the rest of his albums, you will probably like what you hear.  He also is one of the few mainstream artists that can play a prominent "picking" style of guitar, and even released an album called "Play" which is predominantly instrumental.  He's one of the best pure guitarists in country music.

Keith Urban

Keith Urban is an Australian-born country music star.  Women love him, and everyone loves his music.  His voice is smooth and ranged, and most people don't know he's Australian just from listening to him sing.  He's easily one of the best guitarists in country music, and one of his most brilliant works is this version of "Stupid Boy".  It's the full version that's recorded on the album, but it's even better if you watch the video, and the solo at the end is outstanding.

Mumford and Sons

The only other folk band that may be more well known than Mumford is Old Crow Medicine Show, famous for writing and performing the original version of "Wagon Wheel".  Mumford's first album was full of great songs like "The Cave", "Roll Away Your Stone" and their most famous "Little Lion Man".  Their songs are all so similarly-structured and sounding, but they somehow breath a unique form of life into each one that keeps us interested and wanting more.  In case you haven't heard them, they are a string-heavy band, with gratuitous use of the banjo, mandolin and acoustic guitar.  Beautiful stuff.

Dierks Bentley

Dierks is another Country artist that has been around for a while, is considered a staple of mainstream country but can't seem to break into the top-tiers of country with Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw and George Strait.  His most recent top-40 hit is "Bourbon in Kentucky."  How could I not write about it?

Roadkill Ghost Choir

Roadkill is a very new band, but their song "Beggars' Guild" became an immediate favorite of mine.  It's deep, southern, twangy and soulful.  They were featured at South by Southwest this year, which is how I first read about them, but I look forward to more songs with that deep folky sound.