Why "Americana" Isn't Good Enough

We've been getting a pretty constant stream of questions about "what is Americana" and "is a particular song/artist/album considered Americana?" These simple-sounding questions are usually more difficult than they would first appear.

Basically, I'm becoming increasingly unhappy with the term "Americana." It's use is in flux. Folks like the AMA seem mostly trying to use it to replace the term "alt country," and I'm not a big fan of that. I feel that we here at HickoryWind.org tend to use it in the broader way the folks at Merlefest use it -- to mean traditional or traditional-inspired music developed in America, or from the many varied roots of that music -- Celtic, African, etc. This is of course a wide net to cast over music. Crazy wide. It means that almost anything we like, twang or not, might somehow fit.

To muddy the waters, I also like to include some of our Indie Rock cousins, folks who're folk and country-informed, but maybe not strictly influenced by the sound of roots music, but just its themes and soul. It's a treacherous road to see sometimes, and as long as I'm getting somewhere, I'm not afraid to run off the road a little bit here and there.

So, what is Americana? It's definitely not just music that was written by Americans. If you ask me, some of the best damn "Americana" music of the past few years is coming from Canada, Australia, and the UK. My Canadian and Australian friends bristle at the phrase "Americana," and I think, rightfully so. But it's the best word we got going, so I'm sticking with it for now. (Emphasis on "for now...")

What is the litmus test? What makes me think a particular band falls under this umbrella? Well, there are lots of things. One, has the band or any of its members ever played Merlefest? The Telluride Bluegrass Festival? Have they appeared on a No Depression cover? (Oops, that's a slippery slope, no longer a hard and fast rule!) If I was to sit down at a jam with them and say, "hey brother/sister, let's pick 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken'" and if they'd say "right on brother, I dig it," well then chances are good they're "Americana." I'm not picky. Can't we all just get along?

So "Americana?" Hmm, I guess. Until the world finally comes to its senses and starts calling this music "Hickory Wind Music," I guess we're just stuck with it. "Americana." Bah. I'm gonna go listen to some Be Good Tanyas, the Duhks, and the Greencards... maybe a little Damien Rice and Kasey Chambers too.