When I was in high school, when people asked me what kind of music I liked, I'd smugly respond, "Everything... except rap and country".  This is because I was a huge prick who thought they knew everything, much like all highschoolers.  Now, of course, I realize that response was code for 'music they play on rock/classic rock/alternative stations'.  I soon understood the idiocy of discounting entire genres, but very little country music ever really connected with me.  Probably a kneejerk reaction to the formative experience of seeing Garth Brooks, at the height of his Achy-Breaky Heart fame, at the Houston Rodeo.  That kind of shit can scar you for life.

Off and on I've been using Pandora to find new music in the folk/indie/alt-country vein, and by far the standout has been Jersey based outfit The Roadside Graves.  Aside from their great name and oddly striking album art, they've got the potential for greatness.  Songs like "West Coast", "Family and Friends", and "Song for a Dry State" are phenomenal, but thus far, the rest of their material hasn't been able to live up to their promise: I'd find it hard to disagree with Pitchfork's score of 7.5 for their last album.  But they have a new album, "My Son's Home" coming out soon and I have high hopes.

The real talent their lyrics have is the combination of more traditional mythologizing of America while at the same time being relatable.  And they do it without whitewashing the history of the South, a rare feat for even alt-country.  For example, the opening of "Song for a Dry State": Gonna pass by the roadside graves / Ignore the crosses and the flames.  Their topics are hardly new, but their singer's melancholy is a real gift, and his voice makes almost anything seem tragic. 

Unfortunately they seem to mostly play New York and Jersey, which is a shame since I think they could get a real fanbase in Austin.  But we've got a pretty strong Jersey contingent of readers here, so check them out if you get a chance!