I think we can all agree that popular music is (always has been and always will be) riddled with clones, cheap hooks, and a distinct lack of creativity. Now don't get me wrong, there is a lot to be said for a well-crafted pop track, but this here is a post about less-than-popular music. I won't call it underground, because few talented musicians remain unknown for long. I've never understood the term "indie"--a genre title that is about as useful as "alternative," which supposedly groups artists like Pavement, Nirvana, and They Might Be Giants under the same heading. I'll just say that, despite their successes, I haven't heard these guys on the radio. This post highlights a few artists who have been reinventing traditional American music--bluegrass, country, folk, and twang--to create some pretty exciting new sounds.

Andrew Bird first came on to the music scene as the fiddler for the Squirrel Nut Zippers, and his early solo albums follow their style of (somewhat schizophrenic) traditional music. With his 2003 album Weather Systems, he began to form a much more distinct sound; folk and jazz still form the base of his style, but his newer music is composed of a skillfully looped and layered sound. "The Trees Were Mistaken" comes from the EP Soldier On, his most recent realease.

Micah P. Hinson's music is often stark, sometimes orchestrated, but always owes a debt to folk and country. I only just found out about the guy so this can hardly be a great blurb, but you oughta check out "I Keep Having These Dreams" from the brand new (not yet available in the US) "Micah P. Hinson and the Red Empire Orchestra."

When Wisconsin's own DeYarmond Edison split up, frontman Justin Vernon reemerged as Bon Iver, while Joe Westerlund, Brad Cook, and Phil Cook went on to form Megafaun. The band melds bluegrass, stomp, and rock & roll to create a raucous style, and "Beloved Binge" is a great example of this.

Andrew Bird - The Trees Were Mistaken
Micah P. Hinson - I Keep Having These Dreams
Megafaun - Beloved Binge