> You've never heard of it. It's cowboy music, and no, it is not country.

Never heard of it? You're talking to someone who wanted to be Roy Rogers when she grew up (Dale Evans never got any of the good action scenes), singing along with the Sons of the Pioneers.

> but there are some great newer bands that play in the old style, like Riders in the Sky,

..how can you not love a group that incorporates yodeling, palindromes. and cacti(e) into their routine?

>
> I like some bluegrass, too; mostly the instrumentals. "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" is one of my favorites.

I'm with you on this one too. Bluegrass vocals can be a bit too, uh...genuine... at times--meaning, pick a random person off the street and they could probably sing it more or less just as well (and probably with less twang). Which is not, personally, what I'm looking for in vocal entertainment. But instrumentals, yeah.

>
> And I listen to country music sometimes, but I don't like most of it. I don't like any of the female singers; for the most part, their voices are too high. I'm really sensitive to high-pitched voices, maybe because mine is so low (for a girl, anyway).

I've heard someplace that since 9/11, the popularity of female country vocalists has dropped, supposedly because people want to hear a strong male voice during a time of unease/war. I dunno. With me it all comes down to song choice--if there are meaningful lyrics and/or melodic intrigue combined with an solid vocal, I'll even listen to (talk about high pitched) Martina McBride. Case in point, "My Daughter's Eyes".

When I'm not listening to country, I'm probably listening to classical music. Or piano music (of most any style). I like choral/harmonic music too, which can cover everything from gospel groups to the Beach Boys to Manhattan Transfer, and of course includes the cowboy groups too, but not current top 40 'cause I stopped listening to that in 1984. Although I must say some of the rap I've heard is highly amusing. I like salsa and swing and 60's rock and big band too. I like Mexican Ranchera music because you just can't be sad when that is playing.

Speaking of big band, the all time worst album I ever heard was one I picked up on a whim at the 99 cents table: "Christmas Essentials: The Sound of the Big Band". The first few tracks sounded like a junior high ensemble, and the last few tracks sounded like Uncle Ernie on his Wurlitzer. I guess you get what you pay for. I'm sending it to my brother-in-law next year for Christmas.

koalamom