Table of Contents
Introduction: The Importance of Being Ironic-Toward a Theory and Critique of Alt.Country Music Barbara Ching Pamela Fox 1
Selling Out or Buying In?: Alt.Country's Cultural Politics of Commercialism Diane Pecknold 28
Growing Up and Out of Alt.Country: On Gen X, Wearing Vintage, and Neko Case Jon Smith 51
Beyond Austin's City Limits: Justin Trevino and the Boundaries of "Alternative" Country Aaron A. Fox 83
Meeting in the Marketplace: A Taste for Romance in Songcatcher and O Brother, Where Art Thou? Barbara Ching 111
Time as "Revelator": Alt.Country Women's Performance of the Past Pamela Fox 134
"Regressive Country": The Voice of Gram Parsons Olivia Carter Mather 154
Old Time Punk Aaron Smithers 175
"The Burden Is Passed On": Son Volt, Tradition, and Authenticity Stevie Simkin 192
Conclusion: New Alternatives?-Top 40 "Outlaws" Gretchen Wilson, Miranda Lambert, and the Dixie Chicks Pamela Fox Barbara Ching 222
Alt.Country Chronology Kelly Burchfield Barbara Ching 233
Works Cited 241
Contributors 263
Index 265