WTF is Post-Country?
Putting a name to one of the more popular new sounds.
There is a playlist down at the bottom so if you aren’t a reader… well it’s down there.
But if you are a real music nerd, read on.
In the past two or so years, I’ve been obsessed with a sound that is blending indie rock and country in a fresh way. I believe it comes from a generation craving authenticity in both country and rock. It doesn’t fit the Americana, or Alt-Country mold like I’m used to. A lot of times it has a laid-back slacker rock vibe, but it has a steel guitar(!?) with lyrics that are narrative and evocative.
The question is, does this genre that I am dubbing Post-Country exist officially now? I think it does.
Until recently, I have never really understood the “post-” descriptor in music. Post-punk, Post-rock, Post-Metal, etc. The Latin prefix, “post,” means after…. After what??? The “Post-” genre exists concurrently as the genre it is “post”-ing, not after it. However in trying to chase down this new country-rock sound, I have come to somewhat understand what the moniker is conveying.
So what is the difference between Alt-(Genre) and Post-(Genre)? What sets “Post-” genres apart is that they capture the feeling or essence of the original genre, not just its sound. In the simplest of terms, “Alt-” music expands on the base genre while staying rooted in it (Alt-Rock is still essentially Rock Music). “Post-” music borrows the essence of the base genre, but lives in a second style entirely (Post-Punk is NOT Punk music).
Alt-Country is pretty easy to find nowadays - early Wilco, Jayhawks, Sunvolt, Old 97s, and those are from decades ago. Sturgill Simpson and Tyler Childers, seem to be leading the charge recently, but you can’t throw a rock without hitting an Alt-Country band in the music world today. While Nashville is straying further and further from traditional Country music, what we know as traditional Country music has evolved towards “Alt” (but that is a conversation for later).
Before I get to Post-Country, maybe a more well established genre example can help clarify my point: Post-Punk, which is now over 40 years old.
Punk music is raucous, raw, aggressive, fast, has heavy hitting drums, and is often built on three chord structures - musically, that’s what makes it punk. But the essence of punk is anti-establishment, defiance, release of frustration, rejection of the mainstream. Post-Punk bands, such as Joy Division, channel the energy and anti-establishment vibe. But musically, it is atmospheric, bass lines drive the rhythm and melody, drums are minimalist, and vocals are bleak and existential. Objectively not punk music, but the energy and performance? Punk to the max.
So to my original question - Wtf is Post-Country? Post-country often (there is always an exception) rejects polished production, and leans heavy into indie rock. However, it captures the essence of country through storytelling, twang, and including traditionally country instruments such as steel guitar and banjo that might feel out of place in typical indie rock. Lyrics often evoke small-town, every-man scenes, and production has a DIY garage feel. Whereas Alt-Country sits left of center from traditional country, Post-Country exists way out on the fringes in the wilderness.
Post-Country Example: Sturgill Simpson - “All Said and Done”
I could probably argue that most of the Sound & Fury album might be considered Post-Country, but this particular song is a much easier sell. Lyrically, Sturgill’s delivery oozes Country, but this song is very obviously not a country song musically (I mean, we can all agree it’s samurai revenge rock, right?). I thought about using the next song on the album, “Last Man Standing,” but it is much more country and less to the point of this thread.
That brings up another point. Can an artist be primarily one genre, even Alt-Country, and make a post-country track? Absolutely. The whole Sound and Fury album is not post-country, and Sturgill isn’t really a Post-Country artist overall, he is firmly Alt-Country in my opinion.
There are post-country artists, of course, and one of the most popular right now is MJ Lenderman.
MJ’s slacker rock approach has recently blown up with both open-minded country listeners, and indie rock fans. Lyrically, he’s telling small-town stories just like any country artist. His steel guitarist, Xandy Chelmis, is a major contributor to the band’s sound. It is the rawest steel guitar sound I’ve ever heard. In country music, steel is usually drenched in reverb, but Xandy’s approach is drier than the Texas sand (thanks, Gary P Nunn), which to me, makes it less country sounding, and fits into the DIY production approach of MJs music. In the song, “Rudolph” grungy guitars and dry steel, lay down an indie rock bed for MJ to sing about mowing down a deer in his car on a country road. What’s more country than that? Excuse me, not country - Post-Country.
Post-country is seemingly here to stay. And to prove it, here’s a little less than 7 hours of it on a playlist for you. If you’ve read this far, god bless, you deserve the playlist.
I would love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, hell - even arguments.
Sorry Substack seems to not like playlist embeds so if you can’t see the one above, here is the Apple Music Link, and the Spotify Link