In addition to defining the term "folk", you also have to define the concept of "sell-out." What totally repulses me about contemporary "country" music is that the sound is completely the same from performer to performer. No one has a distinct sound. There is no "Man in Black." No "Whispering Bill Anderson." No southern crooning of Charley Pride. Everyone is a cookie-cutter reproduction of each other. Same ripped t-shirts, same faded, holey pants. Same vanilla lyrics. Instead of taking on the establishment and saying "This is who I am and I am going to do my music this way" (a la Cash) they listen to the music producers and "sell out" to the machine. Trying to make a buck by using your talents to me is not a sell out. To me, being a sell out has more to do with your soul than your pocketbook.

Doesn't anyone want to express their independence anymore?

Freightdawg