Just pointing out that this thread was created to post your "lame" purchases.

It doesn't hurt at all. I'm accepting of all types of music. When a member purposely baits other forum members it's called "trolling". I disagree with folks all the time over music, politics, etc. but I don't patrol the board looking to stir shit up just for the sake of getting a cheap thrill as Dan and so many others here do. It downgrades the quality of the board to have to sift through yet another tirade against Plant and this board is littered with such discussions. It doesn't bother me that folks are critical of him, what gets me is how uninformed most of these people are about Zeppelin and the fact their stock in trade was being wide open to a huge diversity of styles. You would never guess that from some of the so-called "fans" here that have spoken out on that very subject. Like or dislike whatever type of music you chose to, that isn't the issue. It's bringing an informed opinion to the table that's crucial. For instance, how many here went on and on about Plant ruining the future of any Zeppelin tours by joining forces with Alison Krauss when it's been spelled out again and again that plans were put into motion for the Raising Sand project long before the concert at the 02 was even an idea. I'm not sure where these folks got their misinformation from but they've spewed it over and over again since day one even though there's not even a hint of truth to it. Yep, I should be banned. Get right on that.

Those are what you'd consider "lame" purchases?

He's a troll plain and simple and should be banned from this site.

Maybe I've missed it but I've never seem him praised as a drummer. Distinct drum sound? Yes. Phil Collins was nearly inescapable on the airwaves in the 80s and his appearances at Live Aid are a fine example of his overexposure at the time.

Which is also known as "trolling" or "baiting", a bannable offense which for some reason isn't always enforced here. The board is over run with such members at present which is a cryin' shame.

http://www.iem.ac.ru/zeppelin/docs/IFMTL-2.html Plant sold his rights to the Led Zeppelin material in the early 1980's, although he still maintains 1/3 creative control, but he doesn't get any royalties from the sales of Led Zeppelin albums, hence his comment when being interviewed by Letterman about Zeppelin being more rewarding for Jimmy these days. Robert has used this control to veto the 20th anniversary single of "Stairway to Heaven" and the use of any Zeppelin material in the film Dazed and Confused.

It's going to be all bluegrass as he goes head to head with Earl Scruggs on the banjer.

What rock are you living under? "Categories of rock are scarce right now?" If anything, there's even more subgenres of rock n' roll than ever before and they're growing all of the time. "Bluegrass is a trendy integration, an analogy to karoke (sic)", where in the fuck do you get this stuff from?

...and every member does. No one's saying people can't express themselves here. We all have our own opinions but some members are severely misinformed and/or apparently lack the knowledge to understand that exploring new musical territory is exactly what Led Zeppelin was founded upon. What Plant is doing is no different so when someone calls Raising Sand a "bluegrass" or "country" album I have to question whether they've actually even listened to it or not because it is certainly neither of those genres. I don't hear any yodeling, fiddle breakdowns, banjo solos or anyone exclaiming "Kippy-Ki-Ay!" so when people mention these things I automatically know they haven't even bothered to listen to the record. It's obvious at that point that they're here just to keep things stirred up. How about actually listening to the album and then bring an informed opinion to the table or is that too just too difficult?

Nor did I. I think folks like to just make shit up in order to stir the pot.

It all boils down to opinions but you're missing where I'm coming from. I don't hear anything that sounds like Foggy Mountain Breakdown on Raising Sand. That's bluegrass, no question. I don't hear anything that sounds like old school country (say, Ernest Tubb), "country rock" or even contemporary (gasp!) country. What I hear is something bold and new that draws from various styles of music to create something entirely different. Sound familiar? Well, it should. It's the template upon which Led Zeppelin worked for years. It constantly challenged them and their audience, meanwhile keeping it exciting for everyone. As has already been pointed out, the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival comes by it's name honestly because it features a wide variety of artist from all genres of music. Most folks I know that have attended it know full well the structure of the festival and the type of acts that will be playing. For instance, have you checked this year's line up? Do you think people attend thinking Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (one of this year's acts) are bluegrass? No, they're aware of what the festival is about beforehand.

Just curious how knowledgable you are of Americana since you said it bores you. I don't think Americana is that easily defined. Therein lies the problem when trying to explain it to someone. Americana has also gone under the titles Y'allternative, Cowpunk, No Depression (taken from a song by the Carter Family), alt.country, Insurgent Country and numerous others. Despite all those descriptors, none have a clearcut definition. You could have the bluegrass-based murder ballads of Angry Johnny & the Killbillies, the more traditional sound of country ($2 Pistols, the Derailers), Gothic country (Trailer Bride, the Handsome Family, 16 Horsepower), flat out rock n' roll (The Yayhoos, the Bottle Rockets), punk infused country (Th' Legendary Shack Shakers, Lucero, etc.). In other words, Americana (or any of the other terms I mentioned) don't really do the genre (or subgenre) justice as it is far too broad and encompasses many styles to be so narrowly pigeonholed. Sadly, for those that think they don't like "country", the media, and the uninformed (like so many on this site) read that Plant has cut a record with Nashville studio musicians so they immediately assume he's cut a "country" record. Folks will go and on about it without even having heard a single note. I've seen people on this board slam Raising Sand because they think it's a "bluegrass" album. Well, when I think bluegrass, I think Flatt & Scruggs and Bill Monroe with fiddle and banjo breakdowns. You will find none of that on Raising Sand but people hear "country" or see that Allison Krauss (a renown fiddler) plays on the album and they immediately assume it's a "country" or "bluegrass" album. It is neither.

I hate to break it to ya but the "sex sells" mentality isn't unique to country music. Just out of curiosity I wonder what your take is on sex in music in general and rock n' roll specifically? It's a very intrinsic part of rock n' roll and has been from the very beginning so I find it odd (particularly on a Led Zeppelin board) to find someone that's offended by sexual images in country music videos. If Rascal Flatts is the extent to which you're being exposed to "new" country music no wonder you don't care for it. That band isn't indicative at all of what country music (past, present or future) has to offer. How about Waylon, Willie, Johnny Cash, David Allan Coe, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, etc.? There was also the early to mid-70s "country-rock" boom with artists like Gram Parsons/The Flying Burrito Brothers/The Byrds, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, Poco, Goose Creek Symphony, Pure Prairie League, Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen, etc. that effectively mixed country and rock n' roll. There were also the songwriters of the 70s that were steeped in country music stylings such as Michael Murphy, Jimmy Buffett, John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker, Steve Goodman, Guy Clark, etc. In the 80s there was the first hints of "alt.country" with artists such as Lone Justice, Rank n' File, the Blasters, the Knitters, Dwight Yoakam, Steve Earle, Jason & the Scorchers, etc. Then came alt.country itself (aka Y'allternative, No Depression, Americana, Insurgent Country, etc.) in the late 80s and early 90s that brought us Uncle Tupelo, the Gourds, the Bottle Rockets, the Old 97s, Whiskeytown, Son Volt, Wilco, the Handsome Family, Slobberbone, the Drive-By Truckers, Richard Buckner, etc. There's far more to country music than what the mainstream has to offer. For an actual sampling of the best of country music I would strongly suggest checking out some of the artists mentioned in this thread and recommend that you stay as far away as you can from the likes of Rascal Flatts. That's not country music.

Chatham County Line had a tune on their first album called Song for John Hartford. I was unable to locate a video clip of them performing it but you can try this one on for size from their new record:

Maybe I missed it but what was Richie Hayward's connection to Shane Theriot?

What is "Americana"?

How in the fuck did McDonna ever end up in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame? It's certainly not because she performs rock n' roll music. Yeah, I find Madonna to be superbly untalented in the musicality department. Plant doesn't have that problem. Opinions are like assholes, we all have them and most of them stink.

Madonna's only talent is her ability to market herself.

The words "talented" and "Madonna" don't belong in the same sentence.

Repeat to yourself: "It's only a message board. It's only a message board."

So, you totally dismissed someone's opinion simply because they like a band that you don't?

Sadly, Richie's influence (as well as that of Little Feat themselves) had much more of an impact on music than the rock intelligentsia is willing to admit. Perhaps it's a good thing that they're not in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. They're too good to be in that shithole.