Country music has changed a lot over the years, and many believe it’s better now than it has been in a long time. With so many new sub-genres, there’s something for everyone, making the genre more diverse and exciting than ever. However, amid this evolution, some familiar patterns and cliches still linger, raising concerns about creativity and originality in today’s music landscape. To illustrate this point, we’re breaking down five common qualities that detract from the uniqueness of modern country songs.
Bookend Choruses
Once you notice it for the first time, you’ll never stop pointing out songs with bookend choruses. A bookend chorus is when the first phrase of the chorus is repeated at the end. They have become a crutch in country music and seem to dominate the mainstream. For example, see “Love Somebody” by Morgan Wallen, “4X4XU” by Lainey Wilson, “Liar” by Jelly Roll, “Worst Way” by Riley Green, and “High Road” by Koe Wetzel all employ this method without any clever wordplay to circle back to the song’s title. Songs like “Your Place” by Ashley Cooke prove this can be done creatively, standing out by adding a twist at the end of the chorus. However, this isn’t always the case; these slapped-on bookend hooks are beginning to feel monotonous.
Stripped Down Production
Since the rise of Zach Bryan, new artists have embraced a simpler production style to release music, usually focusing on acoustic guitar and vocals. Artists like Dylan Gossett, Nolan Taylor, Waylon Wyatt, and Oliver Anthony gained traction by prioritizing authenticity over elaborate studio production. As new artists may not always have the resources to book a studio session and hire a band, this raw method provides a practical and effective way to make a name without needing too many bells or whistles. Although many fans have resonated with this sound, there are certainly areas where artists taking this approach could improve, particularly in mixing, such as balancing levels or refining EQ. And, of course, simply tuning the guitar before recording wouldn’t hurt either.
Recycled Vocabulary
While the days of “painted-on jeans” and “long tan legs” seem to be behind us, some phrases and words commonly placed in the lyrics of country music feel stale and unoriginal. Country music fans may never hear the end of “cheap red wine” or “the bottom of the bottle.” Some modern country lyrics may lead you to believe you’re just not country if “seeing taillights fade” isn’t a regular activity for you. Today’s artists can’t stop comparing women to sunsets. As much as things get better for modern country music, there’s almost always a boy on a barstool under a neon light near the top of most curated country playlists.
Questionable Wordplay
Country music’s use of wordplay and clever lyrical twists makes country music special. Whether it’s a double entendre, a play on common phrases, or a surprise in the hook, these songwriting techniques add depth and memorability to a song. Recently, songwriters have embraced this style of wordplay, where the title leads you to expect one meaning, only for the lyrics to reveal something entirely different. In “Miss America” by The Castellows, the song isn’t about a beauty pageant winner, as you might expect, but instead about missing a girl whose name is literally “America.” Similarly, “Holy Smokes” by Bailey Zimmerman takes a familiar phrase and flips its meaning, using it to tell a story about smoking cigarettes with a secret lover while parked in a church parking lot. This particular type of wordplay can sometimes feel forced and gimmicky, diminishing its impact when used effectively, like in “Dirt Cheap” by Cody Johnson or “Handle On You” by Parker McCollum, where the phrase serves as both a smart hook and a meaningful lyric without feeling like such a stretch.
Too Many Callbacks
For whatever reason, many artists always mention the ’90s country as if it was the only good era for country music. So many references to that iconic time can be overwhelming for someone just starting to dip their toes into country music. With so many new fans, what’s the need for everybody to “know all the words to ‘Mama Tried’”? It may be time to appreciate what’s coming out of the genre more recently; instead of continually reminiscing about the past, artists like Zach Top and Braxton Keith have shown that the iconic sound of the ‘90s is still achievable in the 2020s, so why should we treat it as a dead sound when there’s so much potential for innovation and creativity in today’s country music?
