The problem with all of this is that ANY collector is going to bring SOME sort of bias with them as they collect. Maybe it's someone who doesn't feel that silly children's songs are as worthwhile as political songs. Maybe it's someone who feels political songs become dated, and therefore get lower priority than drinking songs. Whatever.

It's a process that gets amplified for bands. My group does mostly American folk. We don't do Native American stuff. Why? First and foremost, we just don't sound good doing it, and would have to completely change our instrumentation, vocal styles etc. to work it. Second, it's honestly not what we want to do. We do railway and schlocky cowboy crap. We like it, it's fun, and it gets us gigs. If someone out there IS doing a completely objective set including elements of every American musical tradition, more power to 'em.

Total pure objectivity is a nice goal, but not gonna happen. We're all human, after all.

M