Junior Brown (the greatest electric guitarist ever in any genre), Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton (her new bluegrass stuff is poetry, as opposed to her crappy pop hits of the 80's), Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Lyle Lovett, Alison Krauss, Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson (his new "Austin Sessions" CD is a masterpiece), BR5-49.
Plus, the old classics (Eddy Arnold, Hank, Ernest Tubb, Patsy Cline, Doc Watson, Jimmie Rodgers, Chet Atkins) won't lower anybody's IQ.
But the most important question is - Where the hell is Bat Boy?
I'm a huge Jr Brown fan, BUT, obviously you have never heard Albert Lee(NOT the British Bluesman) play. Check out MCA's album release they did on him in their 1980's series, "Masters of the Steel String Guitar."
Any of the cuts will do, but I'm especially moved by 'T-Bird to Las Vegas' for it's sheer drive, amazing melodic creativity & complexity, and complete virtuosity.
It's true to say that Albert lacks a certain 'Star' quality (w/ looks akin to Lyle Lovett before LL got trendy) but as a guitarist/instrumentalist, in the genre of RnR, Country(where todays BEST true RnR is played) and Jazz, Albert Lee has no equal. If you haven't heard of him you're in for a real treat. His 'pedal steel ' technique on a Tele sans any 'hardwear' tricks/alternations is simply beyond phenomenal.
MHO of course.
That being said, I'll stand in line at my very first chance to catch Jr.B's fireworks up close and personal.