Art Thieme truly identifies one of the most pernicious additives in the pop-folk mix: artificial sweetener. As I listen to many of the groups today, I so often hear that condescension of expression, the patronizing vocal tricks meant to tell the audience, "Now, this part is very, very sad," or "Be sure to listen carefully right now."   Though I'm probably overreacting, those tricks actually make my skin crawl. (Even the Clancys, one of my favorite pop-folk groups, would do this sometimes, as in "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye.")   

Traditional singing sets the tone at the start and keeps it without noticeable variation all the way through. Usually the approach is straight-ahead; sometimes it can be rollicking, or, for a tragic ballad, sometimes painfully slow. But it doesn't patronize the audience.