One problem is that "country" is being defined by a bunch of stuffed shirts sitting behind desks and not the talent on the stage. I agree with Tunesmith 100%. Randy Travis is truly one of the very, very few original artists recording today, and unfortunately, he does not record near enough. All it takes to be mass marketed now is a t-shirt with the sleeves ripped off, some bluejeans with a lot of holes in them, and a grimy hat worn by someone who wouldn't know which side of a horse to put the saddle on.

More than anything, country artists of yore were unique individuals with unique styles - Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Charlie Pride, Don Gibson - and the ladies - Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, et. al.

Now, its all about sameness - same sound, same dress, same lyrics.

How about an individual somewhere?

Freightdawg