Country is not always the most popular genre. And, if you generally don’t like country, to be honest I don’t much blame you. But the tradition of country music in America (about which I claim no expertise) is full of virtuosic musicians and wonderful songs. It bears little to no resemblance to much of what is today called country. Because many of these old-time country songs are easy to play and sing (usually just 3 chords), this is what I opt for when I play music at home. Recently (though admittedly rather late) I began listening to The Carter family. To begin with, the album I bought is entitled A Proper Introduction to The Carter Family. An album title with such old-fashioned charm inarguably warrants a listen. What’s more, the album itself is damn good.

If, like me, you have a wealth of enthusiasm and a need of direction, I highly recommend this (or any Carter family album for that matter). The singing is not conventionally pretty and the recording sounds as old as it is, but the songs are classics and the group a fundamental component of any music lover’s lexicon.

Take for instance “Wildwood Flower.” At once sweet and sad, the melody is lulling and simple. “Keep on the Sunny Side,” (one of my favorite songs) swinging chorus’ jauntiness is contagious. The Carter Family is a worthy start to a respectable country music education, and is enough to eliminate any associations to rhinestone cowboy hats that may accompany country’s perception. Plus, if you ever wanted to learn a few chords on the guitar (or banjo, mandolin, autoharp, etc.) there’s no better place to get as much bang for your buck.