American Folk Music

[TripleZer0]

I know most of you guys probably aren't too big on it, but I've been listening to some Leadbelly and Pete Seeger lately and I want to get more into folk music. I've always liked the folksy songs Johnny Cash played, like John Henry and Ghost Riders in the Sky, things that tell stories. I like the sing along choruses like in Seeger's Who's Side Are You On and Solidarity Forever. I tend to dislike overly hippie stuff, I don't want to listen to some stoner strum the same three chords over and over while singing about peace and rainbows, but I'd be more accepting of hippie themed stuff if there's some decent musicianship going on.

What do you guys listen to and what do you recommend?

[MechaSean]

Well, you have Woody Guthrie covered, right?

[Mr. Chainsaw]

Yes! I love this kind of stuff. I obviously like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, but I also like some of the modern take on it, like the album of Seeger stuff that Bruce Springsteen did. That album Chuck Ragan did with Austin Lucas has that vibe too, and it's really excellent.

[Cary]

I just started a roots music blog, actually: http://whooping.tumblr.com/

Yeah, if you don't have any Woody Guthrie he's a must have. And that Springsteen Seeger Sessions album Mr. Chainsaw mentioned is nuts. Huge huge band and just some really well crafted music. Also, if you haven't heard it yet, Johnny Cash's Unearthed box set has a ton of really good folk/gospel songs.

I listen to a lot of Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Charlie Poole, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Mississippi John Hurt.

Here is a great old-timey band:
http://www.myspace.com/thethreechads

And this dude Leroy Troy plays some mean Appalachian banjo music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMvK5_ZW9Io

[ThroughTheDark]

I fancy the Crooked Jades, any album, but mostly Seven Sisters.

CD Baby has a good selection under folk music. Actually, i turn to them to find great music i've never heard of.

[tj.]

Bob Dylan and Songs: Ohia / Magnolia Electric Company would be my suggestions to accompany the above.

Not exactly folk, specifically, but really, really close. But then again, folk is sort of an odd genre - certainly you'll find blues, bluegrass, country, jazz, acoustic/singer-songwriter, soul, and some rock that could be considered folk.


Also, while I was digging through some stuff I looked up "House of the Rising Sun" - check out exactly how many different artists play that fucker. I think it rivals "Amazing Grace" for most covered song.

[TraumaSponge]

The New Main Street Singers.

[TripleZer0]

Not usually a fan of Bruce Springsteen, but I just youtubed his performance of John Henry on the Seeger sessions tour and I approve.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMHLWmgi7WY

Edit: Their version of Long Black Veil is also A+
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkA7PObD-sw

[tj.]

Dude, Bruce is essential.

Check out Nebraska. It's one of the defining albums of Americana, and helped prompt an entire movement of lo-fi indie singer-songwriter stuff.

It just might be one of the ten or twenty best albums of all time.

[liam]

John Fahey!

Townes Van Zandt