Kings of Americana: A Guide to Alternative Country Music [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Nigel Williamson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
South by Southwest provides a fresh look at the increasingly popular genre born of classic country music from icons such as Dolly Parton and Hank Williams. Expert rock journalist Brian Hinton heralds the arrival of this new sound, country partnered with pop, as bands like Counting Crows and Lambchop land on international Top Ten charts. Starting with the work of trendsetters like Gram Parsons, The Band, and The Eagles, Hinton explores alternative country's present and looks ahead to its future. He interviews all the important bands and contemporary artists riding the crest of the wave, focusing on the current urban music scene. Each alternative country band's rise to prominence is charted and supported with a detailed discography. 24 black-and-white photographs and interviews with platinum-selling artists and groups, including Ryan Adams, Steve Earle, Lambchop, The Handsome Family, and the Flaming Lips are featured.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Sanctuary Publishing; illustrated edition edition (April 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1860744613
• ISBN-13: 978-1860744617
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,135,078 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well packaged intro to alt.country....whatever that is, May 4, 2004

By	Benjamin Denes (Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For me, the strength of this book was in the names of artists that it drops. I was pleased to read about the many different bands - some well known, some completely obscure to an alt-country stranger . The book gives a pretty definitive listing of bands whom the label applies to. The book also attempts to trace the bloodline of this musical branch through the history of americana music, starting from the early mountain ballads and southern gothic folk to the music of the big city 60's, further tracing to the anti-Nashville movements popping up all over the Texas area. From Dylan and Springsteen, to Calexico and Will Oldham, a wide variety of performers are given a good share of exposure.

This book is surely directed at those who would like a nice foothold in the alt-country world without spending hundreds on cd's and box sets. I don't think there is enough information for hardcore cowpunk fans, nor is there anything that would convert any country haters. For those who are even slightly fascinated with anti-country or americana music and need a good band primer, this is the book.