Nashville Anthems: Dissecting 80s & 90s Country Music

Melton grabs a chair and spends some time reminiscing with Jo Dee Messina's 1998 hit, the Phil Vassar-penned " I'm Alright ". It's great old time with a great old song, but how does the song's incessant motion play into its specific take on nostalgia?

Melton looks this time at what doesn't work about an 80s/90s country song, as Clint Black makes an uncharacteristic trip to the beach in this 1995 hit, " Summer's Comin' ".  The Beach Boys comparison is obvious, but what does George Strait have to do with this?

If last week found our protagonist wallowing alone at the local watering hole, this one may tell us what drove him there, as indignation has yet to give way to despair, in Brooks & Dunn's 1993/1994 hit " That Ain't No Way to Go ".  In addition to following this lonesome-whistling train down the tracks, we'll talk about how country takes unique looks at cliched situatio...

When the sun goes down on your side of town, join Melton as he moves in and out of the beams of Brooks & Dunn's definitive 1992 classic " Neon Moon ".  We take a different approach on this song, by comparing and contrasting it with the last one we covered.  What do "Neon Moon" and "Longneck Bottle" have in common, and what do the differences tell us about how...

We pull our stools up to the bar as Melton serves up his take on Garth Brooks and Steve Wariner's 1997/1998 hit, "Longneck Bottle", a swinging, honky-tonking celebration (or is it?) of contentment with one's station.  This one's got fiddle, pedal steel, drawly pitch bends, and all the elements needed for Garth Brooks's typically immersive approach to whatever style he...

Melton tries his best not to get into the ills of Country Music Yet To Come as we dip our toes and a big orange ball into Kenny Chesney's 1998/1999 hit, " How Forever Feels ," a song full of exuberance and fun that arguably made him a Big Star.  But which of these idiosyncratic lyrics are making us drop our sunglasses for a closer look?

It's getting all kinds of 1992 up in here with the blast from the political past that is Travis Tritt's " Lord Have Mercy on the Working Man, " a song that we argue doesn't work as well as some others.  But what tools does it employ to get its otherwise difficult message across?

Fiddle and steel guitar ornament Alan Jackson's otherwise simple, straightforward " Livin' on Love ", a song that pulls off its rose-colored-glasses-tinged view of traditional family life by filtering it through Jackson's signature honest delivery.  Join us as we dig deeper into this 1994 country radio staple.

Melton goes back to the Diamond Rio mine and digs deeper this time into this emerging concept of rural authenticity   as it's exhibited by the 1997 hit " How Your Love Makes Me Feel ".  But what do Randy Travis and Barenaked Ladies have in common?  BYOIC.

It all feels right, as we drop any and all twang to discuss Vince Gill's 1996 hit " Pretty Little Adriana ".  Come for the apostrophe; stay for the major 7th chords.  But how are the Eagles involved?

Melton waxes music nerdy about his favorite country band, the always-meticulous Diamond Rio, and their uber-bright 1996 hit " That's What I Get for Loving You ".  What makes this song feel so upbeat and happy?  When is twang poppy (or pop twangy), and what does Mariah Carey have to do with it?

Buckle up and hang on tight, as we race this pickup truck out of the driveway and into Garth Brooks's frantic 1993 hit "Ain't Going Down (Til the Sun Comes Up)".  We start by talking about when the blues is not the blues and finish by exploring the concept of rural authenticity that is starting to feel like it's at the bottom of this whole 80s & 90s country music pheno...

We journey over to the harder side of town to idealize about working ourselves into our destinies as we dissect an early Tritt hit " I'm Gonna Be Somebody ."  We talk about the rootsy instruments, chords, vocals, and, most of all, "family values."  If this song were a southern dish, it would be grits.  But is it glossing over some important details?

Hang out with Melton by the pool at Southfork Ranch as we soak up this singular confluence of outgoing and incoming musical trends in 1993.  What comprises that particular Little Texas sound, and how does it relate to the difference between playing honky-tonks and playing basketball arenas?  What unexpected streams does this song draw from?  And when does religious language imply the opposite?  Yo...

Melton takes a train beat ride down to Georgia to discover what happens you when you set a violin/fiddle exhibition inside a blend of folk and southern rock music.  Also, what is this diabolic sound of a blues scale in a minor key?  So rosin up your bow and give this one a listen.  And don't worry, the dog doesn't bite. The Devil Went Down to Georgia

We take an airboat through central and south Florida to explore John Anderson's 1992 classic " Seminole Wind ".  We get into the song's driving rhythm, how that relates to its plaintive urgency, and how all of that works within a context of (super)natural mystical imagery.  Also, there's that idea of authenticity that just keeps coming up. So let's come sit upon a cyp...

We seek to build our understanding of 80s & 90s country music by looking at Garth Brooks's energetic and unapologetic 1991 classic "Rodeo".  We talk about the song's killer instrumental track, bluesy vibe, contrast between restrained verses and a frenetic chorus, and unironic celebration of western U.S. imagery. Grab your boots and chaps, and let's dig in.

In the debut episode of Nashville Anthems, Melton looks at what makes Patty Loveless's song " How Can I Help You Say Goodbye " special.  We discuss Loveless's unique voice, storytelling in song, piano balladry, and heartfelt heartache. Give the song a listen or two, then tune in!