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in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
This is my response to Fantano’s as per usual controversial review that sparks more infighting than genuine discussion. I do not intend this to be a Fantano hit piece. Nor a Fantano defense. I’m just analyzing what is a lengthy review that seems to be putting the country critical discussion on it’s head atm.
Out of the gate Fantano gives some misinformed our out of touch viewing of country’s history when claiming country isn’t known for Its concept albums. Which feels rather odd considering the most iconic albums of all time and modern time for country are concept records. Marty Robbin’s Gunfighter Ballads, Willie Nelson’s Red headed stranger. Upon modern ones like Metamodern Sounds, 12 stories by Brandy Clark and Southern Family by Dave Cobb. I understand not knowing the modern ones but some of the most respected works of art in country are concept records and it’s not a good idea to claim otherwise with a genre specifically known for it’s incredible storytelling.
As for whether Fantano hates country? And Fantano’s defense to contrary. I’d say Fantano doesn’t hate the genre. But he doesn’t indulge it much. This is evident with every review of his being either the best or the worst album for the year in terms of the genre. Starting Over, Sam Hunt. White Trash Revelry, Kid Rock. It’s easy to praise the best works, and easy to trash the worst, which includes this record in his opinion.
Is affinity for southern culture is mildly evident with his praise of Dave Cobb’s Southern Family which is one of the more accurate depictions of southern style, culture and how society in that sphere operates.
However this is where the line must be drawn. As Fantano is a northerner and given his morals I doubt he’d ever want to live in the south. And this is where the problems begin to occur as he’s been accused of stereotyping and caricaturing much of this record and it’s ambitions. Now I myself am not a southerner, I’m not going to try to say Hardy’s depictions are inaccurate. I’m not even gonna bring up my southern acquaintances and relatives for comparison. So for the rest of this, I will say what Hardy is singing about is for the time being: accurate, if there are any southern people in the comments I would love your input of accuracy on the subject.
Fantano’s initial criticism of the record is that it stays way too much in a two dimensional lane of what he deems “stereotypical subjects.” Whether or not they are I’d say isn’t the point. The issue it’s is the two dimensionality Fantano claims. Which for the most part has some valid criticism. Much of this record stays in this lane of Beers, trucks and surprisingly the placement of Walmart Fantano wittingly jokes about. Now are these southern? Who’s to say. But what can be said are more substantive executions of these ideas.
One example would obviously be Hardy’s previous album A Rock. Which in my opinion presented the ideas of Truck Bed better in Boots. Beer in One Beer. Red/redneck song in unapologetically country as hell. These songs I’d say are not only better written but execute their concepts in more tasteful creative manners. If you wanted to go for a more upper echelon comparison you could compare it to how Southern culture is presented on Southern Family which deals more with lifestyle and actual people than specific objects.
It depends on what you value more. An album presenting key words and phrases and the meaning and worth behind them. Or an album that has people interact with those ideas.
The subjectivity of the musical and production value is left up to interpretation. But I am inclined to agree with Fantano that much of the mockingbird record is of this tacky, commercialized value. You’re inclined to disagree of course this is a subjective matter.
I am inclined to disagree on the more sentimental sides of this record. Happy and screen especially have a thematic worth I’d say Fantano missed. You can look to Grady for more of what I’m talking about here. But it felt like after the admittingly tacky nature of this album’s opening, any chance of enjoyment for Fantano seemed to have left.
Wait In The Truck is vigilante fantasy. Let’s not mistake this. Fantano is 100% in the right and its less about the abuse itself and more so Hardy killing a guy. That said I still thinks it is a really great song, incredible atmosphere, well told and niche details. Up there as Hardy’s best music. And it’s Fantano more so complaining about something not there which admittingly would have been much better to have.
Most of the review eventually goes into just how you interpret the musical and artistic worth.
Whether or not you think Fantano playing the songs ideas straight in a fake accent is funny? Is up to you. Personally I found it hilarious, it kind of shows much of this records stupidity when you say what Hardy is singing out loud
Fantano rightfully so points out the hypocrisy that Hardy seems to take on Here Lies country Music. How Hardy is complaining about the potential death of country due to tacky music quality. And Hardy himself has made it on this record and in his solo writing works for acts like Chris Lane, Aldean and Cole Swindell.
What makes this interesting is that I will bet you my life savings that Fantano did no research into Hardy for this review, he didn’t listen to a rock, he didn’t look at his writing cuts. And he somehow picked up on this albums hypocritical nature regardless. Showing how blatant of an issue this is.
Afterwards when discussing the self titled track Fantano picks up on the shifting perspective of the first half of the record. But argues that they’re too mocking like for their own good.
Fantano argues that The Crow is about as derivative as it’s counterpart. Saying things like the dead buck on Instagram isn’t edgy and is more indicative of someone selling out that they had to say that out loud. When you say what Sold Out is about out loud you have to admit it seems rather childish and less manly/mature.
I personally think Fantano missed the point of Jack. But if it is a played out theme like he claims. Prove me wrong I guess.
And once more I think Fantano is more in the right with the whole Hardy has sold out claim. With his discussion on Truck Bed. Admittingly it’s not really him selling out for country like Fantano mistakenly claims. And more so selling out for rock specifically. For more context I’d recommend Spectrum Pulse’s review of the record.
I ain’t in the country no more has little to anything to do with country or southern culture and is just a hollow joke of him entering a big city. It’s generic, it’s corny and arguably stereotypes city folk more than anything, which Hardy has done before with Brantley Gilberts “the worst country song of all time”
And his criticism and recognition of hypocrisy just proves how much of the core ideas of the record don’t work. As Hardy wants to be this southern outlaw badass outsider when he plays the radio game straight. And it never seems to occur to him during the album.
While you could argue Fantano may be stereotyping Hardy and his album and kin. It’s also the fault of Hardy for making these songs have cheap and hollow meaning and mostly shoddy execution. Many of them feel childish, unfunny and don’t really have the core values of Hardy’s original work and some of the best depictions of southern culture in the wide realm of country music.
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Who is getting the aux?
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Was clearing up space on my PC and forgot about this, meant to upload it once list week was over, but I guess I was distracted while making the Dave Cobb ranking, but the top spots for all my list week shenanigans, as well as my personal least favorite album
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What was your favorite video this year?
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LIST WEEK IS UPON US, and here’s a schedule for all the videos I’m gonna upload.
“The Worst Country Of 2021”: this year has been overall a bad year for mainstream country music, there’s no getting around that, and I’m going to highlight the 20 worst songs of the year, believe me there are a lot of songs just as bad or worse than fancy like
“Top Ten Country Singles Of 2021”: radio has continued to improve slowly but surely, we’ve gotten some great songs from top dogs and under-appreciated talents and I want to highlight them
“Top Ten Country Albums”: I cover the ten mainstream country albums that I found worthwhile. All different all really enjoyable in their own way, which one will come out on top?
“Top Ten Songs Of 2021”: The best each album had to offer me go head to head. And only one will earn the title for my favorite song this year
“Top Ten Albums Of 2021”: shedding the Nashville scene I look at the ten best non country, indie country and Americana album’s released this year. All incredible, highlighting the best of the year for me
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We are currently doing our own awards with the 3rd Annual CountryMusicStuff Subreddit Awards. Here is the link to vote. Voting will be open for about a week. More details soon!!!
surveyhero.com/c/9cbjzkji
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Finished listening to all the Dave Cobb produced albums I’m using for my upcoming Ranking Video: “Every Dave Cobb Album Ranked” which one is your favorite?
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I Review County Music And Have Eric Church For A Face