Flutterby™! : momma tried

This article on why modern country music sucks is a good start, but I think it misses something else: Subject matter. When Merle Haggard sings "I turned twenty one in prison serving life without parole...", pretty much no matter what your circumstances you think "glad I'm not that sorry bastard". Hell, as much as we like to rag on him, when Garth Brooks does his "...I showed up in boots, and ruined your black tie affair...", I can imagine saying "sucks, dude, have a beer", and commiserate over it at least not ending up a Lyle Lovett "Lights of L.A. County" scenario.

But turn on a Country station nowadays, at least out here in California, and you get weepy little songs about how daddy just said he'd spend more time with his son, sort of a "Harry Chapin lite", 'cause the growing up hasn't yet happened, or a sappy love song that'd make a Motown singer blush at the sentiment.