Like several other posters have said, its still out there. What is promoted by the big us labels & comercial radio is very comercial country/pop, but there are artists out there doing their own thing, but the term country covers a huge band of music & it largely depends on personal taste. For me the big names include Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Billy Joe Shaver, Lucinda Williams, Guy Clark, Hank Williams 111, But like i say its personal taste, but it is out there if you look. Happy hunting.