Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
#1
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
This past Saturday (9 November), GAC aired a one-hour infomercial called Garth Brooks: Blame It All on My Roots. It summarized the story of how Steve Wynn recruited Garth for a three-year residency in Vegas, promoted the forthcoming CBS special, Garth Brooks Live from Las Vegas, and it also made mention of a forthcoming CD box set, Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences.
There will be forty cover songs spread over four thematic discs: country, rock, r&b, and "Melting Pot", a collection of songs that didn't fit the other three themes. As of my last check, no on-sale details have been announced anywhere for the CD box set, but it's been reported by a country radio station's website that it will be a Walmart exclusive released next Tuesday (19 November).
Personally, I'm stoked. I never stood a chance of getting to that Vegas show, so seeing the TV special taped from two of this year's shows will be a nice consolation. Unlike the snippets of all these cover songs played in the live solo show, the box set versions are the full songs, with full instrumentation. (I confess: part of me would have liked to have had solo acoustic versions.)
After slogging through the tedious CMA Awards telecast last week, I'm even more grateful that Garth is getting back out there. I didn't realize until lately how dull it's been for me to have had so little new music interest me. Plus, I'm stoked to hear Garth cover George Strait's "Unwound". Someone needs to hurry up and take my money for that box set already!
There will be forty cover songs spread over four thematic discs: country, rock, r&b, and "Melting Pot", a collection of songs that didn't fit the other three themes. As of my last check, no on-sale details have been announced anywhere for the CD box set, but it's been reported by a country radio station's website that it will be a Walmart exclusive released next Tuesday (19 November).
Personally, I'm stoked. I never stood a chance of getting to that Vegas show, so seeing the TV special taped from two of this year's shows will be a nice consolation. Unlike the snippets of all these cover songs played in the live solo show, the box set versions are the full songs, with full instrumentation. (I confess: part of me would have liked to have had solo acoustic versions.)
After slogging through the tedious CMA Awards telecast last week, I'm even more grateful that Garth is getting back out there. I didn't realize until lately how dull it's been for me to have had so little new music interest me. Plus, I'm stoked to hear Garth cover George Strait's "Unwound". Someone needs to hurry up and take my money for that box set already!
#2
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
I'd definitely grab that box set.
#5
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
I was happy enough with him being retired. I hate how he pretty much ruined country music and it still hasn't recovered. Hope those who are looking forward to it enjoy it though. I am sure the set will be budget priced since he did the same thing with Wal-Mart exclusive sets in the past. He puts out multi-disc sets cheap because each individual disc counts as it's own album and he is trying to pass the The Beatles.
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
I was happy enough with him being retired. I hate how he pretty much ruined country music and it still hasn't recovered. Hope those who are looking forward to it enjoy it though. I am sure the set will be budget priced since he did the same thing with Wal-Mart exclusive sets in the past. He puts out multi-disc sets cheap because each individual disc counts as it's own album and he is trying to pass the The Beatles.
Personally I can't stand Garth Brooks or any country music but I didn't like country music before him. But your statement has me curious.
#7
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Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
I was happy enough with him being retired. I hate how he pretty much ruined country music and it still hasn't recovered. Hope those who are looking forward to it enjoy it though. I am sure the set will be budget priced since he did the same thing with Wal-Mart exclusive sets in the past. He puts out multi-disc sets cheap because each individual disc counts as it's own album and he is trying to pass the The Beatles.
http://www.policymic.com/articles/72...o-country-song
#8
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
Personally, I'm stoked. I never stood a chance of getting to that Vegas show, so seeing the TV special taped from two of this year's shows will be a nice consolation. Unlike the snippets of all these cover songs played in the live solo show, the box set versions are the full songs, with full instrumentation. (I confess: part of me would have liked to have had solo acoustic versions.)
Sure. It was last night.
First of all, you need to appreciate what it's like to get your tickets : You stop by the will call office, but NOOOOOO it's not there. Not even close. You have to walk, literally, a half-mile through the casino, the restaurants, the convention center and past many ballrooms to reach the furthest ballroom where you can get your tickets. Thankfully they have bottled water waiting for you. They need to inspect every person's ID and then slap a hospital band on them before finally handing you the tickets. When you enter the theater at last, your ticket, armband and IDs are again inspected. It's like visiting a busy airport in late 2001. Forget using scalpers to get tickets for this gig!
My seats were AMAZING. They were 8th row, on the right side. It's a small Broadway-style theater; much smaller than the Cirque venues so common here. You can't help but being surprised with the intimacy of the setting -- here's a guy who sold out NFL stadiums and filled Central Park and he's playing right in front of you in a venue more appropriate for regional theater. It's a trip; I could hear women around with giddy laughter. It's surreal. People are yelling things at him and he responds back. A woman calls out "Friends In Low Places" two songs in, to which Garth responds "You want to just rush to the end? At least buy me dinner first". The stage is bare, save for a back barstool and a bottle of water. Garth, visibly much heavier and now balding wears work boots, jeans, a blue Belichick-style hoody and a baseball cap with his G logo on it. Very sparse, very glitz-free.
The first thing to note about the performances is that almost NONE of the songs are full versions. Usually one verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, done. That will bother some, but it does allow him to cover much more material that way. It's just him on stage with his acoustic guitar. He's a pretty solid guitarist, able to make a decent approximation of the backing music with just the guitar (one guitar only, so he's always adjusting and retuning it). On the few songs he can't do, he just sings acapella, which he's also very good at. He tackles the show sort of like a VH1 Storytellers. He talks a lot between songs, giving background stories and intros. He talks a lot in the first half of the show about his influences, but country and pop and gives tribute by doing covers. For me these surprise covers were the highlight of the show so I'll spoilerize in case you don't want to know.
After that, he brings out his wife. I don't know if she'll continue to be at every show, but he acts like she's an expected part of the show for now. They're cute together, very affectionate. They do a staggering version of "In Another's Eyes" together, then Garth steps back and plays guitar while Trisha sings "Walkaway Joe". She has an amazing voice.
Then they turn on the house lights and take questions and requests. The first guy is a bald jackass who tells him he should do a preemptive strike and shave his head. Garth handles that with a lot more class than I would have. People request songs, both obvious (The Dance, Standing Outside The Fire) and the much more obscure (Ireland, Alabama Clay, the song from Frequency). He came back for one encore and played "Friends" and a couple more before closing with a semi-acapella "Shameless".
The show lasted about 105 minutes. Overall it was a VERY cool and a unique experience. Superstars aren't supposed to have shows like that, especially after decade-long exiles. He's so personable and casual that I can't imagine any fan not enjoying it. Still, it's very different than any live Garth performance I've seen on DVD or TV before. I'm sure some will be a little upset about the lack of "energy" in the show, the lack of spectacle and the brevity of most songs. For me, I'm really glad I saw this very-early-in-its-run show, but I think things will be tightened up as it plays on over the years. I'd like to see it again in a year or two to see how its changed. Right now Garth is a little raw and nervous and frankly, that's pretty cool in my book.
And thanks to Garth for being perhaps the ONLY musical headliner performer to not make a string of lame Vegas jokes, cliches or even a passing attempt at "Viva Las Vegas". As a local, I really appreciated that.
First of all, you need to appreciate what it's like to get your tickets : You stop by the will call office, but NOOOOOO it's not there. Not even close. You have to walk, literally, a half-mile through the casino, the restaurants, the convention center and past many ballrooms to reach the furthest ballroom where you can get your tickets. Thankfully they have bottled water waiting for you. They need to inspect every person's ID and then slap a hospital band on them before finally handing you the tickets. When you enter the theater at last, your ticket, armband and IDs are again inspected. It's like visiting a busy airport in late 2001. Forget using scalpers to get tickets for this gig!
My seats were AMAZING. They were 8th row, on the right side. It's a small Broadway-style theater; much smaller than the Cirque venues so common here. You can't help but being surprised with the intimacy of the setting -- here's a guy who sold out NFL stadiums and filled Central Park and he's playing right in front of you in a venue more appropriate for regional theater. It's a trip; I could hear women around with giddy laughter. It's surreal. People are yelling things at him and he responds back. A woman calls out "Friends In Low Places" two songs in, to which Garth responds "You want to just rush to the end? At least buy me dinner first". The stage is bare, save for a back barstool and a bottle of water. Garth, visibly much heavier and now balding wears work boots, jeans, a blue Belichick-style hoody and a baseball cap with his G logo on it. Very sparse, very glitz-free.
The first thing to note about the performances is that almost NONE of the songs are full versions. Usually one verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, done. That will bother some, but it does allow him to cover much more material that way. It's just him on stage with his acoustic guitar. He's a pretty solid guitarist, able to make a decent approximation of the backing music with just the guitar (one guitar only, so he's always adjusting and retuning it). On the few songs he can't do, he just sings acapella, which he's also very good at. He tackles the show sort of like a VH1 Storytellers. He talks a lot between songs, giving background stories and intros. He talks a lot in the first half of the show about his influences, but country and pop and gives tribute by doing covers. For me these surprise covers were the highlight of the show so I'll spoilerize in case you don't want to know.
Spoiler:
After that, he brings out his wife. I don't know if she'll continue to be at every show, but he acts like she's an expected part of the show for now. They're cute together, very affectionate. They do a staggering version of "In Another's Eyes" together, then Garth steps back and plays guitar while Trisha sings "Walkaway Joe". She has an amazing voice.
Then they turn on the house lights and take questions and requests. The first guy is a bald jackass who tells him he should do a preemptive strike and shave his head. Garth handles that with a lot more class than I would have. People request songs, both obvious (The Dance, Standing Outside The Fire) and the much more obscure (Ireland, Alabama Clay, the song from Frequency). He came back for one encore and played "Friends" and a couple more before closing with a semi-acapella "Shameless".
The show lasted about 105 minutes. Overall it was a VERY cool and a unique experience. Superstars aren't supposed to have shows like that, especially after decade-long exiles. He's so personable and casual that I can't imagine any fan not enjoying it. Still, it's very different than any live Garth performance I've seen on DVD or TV before. I'm sure some will be a little upset about the lack of "energy" in the show, the lack of spectacle and the brevity of most songs. For me, I'm really glad I saw this very-early-in-its-run show, but I think things will be tightened up as it plays on over the years. I'd like to see it again in a year or two to see how its changed. Right now Garth is a little raw and nervous and frankly, that's pretty cool in my book.
And thanks to Garth for being perhaps the ONLY musical headliner performer to not make a string of lame Vegas jokes, cliches or even a passing attempt at "Viva Las Vegas". As a local, I really appreciated that.
#9
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
Walmart released their Black Friday ad. It features the CD box set, priced at $24.95, listed as a Walmart exclusive. The ad text reads:
If I read that right, the CBS TV special is included on DVD! It seems that they've included Garth's The Ultimate Hits set, which accounts for two CDs and one DVD. Is it an obvious ploy on his part to boost sales of The Ultimate Hits? Sure. Do I need to own those discs again? Nope. Does it faze me in the least to have them? Nope. $24.95 would be worth it for just the new stuff. Plus, I can see where this would be your "one and done" intro to Garth if you're just now getting into his stuff, and Garth has to be aware that an entire generation of music listeners - and buyers - has come onto the scene during his "retirement".
In short: I'm plenty excited right now!
8 disc set! 6 CDs & 2 DVDs including 77 songs & 33 music videos. Hear NEW recordings of Garth singing he songs that influenced him and see Garth's Live Las Vegas Performance.
In short: I'm plenty excited right now!
#10
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
Go back and listen to anything produced with the Nashville Sound and tell me that's "traditional". It was watered down pop and everyone knew it. That was the whole point of the aesthetic; to appeal to city folk who wanted nothing to do with hillbilly music. So they got rid of the banjos and the fiddle became a violin, and everyone bought Nudie suits to show off that they did, in fact, have money because, you know, status begets status.
Then came the Outlaw movement of the early 70s. We consider Waylon & Willie authentic country icons today, but at the time the industry had some resistance to their hippie and rock influenced styles. Waylon's music bears a much closer resemblance to The Rolling Stones (whom he covered a few times over his career) than to Eddy Arnold. So which side of the matter was "real" country?
There's no question that the "Bro-country" dominating the genre right now is devoid of pretty much any artistic merit whatsoever, but it's unfair to lay blame for that at Garth's feet. Despite the antics everyone pictures when they think of Garth (smashing guitars, climbing support beams, etc.), most of his actual music was unquestionably country. The least country song in his discography, "Ain't Goin' Down (Til the Sun Comes Up)", is so steeped in country tropes that you can get chewing tobacco on you just from reading its lyrics.
Besides, Garth's been away from things too long now for it to be all his fault. Post-9/11 country music has been fixated on anthems, whether bombastic in their nationalism (looking at you, Toby Keith), holier-than-thou in their Christianity (where are you going, Carrie Underwood?), or obnoxious for being unapologetic about not apologizing for being unapologetic rednecks (see: everyone). Garth has his fair share of anthems, too, but they were downright poetic relative to the tripe that has dominated the airwaves over the last 12 years.
If anything, Garth's return could possibly herald another paradigm shift away from bro-country and back toward the kind of story songs that used to characterize country music. But even if the rest of mainstream country shrugs him off and says, "Whatever, old man!" it'll be nice to at least have him back.
#11
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Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
I was very disappointed when Brooks became so popular. Go back to The Mavericks 2nd album, Dwight Yoakam's This Time and Lucinda Williams' Sweet Old World from that time period. These albums are light years better than what Garth was doing. Add his hokey live act. Ouch.
#12
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
This must be another filmed show from the residence.
I wish we had a Blu Ray option, but this is Wal-Mart. Which in itself is a surprise since Garth had a very nasty falling-out with Walmart about his previous exclusive arrangement with them.
#13
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
That seems unlikely, since the Garth TV show is the final performance, broadcast live from the Wynn.
This must be another filmed show from the residence.
This must be another filmed show from the residence.
I wish we had a Blu Ray option, but this is Wal-Mart. Which in itself is a surprise since Garth had a very nasty falling-out with Walmart about his previous exclusive arrangement with them.
#14
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
I assume one of the two DVDs is a compilation from those shows and the other DVD is the recently-aired GAC TV Special "Blame It All On My Roots".
I got an email for tickets to those Summer shows and didn't even bother to read on. I would have liked to seen one of the final shows live as well.
O/T : There's a channel called GAC? Sounds like an all-choking network
I got an email for tickets to those Summer shows and didn't even bother to read on. I would have liked to seen one of the final shows live as well.
O/T : There's a channel called GAC? Sounds like an all-choking network
#15
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
I assume one of the two DVDs is a compilation from those shows and the other DVD is the recently-aired GAC TV Special "Blame It All On My Roots".
I got an email for tickets to those Summer shows and didn't even bother to read on. I would have liked to seen one of the final shows live as well.
O/T : There's a channel called GAC? Sounds like an all-choking network
I got an email for tickets to those Summer shows and didn't even bother to read on. I would have liked to seen one of the final shows live as well.
O/T : There's a channel called GAC? Sounds like an all-choking network
It's pretty clear in the Walmart Black Friday ad photo that the box set includes The Ultimate Hits, which consisted of 2 CDs and a DVD collecting music videos for all the songs on the CDs (using pilfered concert special footage for those where no official video was produced).
There's no reason that Blame It All on My Roots couldn't be included on the Vegas concert DVD, but given that it's just a glorified infomercial with a run time around 46 minutes, I'd be surprised if it ever sees a home video release.
#16
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
The argument for the last 20 years holds that country sold its soul to chase the Almighty Dollar after Garth made a fortune with his arena rock shows, and that everyone has been trying to emulate him instead of performing traditional country music. It's an awfully reductive argument to make, though, and one that requires an almost willful ignorance of the evolution of the genre prior to Garth.
Go back and listen to anything produced with the Nashville Sound and tell me that's "traditional". It was watered down pop and everyone knew it. That was the whole point of the aesthetic; to appeal to city folk who wanted nothing to do with hillbilly music. So they got rid of the banjos and the fiddle became a violin, and everyone bought Nudie suits to show off that they did, in fact, have money because, you know, status begets status.
Then came the Outlaw movement of the early 70s. We consider Waylon & Willie authentic country icons today, but at the time the industry had some resistance to their hippie and rock influenced styles. Waylon's music bears a much closer resemblance to The Rolling Stones (whom he covered a few times over his career) than to Eddy Arnold. So which side of the matter was "real" country?
There's no question that the "Bro-country" dominating the genre right now is devoid of pretty much any artistic merit whatsoever, but it's unfair to lay blame for that at Garth's feet. Despite the antics everyone pictures when they think of Garth (smashing guitars, climbing support beams, etc.), most of his actual music was unquestionably country. The least country song in his discography, "Ain't Goin' Down (Til the Sun Comes Up)", is so steeped in country tropes that you can get chewing tobacco on you just from reading its lyrics.
Besides, Garth's been away from things too long now for it to be all his fault. Post-9/11 country music has been fixated on anthems, whether bombastic in their nationalism (looking at you, Toby Keith), holier-than-thou in their Christianity (where are you going, Carrie Underwood?), or obnoxious for being unapologetic about not apologizing for being unapologetic rednecks (see: everyone). Garth has his fair share of anthems, too, but they were downright poetic relative to the tripe that has dominated the airwaves over the last 12 years.
If anything, Garth's return could possibly herald another paradigm shift away from bro-country and back toward the kind of story songs that used to characterize country music. But even if the rest of mainstream country shrugs him off and says, "Whatever, old man!" it'll be nice to at least have him back.
Go back and listen to anything produced with the Nashville Sound and tell me that's "traditional". It was watered down pop and everyone knew it. That was the whole point of the aesthetic; to appeal to city folk who wanted nothing to do with hillbilly music. So they got rid of the banjos and the fiddle became a violin, and everyone bought Nudie suits to show off that they did, in fact, have money because, you know, status begets status.
Then came the Outlaw movement of the early 70s. We consider Waylon & Willie authentic country icons today, but at the time the industry had some resistance to their hippie and rock influenced styles. Waylon's music bears a much closer resemblance to The Rolling Stones (whom he covered a few times over his career) than to Eddy Arnold. So which side of the matter was "real" country?
There's no question that the "Bro-country" dominating the genre right now is devoid of pretty much any artistic merit whatsoever, but it's unfair to lay blame for that at Garth's feet. Despite the antics everyone pictures when they think of Garth (smashing guitars, climbing support beams, etc.), most of his actual music was unquestionably country. The least country song in his discography, "Ain't Goin' Down (Til the Sun Comes Up)", is so steeped in country tropes that you can get chewing tobacco on you just from reading its lyrics.
Besides, Garth's been away from things too long now for it to be all his fault. Post-9/11 country music has been fixated on anthems, whether bombastic in their nationalism (looking at you, Toby Keith), holier-than-thou in their Christianity (where are you going, Carrie Underwood?), or obnoxious for being unapologetic about not apologizing for being unapologetic rednecks (see: everyone). Garth has his fair share of anthems, too, but they were downright poetic relative to the tripe that has dominated the airwaves over the last 12 years.
If anything, Garth's return could possibly herald another paradigm shift away from bro-country and back toward the kind of story songs that used to characterize country music. But even if the rest of mainstream country shrugs him off and says, "Whatever, old man!" it'll be nice to at least have him back.
#17
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
Love Garth, so I'll buy this for sure. Would still see him perform over 90% of country guys going today.
#18
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
While country music had it's culture and community, it wasn't until Brooks came along that the genre became a household listening track. While artists like George Strait, Randy Travis and a few older artists were making albums, they too saw a rise in popularity because of Brooks that otherwise saw weak sales and few live shows.
There would not have been or be many of the artists you see today if not for Garth Brooks. Garth Brooks opened a huge door for country music. Period.
There may be those who do not like Brooks and his music but he brought country music from a twangy, hillbilly sound to something people outside of country music could listen to. Some may say it's a sellout but you can say that about groups like Metallica and Green Day for creating music for everyone and not just their community.
I was a big Garth Brooks fan in the late '80s to mid '90s. Have every CD including a special edition McDonald's version that I had to track down by visiting 5 different restaurants to get. Never did get to see him live but from video I have seen it looked like a blast.
#19
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
Sorry. But if not for Garth Brooks, country would not have become as main stream as it did or continue as it has.
While country music had it's culture and community, it wasn't until Brooks came along that the genre became a household listening track. While artists like George Strait, Randy Travis and a few older artists were making albums, they too saw a rise in popularity because of Brooks that otherwise saw weak sales and few live shows.
There would not have been or be many of the artists you see today if not for Garth Brooks. Garth Brooks opened a huge door for country music. Period.
While country music had it's culture and community, it wasn't until Brooks came along that the genre became a household listening track. While artists like George Strait, Randy Travis and a few older artists were making albums, they too saw a rise in popularity because of Brooks that otherwise saw weak sales and few live shows.
There would not have been or be many of the artists you see today if not for Garth Brooks. Garth Brooks opened a huge door for country music. Period.
There may be those who do not like Brooks and his music but he brought country music from a twangy, hillbilly sound to something people outside of country music could listen to.
Some may say it's a sellout but you can say that about groups like Metallica and Green Day for creating music for everyone and not just their community.
I was a big Garth Brooks fan in the late '80s to mid '90s. Have every CD including a special edition McDonald's version that I had to track down by visiting 5 different restaurants to get.
Never did get to see him live but from video I have seen it looked like a blast.
#20
Banned by request
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
Sorry. But if not for Garth Brooks, country would not have become as main stream as it did or continue as it has.
While country music had it's culture and community, it wasn't until Brooks came along that the genre became a household listening track. While artists like George Strait, Randy Travis and a few older artists were making albums, they too saw a rise in popularity because of Brooks that otherwise saw weak sales and few live shows.
There would not have been or be many of the artists you see today if not for Garth Brooks. Garth Brooks opened a huge door for country music. Period.
There may be those who do not like Brooks and his music but he brought country music from a twangy, hillbilly sound to something people outside of country music could listen to. Some may say it's a sellout but you can say that about groups like Metallica and Green Day for creating music for everyone and not just their community.
I was a big Garth Brooks fan in the late '80s to mid '90s. Have every CD including a special edition McDonald's version that I had to track down by visiting 5 different restaurants to get. Never did get to see him live but from video I have seen it looked like a blast.
While country music had it's culture and community, it wasn't until Brooks came along that the genre became a household listening track. While artists like George Strait, Randy Travis and a few older artists were making albums, they too saw a rise in popularity because of Brooks that otherwise saw weak sales and few live shows.
There would not have been or be many of the artists you see today if not for Garth Brooks. Garth Brooks opened a huge door for country music. Period.
There may be those who do not like Brooks and his music but he brought country music from a twangy, hillbilly sound to something people outside of country music could listen to. Some may say it's a sellout but you can say that about groups like Metallica and Green Day for creating music for everyone and not just their community.
I was a big Garth Brooks fan in the late '80s to mid '90s. Have every CD including a special edition McDonald's version that I had to track down by visiting 5 different restaurants to get. Never did get to see him live but from video I have seen it looked like a blast.
That being said, mainstream country is a musical wasteland these days, often being nothing more than poorly written pop songs with shitty jingoistic lyrics and a Southern twang on top of it. Again, not laying that at the feet of Brooks, but that is how country is perceived today.
#21
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
I might be wrong, but I don't think it's the making country popular aspect that's bothersome, it's the idea that Brooks turned country from this "authentic" musical form to a carnival, with depthless songs that do nothing but trumpet empty patriotism. And while Brooks certainly opened the door to those acts, I don't think it's fair to say that he is responsible for them.
That being said, mainstream country is a musical wasteland these days, often being nothing more than poorly written pop songs with shitty jingoistic lyrics and a Southern twang on top of it. Again, not laying that at the feet of Brooks, but that is how country is perceived today.
- Alan Jackson lamented that there's "no country stuff left" on radio.
- Gary Allan complained to Larry King about how Clear Channel and Cumulus had become the tail wagging the dog and sanitizing country radio.
- Zac Brown told a radio station that Luke Bryan's "That's My Kind of Night" "is the worst song I've ever heard" and that he's "ashamed" to even be counted in the same genre as the bro-country tripe that's presently dominating.
#22
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
I guess it especially hurts when you have songs like 'Cruise' feat. Nelly and artists like Taylor Swift who have a mixed bag of Pop and Country on each of her albums.
(I like 'Cruise' but can see how country artists can lash out against music like it)
(I like 'Cruise' but can see how country artists can lash out against music like it)
#23
RIP
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
[*]Zac Brown told a radio station that Luke Bryan's "That's My Kind of Night" "is the worst song I've ever heard" and that he's "ashamed" to even be counted in the same genre as the bro-country tripe that's presently dominating.[/LIST]
#24
Banned by request
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
That's a pretty concise summary of the criticism. I would certainly challenge the veracity of the "depthless songs that do nothing but trumpet empty patriotism" charge, though. There are plenty who are guilty of that, but Garth's one of the very few mainstream country artists to push social message songs. (Can you imagine anyone else, even in today's country, daring to release "We Shall Be Free"?)
#25
Re: Garth Brooks TV Specials & "Blame It All on My Roots" CD Box Set
[*]Zac Brown told a radio station that Luke Bryan's "That's My Kind of Night" "is the worst song I've ever heard" and that he's "ashamed" to even be counted in the same genre as the bro-country tripe that's presently dominating.[/LIST]
Cold beer on friday night
Georgia pines
Sweet tea, pecan pie and homemade wine
Where the peaches grow
add in a pinch of Patriotism and it just writes itself.